Women’s Major Golf Championships

Women’s golf has a set of major championships which matches that of men’s golf.  But women’s golf championships have been less stable.  It has undergone several changes over the years, the last in 2001.  The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) currently recognizes four majors – The Kraft Nabisco Championship, The LPGA Championship, The US Women’s Open and The Women’s British Open.  Unlike its men equivalents with the sole exception of The US Women’s Open, the women’s major golf championships have title sponsors.

The Kraft Nabisco Championship, originally The Colgate/Dinah Shore Winner’s Circle Championship, was founded in 1972 by Dinah Shore.  It has been categorized as a major since 1983.  This annual golf event is held at the Mission Hills County Club in Rancho Mirage, California.

The US Women’s Open is the oldest golf championship which is open to women professionals and amateurs.  It is held every July and has been hosted by the USGA since 1953.  The US Women’s Open was first introduced in 1946 by the short-lived Women’s Professional Golfers Association at match play at the Spokane Country Club in Washington USA.  It is not globally recognized as a major championship but is recognized as a major by The LPGA.

The LPGA Championship currently known as The McDonalds LPGA Championship Presented By Coca Cola is the second longest running tournament in the history of LPGA surpassed only by the US Women’s Open.  The LPGA Championship is not recognized as a major by the Ladies European Tour.  Originally, The LPGA Championship was for professionals only but this rule was revoked in 2005 to allow Michelle Wie, an amateur, to compete.

The Women’s British Open, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Weetabix Women’s British Open, is one of the foremost tournaments in women’s professional golf.  It is the only women’s golf tournament recognized as a major by both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour.  It became an LPGA major in 2001 when it replaced the du Maurier classic on LPGA’s list of majors.