Samsung World Championship
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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:
- 1980: World Series of Women's Golf
- 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 championships: 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:
- Paula Creamer - Defending Champion
- Lorena Ochoa - 2008 Vare Trophy Winner, 2008 LPGA Money Leader
- Brittany Lincicome - Winner of 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship
- Anna Nordqvist - Winner of 2009 LPGA Championship
- Eun-Hee Ji - Winner of 2009 U.S. Women's Open
- Catriona Matthew - Winner of 2009 Ricoh Women's British Open
- Juli Inkster - Sponsor's Exemption
- Cristie Kerr - LPGA Money Leader
- Sophie Gustafson - LET Order of Merit Leader
- Karrie Webb - Leading Active LPGA Hall of Fame Member
- Jiyai Shin - Qualified from LPGA Money List
- Ai Miyazato - Qualified from LPGA Money List
- In-Kyung Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List
- Yani Tseng - Qualified from LPGA Money List
- Suzann Pettersen - Qualified from LPGA Money List
- Angela Stanford - Qualified from LPGA Money List
- Kristy McPherson - Qualified from LPGA Money List
- Na Yeon Choi - Qualified from LPGA Money List
- Lindsey Wright - Qualified from LPGA Money List
- Song-Hee Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List
Winners
| Year | Champion | Country | Score | Tournament Location | Purse | Winner's Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Na Yeon Choi | South Korea | 272 (-16) | Torrey Pines Golf Course, South Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 |
| 2008 | Paula Creamer | United States | 279 | Half Moon Bay Golf Links, Ocean Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 |
| 2007 | Lorena Ochoa | Mexico | 270 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 |
| 2006 | Lorena Ochoa | Mexico | 272 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $875,000 | $218,750 |
| 2005 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 270 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $850,000 | $212,500 |
| 2004 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 270 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $825,000 | $206,250 |
| 2003 | Sophie Gustafson | Sweden | 274 | The Players Club at the Woodlands | $800,000 | $200,000 |
| 2002 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 266 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $775,000 | $162,000 |
| 2001 | Dorothy Delasin | Philippines | 277 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $750,000 | $157,000 |
| 2000 | Juli Inkster | United States | 274 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $725,000 | $152,000 |
| 1999 | Se Ri Pak | South Korea | 280 | Rush Creek Golf Club | $700,000 | $150,000 |
| 1998 | Juli Inkster | United States | 275 | Villages in Lady Lake | $550,000 | $137,000 |
| 1997 | Juli Inkster | United States | 280 | Lakeside Country Club | $525,000 | $131,000 |
| 1996 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 274 | Ildong Lakes Golf Club | $500,000 | $125,000 |
| 1995 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 282 | Paradise Golf Club | $475,000 | $117,500 |
| 1994 | Beth Daniel | United States | 274 | Naples National Golf Club | $425,000 | $105,000 |
| 1993 | Dottie Mochrie | United States | 283 | Naples National Golf Club | $400,000 | $102,500 |
| 1992 | No tournament | |||||
| 1991 | Meg Mallon | United States | 216 | Paradise Palms Golf Club | $325,000 | $100,000 |
| 1990 | Cathy Gerring | United States | 278 | Cely Golf Club | $325,000 | $100,000 |
| 1989 | Betsy King | United States | 275 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $265,000 | $83,500 |
| 1988 | Rosie Jones | United States | 270 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $265,000 | $81,500 |
| 1987 | Ayako Okamoto | Japan | 282 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $250,000 | $81,500 |
| 1986 | Pat Bradley | United States | 279 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $240,000 | $78,000 |
| 1985 | Amy Alcott | United States | 274 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $200,000 | $65,000 |
| 1984 | Nancy Lopez | United States | 281 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $200,000 | $65,000 |
| 1983 | JoAnne Carner | United States | 282 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $200,000 | $65,000 |
| 1982 | JoAnne Carner | United States | 284 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $150,000 | $50,000 |
| 1981 | Beth Daniel | United States | 284 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $150,000 | $50,000 |
| 1980 | Beth Daniel | United States | 280 | The Country Club | $150,000 | $46,500 |
Tournament records
| Year | Player | Score | Round | Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Grace Park | 62 (-10) | 1st round | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course |
| 2009 | Na Yeon Choi | 63 (-9) | 3rd round | Torrey Pines Golf Course |