[Golf Topic] US Women's Open Regional Qualifiers "Starting from April This Year"

This is a photo of Kim Arim smiling brightly while holding the trophy after winning the US Women's Open last month.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ○…The US Women's Open sectional qualifiers will be held from April this year.

The United States Golf Association (USGA), which organizes the tournament, announced on the 27th (Korean time) that "sectional qualifiers for the US Women's Open will be held from April 27 to May 14 at 22 locations across the United States." Last year, the qualifiers were not held due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The sectional qualifiers, which began in 1976, are the "heart" of the US Women's Open. This is because it opens the door for players who are not top-level professionals to participate in the world's best women's golf tournament.

There have been two winners who came from sectional qualifiers: Hilary Lunke (USA) in 2003 and Kim Ju-yeon (40) in 2005. The rankings are determined by 36-hole stroke play, and the number of players who qualify for the main tournament varies by region, ranging from as few as one to as many as five. Last year, since the sectional qualifiers could not be held, the US Women's Open supplemented the main tournament participants by relaxing the world ranking criteria. Arim Kim (26, SBI Savings Bank) received a US Women's Open entry right based on the expanded world ranking criteria and won the tournament.

John Bodenheimer, Chief Operating Officer, said, "Last year was difficult in many ways, and we had to make the tough decision to cancel the sectional qualifiers," adding, "Fortunately, this year we are able to safely revive the sectional qualifiers, which is a relief." Whether overseas sectional qualifiers will be held in four countries including Korea, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom has not yet been decided. Korea has been holding sectional qualifiers at Woojeong Hills Golf Club in Cheonan, Chungnam since 2014.