Samsung World Championship
Encyclopedia
The Samsung World Championship was an annual golf tournament played between 1980 and 2009, for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. It was a limited field event, open by invitation only.
The tournament was founded in 1980 by Mark McCormack
, founder of the sports management firm IMG
, originally with the world's top-12 LPGA players. The field was increased to 16 players in 1996 and to 20 in 1999. Electronics manufacturer Samsung
became the title sponsor in 1995.
Tournament names through the years:
: the Kraft Nabisco Championship
, McDonald's LPGA Championship, U.S. Women's Open, and Women's British Open
; the leading player from the Ladies European Tour
in 2009; one sponsor's exemption selected by the championship selection committee; the leading "active" LPGA Hall of Fame
member on the LPGA Official Money List in 2009; and the top money winners on the LPGA Tour from the 2009 season.
The 2009 participants listed in order of qualification or invitation:
The tournament was founded in 1980 by Mark McCormack
Mark McCormack
Mark Hume McCormack was an American lawyer, sports agent for professional athletes and a prolific writer...
, founder of the sports management firm IMG
IMG (business)
IMG, originally known as the International Management Group is a global sports and media business headquartered in New York City.-History:...
, originally with the world's top-12 LPGA players. The field was increased to 16 players in 1996 and to 20 in 1999. Electronics manufacturer Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
became the title sponsor in 1995.
Tournament names through the years:
- 1980-1981: World Championship of Women's Golf
- 1982-1984: Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf
- 1985: Nestle World Championship of Women's Golf
- 1986-1989: Nestle World Championship
- 1990: Trophee Urban-World Championship
- 1991: Daikyo World Championship
- 1992: no tournament
- 1993-1994: World Championship of Women's Golf
- 1995-1999: Samsung World Championship of Women's Golf
- 2000-2009: Samsung World Championship
2009 participants
The 2009 championship included 20 players: the previous year's defending champion; the 2008 Vare Trophy winner; the 2008 LPGA Money Winner; the winners of the four 2009 women's major golf championshipsWomen's major golf championships
Women's golf has a set of major championships which parallels that in men's golf, but the women's system is younger and has been less stable than the men's. Many professional stroke play events for women are played over three rounds , but the majors are played over four rounds , which is the...
: the Kraft Nabisco Championship
Kraft Nabisco Championship
The Kraft Nabisco Championship is one of the four major championships on the LPGA Tour. It was founded in 1972 by Dinah Shore and has been classified as a major since 1983...
, McDonald's LPGA Championship, U.S. Women's Open, and Women's British Open
Women's British Open
The Women's British Open is a leading event in women's professional golf and the only tournament which is classified as a major championship by both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Since 2007, it has been called the Ricoh Women's British Open, for sponsorship reasons...
; the leading player from the Ladies European Tour
Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1979. It is based in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money,...
in 2009; one sponsor's exemption selected by the championship selection committee; the leading "active" LPGA Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
member on the LPGA Official Money List in 2009; and the top money winners on the LPGA Tour from the 2009 season.
The 2009 participants listed in order of qualification or invitation:
- Paula CreamerPaula CreamerPaula Creamer is an American professional golfer on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. As a professional, she has won 11 tournaments, including 9 LPGA Tour events. Creamer has been as high as number 2 in the Women's World Golf Rankings. She was the 2010 U.S...
- Defending Champion - Lorena OchoaLorena OchoaLorena Ochoa Reyes is a Mexican professional golfer who played on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour from 2003 to 2010, and was the top-ranked female golfer in the world for over three years, from April 2007 to her retirement in May 2010...
- 2008 Vare Trophy Winner, 2008 LPGA Money Leader - Brittany LincicomeBrittany LincicomeBrittany Grace Lincicome is an American professional golfer playing on the LPGA Tour. She currently resides in Seminole, Florida....
- Winner of 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship - Anna NordqvistAnna NordqvistAnna Maria Nordqvist is a Swedish professional golfer who plays on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour.-Amateur career:...
- Winner of 2009 LPGA Championship - Eun-Hee JiEun-Hee JiEun-Hee Ji is a South Korean professional golfer who plays on the U.S. based LPGA Tour. She is also a member of the South Korean KLPGA....
