The Samsung World Championship was an annual golf tournament played between 1980 and 2009, for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. It was a limited field event, open by invitation only.
The tournament was founded in 1980 by Mark McCormack, founder of the sports management firm IMG, originally with the world's top-12 LPGA players. The field was increased to 16 players in 1996 and to 20 in 1999. Electronics manufacturer Samsung became the title sponsor in 1995.
Tournament names through the years: 1980: World Series of Women's Golf 1981: World Championship of Women's Golf 1982-1984: Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf 1985: Nestle World Championship of Women's Golf 1986-1989: Nestle World Championship 1990: Trophee Urban-World Championship 1991: Daikyo World Championship 1992: no tournament 1993-1994: World Championship of Women's Golf 1995-1999: Samsung World Championship of Women's Golf 2000-2009: Samsung World Championship
2009 participants The 2009 championship included 20 players: the previous year's defending champion; the 2008 Vare Trophy winner; the 2008 LPGA Money Winner; the winners of the four 2009 women's major golf championships: the Kraft Nabisco Championship, McDonald's LPGA Championship, U.S. Women's Open, and Women's British Open; the leading player from the Ladies European Tour in 2009; one sponsor's exemption selected by the championship selection committee; the leading "active" LPGA Hall of Fame member on the LPGA Official Money List in 2009; and the top money winners on the LPGA Tour from the 2009 season.
The 2009 participants listed in order of qualification or invitation: Paula Creamer - Defending Champion Lorena Ochoa - 2008 Vare Trophy Winner, 2008 LPGA Money Leader Brittany Lincicome - Winner of 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship Anna Nordqvist - Winner of 2009 LPGA Championship Eun-Hee Ji - Winner of 2009 U.S. Women's Open Catriona Matthew - Winner of 2009 Ricoh Women's British Open Juli Inkster - Sponsor's Exemption Cristie Kerr - LPGA Money Leader Sophie Gustafson - LET Order of Merit Leader Karrie Webb - Leading Active LPGA Hall of Fame Member Jiyai Shin - Qualified from LPGA Money List Ai Miyazato - Qualified from LPGA Money List In-Kyung Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List Yani Tseng - Qualified from LPGA Money List Suzann Pettersen - Qualified from LPGA Money List Angela Stanford - Qualified from LPGA Money List Kristy McPherson - Qualified from LPGA Money List Na Yeon Choi - Qualified from LPGA Money List Lindsey Wright - Qualified from LPGA Money List Song-Hee Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List
Winners YearChampionCountryScoreTournamentLocationPurseWinner'sShare2009 Na Yeon Choi 272 (-16) Torrey Pines Golf Course, South Course $1,000,000 $250,0002008 Paula Creamer 279 Half Moon Bay Golf Links, Ocean Course $1,000,000 $250,0002007 Lorena Ochoa 270 Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course $1,000,000 $250,0002006 Lorena Ochoa 272 Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course $875,000 $218,7502005Annika Sörenstam 270Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course $850,000 $212,5002004Annika Sörenstam 270Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course $825,000 $206,2502003Sophie Gustafson 274The Players Club at the Woodlands $800,000 $200,0002002Annika Sörenstam 266Hiddenbrooke Golf Club $775,000 $162,0002001Dorothy Delasin 277Hiddenbrooke Golf Club $750,000 $157,0002000Juli Inkster 274Hiddenbrooke Golf Club $725,000 $152,0001999Se Ri Pak 280Rush Creek Golf Club $700,000 $150,0001998Juli Inkster 275Villages in Lady Lake $550,000 $137,0001997Juli Inkster 280Lakeside Country Club $525,000 $131,0001996Annika Sörenstam 274Ildong Lakes Golf Club $500,000 $125,0001995Annika Sörenstam 282Paradise Golf Club $475,000 $117,5001994Beth Daniel 274Naples National Golf Club $425,000 $105,0001993Dottie Mochrie 283Naples National Golf Club $400,000 $102,5001992 No tournament1991Meg Mallon 216Paradise Palms Golf Club $325,000 $100,0001990Cathy Gerring 278Cely Golf Club $325,000 $100,0001989Betsy King 275Stouffer Pineisle Resort $265,000 $83,5001988Rosie Jones 270Stouffer Pineisle Resort $265,000 $81,5001987Ayako Okamoto 282Stouffer Pineisle Resort $250,000 $81,5001986Pat Bradley 279Stouffer Pineisle Resort $240,000 $78,0001985Amy Alcott 274Stouffer Pineisle Resort $200,000 $65,0001984Nancy Lopez 281Shaker Heights Country Club $200,000 $65,0001983JoAnne Carner 282Shaker Heights Country Club $200,000 $65,0001982JoAnne Carner 284Shaker Heights Country Club $150,000 $50,0001981Beth Daniel 284Shaker Heights Country Club $150,000 $50,0001980Beth Daniel 280The Country Club $150,000 $46,500
Tournament records YearPlayerScoreRoundCourse2004 Grace Park 62 (-10) 1st round Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course2009 Na Yeon Choi 63 (-9) 3rd round Torrey Pines Golf Course
References
External links Official website LPGA official tournament microsite