Renowned Canadian golf writer and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member, Lorne Rubenstein, announced Wednesday that he will begin hosting SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio’s new show ‘Looking Back’ beginning March 25^th from 7-8 p.m. EDT.

Pleased to announce my new show Looking Back will begin on @SiriusXMPGATOUR Tuesday March 25, 7-8 EDT, and every second Tuesday following

— Lorne Rubenstein (@lornerubenstein) March 19, 2014

As one of the game’s great storytellers, Rubenstein’s segment will include interviews with guests from across the golfing spectrum and will dive deep into the game’s rich history. Rubenstein will take listeners on an in-depth journey into golf’s iconic people, events and significant moments.

‘Looking Back’ will air for the first time on March 25^th at 7 p.m. EDT and will continue to air every second Tuesday thereafter. Guests are encouraged to call into the show as Rubenstein hosts from 7-8 p.m. by calling toll-free 1-866-469-0026.

PGA Tour star Gary Woodland to join Matt Kuchar in Inaugural Canada Cup

Two-time PGA Tour winner Gary Woodland has been named the second player to represent ‘Team World’ in the inaugural Canada Cup Match to take place at Ashburn Golf Club – New Course in Halifax on Monday, June 30, 2014.

Woodland joins Kuchar and a yet-to-be-named PGA Tour player who will face-off in a head-to-head battle against Team Canada’s Mike Weir, Graham DeLaet and David Hearn for international bragging rights

“Match play competitions always bring out the best in players’ ability and personality. The pressure and energy of match play creates a great environment for players and fans alike,” said Woodland. “Playing with Matt and representing the United States at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup was a great experience. I look forward to representing the World with Matt and our remaining teammates as we take on Team Canada at the Canada Cup in a week that includes both Canada Day and Independence Day.”

The Canada Cup is part of GOLFest Nova Scotia, a week-long celebration of national pride and all things golf in Canada that will also feature a Web.com Tour event, the Nova Scotia Open, from June 29 to July 6, 2014.

Belfor Canada celebrates five years with Web.com Tour’s Adam Hadwin

Since the beginning of Adam Hadwin’s professional career, Belfor has supported the Abbottsford, B.C. native’s PGA Tour dream.

On Tuesday, Belfor a global leader in restoration and damage repair, announced they have once again teamed up with Abbotsford, BC resident and Web.com Tour player Adam Hadwin.

“Adam is an exceptional ambassador for golf in British Columbia and serves as a role model to junior golfers around the country. Belfor is proud to have partnered with Adam for the past five years and we take great pride in being one of his very first supporters,” said William Cook, President of Belfor (Canada) Inc. “We were impressed with Adam’s drive and determination to make it to the PGA Tour and felt that his ambitions align well with the goals and values of our company. Adam’s most recent victory is a testament that hard work and determination will pay off.”

Grace Park appointed as Athlete Role Model for golf at Youth Olympic Games

The International Golf Federation announced recently that former LPGA Tour player Grace Park has been appointed Athlete Role Model for golf when the sport makes its debut at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

The South Korean, who has six LPGA titles to her name, will attend the second Youth Olympic Games from 16-28 August, 2014 and provide behind-the-scenes guidance and inspiration to the  young athletes competing in the Games.

Park will join 36 other Athlete Role Models supporting the 3,800 athletes competing across 28 sports in Nanjing. She will be on hand in the Youth Olympic Village to assist with a series of educational activities and workshops designed to inspire and inform competitors to deliver their best performances at the Games and in their future careers.

“Becoming golf’s Athlete Role Model at the Youth Olympic Games is a huge honour.  I have had the benefit of so much advice and mentoring throughout my junior development and my professional career and to be able to give something back to the next generation of global golfing talent is a privilege,” said Park.

Adam Svensson made history at Barry University on Tuesday, winning his fifth tournament of the season at the Bobcat Invitational in Eatonton, Georgia.

The Team Canada National Squad member fired a final round 3-under 67 in tough conditions to finish three strokes ahead of Fredrik Lindblom of Clayton State University for his record breaking fifth title as a Buccaneer.

