Samsung World Championship
The Samsung World Championship is an annual golf tournament, originating in 1981, 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. Over the years it has been known by a variety of names: the Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf (1980-84); Nestle World Championship (1985-89); Trophee Urban-World Championship of Women's Golf (1990); Daikyo World Championship of Women's Golf (1991); World Championship of Women's Golf (1993-94); and Samsung Championship of Women's Golf (1995-99).
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.
The 2006 championship will invite 20 players, including 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 holders on the LPGA Tour from the 2006 season.
As of August 6, 2006 five players qualified for the 2006 championship: [1]
- Annika Sorenstam - Defending Champion and Winner of U.S. Women's Open and 2005 Vare Tophy Winner and 2005 LPGA Leading Money Winner
- Michelle Wie - Championship selection committtee choice, announced March 6, 2006
- Karrie Webb - Winner of Kraft Nabisco Championship, announced April 3, 2006
- Se Ri Pak - Winner of McDonald's LPGA Championship, announced June 12, 2006
- Sherri Steinhauer - Winner of Women's British Open, announced August 7, 2006
The current purse is $875,000 with the winner receiving $218,750.
Champions
| Year | Champion | Country | Score | Tournament Location |
Purse | Winner's Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 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 |  South 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 |
Tournament Record
- 2004 Grace Park 62 (-10), 1st round, BIGHORN Golf Club, Canyons Course