1996 U.S. Women's Open

The 1996 U.S. Women's Open was the 51st U.S. Women's Open, held May 30 to June 2 at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

1996 U.S. Women's Open

Tournament information
Dates	May 30 – June 2, 1996
Location	Southern Pines, North Carolina
Course(s)	Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club
Organized by	USGA
Tour(s)	LPGA Tour
Statistics
Par	70
Length	6,207 yards (5,676 m)[1][2]
Cut	148 (+8)
Prize fund	$1.2 million
Winner's share	$212,500
Champion
Annika Sörenstam
272 (−8)
← 1995 1997 →

Southern Pines 

Location in the United States

Pine Needles
Lodge & GC

Location in North Carolina

Defending champion Annika Sörenstam retained the title, six strokes ahead of runner-up Kris Tschetter.^[2][3][4] It was the second of her ten major titles; her third came nearly five years later. ESPN and NBC Sports televised the tournament.

Sörenstam was the sixth of seven to win consecutive titles at the U.S. Women's Open, most recently accomplished by Karrie Webb in 2001, also at Pine Needles. The championship returned to the venue for a third time in 2007, won by Cristie Kerr.

This was the first women's major with a winner's share of $200,000 or more; the U.S. Women's Open became the tour's richest major this year, passing the LPGA Championship.

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, May 30, 1996

Place	Player	Score	To par
T1	Beth Daniel	69	−1
	Kim Williams
T3	Brandie Burton	70	E
	Riko Higashio (a)
	Jenny Lidback  Sweden
	Michele Redman
	Annika Sörenstam
	Kris Tschetter
T9	Jane Geddes	71	+1
	Trish Johnson
	Rosie Jones
	Emilee Klein
	Catriona Matthew
	Missie McGeorge
	Joan Pitcock
	Maggie Will

Source:^[5]

Second round

Friday, May 31, 1996

Place	Player	Score	To par
1	Annika Sörenstam	70-67=137	−3
T2	Brandie Burton	70-70=140	E
	Jane Geddes	71-69=140
	Emilee Klein	71-69=140
5	Rosie Jones	71-70=141	+1
T6	Stefania Croce	72-70=142	+2
	Laura Davies	74-68=142
	Gail Graham	72-70=142
	Tammie Green	72-70=142
	Joan Pitcock	71-71=142
	Val Skinner	74-68=142

Source:^[6]

Third round

Saturday, June 1, 1996

Place	Player	Score	To par
1	Annika Sörenstam	70-67-69=206	−4
2	Brandie Burton	70-70-69=209	−1
3	Jane Geddes	71-69-70=210	E
T4	Pat Bradley	74-70-67=211	+1
	Tammie Green	72-70-69=211
T6	Laura Davies	74-68-70=212	+2
	Nancy Harvey	72-71-69=212
	Mayumi Hirase	74-69-69=212
	Michele Redman	70-73-69=212
	Kris Tschetter	70-74-68=212

Source:^[7]

Final round

Sunday, June 2, 1996

Place	Player	Score	To par	Money ($)
1	Annika Sörenstam	70-67-69-66=272	−8	212,500
2	Kris Tschetter	70-74-68-66=278	−2	125,000
T3	Brandie Burton	70-70-69-71=280	E	60,373
	Jane Geddes	71-69-70-70=280
	Pat Bradley	74-70-67-69=280
6	Laura Davies	74-68-70-69=281	+1	40,077
7	Catrin Nilsmark	72-73-68-69=282	+2	35,995
T8	Cindy Rarick	73-70-72-68=283	+3	29,584
	Liselotte Neumann	74-69-70-70=283
	Tammie Green	72-70-69-72=283
	Val Skinner	74-68-71-70=283

Source:^[3]