If the folks who are running this summer’s U.S. Women’s Open in Colorado Springs are believers in history repeating itself, they must be salivating about what could be in store at the Broadmoor in 2 ½ months.
The LPGA Tour has a long and storied history in Colorado, and the Women’s Open July 7-10 may provide another memorable chapter. If the tournament at the Broadmoor’s East Course proves similar to most of the previous LPGA events held in Colorado, it won’t soon be forgotten.
Twenty-one LPGA Tour events have been conducted in Colorado, dating back to the 1950 Women’s Western Open at Cherry Hills Country Club, where all-around athlete (and one-time Denver-area resident) Babe Zaharias defeated Peggy Kirk 5 and 3 in the match play final.
As Zaharias’ victory portended, Colorado-based LPGA tournaments have produced big-name champions far more often than not. Indeed, of the 21 tourneys in the state, a whopping 16 have had winners who are now in the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame and/or the World Golf Hall of Fame.
The list in a veritable who’s who of women’s golf — Kathy Whitworth (1978 National Jewish Hospital Open at Green Gables), Annika Sorenstam (1995 U.S. Women’s Open at the Broadmoor), Pat Bradley (1983 Columbia Savings Classic at Columbine and 1985 LPGA National Pro-Am at Lone Tree and Meridian), Amy Alcott (1986 LPGA National Pro-Am at Glenmoor and Lone Tree), JoAnne Carner (1977 National Jewish Hospital Open at Columbine and 1981 Columbia Savings Classic at Columbine), Beth Daniel (1980 and “˜82 Columbia Savings Classics at Columbine), Betsy King (1984 Columbia Saving Classic at Green Gables), Sandra Haynie (1972 and “˜74 National Jewish Hospital Opens at Green Gables and Rolling Hills, respectively), Judy Rankin (1975 National Jewish Hospital Open at Pinehurst), Marlene Hagge (1956 Denver Open at Lakewood CC), Marilynn Smith (1955 Mile High Open at Lakewood CC) and Zaharias.
To put it another way, nearly half of the members of the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame won at least one Tour event in Colorado.
Of course, there’s no guarantee the Colorado Hall of Fame trend will continue. There have been several lesser-knowns who have won in the state, including Birdie Kim (2005 U.S. Women’s Open at Cherry Hills) and Chris Johnson (1987 LPGA National Pro-Am at Meridian and Lone Tree).
But at a time when the LPGA Tour needs top players who golf fans can readily identify with — especially after the retirements of Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa in recent years — the Tour and U.S. Women’s Open officials could use plenty of household names on the leaderboard this summer at the Broadmoor.
“If (the champion) is someone like Annika, it could turn a lot of people on,” said Denver’s Joan Birkland, a former chairman of the USGA Women’s Committee. “Or a player like Paula Creamer. She’s feminine, pretty and she can hit it. I think a lot of girls would say, “˜I want to be like her.'”
American golf fans who would like to see more U.S. players win top LPGA events have gotten their wish in recent major championships, which might bode well for more of the same at this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.
Three of the four reigning champions in LPGA majors are Americans — (Cristie Kerr, 2010 LPGA Championship; Creamer, 2010 U.S. Women’s Open; and Stacy Lewis (2011 Kraft Nabisco).
Before that run for the Americans, just one of the previous 10 winners of women’s majors was from the U.S. (Brittany Lincicome won the 2009 Kraft Nabisco).
“I think American golf is on an upswing,” U.S. Solheim Cup captain Rosie Jones said after Lewis’ Kraft Nabisco victory.
Whatever the reason, LPGA.com recently reported that total television viewership for the LPGA Tour is up 20 percent in 2011 compared to like events on cable in 2010.
“…We feel sports fans are embracing the LPGA Tour this season,” LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said. “We know it’s early, but we feel that the Tour’s popularity is on the rise and we will do all we can to maintain this momentum throughout the season.”
