Karrie Webb to make U.S. Senior Women's Open debut, likens her game to a box of chocolates
'It can be really impressive some days,' explained Webb, 'and some days it looks like I haven't played for a year.'
The legendary Aussie makes her debut in the U.S. Senior Women's Open this week, one of six World Golf Hall of Fame members in the field. The 41-time LPGA winner turned 50 last December and will be among the favorites this week, despite the rust.
Webb teed it up last month in the inaugural Greater Toledo Classic hosted by Stacy Lewis, an event that combined the Epson Tour with the Legends of the LPGA.
'Unfortunately, we had one round rained out,' said Webb during a pre-tournament press conference, 'but it did feel good to be back out there competing, feeling a bit of adrenaline.
'I think the longer you're aware from the game, you don't realize the stress level that you lived with and at for an extended period of years, and so when you get that adrenaline rush now, it's so unusual for your body to handle. It was good to feel that for a couple rounds.'
Fellow Hall of Famer Juli Inkster, 65, played in Toledo and last week on the LPGA in Portland, where she nearly broke JoAnne Carner's record of oldest to make the cut, missing out on the weekend by a single stroke.
'What's different is I have never been the best ball striker or putter or whatever, but I was always a grinder,' said Inkster. 'It's just hard grinding for 18 holes now. Mentally it's just hard to stay in it because you don't do it.
'But I thought, I really played well the first day. The second day I didn't play as well. But there's not a lot of times I'm up at 5:30 for a 7:30 tee time now. Your body is different. So I think that was good for me to have an early time like that to kind of figure out what I need to do.'
The 7th U.S. Senior Women's Open, which gets underway Aug. 21, is being held at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, California, and it's a return home for 2024 champion Leta Lindley, who played junior golf tournaments at the club.
'I've been looking forward to this day for a long time,' said Lindley.
The average age for the field of 120 is 57.06, and Lindley is among the five returning past champions, including Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies.
A post shared by United States Golf Association (@usga)
This year marks the first time that 86-year-old Carner, an eight-time USGA champion who hit the first tee shot at the inaugural U.S. Senior Women's Open, won't be in the field.
Carner told Golfweek earlier this week that her game had 'fallen apart' after the loss of about 30 yards off the tee.
"I just got into some real bad habits," said Carner, a 43-time winner on the LPGA and two-time U.S. Women's Open champion.
Trevor Marrs caddied for Carner at Brooklawn Country Club in 2021, and she brought him back each year. This week, Marrs is caddying for another LPGA and World Golf Hall of Famer – Hollis Stacy.
This is the fourth USGA championship at San Diego Country Club
San Diego native Mickey Wright won her fourth U.S. Women's Open title at home in 1964. Jill McGill, the 2022 U.S. Senior Women's Open champion, captured the 1993 U.S. Women's Amateur title at San Diego CC as well.
McGill is one of nine players in the field this week who were in that 1993 Women's Amateur field, joined by Angela Buzminski, Eunice Cho, Stacy L. Slobodnik-Stoll, Abby Pearson, Wendy Ward, amateurs Brenda Corrie Kuehn and Ellen Port and defending champion Lindley.
'I definitely can see why Mickey Wright was classed as one of the best ball-strikers to ever play the game,' said Webb.'You're definitely going to have to be on tee to green all week, and then the greens are tricky, as well. Distance control, trying to leave it under the hole as best you can, is important.'
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