- Winner of 2009 U.S. Women's Open - Catriona MatthewCatriona MatthewCatriona Isobel Matthew MBE is a Scottish professional golfer who plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and is also a member of the Ladies European Tour.-Amateur career:...
- Winner of 2009 Ricoh Women's British Open - Juli InksterJuli InksterJuli Inkster is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. With a professional career spanning 27 years to date, Inkster's 31 wins rank her second in wins among all active players on the LPGA Tour; she has over $11 million in career earnings...
- Sponsor's Exemption - Cristie KerrCristie KerrCristie Kerr is an American professional golfer who plays on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. She has 14 wins on the LPGA Tour, including two major championships, and over $13 million in career earnings...
- LPGA Money Leader - Sophie GustafsonSophie GustafsonSophie Gustafson is a Swedish professional golfer. She is a member of U.S. based LPGA Tour and a life member of the Ladies European Tour. She has five LPGA and 21 international wins in her career...
- LET Order of Merit Leader - Karrie WebbKarrie WebbKarrie Ann Webb AM is Australia's most successful female professional golfer, and one of the top players in the history of global women's golf. She currently plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and also turns out once or twice a year on the ALPG Tour in her home country. She is a member of...
- Leading Active LPGA Hall of Fame Member - Jiyai Shin - Qualified from LPGA Money List
- Ai MiyazatoAi Miyazatois a Japanese professional golfer who currently competes on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and the Japan LPGA Tour . She was the top-ranked golfer in the Women's World Golf Rankings for three periods of time in 2010.-Early life and amateur career:...
- Qualified from LPGA Money List - In-Kyung Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List
- Yani TsengYani TsengYani Tseng is a Taiwanese professional golfer currently playing on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. She is the youngest player ever, male or female, to win five major championships and is currently ranked number 1 in the Women's World Golf Rankings....
- Qualified from LPGA Money List - Suzann PettersenSuzann PettersenSuzann Pettersen is a Norwegian professional golfer. She plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour, and is also a member of the Ladies European Tour. Her career best world ranking is second. She has held that position at several times, most recently beginning 22 August 2011.-Amateur...
- Qualified from LPGA Money List - Angela StanfordAngela StanfordAngela Stanford is an American professional golfer who currently competes on the LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:Stanford was born in Fort Worth, Texas. As a junior golfer, she won the Fort Worth Girls Championship four times , the 1996 Texas State 4A High School Championship and the 1996 PING Texas...
- Qualified from LPGA Money List - Kristy McPhersonKristy McPhersonKristy McPherson is an American professional golfer, currently playing on the LPGA Tour.-Early life and amateur career:A native of South Carolina, McPherson was diagnosed at age 11 with Still's disease, a form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis...
- Qualified from LPGA Money List - Na Yeon ChoiNa Yeon ChoiNa Yeon Choi is a South Korean female professional golfer playing on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:At age 17 in 2004, Choi won the ADT CAPS Invitational on the LPGA of Korea Tour , beating future Hall-of-Famer Se Ri Pak by four strokes. Choi turned professional shortly thereafter, in...
- Qualified from LPGA Money List - Lindsey WrightLindsey WrightLindsey Elizabeth Wright is an Australian professional golfer playing on the LPGA Tour. She earned exempt status for the 2004 LPGA season in 2005, and has been competing full time on the Tour since.-Personal life:...
- Qualified from LPGA Money List - Song-Hee KimSong-Hee KimSong-Hee Kim is a Korean female professional golfer currently playing on the United States-based LPGA Tour.-Futures Tour :*2006 Louisiana Pelican Classic, IOS Golf Classic, Aurora Health Care Championship, CIGNA Chip in For A Cure FUTURES Golf Classic, The Gettysburg Championship-Results in LPGA...
