The United States Women's Open Golf Championship, one of thirteen national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA), is one of the LPGA's major championships along with the LPGA Championship, the Women's British Open, and the Kraft Nabisco Championship. It is the only event to have been recognized as a major by the LPGA since its founding in 1950; the other current majors were established later. Unlike its men's counterpart, the U.S. Women's Open is not globally recognized as a major championship. The Ladies European Tour does not sanction any of the three majors held in the United States, and the LPGA of Japan Tour has its own set of majors. However the significance of this is limited as the LPGA Tour is more dominant in women's golf than the PGA Tour is in men's golf. In 2007, non-American players outnumbered Americans for the first time.The 2008 tournament was won by 19-year-old South Korean Inbee Park, who became the event's youngest winner ever.
Past Winners . 2009 Eun-Hee Ji . 2008 Inbee Park . 2007 Cristie Kerr . 2006 Annika Sörenstam . 2005 Birdie Kim . 2004 Meg Mallon . 2003 Hilary Lunke . 2002 Juli Inkster . 2001 Karrie Webb . 2000 Karrie Webb . 1999 Juli Inkster . 1998 Se Ri Pak . 1997 Alison Nicholas . 1996 Annika Sörenstam . 1995 Annika Sörenstam . 1994 Patty Sheehan . 1993 Lauri Merten . 1992 Patty Sheehan . 1991 Meg Mallon . 1990 Betsy King . 1989 Betsy King . 1988 Liselotte Neumann . 1987 Laura Davies . 1986 Jane Geddes . 1985 Kathy Guadagnino . 1984 Hollis Stacy . 1983 Jan Stephenson . 1982 Janet Anderson . 1981 Pat Bradley . 1980 Amy Alcott . 1979 Jerilyn Britz . 1978 Hollis Stacy . 1977 Hollis Stacy . 1976 JoAnne Carner . 1975 Sandra Palmer . 1974 Sandra Haynie . 1973 Susie Berning . 1972 Susie Berning . 1971 JoAnne Carner . 1970 Donna Caponi . 1969 Donna Caponi . 1968 Susie Berning . 1967 Catherine Lacoste . 1966 Sandra Spuzich . 1965 Carol Mann . 1964 Mickey Wright . 1963 Mary Mills . 1962 Murle Lindstrom . 1961 Mickey Wright . 1960 Betsy Rawls . 1959 Mickey Wright . 1958 Mickey Wright . 1957 Betsy Rawls . 1956 Kathy Cornelius . 1955 Fay Crocker . 1954 Babe Zaharias . 1953 Betsy Rawls . 1952 Louise Suggs . 1951 Betsy Rawls . 1950 Babe Zaharias . 1949 Louise Suggs . 1948 Babe Zaharias . 1947 Betty Jameson . 1946 Patty Berg