“It feels pretty good to break the record,” Svensson said after his final round. “It was brutal conditions, and I just kind of stuck in there. It’s a special win, knowing that it’s a record-setting win for Barry.”

Svensson, a Surrey, B.C. native and Barry University sophomore, finished the tournament as the only player under par at 1-under 139 after the Bobcat Invitational was shortened to 36 holes due to poor weather conditions.

As the No. 1 player in Division II golf, Svensson made eight birdies over 36 holes at the Golf Club at Cuscowilla to claim his fifth win in only nine starts this season.

“I know my potential. I’m a little bit surprised, but I’ve worked hard,” Svensson told Barry University Athletics. “Just the experience of getting to know the courses has paid off. It’s a pretty big accomplishment for me.”

Svensson alongside his No. 1 ranked team will look to pick up another victory when they host the Buccaneer Invitational March 31-April 1.

For complete results from the Bobcat Invitational, click here.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tiger Woods withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational Tuesday because of persistent pain in his back, creating even more uncertainty for golf’s No. 1 player with the Masters only three weeks away.

And that’s if Woods can even play in the Masters.

“I personally called Arnold today to tell him that, sadly, I won’t be able to play in his tournament this year,” Woods said on his website.

“I would like to express my regrets to the Orlando fans, the volunteers, the tournament staff and the sponsors for having to miss the event. Unfortunately, my back spasms and the pain haven’t subsided.”

He also tweeted the following.

Called Arnold today to tell him that sadly I won’t be able to play. Back spasms and the pain haven’t subsided. http://t.co/7F8LDAV2Ff

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 18, 2014

Woods had to withdraw after 13 holes of the final round at the Honda Classic three weeks ago because of what he called back spasms and pain in his lower back. He tried to defend his title the following week at Doral, only for his back to flare up again in the final round. He closed with a 78, the highest Sunday score of his PGA Tour career and the first final round without a birdie.

After a week of rest and treatment, he didn’t feel fit to play Bay Hill, where he is an eight-time winner, including the past two years.

“I am certainly sorry that Tiger is not able to play,” Palmer said. “Quite obviously, we will miss having him here this week. He called me to tell me that his back was still giving him a lot of trouble and he didn’t feel he should play. I told him I understood and wished him well.”

This is only the second time that Woods has not played Bay Hill. He also missed in 2010 when he sat out more than four months during the scandal in his personal life.

The Masters, which is April 10-13, is the only major Woods has never missed.

“It’s too early to know about the Masters, and I will continue to be evaluable and work closely with my doctors,” Woods said. “I feel badly that I won’t be able to play in this great tournament this week.”

Woods first showed signs of back pain at Bethpage Black at The Barclays in 2012, which he attributed to a soft bed at his hotel. He felt twinges during the final round of the PGA Championship last year, and when his back bothered him in the final round of The Barclays two weeks later, he said it was unrelated.

This has been the longest sustained problem with the lower back. “A bad back is no joke,” Woods said at Doral.

Woods is off to the worst start of his 18 years on tour.

At Torrey Pines, where his eight victories included a U.S. Open, Woods shot his highest score on American soil with a 79 to miss the 54-hole cut. He tied for 41st in the Dubai Desert Classic a week later for his worst finish in that event.

Woods had said he spent his offseason working on his body and didn’t spend enough time on his game, so it was troubling for him to then deal with yet another injury. He shot a 65 in the third round of the Honda Classic before having what he described as back spasms similar to The Barclays last year.

At Doral, he was only three shots out of the lead going into the final round and in the penultimate group when he said an awkward stance while playing out of a bunker on the sixth fairway of the Blue Monster caused his back to start hurting again.

“That’s what set it off and then it was done after that,” Woods said at Doral. “Just see if I could actually manage … keep the spasms at bay.”

Woods had said at the start of the Florida swing that he was taking a look at his schedule leading up to the Masters, though he never made it clear if he intended to add another tournament. Woods rarely gives a “yes” or “no” to questions pertaining to his plans.

He has never played the week before any major except for the PGA Championship.