- Qualified from LPGA Money List
Winners
| Year | Champion | Country | Score | Tournament Location |
Purse | Winner's Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 2009 in golf -Men's professional golf:Major championships*9–12 April: The Masters - Argentina's Ángel Cabrera won his second major in a sudden death playoff over Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell .*18–22 June: U.S... |
Na Yeon Choi Na Yeon Choi Na Yeon Choi is a South Korean female professional golfer playing on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:At age 17 in 2004, Choi won the ADT CAPS Invitational on the LPGA of Korea Tour , beating future Hall-of-Famer Se Ri Pak by four strokes. Choi turned professional shortly thereafter, in... |
272 (-16) | |Torrey Pines Golf Course, South Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 | |
| 2008 2008 in golf -Men's professional golf:Major championships*10–13 April: The Masters - South African Trevor Immelman won his first major by a three-stroke margin.... |
Paula Creamer Paula Creamer Paula Creamer is an American professional golfer on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. As a professional, she has won 11 tournaments, including 9 LPGA Tour events. Creamer has been as high as number 2 in the Women's World Golf Rankings. She was the 2010 U.S... |
279 | |Half Moon Bay Golf Links, Ocean Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 | |
| 2007 2007 in golf -Men's professional golf:Major championships*5-8 April: The Masters - American Zach Johnson won his first major tournament, in a high scoring week at Augusta.*14-17 June: U.S. Open - Ángel Cabrera became Argentina's first U.S... |
Lorena Ochoa Lorena Ochoa Lorena Ochoa Reyes is a Mexican professional golfer who played on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour from 2003 to 2010, and was the top-ranked female golfer in the world for over three years, from April 2007 to her retirement in May 2010... |
270 | |Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 | |
| 2006 2006 in golf -Men's professional golf:Major championships*6–9 April: The Masters - Winner: Phil Mickelson The Augusta National course was lengthened to 7,445 yards for the tournament, generating some advance controversy. For the first time since 1954 neither Jack Nicklaus nor Arnold Palmer played... |
Lorena Ochoa Lorena Ochoa Lorena Ochoa Reyes is a Mexican professional golfer who played on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour from 2003 to 2010, and was the top-ranked female golfer in the world for over three years, from April 2007 to her retirement in May 2010... |
272 | |Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $875,000 | $218,750 | |
| 2005 2005 in golf -Men's professional golf:Major championships*7-10 April: Masters Tournament - Tiger Woods defeated fellow American Chris DiMarco at the first playoff hole to claim his 4th Masters title, and his 9th major. He temporarily returned to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings.*16-19 June: U.S... |
Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish-American professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golfer... |
270 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $850,000 | $212,500 | |
| 2004 2004 in golf -Major championships:*April 11 - The Masters - Phil Mickelson wins the first major of his career*June 20 - U.S. Open - Retief Goosen wins the second major -Major championships:*April 11 - The Masters - Phil Mickelson wins the first major of his career*June 20 - U.S. Open - Retief Goosen wins the... |
Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish-American professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golfer... |
270 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $825,000 | $206,250 | |
| 2003 | Sophie Gustafson Sophie Gustafson Sophie Gustafson is a Swedish professional golfer. She is a member of U.S. based LPGA Tour and a life member of the Ladies European Tour. She has five LPGA and 21 international wins in her career... |
274 | The Players Club at the Woodlands | $800,000 | $200,000 | |
| 2002 | Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish-American professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golfer... |
266 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $775,000 | $162,000 | |
| 2001 | Dorothy Delasin Dorothy Delasin Dorothy Delasin is a Filipino-American professional golfer on the LPGA Tour.Delasin was born in Lubbock, Texas and grew up in San Francisco, California. She had dual American and Filipino citizenship but gave it up sometime before 1999. She had a strong amateur career, wining both the U.S. Girls'... |
277 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $750,000 | $157,000 | |
| 2000 | Juli Inkster Juli Inkster Juli Inkster is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. With a professional career spanning 27 years to date, Inkster's 31 wins rank her second in wins among all active players on the LPGA Tour; she has over $11 million in career earnings... |
274 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $725,000 | $152,000 | |
| 1999 | Se Ri Pak Se Ri Pak Pak Se Ri is a South Korean professional golfer, playing on the LPGA Tour. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in November 2007.-Career overview:... |
280 | Rush Creek Golf Club | $700,000 | $150,000 | |
| 1998 | Juli Inkster Juli Inkster Juli Inkster is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. With a professional career spanning 27 years to date, Inkster's 31 wins rank her second in wins among all active players on the LPGA Tour; she has over $11 million in career earnings... |
