2007 U.S. Women's Open Fact Sheet

June 28 – July 1, 2007
Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines, N.C.

HISTORY – First played in 1946, this is the 62^nd U.S. Women’s Open Championship.

PAR AND YARDAGE – Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club is set up at 6,644/6,664 yards and par is 35-36—71. The longest course in U.S. Women’s Open history was at the 2005 championship, when Cherry Hills Country Club played to a length of 6,749 yards.

COURSE LAYOUT – The fairways will range in width from approximately 25 to 35 yards. On either side of the fairways, a 6-foot wide swath of intermediate rough running the length of each hole will be set to 1¼ inches. Then, a 20-foot band of first cut of primary Bermuda grass rough will be grown to approximately 2 inches, and the second cut of deepest rough left and right of the landing areas will be 2½ to 3 inches Bermuda grass (Note: Some of the rough areas are sandy soil containing clumps of wire grass, not consistent Bermuda grass). The rough outside the rope line will be 3-plus inches. The greens will be set to run at 11½ to 12 feet on the Stimpmeter for the duration of the championship.

COURSE RATING™ AND SLOPE® – Based on the course setup, the Course Rating™ for Pine Needles is 79.8. Its Slope Rating® is 150.

PINE NEEDLES L&GC HOLE-BY-HOLE SET UP – 6,644/6,664 yards and par 35-36—71

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Out
Par	5	4	3	4	3	4	4	4	4	35
Yards	488	450	132	360	185/ 205	411	405	356	380	3,167/ 3,187

Hole	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	In
Par	5	4	4	3	4	5	3	4	4	36
Yards	518	376	400	205	426	523	176	440	413	3,477

ARCHITECT – Donald Ross designed Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, which opened in 1928.

FORMAT – The championship is conducted at stroke play over 72 holes. There are 156 players in the championship field. After 36 holes, the field is cut to the 60 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 60^th place, and anyone within 10 strokes of the leader.

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE – Practice rounds will be played Monday (June 25) through Wednesday (June 27). Championship play will be conducted Thursday (June 28) through Sunday (July 1) with 18 holes of stroke play each day.

If the championship is tied after four rounds, a three-hole playoff will take place immediately following the conclusion of the fourth round. If the playoff results in a tie, play will immediately continue hole-by-hole until a champion is determined.

WHO CAN ENTER – The Women's Open is open to any professional or amateur female golfers. Amateur golfers must maintain a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 4.4.

ENTRIES – A record 1,251 entries were accepted for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, surpassing the former record of 1,158 set in 2005. It is the fourth consecutive year the number of entries for the championship has surpassed 1,000. Entries for the 2007 championship closed May 2.

Entries were received from 46 states (all except Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire and Wyoming). In addition to the USA, entries were received from 38 countries: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales and Zimbabwe.

LOCAL QUALIFYING – Local qualifying, which was conducted for the first time in 2002, was held at 16 sites from May 12-21.

SECTIONAL QUALIFYING – Sectional qualifying will be conducted over 36 holes at seven sites on June 11.

THE CHAMPION RECEIVES – In addition to prize money, the champion will receive a gold medal, custody of the Harton S. Semple Cup for the ensuing year, and an exemption from sectional qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Women’s Open Championships.

PURSE – The total purse for the 2007 Championship is $3.1 million and the champion receives $560,000. It is the largest total purse in women’s golf.

WOMEN’S OPEN EARNINGS – Four women have surpassed the $1 million mark in Women’s Open earnings, led by two-time champion Annika Sorenstam with $1,906,012. Three other two-time winners are also on the list: Meg Mallon ($1,277,370), Karrie Webb ($1,254,460) and Juli Inkster ($1,297,168).

2006 CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP – It took 90 holes, but Annika Sorenstam prevailed at the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open at Newport (R.I.) Country Club, after shooting a 1-under 70 in a Monday playoff to beat Pat Hurst by four strokes.

The 35-year-old Swede won her 10^th major overall and first since the 2005 LPGA McDonald’s Championship. Only Patty Berg has won more women’s majors, with 15. Sorenstam’s third Women’s Open victory tied her with three other players for second-most Open titles. Only Betsy Rawls and Mickey Wright have more, with four.

"I’ve been trying so hard," said Sorenstam. "I think I’ve been talking to myself so many times, if somebody saw me, they might think I’m weird. I just kept telling myself, ‘Just play your game; it’s good enough; focus on what you’ve got to do; don’t think too much about the surroundings; focus on what you want to do; here’s your chance.’ And I kept saying that over and over."

