By Ken Klavon, USGA

Cherry Hills Village, Colo. – She’s gone about her business quietly for 24 years on the LPGA Tour and now, after this season, will call it quits.

Rosie Jones, 45, has been a prominent and recognizable player but one who could never join the cadre of greats who took their games to the next level. By that, namely winning majors.

If she has any regrets, it’s that. She chased each elusive major the way a puppy runs dizzy trying to catch its own tail.

"It’s not going to define my career at this point," said Jones Wednesday. "I would have loved to have won one, to have won five of them."

Yet she has triumphed 13 times on the tour, the last coming in 2003 at the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship at Mt. Vintage. This year has by no means been a struggle either. In nine starts she’s finished in the top 10 six times, one of those being a runner-up placing at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

About four years back she started thinking about leaving the game. For whatever reason, now’s the time, she said. She has no definitive plans but would like to stay in the game in some capacity, whether it’s teaching or doing television analysis.

A longtime ambassador of the game, she heads into the sunset of her career with fond memories. The game will miss her.

Amateur Take

This is the third take for 18-year-old Jane Park, who earned an automatic exemption into the Women’s Open for winning last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur. Meaning she’s played in the Open the past two years. Still, it’s special.

Each year she learns more from being around the professionals. And what has she picked up this year?

"Practice ethics and work ethics and consistency of play," she said.

Although she feels little pressure, she is aware of her grouping. Traditionally the Amateur champion plays with the previous year’s Open and British Open winners.

"I think it’s a thrill to be playing with Meg Mallon and Karen Stupples," said Park, who will attend UCLA in the fall.

In her two previous Opens, Park tied for 30^th in 2003 and missed the cut last year.

Legendary Appearances

Four of the biggest names in the history of women’s golf were on hand Wednesday at Cherry Hills Country Club. Patty Berg, Peggy Kirk Bell, Hollis Stacy and all-time LPGA Tour victory leader Kathy Whitworth took part in the ‘Patty Berg Swing Parade.’

Long Par 4

The par 4 18^th hole is the longest par 4 in U.S. Women’s Open history. It surpasses the 453-yard par 4 third hole at the Broadmoor Golf Club (East Course) in 1995.  Not only is the hole long, it’s also features a long uphill. What’s more, water guards the left side of the hole. 

Two-time Open champion Annika Sorenstam has decided that the best way to play the 18^th is not with a driver but with a 4-wood. She’ll use that off the tee in Thursday’s first round if the conditions stay hot and dry.

"I think it gets too narrow and there’s water on the left," she said. "And for me to hit driver, there’s no benefit. Today I hit 7-wood; yesterday I hit 5-iron (for her second shot)."

Looking Back

Much has been made of Arnold Palmer’s ‘Ruthian’ shot in the 1960 U.S. Open. The drive where he drove the green in the final round. The USGA has decided to use the ‘Palmer Tees’ this year for the field, according to Tom Meeks, senior director of Rules and Competition for the USGA.

"I think we made the mistake when the U.S. Amateur was here [in 1990]," said Meeks. "We played the lower tee. I think a lot of people thought, ‘Why didn't you play the Palmer tee?  I don't know what our answer was, to be honest with you. We're excited about the Palmer tee.  I don't know if any of these ladies can drive that hole or not, but it will be fun watching them, if any of them is going to try to knock it on that hole."

Michelle Wie, for one, is not going to temp fate.

"Well, I mean, it's a really tough green to hit balls," said Wie.  "It's surrounded by a really thick rough and unless you hit it straight, fly it on the green, it's hard to keep it on or fly it there.  But I don't think that's the right play there and who knows, maybe it's a really strong wind or it just feels like it."

Clubhouse Evacuated

In the middle of the afternoon Wednesday fire trucks rushed to the scene after someone reportedly saw smoke in the clubhouse. The unofficial word was that a transformer caught on fire.

Ken Klavon is the Web Editor for the USGA. E-mail him with comments or questions at kklavon@usga.org. Alex Miceli is a free-lance writer.