MURRIETA — The women’s golf world saw U.S. Open qualifying take place over the past two months across 26 sites, not only in the United States but also in South Korea, England and Japan. The 36-hole qualifiers, which took place between April 19 and May 16, had a record 1,874 entrants, two of whom are amateurs from Murrieta: Lauren Gomez and Kylee Choi. As qualifiers, both earned their way to the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina, June 2-5, for the 77th U.S. Women’s Open Championship.
This year marked the eighth consecutive time that more than 1,500 entries were accepted for the tournament, with entries for 2022 accepted from golfers in 46 U.S. states and 57 foreign countries, breaking the previous record of 1,873, set in 2015 for the USWO at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania. To be eligible, golfers must have a Handicap Index of 2.4 or less or be a professional.
Murrieta’s Kylee Choi shot rounds of 74-71 to earn medalist honors over a 40-player field who competed in April at the U.S. Women’s Open qualifying at the Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent, Washington. Choi, just 15 years old, is currently ranked 25th in the AJGA Rankings and claimed the lone qualifying spot in the 36-hole qualifier.
Lauren Gomez, who also hails from Murrieta but spent her high school days in San Diego, currently golfs for the women’s Pepperdine golf team. She booked her spot to compete against the world’s best by shooting an 8-under-par 136 during the 36-hole final qualifier at Soule Park Golf Course in Ojai, California in mid-June. Gomez accomplished this feat a week after winning the West Coast Conference title at Reflection Bay Golf Club in Henderson, Nev., for her first-ever collegiate victory.
The 156-player field for the 77th U.S. Women’s Open features 78 fully exempt golfers, including 11 past U.S. Women’s Open champions, and 31 amateurs, with players representing 18 U.S. states and 28 countries.
Top headliners for the 77th U.S. Women’s Open include World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, already a winner in 2022 at the HSBC Women’s World Championship (13 LPGA victories overall, two majors); Defending champion and world No. 15 Yuka Saso, who has made eight cuts in 10 starts this season with four finishes inside the top 12; World No. 2 Nelly Korda, who will play for the first time since early February after being diagnosed with a blood clot in her left arm and subsequent surgery; and three-time U.S. Women’s Open champion Annika Sorenstam, who captured her second USWO title in 1996 at Pine Needles and earned her spot by winning the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
Also taking part is top-ranked amateur Rose Zhang, who secured her spot in the field by winning the 2021 U.S. Girls’ Junior and 2021 McCormack Medal. Zhang also recently completed her freshman season at Stanford, where she won five tournaments including the NCAA individual title and helped the Cardinals capture the team title in the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
One of the biggest storylines heading into the 77th U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles is the historic $10 million purse, up $4.5 million from 2021, with the winner taking home $1.8 million. The champion also will receive the Mickey Wright Medal, custody of the Harton S. Semple Trophy for the ensuing year and an exemption into the next 10 U.S. Women’s Open Championships.
Additionally, the winner will receive a replica of the Semple Trophy and five-year exemptions into the Chevron Championship (formerly ANA Inspiration), AIG Women’s Open, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and Amundi Evian Championship.
Of note, the USGA has committed to raise the women’s purse to $11 million and then $12 million by 2026. However, it still lags behind the men’s U.S. Open, which featured a $12.5 million purse in 2021 at Torrey Pines, with Jon Rahm earning $2.25 million for his win.
While a full purse breakdown is not yet available, it is safe to say that this will be a game-changing week for many financially. Even for those who do not play the weekend, this year’s professionals who miss the cut will receive $8,000, which is double what was given last year at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
To put things in perspective, there are 19 players on the Epson Tour who qualified for Pine Needles. The 50th-ranked player on that tour has earned less than $10,000 all season. To know going into the event that no matter what happens, money will not be lost, is important.
The 77th U.S. Women’s Open starts with three practice rounds beginning Monday, May 30, through Wednesday, June 1. Eighteen holes of stroke play are scheduled for each day beginning Thursday, June 2, through Sunday, June 5.
The starting field of 156 golfers will be cut after 36 holes (Friday, June 3) to the low 60 scorers and ties. In the event of a tie after 72 holes, a two-hole aggregate playoff will take place following the completion of the fourth round. If the playoff results in a tie, play will immediately continue hole by hole until a champion is determined.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