Sorenstam, who also won the Women’s Open in 1995 and 1996, went 10 years between Women’s Open wins, the second-longest dearth in the championship’s history. Meg Mallon had gone 13 years in between wins until her 2004 triumph at The Orchards.

CHAMPIONS OF THE PAST DECADE:

WELCOME BACK – This will be the fifth USGA championship conducted at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. Two previous U.S. Women’s Opens have been held at the club, in 1996 (won by Annika Sorenstam) and 2001 (won by Karrie Webb). In addition, the club hosted the 1991 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur, won by Phyllis Preuss, and the 1989 U.S. Girls’ Junior, won by Brandie Burton.

TELEVISION COVERAGE – All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

If the championship is tied after four rounds, a three-hole playoff will take place immediately following the conclusion of the fourth round.

GROUPINGS AND STARTING TIMES – Groupings and starting times will be distributed to the media on Friday, June 23. They will also be posted on the USGA Internet site at www.usga.org.

PLAYER INTERVIEWS – A complete schedule of pre-championship interviews for media on Tuesday and Wednesday will be published and distributed prior to championship week.

WWW.USGA.ORG – Log on to the USGA Internet site at www.usga.org/championships/ for the latest U.S. Women’s Open information during the championship.

TICKETS – A wide variety of ticket options are available, beginning at $40 for a one-day grounds pass each day, Thursday through Sunday. A Season Grounds Pass, which includes all practice rounds, is $120. To order tickets, call the Championship Ticket Office at (877) 325-GOLF or order online at http://www.2007uswomensopen.com/tickets.html.

JUNIOR ATTRACTIONS – Boys and girls age 17 and under will receive complimentary admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. A variety of activities will be held free of charge during the week.

MULTIPLE WINS – Fourteen players have combined to win 35 of the previous 61 Women’s Opens. Two players have won four Women’s Opens: Betsy Rawls (1951, 1953, 1957, 1960) and Mickey Wright (1958, 1959, 1961, 1964). Four players have won three Women’s Opens: Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1948, 1950, 1954), Susie Maxwell Berning (1968, 1972, 1973), Hollis Stacy (1977, 1978, 1984) and Annika Sorenstam (1995, 1996, 2006). Eight players have won two Women’s Opens each. They are Louise Suggs (1949, 1952), Donna Caponi (1969, 1970), JoAnne Carner (1971, 1976), Betsy King (1989, 1990), Patty Sheehan (1992, 1994), Juli Inkster (1999, 2002), Karrie Webb (2000, 2001), and Meg Mallon (1991, 2004).

WOMEN'S OPEN PLAYOFFS – There have been 10 18-hole playoffs in the history of the Women's Open. The 1998 playoff was the first to go extra holes. Only one player, JoAnne Carner, has been involved in more than one playoff – she won a playoff against Sandra Palmer in 1976 and lost to Laura Davies in 1987.

There will be a new playoff format starting with the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open. If the championship is tied after four rounds, a three-hole playoff will take place immediately following the conclusion of the fourth round.

USGA CHAMPIONS IN THE FIELD – Eighteen USGA champions are currently in the Women's Open field. They are:

Silvia Cavalleri – 1997 Women’s Amateur
Laura Davies – 1987 Women’s Open
Julieta Granada – 2004 Girls’ Junior
Pat Hurst – 1986 Girls’ Junior; 1990 Women’s Amateur
Juli Inkster – 1980-82 Women’s Amateurs; 1999 and 2002 Women’s Opens
Birdie Kim – 2005 Women’s Open
Kimberly Kim – 2006 Women’s Amateur
Candie Kung – 2001 Women’s Amateur Public Links
Hilary Lunke – 2003 Women’s Open
Meg Mallon – 1991, 2004 Women’s Opens
Se Ri Pak – 1998 Women’s Open
Grace Park – 1998 Women’s Amateur
Jane Park – 2004 Women’s Amateur
Morgan Pressel – 2005 Women’s Amateur
Annika Sorenstam – 1995, 1996, 2006 Women’s Opens
Wendy Ward – 1994 Women’s Amateur
Karrie Webb – 2000, 2001 Women’s Opens
Michelle Wie – 2003 Women’s Amateur Public Links

DIRECTIONS TO MEDIA PARKING (LOT M AT MID-PINES PRACTICE RANGE) –

From Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Media Parking (Lot M): Take I-40 East toward Raleigh to Exit 293. Take 293A to US 1/US-64 (South toward Sanford). Stay on US 1-South until you get to Southern Pines (approximately 43 miles). Take the Midland Road exit, turn right. The entrance to Lot M (Mid-Pines Practice Range) is on your left. Follow all signage to Lot M.