In 2010, after revelations of extramarital affairs, Woods had gone 145 days without hitting a meaningful shot when he arrived at Augusta National. He opened with a 68, his lowest first-round score ever at the Masters, and wound up in a tie for fourth.

Swing coach Sean Foley said he would not read too much into how Woods can prepare for the Masters if he can play.

“I’ve been coaching on tour long enough now to know that Tuesday doesn’t affect Wednesday. There’s no rhyme or reason to performance,” Foley said in a telephone interview. “Tiger is always about the majors, and he’s solely about the majors now. He’s got to do the right thing. He’s just doing the right due diligence about it.”

SAN DIEGO, Calif.  – The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced Torrey Pines Golf Course, in San Diego, Calif., will host the 2021 U.S. Open Championship.

The selection of the club’s South Course marks the return of the national championship to Torrey Pines, site of the dramatic playoff victory by Tiger Woods over Rocco Mediate in the 2008 U.S. Open, one of the most memorable in the championship’s history.

The dates for the 2021 U.S. Open are June 17-20.

“The USGA is proud to bring the U.S. Open back to Torrey Pines, the site of one of the most memorable and compelling national championships in history, thanks to Tiger and Rocco,” said Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., USGA president. “As in 2008, we are excited to partner with the City of San Diego to bring golf’s most democratic major championship back to such a great public venue. The San Diego area embraced the 2008 U.S. Open and we are seeing the same enthusiasm for the return of the U.S. Open in 2021. We have a great partner in the City of San Diego and this community loves golf.”

Torrey Pines, a 36-hole, city-owned facility, hosts more than 100,000 rounds annually on the North and South Courses.

“Bringing the U.S. Open back to Torrey Pines is significant in many ways,” said Daniel B. Burton, USGA vice president and Championship Committee chairman. “In 2021, the players and spectators have an opportunity for a world-class experience as evidenced by the tremendous success of the 2008 championship.”

The selection of Torrey Pines for the 2021 U.S. Open marks the second time that the South Course will have hosted the national championship and its third USGA championship.

In the final round of the 2008 U.S. Open, Tiger Woods, playing with a leg injury, holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force an 18-hole playoff with Rocco Mediate. Woods again birdied the 18th hole the following day to tie Mediate, and he won in 19 holes for his third U.S. Open title and 14th major championship.

“I was excited to hear that the U.S. Open was returning to Torrey Pines,” said Woods, a three-time U.S. Open champion. “I think it’s great, when the USGA can, to play the U.S. Open at a public course. The last time it was there, it was an amazing event. There was a huge turnout, it was really well run and the fans were excited and very supportive. It was a great atmosphere.

“I’ve been fortunate to have played well there and have great memories of the course. I was pretty young when I first went there with my dad during the old Andy Williams tournament. It was one of the few pro events I got to see. I wanted to watch some of the So Cal guys like Mark O’Meara and John Cook play.

“I think it’s a great decision returning to Torrey. It’s a very special place to me.”

The first USGA championship on the South Course at Torrey Pines, the 1998 U.S. Amateur Public Links, featured a pair of future major champions in the 36-hole final. Trevor Immelman, of South Africa, defeated Jason Dufner, 3 and 2. Immelman went on to win the 2008 Masters, while Dufner captured the 2013 PGA Championship. That championship drew an APL-record 6,300 entries, a mark that still stands.

William P. Bell and his son, William F. Bell, designed the golf courses at Torrey Pines, which opened in 1957. Prior to being shaped for the golf courses, the land was part of Camp Callan, a naval training center. Bell’s son finished much of the initial design after his father’s death. Rees Jones completed a redesign of the course in 2002. The courses take their name from the Torrey Pine tree, which is native to the area and to Santa Rosa Island and is distinguished by its clusters of five pine needles.

Torrey Pines has been home to a PGA Tour event since 1968, with winners including seven-time champion Woods, three-time winner Phil Mickelson, two-time champions Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Billy Casper and Johnny Miller. The 2014 Farmers Insurance Open, played on the North and South Courses at Torrey Pines, was won by Scott Stallings on Jan. 26.

The facility also hosts the San Diego City Amateur Golf Championship every June and the Junior World Golf Championships every July.

