 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | La Jolla, California |
| Established | 1980 |
| Course(s) | Torrey Pines, South Course |
| Tour | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | US $1,000,000 (in 2009) |
| Month played | September |
| Current champion | |
| Na Yeon Choi | |
TheSamsung World Championship was an annualgolf tournament played between 1980 and 2009, for professional female golfers on theLPGA Tour. It was a limited field event, open by invitation only.
The tournament was founded in 1980 byMark McCormack, founder of the sports management firmIMG, originally with the world's top-12 LPGA players. The field was increased to 16 players in 1996 and to 20 in 1999. Electronics manufacturerSamsung became the title sponsor in 1995.
Tournament names through the years:
The 2009 championship included 20 players: the previous year's defending champion; the 2008Vare Trophy winner; the 2008LPGA Money Winner; the winners of the four 2009women's major golf championships: theKraft Nabisco Championship,McDonald's LPGA Championship,U.S. Women's Open, andWomen's British Open; the leading player from theLadies 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:[1]
| Year | Champion | Country | Score | Tournament Location | Purse | Winner's Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Na Yeon Choi |  South Korea | 272 (-16) | Torrey Pines Golf Course, South Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 |
| 2008 | Paula Creamer |  United States | 279 | Half Moon Bay Golf Links, Ocean Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 |
| 2007 | Lorena Ochoa |  Mexico | 270 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $1,000,000 | $250,000 |
| 2006 | Lorena Ochoa | Mexico | 272 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $875,000 | $218,750 |
| 2005 | Annika Sörenstam |  Sweden | 270 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $850,000 | $212,500 |
| 2004 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 270 | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course | $825,000 | $206,250 |
| 2003 | Sophie Gustafson | Sweden | 274 | The Players Club at the Woodlands | $800,000 | $200,000 |
| 2002 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 266 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $775,000 | $162,000 |
| 2001 | Dorothy Delasin |  Philippines | 277 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $750,000 | $157,000 |
| 2000 | Juli Inkster | United States | 274 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $725,000 | $152,000 |
| 1999 | Se Ri Pak | South Korea | 280 | Rush Creek Golf Club | $700,000 | $150,000 |
| 1998 | Juli Inkster | United States | 275 | Villages in Lady Lake | $550,000 | $137,000 |
| 1997 | Juli Inkster | United States | 280 | Lakeside Country Club | $525,000 | $131,000 |
| 1996 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 274 | Ildong Lakes Golf Club | $500,000 | $125,000 |
| 1995 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 282 | Paradise Golf Club | $475,000 | $117,500 |
| 1994 | Beth Daniel | United States | 274 | Naples National Golf Club | $425,000 | $105,000 |
| 1993 | Dottie Mochrie | United States | 283 | Naples National Golf Club | $400,000 | $102,500 |
| 1992 | No tournament | |||||
| 1991 | Meg Mallon | United States | 216 | Paradise Palms Golf Club | $325,000 | $100,000 |
| 1990 | Cathy Gerring | United States | 278 | Cely Golf Club | $325,000 | $100,000 |
| 1989 | Betsy King | United States | 275 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $265,000 | $83,500 |
| 1988 | Rosie Jones | United States | 270 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $265,000 | $81,500 |
| 1987 | Ayako Okamoto |  Japan | 282 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $250,000 | $81,500 |
| 1986 | Pat Bradley | United States | 279 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $240,000 | $78,000 |
| 1985 | Amy Alcott | United States | 274 | Stouffer Pineisle Resort | $200,000 | $65,000 |
| 1984 | Nancy Lopez | United States | 281 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $200,000 | $65,000 |
| 1983 | JoAnne Carner | United States | 282 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $200,000 | $65,000 |
| 1982 | JoAnne Carner | United States | 284 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $150,000 | $50,000 |
| 1981 | Beth Daniel | United States | 284 | Shaker Heights Country Club | $150,000 | $50,000 |
| 1980 | Beth Daniel | United States | 280 | The Country Club | $150,000 | $46,500 |
| Year | Player | Score | Round | Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Grace Park | 62 (-10) | 1st round | Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course |
| 2009 | Na Yeon Choi | 63 (-9) | 3rd round | Torrey Pines Golf Course |