Karrie Webb’s streak of consecutive appearances at the U.S. Women’s Open will continue this summer.
The USGA announced Monday that the 43-year-old Aussie has been granted a special exemption into this year’s event, held May 31-June 3 at Shoal Creek in Alabama. Webb, a winner in both 2000 and 2001, has qualified for the event on merit every year since 2011 when her 10-year exemption for her second victory ended.
“As a past champion, I’m very grateful and excited to accept the USGA’s special exemption into this year’s U.S. Women’s Open,” Webb said in a release. “I have always loved competing in the U.S. Women’s Open and being tested on some of the best courses in the country.”
Webb has played in the tournament every year since 1996, the longest such active streak, meaning that this summer will mark her 23rd consecutive appearance. She has made the U.S. Women’s Open cut each of the last 10 years, never finishing outside the top 50 in that span.
Webb’s exemption is the first handed out by the USGA since 2016, when Se Ri Pak received an invite to play at CordeValle. Prior to that the two most recent special exemptions went to Juli Inkster (2013) and Laura Davies (2009). The highest finish by a woman playing on a special exemption came in 1994, when Amy Alcott finished sixth.
Source: Internet
