| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | May 30 – June 2, 1996 |
| Location | Southern Pines, North Carolina |
| Course(s) | Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 70 |
| Length | 6,207 yards (5,676 m)[1][2] |
| Cut | 148 (+8) |
| Prize fund | $1.2 million |
| Winner's share | $212,500 |
| Champion | |
 Annika Sörenstam | |
| 272 (−8) | |
Lodge & GC
The 1996 U.S. Women's Open was the 51st U.S. Women's Open, held May 30 to June 2 at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
Defending champion Annika Sörenstam retained the title, six strokes ahead of runner-up Kris Tschetter.[2][3][4] It was the second of her ten major titles; her third came nearly five years later. ESPN and NBC Sports televised the tournament.
Sörenstam was the sixth of seven to win consecutive titles at the U.S. Women's Open, most recently accomplished by Karrie Webb in 2001, also at Pine Needles. The championship returned to the venue for a third time in 2007, won by Cristie Kerr.
This was the first women's major with a winner's share of $200,000 or more; the U.S. Women's Open became the tour's richest major this year, passing the LPGA Championship.
- ^ Garrity, John (June 10, 1996). "Timeless Track". Sports Illustrated. p. G6.
- ^ a b "Sorenstam strolls to victory". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. (New York Times), Associated Press. June 3, 1996. p. 4C.
- ^ Sirak, Ron (June 3, 1996). "Sorenstam makes Open a closed affair". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. p. 1C.
- ^ Bamberger, Michael (June 10, 1996). "Second Coming". Sports Illustrated. p. G2. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2017.