Samsung World Championship

The Samsung World Championship was an annual golf tournament played between 1980 and 2009, for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. It was a limited field event, open by invitation only.

Samsung World Championship

Tournament information
Location	La Jolla, California
Established	1980
Course(s)	Torrey Pines, South Course
Tour(s)	LPGA Tour
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	US $1,000,000 (in 2009)
Month played	September
Current champion
Na Yeon Choi

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.

Tournament names through the years:

• 1980: World Series of Women's Golf
• 1981: World Championship of Women's Golf
• 1982-1984: Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf
• 1985: Nestle World Championship of Women's Golf
• 1986-1989: Nestle World Championship
• 1990: Trophee Urban-World Championship
• 1991: Daikyo World Championship
• 1992: no tournament
• 1993-1994: World Championship of Women's Golf
• 1995-1999: Samsung World Championship of Women's Golf
• 2000-2009: Samsung World Championship

2009 participants

The 2009 championship included 20 players: the previous year's defending champion; the 2008 Vare Trophy winner; the 2008 LPGA Money Winner; the winners of the four 2009 women's major golf championships: the Kraft Nabisco Championship, McDonald's LPGA Championship, U.S. Women's Open, and Women's British Open; the leading player from the Ladies European Tour in 2009; one sponsor's exemption selected by the championship selection committee; the leading "active" LPGA Hall of Fame member on the LPGA Official Money List in 2009; and the top money winners on the LPGA Tour from the 2009 season.

The 2009 participants listed in order of qualification or invitation:^[1]

1. Paula Creamer - Defending Champion
2. Lorena Ochoa - 2008 Vare Trophy Winner, 2008 LPGA Money Leader
3. Brittany Lincicome - Winner of 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship
4. Anna Nordqvist - Winner of 2009 LPGA Championship
5. Eun-Hee Ji - Winner of 2009 U.S. Women's Open
6. Catriona Matthew - Winner of 2009 Ricoh Women's British Open
7. Juli Inkster - Sponsor's Exemption
8. Cristie Kerr - LPGA Money Leader
9. Sophie Gustafson - LET Order of Merit Leader
10. Karrie Webb - Leading Active LPGA Hall of Fame Member
11. Jiyai Shin - Qualified from LPGA Money List
12. Ai Miyazato - Qualified from LPGA Money List
13. In-Kyung Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List
14. Yani Tseng - Qualified from LPGA Money List
15. Suzann Pettersen - Qualified from LPGA Money List
16. Angela Stanford - Qualified from LPGA Money List
17. Kristy McPherson - Qualified from LPGA Money List
18. Na Yeon Choi - Qualified from LPGA Money List
19. Lindsey Wright - Qualified from LPGA Money List
20. Song-Hee Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List

Winners

Year	Champion	Country	Score	Tournament Location	Purse	Winner's Share
2009	Na Yeon Choi	South Korea	272 (-16)	Torrey Pines Golf Course, South Course	$1,000,000	$250,000
2008	Paula Creamer	United States	279	Half Moon Bay Golf Links, Ocean Course	$1,000,000	$250,000
2007	Lorena Ochoa	Mexico	270	Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course	$1,000,000	$250,000
2006	Lorena Ochoa	Mexico	272	Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course	$875,000	$218,750
2005	Annika Sörenstam	Sweden	270	Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course	$850,000	$212,500
2004	Annika Sörenstam	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 Sörenstam	Sweden	266	Hiddenbrooke Golf Club	$775,000	$162,000
2001	Dorothy Delasin	Philippines	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 Sörenstam	Sweden	274	Ildong Lakes Golf Club	$500,000	$125,000
1995	Annika Sörenstam	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	No tournament
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 records

Year	Player	Score	Round	Course
2004	Grace Park	62 (-10)	1st round	Bighorn Golf Club, Canyons Course
2009	Na Yeon Choi	63 (-9)	3rd round	Torrey Pines Golf Course