The 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course will be the 13th U.S. Open played in the state of California and will mark the fifth site in the upcoming eight U.S. Opens that is open to the public. Future U.S. Open sites are: Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (Course No. 2), Village of Pinehurst, N.C. (2014); Chambers Bay, University Place, Wash. (2015); Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club (2016); Erin Hills, Erin, Wis. (2017); Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, N.Y. (2018); Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links (2019); and Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, N.Y. (2020).

ORLANDO, Fla. – Jay Monahan was promoted to deputy commissioner of the PGA Tour on Tuesday, the first indication of a possible successor to Tim Finchem.

Finchem was the last person to hold that position until he was appointed PGA Tour commissioner in 1994.

“This step is being taken to further strengthen our organizational structure, enhance our management coordination and ultimately to continue to deliver on three key pieces of our core business – driving benefits to our players, growing the charity support in the communities where we play and doing our part in golf to help grow and protect this great game,” Finchem said in a statement. “Jay’s new role in this key leadership position will help continue our momentum.”

Finchem, who completes 20 years as commissioner on June 1, signed a four-year extension through 2016. That would make him the longest-serving commissioner since the tour broke away from the PGA of America in 1969. He will be 69.

Monahan played college golf at Trinity, and he earned a master’s degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He previously worked for EMC in sponsorship and branding, at IMG as head of the Deutsche Bank Championship and as an executive vice president at Fenway Sports Groups.

He joined the tour in 2008 as director of The Players Championship and most recently was promoted to chief marketing officer, placing him in charge of corporate marketing and sponsor relations, one of the most critical positions on tour.

His appointment as deputy commissioner takes effect April 1.

Finchem agreed to his most recent four-year extension in 2012 after one of the more challenging economic periods of the tour. And, even while Tiger Woods was struggling through a collapse in his personal life and with leg injuries, Finchem negotiated a nine-year television deal with NBC Sports and CBS Sports.

But he suggested two years ago he probably wouldn’t stay after 2016.

“I never rule out possibilities,” Finchem said in January 2012. “But the likelihood is this will probably be it for me. There’s other things I want to do.”

Carlsbad, Calif. – adidas Golf has announced the release of the women’s climacool ballerina footwear collection, an ultra-light shoe designed for on-the-go golfers who seek playing performance with wear-anywhere styling and versatility.

To successfully create a lightweight shoe that delivers on-course performance paired with a fashion-forward look, adidas Golf footwear designers combined an ultra-light, ballerina-inspired mesh upper with reinforcement zones for stability throughout the swing.

“As much as I travel to and from the course, I like having a shoe that I can wear both during and away from play,” said Jessica Korda, two-time LPGA Tour winner and adidas Golf Tour staff professional. “When I first put on the climacool ballerina, I was amazed at not only how lightweight and stylish it was, but how well it performed when I played.”

For enhanced flexibility, the climacool ballerina’s puremotion outsole was specifically-engineered with wider and deeper flex grooves and utilizes a slow recover fitfoam sockliner that conforms to the contours of the foot for a natural feel delivering long-lasting comfort.

Weighing less than five ounces (4.8oz), the climacool ballerina is the lightest women’s golf shoe adidas Golf has ever developed and is easily packable for travel or those on the move.

“Women are always looking for something different and fashionable,” said Masun Denison, Director, Global Product Marketing, Footwear at adidas Golf. “The challenge for us was to effectively infuse performance into a lightweight product that not only performs on the course but carries off course appeal at the same time, and with climacool ballerina, we’ve successfully done that.”

Available now at retailers, the climacool ballerina is available in four colorways: clear grey / white / bahia mint, mid grey / running white / tribe purple, solar blue / running white / metallic silver, and black / black / bahia magenta.

Success on the golf course comes in many forms – birdies, eagles, up-and-downs, par saves etc. Success off the golf course, however, isn’t as easy to measure.

The young athletes of Canada’s National Amateur team are required to balance the mental stresses of competitive golf along with busy post-secondary schedules.

To give a better perspective, National Team members take about 10,000 golf swings a week during practice alone. Adding to that, a normal college workload averages 20 hours of in-class lectures in addition to the countless hours needed for studying and travelling to competitions.