From the Comfort Inn (media hotel) to Media Parking at Mid-Pines Golf Club (Lot M): Turn right out of the hotel parking lot onto US-15/501. At the Pinehurst Circle, stay to the right and take first right onto Midland Road. Stay on Midland Road approximately 4½ miles until you reach Mid-Pines Resort & Golf Club on the right. Follow the signs to Media Parking (Lot M).

MEDIA CENTER PHONE NUMBERS – Leading up to the championship, media relations staff can be reached at (908) 234-2300. Staff members on site will be Beth Murrison, Craig Smith, Rhonda Glenn, Marty Parkes and Suzanne Colson.

FUTURE WOMEN'S OPENS – Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn., will host the 2008 Women’s Open, from June 26-29, and the 2009 championship will be held at Saucon Valley Country Club from July 9-12. The 2010 Women’s Open will be conducted at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club from July 8-11.

EXEMPT PLAYERS – There are 68 players currently fully exempted into the Women’s Open. The remainder of the players in the field will earn their spots via qualifying. The total field is 156 players.

PLAYERS FULLY EXEMPT (68) FOR THE 2007 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN
(as of May 29, 2007)

Shi Hyun Ahn 6, 7, 8
Beth Bader 8
Kyeong Bae 8
*Amanda Blumenherst 6
Nicole Castrale 7, 8
Silvia Cavalleri 8, 9
Hye Jung Choi 8
Na Yeon Choi 10
Il-Mi Chung 7
Paula Creamer 6, 7, 8, 9
Diana D’Alessio 7
Laura Davies 7, 8, 10
Laura Diaz 7, 8
Meaghan Francella 8, 9
Julieta Granada 7, 8, 9
Natalie Gulbis 6, 7, 8
Sophie Gustafson 6, 7
Rachel Hetherington 6, 7
Jin Joo Hong 7
Pat Hurst 6, 7, 8, 9
Karine Icher 7
Juli Inkster 1, 6, 7, 8
Jeong Jang 4, 7, 8
Mi-Jeong Jeon 10
Cristie Kerr 7, 9
Birdie Kim 1
Christina Kim 7
Joo Mi Kim 7
*Kimberly Kim 2
Mi Hyun Kim 7, 8, 9
Young Kim 6, 7, 8, 9
Candie Kung 7
Brittany Lang 7, 8
Jee Young Lee 6, 7, 8
Meena Lee 7, 8
Sarah Lee 8
Seon Hwa Lee 7, 8
Brittany Lincicome 6, 7, 8, 9
Hilary Lunke 1
Meg Mallon 1
Catriona Matthew 6, 8
Patricia Meunier-Lebouc 6
Ai Miyazato 7, 8
Gwladys Nocera 10
Lorena Ochoa 6, 7, 8, 9
Shiho Oyama 10
Angela Park 8
Se Ri Pak 1, 3, 6, 7, 8
Gloria Park 6, 7
Grace Park 5
Hee Young Park 10
Jane Park 6
Suzann Pettersen 8, 9
Stacy Prammanasudh 6, 7, 8
Morgan Pressel 5, 7, 8
*Katharina Schallenberg 2
Ji-Yai Shin 10
Annika Sorenstam 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Angela Stanford 7, 8
Sherri Steinhauer 4, 7, 8, 9
Kristina Tucker 6
Sherri Turner 6
Wendy Ward 7
Karrie Webb 1, 5, 7, 8, 9
Michelle Wie 6
Sung Ah Yim 7
Sakura Yokomine 10
Heather Young 7

* = amateur

Key to Player Exemptions –

1. Winners of the U.S. Women’s Open for the last 10 years (1997-2006)
2. Winners of the U.S. Women’s Amateur for the last two years (2005-2006) and runner-up for the most recent year (2006)
3. Winners of the LPGA Championship for the last five years (2003-2007)
4. Winners of the Women’s British Open Championship for the last five years (2002-2006)
5. Winners of the Kraft Nabisco Championship the last five years (2003-2007)
6. From the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, the 20 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 20^th place
7. From the 2006 final official LPGA money list, the top 40 money leaders
8. From the 2007 official LPGA money list, the top 35 money leaders through May 28
9. Winners of LPGA co-sponsored events, whose victories are considered official, from the conclusion of the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open Championship to the initiation of the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open Championship
10. Top three players from the 2006 Japan LPGA Tour, Korea LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour New Star money lists
11. Special exemptions selected by the USGA