275 | Villages in Lady Lake | $550,000 | $137,000 | |
| 1997 | Juli Inkster Juli Inkster Juli Inkster is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. With a professional career spanning 27 years to date, Inkster's 31 wins rank her second in wins among all active players on the LPGA Tour; she has over $11 million in career earnings... |
280 | Lakeside Country Club | $525,000 | $131,000 | |
| 1996 | Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish-American professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golfer... |
274 | Ildong Lakes Golf Club | $500,000 | $125,000 | |
| 1995 | Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish-American professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golfer... |
282 | Paradise Golf Club | $475,000 | $117,500 | |
| 1994 | Beth Daniel Beth Daniel Beth Daniel is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1979 and won 33 LPGA Tour events, including one major championship, during her career. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.... |
274 | Naples National Golf Club | $425,000 | $105,000 | |
| 1993 | Dottie Mochrie Dottie Pepper Dottie Pepper is an American professional golfer and television golf broadcaster. From 1988 to 1995 she competed as Dottie Mochrie, which was her married name before a divorce... |
283 | Naples National Golf Club | $400,000 | $102,500 | |
| 1992 | No tournament | |||||
| 1991 | Meg Mallon | 216 | Paradise Palms Golf Club | $325,000 | $100,000 | |
| 1990 | Cathy Gerring Cathy Gerring Cathy Kratzert Gerring is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.Born Cathy Kratzert, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she played college golf at Ohio State University.... |
278 | Cely Golf Club | $325,000 | $100,000 | |
| 1989 | Betsy King Betsy King Betsy King is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won six major championships and 34 LPGA Tour victories in all.-Career:... |
275 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $265,000 | $83,500 | |
| 1988 | Rosie Jones Rosie Jones Rosie Jones is an American professional golfer, with 13 LPGA Tour career victories and nearly $8.4 million in tournament earnings.-Amateur career:Jones was born in Santa Ana, California... |
270 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $265,000 | $81,500 | |
| 1987 | Ayako Okamoto Ayako Okamoto is a Japanese professional golfer. She won 62 tournaments internationally, including 17 on the American LPGA Tour. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.-Early career:... |
282 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $250,000 | $81,500 | |
| 1986 | Pat Bradley | 279 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $240,000 | $78,000 | |
| 1985 | Amy Alcott Amy Alcott Amy Alcott is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1975, and won five major championships and 29 LPGA Tour events in all. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.... |
274 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $200,000 | $65,000 | |
| 1984 | Nancy Lopez Nancy Lopez Nancy Marie Lopez is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won 48 LPGA Tour events during her LPGA career, including three major championships.-Amateur career:... |
281 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $200,000 | $65,000 | |
| 1983 | JoAnne Carner JoAnne Carner JoAnne Gunderson Carner is a former American professional golfer. Her 43 victories on the LPGA Tour led to her induction in the World Golf Hall of Fame. She is the only woman to have won the U.S. Girls' Junior, U.S. Women's Amateur, and U.S. Women's Open titles, and was the first person ever to... |
282 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $200,000 | $65,000 | |
| 1982 | JoAnne Carner JoAnne Carner JoAnne Gunderson Carner is a former American professional golfer. Her 43 victories on the LPGA Tour led to her induction in the World Golf Hall of Fame. She is the only woman to have won the U.S. Girls' Junior, U.S. Women's Amateur, and U.S. Women's Open titles, and was the first person ever to... |
284 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $150,000 | $50,000 | |
| 1981 | Beth Daniel Beth Daniel Beth Daniel is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1979 and won 33 LPGA Tour events, including one major championship, during her career. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.... |
284 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $150,000 | $50,000 | |
| 1980 | Beth Daniel Beth Daniel Beth Daniel is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1979 and won 33 LPGA Tour events, including one major championship, during her career. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.... |
280 | The Country Club | $150,000 | $46,500 | |
Tournament records
| Year | Player | Score | Round | Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Grace Park Grace Park (golfer) Grace Park is a South Korean professional golfer on the LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:Park was born in Seoul, South Korea. She moved to Hawaii at the age of 12, and then to Arizona. She received the 1996 Dial Award as top female high-school scholar-athlete in the United States... |
62 (-10) | 1st round | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course |
| 2009 | Na Yeon Choi Na Yeon Choi Na Yeon Choi is a South Korean female professional golfer playing on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:At age 17 in 2004, Choi won the ADT CAPS Invitational on the LPGA of Korea Tour , beating future Hall-of-Famer Se Ri Pak by four strokes. Choi turned professional shortly thereafter, in... |
63 (-9) | 3rd round | Torrey Pines Golf Course |