Click here for the complete field at the 2016 U.S. Women's Open.
The Best of the Best
This week, CordeValle welcomes one of the strongest fields in all of women’s golf for the U.S. Women’s Open conducted by the USGA. 23 of the top-25 players in the Rolex Rankings will tee it up in the season’s third major championship.
World No.1 Lydia Ko, No.2 Brooke Henderson and No.4 Lexi Thompson headline the field, all in search of their first U.S. Women’s Open title. The trio will begin their quest together on Thursday, grouped together in the opening rounds.
Also in the field this week is world No.5 Sei Young Kim, a two-time winner in 2016 at the JTBC Founders Cup and Meijer LPGA Classic For Simply Give, is in search of her first major title this week. World No.6 In Gee Chun returns this week to defend her title in hopes of capturing her first victory as a rookie on the LPGA Tour, having earned status with her win in this event last year. World No.7 Ariya Jutanugarn, a three-time winner in the month of May, is also looking to capture her first major title this week.
Two-time major champion and world No.8 Stacy Lewis has climbed from No.10 to No.8 in the rankings over the past two weeks as she continues to battle for her first win since 2014. World No.9 Amy Yang, a two-time runner up in the U.S. Women’s Open will make another run at the trophy this year after falling short in 2015 to In Gee Chun. Ha Na Jang rounds out the top-10 in the Rolex Rankings. Jang is a two-time winner in 2016 and making her first start since the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June.
World No.3 and 2008 U.S. Women’s Open Champion Inbee Park is not in the field due to her ongoing battle with an injury in her left thumb. World No.23 Jiyai Shin is the only other played ranked in the top-25 not in the field.
Looking For A Repeat
Nine former U.S. Women’s Open champions return to the field this week in hopes of once again hoisting the trophy. 1998 champion Se Ri Pak received a special invitation to compete in what will likely be her final U.S. Women’s Open as Pak plans to retire at the end of the 2016 season. Her victory in 1998 inspired the wave of Korean players who have joined the Tour in recent years, many of whom watched as young girls as Pak became the first from Korea to win on Tour. 2011 and 2012 U.S. Women’s Open champions So Yeon Ryu and Na Yeon Choi are two of those players who watched Pak’s victory. Also in the field is back-to-back winner and Hall of Fame member Karrie Webb, 2007 champion Cristie Kerr, 2009 winner Eun-Hee Ji, 2010 champion Paula Creamer, 2014 champion Michelle Wie and defending champion In Gee Chun.
Let’s Make It Multiple
It’s been a unique season on the LPGA Tour with six multiple winners midway through 2016. Lydia Ko and Ariya Jutanugarn lead the way with three victories each. Jutanugarn swept the Tour’s schedule for the month of May to pick up her first wins on Tour. Brooke Henderson, Haru Nomura, Sei Young Kim and Ha Na Jang have all picked up two wins each. For Ko, a victory this week would mark her third career major title and second of the season after also capturing the ANA Inspiration in April. It would be the same scenario for Henderson, who captured her first major title when she defeated Ko in a playoff at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Nomura, Kim and Jang are all in search of their first major victories.
California Dreaming
Eleven California natives will enjoy playing in front of hometown fans this week in what is a rare moment for the U.S. Women’s Open, making its debut this week in the Bay Area. Christina Kim, Lizette Salas, Sydnee Michaels, Lee Lopez, Ryann O’Toole and Paula Creamer each return to their home state this week in search of a win. Creamer is the only major champion of the bunch. She won the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open at Oakmont Country Club, host of the 2016 U.S. Open in June.
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