2008 U.S. Women's Open

 

SOPHIE GUSTAFSON

Birthdate: December 27, 1973

Birthplace: Saro, Sweden

Age: 34 Ht.: 5’8"

Home: Ponte Vedra, Fla.

College: Aranasskolan & Kormvux University

Turned Professional: 1992

Joined LPGA Tour: 1998

LPGA Tour Victories: 4 - 2000 Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, Weetabix Women’s British Open. 2001 Subaru Memorial of Naples, 2003 Samsung World Championship

PLAYER NOTES

2007 Highlights

Recorded a season-best tie for second at the Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi, where she carded a season-low 66 in the opening round; also carded a 66 in the second round of the Safeway International where she tied for fifth.

Posted four additional top-10 finishes, including ties for sixth at both the McDonald’s LPGA Championship and the Evian Masters; tied for ninth at both the LPGA State Farm Classic and the ADT Championship.

Made her sixth Solheim Cup appearance and earned one point for the European Team.

Won the Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit; won the De Vere Ladies Scottish Open for her 18th career international victory.

2007 Stats (rank)

Rds under par: 30/63 (12) Rds in the 60s: 16/63 (12) Birdies: 227 (27)

Eagles: 5 (15) Greens in Reg: 61.6% (64) Driving Accuracy: 55.2% (141)

Sand Saves: 48.1% (18) Putts per GIR: 1.79 (10) Driving Avg: 268.8 (6)

2006 Highlights

Recorded her second consecutive runner-up finish at the Weetabix Women’s British Open.

Posted six top-10 finishes, including a third-place finish at the Samsung World Championship, tie for fifth at the ShopRite Classic and a tie for sixth at the Franklin American Mortgage Championship benefiting the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Posted a career-low 63 in the second round of the Franklin American Mortgage Championship benefiting the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and in the final round of the Wendy’s Championship for Children.

Crossed the $3 million mark in career earnings at the U.S. Women’s Open, where she tied for 10th.

Advanced to the quarterfinals of the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship before losing to third-seed Lorena Ochoa 3&2 to finish tied for fifth.

Won the Siemens Austrian Ladies Open presented by Uniqa on the Ladies European Tour (LET).

2006 Stats (rank)

Rds under par: 39/81 (24) Rds in the 60s: 22/81 (17) Birdies: 319 (11)

Eagles: 8 (4) Greens in Reg: 71.6% (12) Driving Accuracy: 64.8% (137)

Sand Saves: 38.6% (74) Putts per GIR: 1.80 (32) Driving Avg: 275.2 (3)

2005 Highlights

Recorded a total of seven top-10 finishes, including a runner-up finish at the Weetabix Women’s British Open, her career-best finish in a major championship, and a tie for third at the Mizuno Classic.

Tied for fifth at the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship.

Tied her career-low 64 during the third round of the Wendy’s Championship for Children.

As a captain’s pick, made her fifth Solheim Cup appearance and earned two points for the European Team.

2005 Stats (rank)

Rds under par: 32/83 (31) Rds in the 60s: 19/83 (25) Birdies: 288 (12)

Eagles: 11 (2) Greens in Reg: 65.1% (80) Driving Accuracy: 61.7% (154)

Sand Saves: 38.9% (57) Putts per GIR: 1.81 (27) Driving Avg: 269.2 (2)

2004 Highlights

Recorded her season-best finish of a tie for third at The Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions, where fired a season-low 65 in the third round.

Added two additional top-10 finishes: fourth at the Samsung World Championship and a tie for sixth at the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship at Mount Vintage.

Led the Tour in driving distance with an average of 270.2 yards.

2004 Stats (Rank)

Rds under par: 21/62 (63) Rds in the 60s: 10/62 (67) Birdies: 200 (64)

Eagles: 4 (63) Greens in Reg: 61.3% (117) Driving Accuracy: 56% (164)

Sand Saves: 25.6% (153) Putts per GIR: 1.82 (53) Driving Avg: 270.2 (1)

2003 Highlights

Claimed her fourth career title at the Samsung World Championship, where she tied her career-low score of 64 during the final round; also crossed the $2 million mark in career earnings mark with the win.

