The USGA has announced that the 75th U.S. Women’s Open has been postponed from June 4-7 due to the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The event will now be held Dec. 10-13 and will remain at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, but for the first time in event history, the contest will be played over two courses.
Champions Golf Club was founded in 1957 by World Golf Hall of Fame members Jimmy Demaret and Jack Burke Jr. The Cypress Creek Course, which has previously hosted four USGA championships – the 1969 U.S. Open, 1993 U.S. Amateur, 1998 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur – was originally slated to host all four rounds. Now, the Jackrabbit Course, designed by George Fazio and opened in 1964, will co-host Rounds 1 and 2.
“The USGA remains committed to hosting the U.S. Women’s Open in 2020,” said USGA CEO Mike Davis in a release. “We are grateful to the LPGA and our broadcast partner FOX for their terrific collaboration in finding a new date for the championship. Our priority remains ensuring the safety of all involved with the U.S. Women’s Open, while still providing the world’s best players the opportunity to compete this year.”
USGA officials are reviewing how the new dates will impact exemption categories. Qualifying rounds will be held on rescheduled dates and potentially new venues.
Since the USGA began conducting the U.S. Women’s Open in 1953, the championship has only been held in May, June and July. Babe Didrikson Zaharias won the latest Women’s Open ever contested on Sept. 30, 1950.