Needless to say, a strong support staff is essential to full development.

Coaching staffs include head & assistant coaches, sport psychologists, nutritionists and strength & conditioning experts. They are in place to provide the athletes with as much help as possible.

So… How does the connection work between NCAA coaches and National Team coaches?

Herb Page, Kent State’s Director of Golf and a Markham, Ont. native, explained why he has worked with many of the Canadian National Team amateurs in the past and why they have succeeded.

“Derek (Ingram) and I communicate on a lot of things – basically, we don’t mess with Corey Conners or Taylor Pendrith’s golf swings,” said the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member. “If we do feel like a change needs to be made, I tell Derek and if he agrees we talk back and forth about it.”

In most cases, the National Amateur Team athletes are away at school for nine months before travelling back to Canada for the summer. Page discussed the difficulty of balancing the busy school schedules of the athletes and joked about being envious of Team Canada’s summer months with the players.

“When I have them at school here, they are really busy with academics, weight training five days a week, practicing and the weather isn’t always ideal,” he said. “I think Team Canada has it made!”

Kent State University, located in Northeast Ohio, is no stranger to cold weather either. Oddly enough, this could be one of the reasons why many Canadians have landed at Kent State in the past. Currently, there are five Canucks (two men, three women) in the Kent State golf program – four of which are on Team Canada. The Golden Flashes alumni class features many Canadians, including 2013 PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit Champion, Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont.

Seven out of the 10 athletes on the men’s and women’s amateur team are a part of NCAA programs in the United States. Derek Ingram, Head Coach of the Men’s National team, explained how it all works from his perspective.

“I will spend 60-80 days with players, sometimes at college but the majority coming in the summer season,” said the Winnipeg native. “Going back the other way I provide feedback to the college coaches after the summer season ends – it goes both ways. It has worked really, really well for all of us.”

Take Taylor Pendrith for instance, who joined both the National Amateur team and Kent State for the 2013 season.

“I wasn’t highly recruited when I was a junior. Coach Page came and watched me up in Owen Sound and we set up a visit. After that, I knew Kent State was going to be the best place for me. I cancelled all my next visits to other NCAA schools.”

“Both of them (Herb and Derek) have been unbelievable coaches who communicate with each other and understand my game. Having coaches all year round who can help you with your game is a huge advantage.”

Pendrith has shot up the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) since joining both programs – the 2013 Porter Cup Champion currently sits at No. 33.

Coach Page has truly enjoyed having both Pendrith and Conners in his men’s program. He went on to say they were “dreams” and are “destined for really great things.”

“It’s a credit to their parents, it’s a credit to them, Team Canada and Kent State,” said Page. “My emotions are on my sleeve with these guys, they are really that great.”

Ingram agrees with Page and touches on their goal of working together to achieve the same result.

“We’ve built these relationships and friendships so we can maximize both their program and our program. It’s really a win-win situation for the players, NCAA schools and Golf Canada.”

ORLANDO, Fla. – Jason Day has withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer Invitational because of an injured thumb.

This is the second straight tournament in which Day pulled out because of the thumb injury. He says he first injured it at the Match Play Championship, which he won in late February. Day won the Match Play and went to No. 4 in the world.

The 26-year-old Australian previously withdrew from a World Golf Championship at Doral because of the injury.

It was not immediately known where or if he would play again before the Masters. Day is considered one of the favorites for Augusta National this year. He finished two shots out of the playoff last year at Augusta, and was a runner-up in 2011.

MYRTLE BEACH, SC — It was a tough couple of days on the course, but a successful week of training for the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) U19 Team Ontario as they competed in the 16^th annual Can/Am Matches against South Carolina in Myrtle Beach.

Team Ontario last won the competition back in 2010, but their drought continued in 2014 as South Carolina won with an overall point total of 252 to 180.

