The 1964 U.S. Women's Open was the 19th U.S. Women's Open, held July 9–12 at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, California.
Hometown favorite Mickey Wright won her fourth and final U.S. Women's Open in an 18-hole playoff, two strokes ahead of runner-up Ruth Jessen, 70 to 72. At the 72nd hole on Saturday afternoon, Jessen birdied while Wright scrambled for par from a greenside bunker to force the Sunday playoff. Both players had San Diego ties, as Wright was born and raised in the area and Jessen was a resident of Bonsall.
Jessen, originally of Seattle, was also a runner-up two years earlier in 1962. Wright, a Dallas resident, led (or co-led) after each of the five rounds to win the twelfth of her thirteen major titles. Defending champion Mary Mills finished in eleventh place.
The championship was held the same week as the Open Championship in Scotland, which concluded on Friday.
This was the last U.S. Women's Open to schedule the final two rounds for Saturday, the format since the USGA took over in 1953. In 1965, the final round was moved to Sunday, as it was from 1947 through 1952.
Final leaderboard Saturday, July 11, 1964 Place Player Score To par Money ($)T1 Mickey Wright71-71-75-73=290−2Playoff Ruth Jessen72-73-74-71=290T3 Marilynn Smith75-70-72-74=291−1797 Shirley Englehorn71-78-68-74=2915 Sandra Haynie78-73-70-74=295+35506 Peggy Wilson73-77-72-74=296+4440 T7 Jo Ann Prentice78-73-76-71=298+6371 Marlene Hagge71-76-74-77=2989 Kathy Whitworth76-76-75-73=300+8330 10 Patty Berg76-74-77-75=302+10302 Source:
Playoff Sunday, July 12, 1964 PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney ($)1 Mickey Wright35-35=70 −3 2,2002 Ruth Jessen36-36=72 −1 1,320 Par: 36-37=73 Source:
References
External links Golf Observer final leaderboard U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship U.S. Women's Open – past champions – 1964 San Diego Country Club