Karrie Webb has received a special exemption from the USGA into the 2018 US Women's Open, played May 31 - June 3 at Shoal Creek Golf Club in Alabama.
Webb, the back-to-back winner of the championship in 2000 and 2001, will be competing in her 23rd-consecutive US Women's Open Championship. That's the longest active streak. The Aussie's exemption into the US Women's Open after her 2001 win expired following the 2011 championship at The Broadmoor in Colorado. However, Webb has managed to qualify through other means each year since.
"As a past champion, I’m very grateful and excited to accept the USGA’s special exemption into this year’s US Women’s Open,” said Webb. “I have always loved competing in the US Women’s Open and being tested on some of the best courses in the country. I’m looking forward to playing in my 23rd consecutive championship and being tested again at Shoal Creek.”
Webb won the 2000 US Women’s Open at The Merit Club in Gurnee, Ill., defeating Cristie Kerr and Meg Mallon by five strokes. A year later, Webb defeated Se Ri Pak by eight strokes at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C. Webb's 2001 margin of victory is the biggest since Amy Alcott beat Hollis Stacy by nine strokes in the 1980 US Women's Open. The all-time record for margin of victory in the US Women's Open is Louise Suggs' 14-stroke win in 1949.
Se Ri Pak was the last player to receive a special exemption into the US Women’s Open, in 2016 at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif., as she completed her LPGA playing career.
