Women's majors

Women's golf has evolved a set of major championships which parallels that in men's golf, but the women's system is younger and has been less stable that the men's. Most professional strokeplay events for women are played over three rounds (54 holes), but the majors are played over four rounds (72 holes), which is the standard length of regular men's tournaments. This is the same distinction as for senior men's tournaments.

LPGA majors

Current position

The LPGA's list of majors has changed several times over the years, with the last change in 2001, after the du Maurier Classic, held in Canada, was discontinued after that country passed severe restrictions on tobacco advertising. The LPGA replaced the du Maurier Classic on its list of majors with the Women's British Open. The LPGA currently recognizes four majors. In the order in which they are played each year these are:

Related Topics:
LPGA - Du Maurier Classic - Canada - Tobacco

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• Kraft Nabisco Championship
• LPGA Championship
• U.S. Women's Open
• Weetabix Women's British Open

As in men's golf, three of the majors are played in the United States and one is played in the United Kingdom. The U.S. and British Opens match their male equivalents, and the LPGA Championship is analogous to the PGA Championship, so by default the Kraft Nabisco Championship is the closest equivalent of The Masters. Unlike the men's equivalents, with the sole exception of the U.S. Women's Open, the women's majors have title sponsors.

Related Topics:
PGA Championship - The Masters

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History

Seven different events are classified as having been LPGA majors at some time. The number in each season has fluctuated between two and four. The first tournament which is now included in the LPGA's official list of major victories is the 1930 Western Open, although this is a retrospective designation as the LPGA was not founded until 1950.

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• Western Open: 1930-1967
• Titleholders Championship: 1937-42; 1946-66; 1972
• U.S. Women's Open: 1950-date
• LPGA Championship: 1955-date
• du Maurier Classic: 1979-2000
• Kraft Nabisco Championship: 1983-date
• Women's British Open: 2001-date

LPGA major winners

The first table shows the four current majors in the order in which they are played each year. The two tables for the earlier periods do not necessarily show the tournaments in the order in which they were played.

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The "Grand Slam"

No woman has completed a four-major Grand Slam, but Babe Zaharias won all three majors contested in 1950 and Sandra Haynie won both majors in 1974.

Related Topics:
Grand Slam - Babe Zaharias - 1950 - Sandra Haynie - 1974

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Six women have completed a "Career grand slam" by winning four different majors. There are variations in the set of four tournaments involved as the players played in different eras. The six are: Pat Bradley; Juli Inkster; Annika Sörenstam; Louise Suggs; Karrie Webb; and Mickey Wright.

Related Topics:
Pat Bradley - Juli Inkster - Annika Sörenstam - Louise Suggs - Karrie Webb - Mickey Wright

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