| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 2–6, 1998 |
| Location | Kohler, Wisconsin |
| Course(s) | Blackwolf Run (original course) |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 6,412 yards (5,863 m)[1] |
| Field | 150 players, 62 after cut[2] |
| Cut | 150 (+8) |
| Prize fund | $1.5 million |
| Winner's share | $267,500 |
| Champion | |
 Se Ri Pak | |
| 290 (+6), playoff | |
Run
Run
The 1998 U.S. Women's Open was the 53rd edition of the U.S. Women's Open, held July 2–6 at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wisconsin.
The champion was Se Ri Pak, the winner of a 20-hole Monday playoff over amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn.[3] Both age 20, Pak and Chuasiriporn finished the 18-hole playoff round tied at 73, and both parred the first extra hole, a par-5. Pak rolled in an 18-foot (5.5 m) birdie putt on the 92nd hole of competition to become the youngest woman to win two major championships in the same year.[4][5][6] She won her first major, the LPGA Championship, seven weeks earlier.
On the 72nd hole on Sunday, Chuasiriporn holed a 40-foot (12 m) birdie putt to get into the playoff. Pak later had an 8-foot (2.4 m) birdie putt to win the title outright, but it did not drop. Pak was awarded the winner's share of the prize money on Sunday, prior to the playoff, as Chuasiriporn was an amateur.[7]
The championship returned to the course fourteen years later, in 2012.
- ^ "U.S. Women's Open: fourth round results". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 6, 1998. p. c4.
- ^ "Open full of early surprises". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 3, 1998. p. C1.
- ^ D'Amato, Gary (July 7, 1998). "From knee deep to sky high for Pak". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. C1.
- ^ "U.S. Women's Open - History – 1998". Retrieved July 31, 2011.
- ^ Diaz, Jaime (July 13, 1998). "20/20". Sports Illustrated. pp. 44–5. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
- ^ "Pak is youngest winner". Toledo Blade. Ohio. Associated Press. July 7, 1998. p. 25.
- ^ "40-foot putt forces playoff". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 6, 1998. p. C-1.