Cherry Hills Country Club sets the stage for the LPGA’s third major tournament of the year. Defending champion Meg Mallon will attempt to grab her share of the $3.1 million purse as she has done on two previous occasions.
A first-place check of $560,000 and the prestige of winning the beautiful sterling trophy has 155 of the best women golfers in the world chomping at the bit for a chance at the glory it represents.
The 72-hole championship originated in 1946 as a match-play event changing over to stroke-play the following year and is the longest-running tournament on the LPGA Tour.
The United States Amateur is one of the most familiar events in the world of golf, but I think it’s starting to lose some steam. Since 1990, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, and Tiger Woods have won the U.S. Amateur. Woods, as we all know, won three in a row from 1994-1996. These players have gone on to make their mark in a big way on the PGA Tour and for great reasons. Woods has nine major championships on the PGA Tour, Mickelson has one, and Leonard has one. Since Tiger’s win at the U.S. Amateur in 1996, however, the event winners have struggled in a bad way on the PGA Tour.
Two quick tidbits today. First, thanks to 
In this week’s installment of The Bag Drop, we’ll take a look at last week’s U.S. Open Championship from the equipment perspective. What tools did Michael Campbell use in his stunning victory, what did the boys in the tour van create specifically for Pinehurst No. 2, and further proof of how right the saying “drive for show, putt for dough” really is.
Tiger Woods has long said that the secret to good golf is always being pin high. When you’re pin high, you don’t have to worry about water hazards, bunkers, or steep slopes beyond the green. You may miss right or left, but if you don’t short side yourself, you’ll likely be putting most of the time.
Many said it was Retief Goosen’s U.S. Open to lose, and lose it he did. Opening the day with a three-shot lead, the unassuming South African made one birdie and limped home to a final-round 81. His playing companion, fan favorite Jason Gore, fared no better, carding a +14 84, finishing T49. Olin Browne, who like Gore began the day at even par, carded an 80 to finish T23.
Locust Hill Country Club’s greens were an easy read for Mexican Lorena Ochoa today. With five consecutive birdies on the back nine, Ochoa charged past rookie Paula Creamer to finally win her first title of 2005 by four strokes with a 7-under 65.