2023 US Women's Open Preview, Picks & Analysis

THE world’s best women golfers arrive for what will be a historic US Women’s Open, to be staged for the first time at the wonderful Pebble Beach.

Minjee Lee will be back to defend the title she won by four strokes over Mina Harigae at Pine Needles. It was a victory that earned her $1.8 million, the largest payout in the history of women's golf.

Lee closed with an even-par 71 to finish at 13-under 271 after the Australian flirted with the tournament record of 16 under set by Juli Inkster in 1999 at Old Waverly.

"I mean, I'm speechless," Lee said. "I can't believe it right now. No, it's just super, super special and just a great honour. It's been my dream since I was a little girl. It's the one that I always wanted to win on; now I've done it, and just feels amazing."

Lee's winnings came from a record $10 million purse.

"We're only moving in the right direction," Lee said. "I think it's only going to get better and better from here. It's such a large sum, and I'm really honored to be the first winner I guess of this sum. We're only going to get better and better."

Harigae shot a 72 for her best finish in a major and a check of slightly more than $1 million.

Although she knew she had no chance to win down the stretch, Harigae said it was still stressful knowing that $1 million - a check that is larger than the winner makes at most LPGA Tour events - was at stake.

"I'm not going to lie, my stomach hurt the last couple holes coming down the stretch," Harigae said. "I was really stressed out, but I was really just focusing on one shot at a time, making solid contact, and just hitting good putts."

The last European winner was Alison Nicholas, way back in 1997. Aiming to put that right this time is Ireland’s Leona Maguire.

She recorded four birdies and an eagle in her final six holes to secure her second LPGA Tour title at the Meijer LPGA Classic last month and then found herself in contention at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, holding the 54-hole lead before a poor final round dropped her four shots back of eventual winner, Yin Ruoning.

Despite the poor end to the second women's major championship of 2023, Maguire has now finished inside the top-25 in four of her past five major tournaments.

"I think I played some really good golf and knowing that you can compete with the best golfers in the world at a major, I take a lot of confidence from that," said Maguire, who has moved inside the World's Top 10 for the first time in her career.

If she does win the US Women’s Open she would be the first golfer from Ireland - north and south - to secure a major.

“It would be a huge honour and a privilege obviously," stated Maguire. "Again, they are things that I try not to get caught up too much in on the day-to-day. I mean, if it happens, it happens. If not, I'll try and give myself as best a chance as I can. I will just keep trying to put myself in those positions and we’ll see what happens.”

She faces a huge challenge in a field that will feature the likes of Lydia Ko, defending champion Lee, world number one Jin Young Ko, American star Nelly Korda and former British Open champion Georgia Hall.

The Course

Pebble Beach is a par 72, measuring 6,816 yards. It is one of the most famous courses on the planet, running alongside the Pacific Ocean. It is a classic layout, featuring small greens and many pot bunkers. The par-five 18th, with the Pacific running down the left, is a spectacular finishing hole.

Tournament Winners

It was won in 2015 by Chun Ingee, in 2016 by Brittany Lang, in 2017 by Park Sung-hyun, in 2018 by Ariya Jutanugarn, in 2019 by Lee Jong-eun, in 2020 by Kim A-lim, in 2021 by Yuka Saso and in 2022 by Minjee Lee.

Form Guide

Leona Maguire is in fabulous form, having already won on the LPGA Tour this season and contended at the Women’s PGA Championship. She has a wonderful temperament and is surely ready to make the next step.

To Win:

Leona Maguire. Wonderful short game

Each Way:

Nelly Korda. Fit again - and will have huge home support

Each Way:

Lydia Ko. A superstar

Five to Follow:

Leona Maguire. Ready to take the next step

Nelly Korda. Big hitter

Lydia Ko. Back to her brilliant best

Georgia Hall. Can never be discounted

Charley Hull. Time to step up