U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach casts light on history, progress

Juli Inkster, Karrie Webb and Hilary Lunke, who accounted for U.S. Women's Open titles from 1999-2003, have played hundreds of courses but recognize the importance of this particular site.

Inkster, winner of the 1999 and 2002 editions, met the media with Webb and Lunke on Wednesday and underscored the deeper meaning of the U.S. Women's Open landing at Pebble Beach for the first time.

"I think it's huge," Inkster said. "I would have loved to be able to play a U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, being from this area. But I think the women deserve this, to be able to play these iconic golf courses and have their games challenged just like the men."

Pebble Beach hosted the men's PGA Championship once and the men's U.S. Open six times. The course is on the schedule for 2027, 2032, 2037 and 2044 as well, and the U.S. Women's open plans to return three more times.

With Thursday's tee times, Pebble Beach takes its position in the U.S. Women's Open rotation, now on the schedule for three appearances (2035, 2040 and 2048) beyond this year.

With prize money and momentum on its side, women's golf figures to be further enhanced by showcasing this major tournament at an easily recognizable setting.

"Playing Pebble Beach," Inkster said, "the history that has come through here on the men's side with Tom Watson chipping in and Nicklaus and Tiger, it's going to be great to have a woman have those memories, also."

USGA senior director of Women's Open Championships Shannon Rouillard identified the intersection between course history and women's golf as an important forward step for the game.

"In this case, Pebble Beach, we're going to let Pebble Beach be Pebble Beach ... it's important to allow the golf course to be the golf course and let it shine," she said Wednesday. "What do we think about when we think about Pebble Beach? I know I think about Jack Nicklaus and the 1-iron he hit on 17; Tom Watson's chip on 17, as well; Tiger Woods' second shot on 6 and winning by 15 shots; and Gary Woodland's long birdie putt on 18. While he didn't need it to win the championship, boy, did the crowd go crazy when he did.

"This course produces iconic moments in golf and in U.S. Open history, and the women will now have an opportunity to place their stamp on Pebble Beach this week."

Inkster and Webb are certified stampers, seven-time major champions, with Webb taking back-to-back U.S. Open titles in 2000-01 by 5 strokes and 8 strokes, respectively.

Webb believes golf fans undoubtedly will be eager to watch the top professionals fight for a major championship - and to see how the course punches back.

"I think when casual viewers of golf tune in and see that the U.S. Women's Open is at Pebble Beach, it's like, 'Oh, this is something I need to pay attention to,' because even the casual sports or golf fan knows Pebble Beach," she said.

The viewers will see a women's game now dominated by youth.

Lunke, who was 24 when she captured her U.S. Open, appreciates the influx of talent.

"I think it's fantastic for the game, and it's exciting to see that there's so many fantastic young players," she said. "Every time I come out here, I'm just amazed actually at the depth of talent now compared to when I was playing in college and high school golf.

"There's just dozens and dozens of these outstanding players that are going to be featured this week."

With rough weather in the forecast, Pebble Beach will claim a position on the marquee, and it will take a premier performance to become champion.

"I think Pebble Beach will do what it's always done," Webb said, "and, you know, one of the best players will be on top of the leaderboard at the end of the week."

The USGA brought 39 former champions together at Pebble Beach, and the reunion lived up to the venue.

"Well, I've been overserved every night, so that's kind of been -- I need to go home and detox for the next week," said Inkster, who won the Open a couple of weeks short of her 39th birthday. "But it's been great. It took me so long to win a U.S. Open, and then all -- you're reaping the awards afterwards."

A major victory at Pebble Beach this week will surely hold an extra-special memory for the 2023 champion.