Posted an additional five top-10 finishes, including a tie for second at the Mizuno Classic.

Led the Order of Merit on the Evian Ladies European Tour (LET), where she won the Ladies Irish Open, HP Open and the BT Ladies Open; also won the World Match-play Championship.

Also won the LET's Vivien Saunders Stroke Average trophy and was voted as the Player's Player of the Year on the LET.

Was a member of the victorious European Solheim Cup Team, posting a 3-2-0 record.

In November, became the first woman to compete in a Japan Golf Tour event at the Casio World Open in Kaimon, Japan.

2003 Stats (Rank)

Rds under par: 38/71 (14) Rds in the 60s: 23/71 (13) Birdies: 277 (20)

Eagles: 10 (4) Greens in Reg: 67.2% (31) Driving Accuracy: 61.8% (143)

Sand Saves: 36% (85) Putts per GIR: 1.78 (14) Driving Avg: 269 (2)

2002 Highlights

Best finish was a tie for 11th at the Weetabix Women’s British Open; also tied for 12th at the Longs Drugs Challenge.

Was a member of the European Solheim Cup Team, posting a 2-1 record.

Recorded her third career hole-in-one during the second round of the First Union Betsy King Classic.

Posted a season-low 66 during the third round of the Safeway Classic, where she tied for 18th.

Won the Biarritz Ladies Classic on the Evian Ladies European Tour (LET).

2002 Stats (rank)

Rds under par: 28/62 (23) Rds in the 60s: 14/62 (35) Birdies: 213 (48)

Eagles: 13 (2) Greens in Reg: 63.7% (64) Driving Accuracy: 63.3% (143)

Sand Saves: 26.7% (150) Putting Avg: 29.65 (37) Driving Avg: 263.1 (9)

2001 Highlights

Won her third LPGA title at the Subaru Memorial of Naples, where she posted a career-low score of 64 during the second round.

Finished second and crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez, where she lost a two-hole playoff with fellow Swede Annika Sorenstam.

Posted seven top-10 finishes, including a tie for seventh at the Nabisco Championship, her best finish in a major championship.

Recorded the first hole-in-one of her LPGA career during the second round of the Evian Masters; recorded the second hole-in-one of her career during the final round of the season-ending Tyco/ADT Championship; she won a car for both aces.

Along with Laura Diaz, led the Tour in eagles with 13.

Won the AAMI Women’s Australian Open on the Evian Ladies European Tour (LET).

2001 Stats (rank)

Rds under par: 36/84 (39) Rds in the 60s: 21/84 (26) Birdies: 291 (18)

Eagles: 13 (1) Greens in Reg: 67.3% (43) Driving Accuracy: 61.5% (166)

Sand Saves: 44.7% (34) Putting Avg: 29.86 (43) Driving Avg: 262.60 (4)

Career Highlights

In 2000, became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez; won the Weetabix Women’s British Open; lost the Mizuno Classic in a playoff with Lorie Kane; scored 21/2 points as a member of the victorious European Solheim Cup Team; won three titles on the LET.

In 1999, tied for sixth at the Weetabix Women’s British Open, where she recorded a double eagle during the second round— hit a 3-iron from 217 yards into the hole on the par-5 sixth.

In 1998, best finish was a tie for second at the Weetabix Women’s British Open; won four international tournaments.

In 1997, finished fifth at the Alpine Australian Ladies Masters and won the Thailand Open on the Women Professional Golfers’ European Tour (WPGET).

In 1996, finished 12th on the WPGET Order of Merit; won two international titles.

Won the 1995 Swiss Open and 1997 Thailand Open.

In 1994, joined the WPGET.

Personal

Attended Swedish school for 15 years, where she studied law, accounting and marketing. . . Credits Seve Ballesteros and Laura Davies as the individuals most influencing her career. . . Married Ty Votaw on June 16, 2006. . . Has two older brothers. . . Hobbies include motorcycles and music. . . Earned Life Membership on the LET Tour in 2006. . . Qualified for the Tour on her first attempt.

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