Becky Morgan didn’t know where she stood until the 18th fairway when she asked her caddie. Beth Allen, a California native with a decorated career on the Ladies European Tour, told her she had a six-shot lead.
“I would not have dreamt this,” said Morgan. “Since I started playing on the sort of senior tour, I’ve had some decent success, but obviously nothing like this. Yeah, it’s absolutely unbelievable.”
The 50-year-old Welsh player dominated the field at San Diego Country Club, finishing six ahead of LPGA and World Golf Hall of Famer Juli Inkster, who finished runner-up in the event for a third time. They were the only two players in the field who finished under par for the week. Morgan becomes the first Welsh player to win a USGA championship. For Allen, it marked her second time on a winner’s bag at the event. She also won with Trish Johnson in 2023.
“I stopped playing on the LPGA probably 2018 and then went to the European Tour and enjoyed probably three or four years of doing that, and then I thought, I just didn’t really enjoy the grind anymore and playing against 20-year olds, and it was getting tough,” said Morgan, who won once on the LET in 2018.
“I just sort of decided to just this year focus on just the senior stuff and not play any – I didn’t play anything LET. Then just sort of play these events. Most of them are really fun. This one was a little stressful.
“Yeah, it’s been unbelievable.”
Morgan closed with a 3-under 70 to finish at 7 under for the championship. Sweden’s Liselotte Neumann placed solo third at even par. Maria McBride was close to Morgan throughout the day until a disastrous nine on the par-5 14th took her out of the tournament. She ultimately finished eight back in a share of fourth with defending champion Leta Lindley.
Past champion Annika Sorenstam closed with a 72 to finish T-8 while Karrie Webb, making her debut, finished T-11.
“I think outside the ropes I’ve had a great time,” said Webb. “It’s been good to catch up with people. Inside the ropes I wouldn’t say I’ve enjoyed myself all that much. It was a pretty frustrating week. Just didn’t really have – there wasn’t one part of my game I would say I was happy with this week. So that’s a little disappointing. I felt like I was playing better than that heading in here.”
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