Alison Nicholas (born 6 March 1962) is an English professional golfer. She is best known for winning the 1997 U.S. Women's Open.

Early life and amateur career In 1962, Nicholas was born in Gibraltar. She was educated at the School of St Mary and St Anne (now Abbots Bromley School for Girls).

She enjoyed a very successful amateur career in England. She started playing golf at the age of 17 and won the 1982 and 1983 Northern Girls Amateur Open. Nicholas was the 1983 British Amateur Stroke Play champion. In 1983, Nicholas won the Yorkshire Ladies County Championship.

Professional career In 1984, Nicholas turned professional. She joined the Ladies European Tour in the same year. She joined the LPGA Tour in 1989.

Nicholas won the Women's British Open in 1987, when it was recognised as a major championship by the Ladies European Tour only, and the 1997 U.S. Women's Open. She became the seventh player to have won both the British and U.S. Open titles, joining Laura Davies, Jane Geddes, Betsy King, Patty Sheehan, Liselotte Neumann and Annika Sörenstam.

At her retirement at the end of the 2004 season, Nicholas had won 12 events on the Ladies European Tour. She topped the European Tour Order of Merit in 1997 and finished in the top-10 15 times in 16 seasons between 1985 and 2000. She also won four times on the LPGA Tour, between 1995 and 1999, including winning the U.S. Women's Open in 1997. In 1992, she won both the Western Australian Open and the Malaysian Open.

Nicholas was a member of the European Solheim Cup team in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000, forming a formidable partnership with Laura Davies. She was non-playing assistant captain in 2005. In 2007, Nicholas was selected captain for the 2009 and 2011 European Solheim Cup teams. In 2011, she led the European team to a 15–13 victory at Killeen Castle outside Dublin, Ireland.

Awards and honors

In 1991, she won the Vivien Saunders Trophy for lowest stroke average on the Ladies European Tour. In 1997, she was Player of the Year on the Ladies European Tour. She also led the Order of Merit. In 1997, she was honored as the The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year and The Evening Mail Sports Personality of the Year. In 1997, she was also awarded The Association of Golf Writers Trophy and the Midlands Sports Personality of the Year. In the 1998 Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to women's golf.United Kingdom list: In 2002, became a Life Member of the Ladies European Tour.

Professional wins (18) LPGA Tour wins (4) LegendLPGA Tour major championships (1)Other LPGA Tour (3)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up128 May 1995LPGA Corning Classic−13 (70-67-66-72=275)3 strokes Barb Mucha210 Sep 1995Ping-AT&T Wireless Services LPGA Golf Championship−9 (66-73-68=207)3 strokes Kelly Robbins313 Jul 1997U.S. Women's Open−10 (70-66-67-71=274)1 stroke Nancy Lopez420 Feb 1999Sunrise Hawaiian Ladies Open−7 (70-66-73=209)1 stroke Annette DeLuca Moira Dunn

LPGA Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11993LPGA Corning Classic Kelly RobbinsLost to par on first extra hole

Ladies European Tour wins (12) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1 2 Aug 1987 Weetabix Women's British Open +4 (74-76-73-73=296) 1 stroke Laura Davies Muffin Spencer-Devlin2 26 Sep 1987 Laing Charity Classic −8 (76-67-69-69=281) 2 strokes Corinne Dibnah3 21 May 1988 British Olivetti Tournament −9 (71-72-69-71=283) 1 stroke Jane Connachan4 4 Sep 1988 Variety Club Celebrity Classic −12 (68-67-69=204) 4 strokes Dale Reid5 2 Oct 1988 James Capel Guernsey Open −14 (68-72-67-67= 274) 2 strokes Alison Sheard6 30 Jul 1989 Lufthansa Ladies' German Open −19 (67-69-68-65=269) 5 strokes Patricia Gonzalez7 27 Aug 1989 Gislaved Ladies Open E (73-72-69-74=288) 2 strokes Liselotte Neumann8 3 Nov 1989 Qualitair Classic −3 (69-74-70=213) 2 strokes Peggy Conley Sofia Grönberg9 2 Sep 1990 Variety Club Celebrity Classic (2) −13 (68-68-68-71=275) 1 stroke Sofia Grönberg10 10 May 1992 AGF Ladies' Open de Paris −9 (66-68-73-68=275) 1 stroke Alicia Dibos11 6 Aug 1995 Payne & Gunter Scottish Open −16 (66-67-70-69=272) 1 stroke Patricia Meunier12 28 Jul 1996 Guardian Irish Open −11 (69-73-65-70=277) 8 strokes Trish Johnson Ladies European Tour Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11990Laing Ladies Charity Classic Laurette MaritzLost Note: Nicholas won the Women's British Open once before it was co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour in 1994, and recognized as a major championship on the LPGA Tour in 2001.

Source:

Other wins (2) 1992 Western Australian Open, Malaysia Ladies Open

Major championships Wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1997 U.S. Women's Open −10 (70-66-67-71=274)1 stroke Nancy Lopez

Team appearances Professional Solheim Cup (representing Europe): 1990, 1992 (winners), 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000 (winners), 2009 (non-playing captain), 2011 (non-playing captain) (winners) Handa Cup (representing World team): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 (tie), 2013 (winners), 2014

Solheim Cup record Year Totalmatches TotalW–L–H SinglesW–L–H FoursomesW–L–H FourballsW–L–H Pointswon Points%Career187–8–31–3–24–3–02–2–18.547.22%199031–2–00–1–0 lost to N. Lopez 6&41–0–0 won w/L. Davies 2&10–1–0 lost w/L. Davies 4&3133.3%199232–1–00–1–0 lost to J. Inkster 3&21–0–0 won w/L. Davies 1up1–0–0 won w/L. Davies 1up266.7%199432–1–01–0–0 def P. Sheehan 3&21–0–0 won w/L.Davies 2&10–1–0 lost w/L.Davies 2&1266.7%199630–1–20–0–1 halved w/ K. Robbins0–1–0 lost w/L. Davies 1dn0–0–1 halved w/H. Alfredsson133.3%199820–2–00–1–0 lost to T. Green 1dn0–1–0 lost w/H. Alfredsson 3&100%200042–1–10–0–1 halved w/S. Steinhauer1–1–0 won w/L. Davies 4&3, lost w/L.Davies 6&51–0–0 won w/H. Alfredsson 3&22.562.5%

See also List of golfers with most Ladies European Tour wins

Notes and references

External links