The USGA has offered a special exemption to the 2019 US Women's Open to two-time champion Karrie Webb, who will compete at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina.
"I’m thrilled. It's always been important for me to compete in the US Women's Open, but this year it held a higher importance because I wanted to play at the Country Club of Charleston where my good friend Beth Daniel learned the game," Webb said to the USGA. "I'm excited to get to Charleston!"
Webb has played in 23 consecutive US Women's Opens, holding the active record for the most consecutive US Women's Opens played. In that 23-year stretch, Webb won the biggest championship in women's golf in both 2000 at The Merit Club in Illinois, by five shots over Meg Mallon and Cristie Kerr, and 2001 at Pine Needles in North Carolina, where she beat Se Ri Pak for a decisive eight-shot rout.
The 44-year-old also received a special exemption into the 2018 US Women's Open at Shoal Creek in Alabama, where she missed the cut. Ariya Jutanugarn won last year's Women's Open in a playoff over Hyo-joo Kim.
Gerina Piller and Suzann Pettersen are also exempt into the 2019 field after deferring 2018 exemptions while they were on maternity leave from the LPGA Tour and competitive golf.
The 2019 US Women's Open will be played May 30 - June 2, and it will air on Fox Sports 1 and Fox.