On the first day of competition (March 15), the teams competed in best-ball matches. Only one Team Ontario pair won their match as Tony Gill and Sam McNulty beat their opponents 10-8. Carter Simon and Max Sear lost 10.5-7.5, Trevor Ranton and Chad Watts Denyes fell 11.5-6.5, Conner Watt and Brendan Seys were downed 11-7, Alyssa Getty and Grace St-Germain took a 10.5-7.5 loss, Annika Haynes and Samantha Spencer fell 11.5-6.5, Kennedy Bodfield and Claire Hernandez lost 12-6 and Monet Chun and Ana Peric lost by that same score.

After the best-ball matches, South Carolina held an 87-57 lead, meaning Team Ontario had their work cut out for them in the singles matches. However, a grand comeback was not in the cards as they could muster only one win and a trio of ties during the second day.

Grace St-Germain, Max Sear and Samantha Spencer all rallied back on their back nines but would still fall short in their matches. Ana Peric played solidly and tied her match.  Both Tony Gil and Trevor Ranton holed putts on their final hole to tie their respective matches.

Even though the team did not bring back the title, there were many positives from the event. No doubt the story for Team Ontario was a day-two singles match win by 13-year-old Monet Chun. Chun took her match by a score of 11-7 while shooting one-under par, the first time she has broken par in competition. Her feat was even more impressive considering the weather conditions the athletes faced during the second day of competition.

As for the rest of the day-two results, it was Peric, Ranton and Gil all drawing their matches with scores of 9-9, Haynes was beaten 10.5-7.5, Hernandez fell 11-7, Bodfield took a 12.5-5.5 loss, Getty was defeated 11-7, Spencer and St-Germain both took 10.5-7.5 losses, McNulty lost 11-7, Denyes and Seys were both narrowly beaten 9.5-8.5, Sear took a 10.5-7.5 loss, Watt was beaten 13-5 and Simon lost 11.5-6.5.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced sectional qualifying sites for the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, to be contested June 19-22 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2 in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

Sectional qualifying, conducted over 36 holes, will be held at 20 sites across the United States and four international sites between May 5 and May 30. Player applications are now available online. The entry deadline is 5 p.m. EDT on April 30. The championship is open to female professionals, and female amateur golfers with a Handicap Index/Factor not exceeding 2.4.

“Sectional qualifying is a crucial part of bringing this most democratic of championships to the world’s elite players,” said Daniel B. Burton, USGA vice president and chairman of the Championship Committee. “With the cooperation of our partners, both domestic and international, we look forward to welcoming the best players from across the globe to Pinehurst.”

Industry Hills Golf Club, near Los Angeles, has held U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifying annually since 2010. Its Eisenhower Course was a local qualifying site in 2009 (the final year of local qualifying, which was conducted from 2002-09), and it hosted sectional qualifying in 1980 and 1982. The Eisenhower Course will also serve as a U.S. Open local qualifying site on May 6.

In addition to Industry Hills, The Heritage at Westmoor, in Westminster, Colo., and The Country Club at DC Ranch, in Scottsdale, Ariz., will host both U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifying and U.S. Open local qualifying. The Heritage at Westmoor will hold U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifying on May 14, two days after U.S. Open local qualifying. The Country Club at DC Ranch will hold U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open qualifying on May 12 and May 28, respectively.

Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach, Fla., will host both U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Open sectional qualifying, on May 30 and June 2, respectively. This will be the second time the club has hosted U.S. Open qualifying and the first time for the Women’s Open.

Carolina Trace Country Club in Sanford, N.C., will host U.S. Women’s Open qualifying on its Lake Course for the sixth consecutive year. Three courses will host sectional qualifying for the third time: Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Calif. (2011, 2013, 2014); Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii (2012-14); and The Woodlands (Texas) Country Club’s Player Course (2012-14). Waialae C.C. was a local qualifying site in 2002, while The Woodlands C.C. hosted Anne Sander’s 1989 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur victory.

As previously announced, international U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifying will be conducted for the first time. Qualifying will be conducted at four sites, in the People’s Republic of China, England, Japan and the Republic of Korea on May 19.

Two U.S. Women’s Open champions have reached the championship through the qualifying process: Hilary Lunke (2003) and Birdie Kim (2005). Lunke won after advancing through local and sectional qualifying, while Kim competed in the sectional stage.