Samsung World Championship
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The Samsung World Championship is an annual golf tournament, originating in 1980, for professional female golfers which takes place every October on the LPGA Tour. It is a limited player 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:
- 1980-1984: Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf
- 1985-1989: Nestle World Championship
- 1990: Trophee Urban-World Championship of Women's Golf
- 1991: Daikyo World Championship of Women's Golf
- 1992: no tournament
- 1993-1994: World Championship of Women's Golf
- 1995-1999: Samsung World Championship of Women's Golf
- 2000-present: Samsung World Championship
The 72-hole event is currently played on the par-72, 7.083 yard Canyons Course at the BIGHORN Golf Club in Palm Desert, California, but has been played on courses around the world.
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[edit] 2006 participants
The 2006 championship included 20 invited: the winners of the four 2006 women's major golf championships: the Kraft Nabisco Championship, McDonald's LPGA Championship, U.S. Women's Open, and Women's British Open; the previous year's defending champion; the 2005 Vare Trophy winner; the 2005 LPGA money winner; the leading player from the Ladies European Tour; a championship selection committee choice, as well as the top money winners on the LPGA Tour from the 2006 season.
The final for the field for the 2006 championship was: [1]
- Karrie Webb - Winner of Kraft Nabisco Championship (T13)
- Se Ri Pak - Winner of McDonald's LPGA Championship
- Annika Sorenstam - Defending Champion and Winner of U.S. Women's Open and 2005 Vare Tophy Winner and 2005 LPGA Leading money winner (2)
- Sherri Steinhauer - Winner of Women's British Open (T8)
- Gwladys Nocera - Ladies European Tour Representative * (20)
- Michelle Wie - Championship selection committee choice (17)
- Lorena Ochoa - LPGA top money winner (1)
- Cristie Kerr - LPGA top money winner (T6)
- Mi Hyun Kim - LPGA top money winner (19)
- Juli Inkster - LPGA top money winner T6)
- Pat Hurst - LPGA top money winner (T8)
- Jeong Jang - LPGA top money winner (T15)
- Hee-Won Han - LPGA top money winner (T15)
- Seon Hwa Lee - LPGA top money winner (T8)
- Brittany Lincicome - LPGA top money winner (T13)
- Paula Creamer - LPGA top money winner (5)
- Natalie Gulbis - LPGA top money winner (T11)
- Meena Lee - LPGA top money winner (18)
- Sophie Gustafson - LPGA top money winner (3)
- Stacy Prammanasudh - LPGA top money winner (4)
*Laura Davies was originally invited as the leading money winner on Ladies European Tour but declined the invitation. Gwladys Nocera, the second leading money winner on that tour, was invited in Davies' place.
Tournament finish position in parentheses ( )
T=tied for position
The 2006 tournament was held from October 9 through October 15.
[edit] Winners
| Year | Champion | Country | Score | Tournament Location |
Purse | Winner's Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Lorena Ochoa |  Mexico |
272 | BIGHORN Golf Club, CANYONS Course | $875,000 | $218,750 |
| 2005 | Annika Sorenstam |  Sweden |
270 | BIGHORN Golf Club, CANYONS Course | $850,000 | $212,500 |
| 2004 | Annika Sorenstam | 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 Sorenstam | Sweden |
266 | Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | $775,000 | $162,000 |
| 2001 | Dorothy Delasin |  United States |
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 |  Republic of 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 Sorenstam | Sweden |
274 | Ildong Lakes Golf Club | $500,000 | $125,000 |
| 1995 | Annika Sorenstam | 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 | Did not play | |||||
| 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 |
[edit] Tournament record
| Year | Player | Score | Round | Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Grace Park | 62 (-10) | 1st round | BIGHORN Golf Club, Canyons Course |
