U.S. Senior Women's Open will feature some of LPGA's former greats

Championship golf is returning to Pittsburgh this summer.

The United States Golf Association will hold the sixth Senior Women’s Open from Aug. 1-4 at Fox Chapel Golf Club. It’s the 94th USGA championship to be played in Pennsylvania and the first U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

The men’s U.S. Open will be held at Oakmont Country Club in 2025.

Some of the LPGA’s former greats will face a 5,964-yard challenging test from a course that has hosted major events before.

Fox Chapel has been the site of the Senior Players Championship (2012-14), Women’s Amateur in 1985 and the U.S. Senior Amateur.

Sewickley native Carol Semple Thompson, who made a 27-foot birdie putt that secured the USA victory against Great Britain & Ireland in the 2002 Curtis Cup, received an exemption to play in the tournament.

Other greats in the 120-player field include three-time U.S. Women’s Open Champion Annika Sorenstam, World Golf of Famer Laura Davies, Helen Alfredsson and 2023 champion Trish Johnson.

“The numbers of women playing the game has grown since the last time I competed here at Fox Chapel,” Semple Thompson said. “The number of young women involved in the game more so than they used to be. College teams have grown, and it’s contributed to many young women becoming very good players.

“When I was growing up, there weren’t that many women playing golf. The numbers have become deep.”

Semple Thompson was asked what was a bigger moment in her career: winning her first U.S. Amateur or the clinching putt in the Curtis Cup.

She said the clinching putt ranks a little higher.

While Semple Thompson is honored to be part of the field, she knows the length of the course will be a huge challenge for her. But she is confident the top players in the field will find the course to their liking.

“There are still a lot of the senior players who are still very good,” Semple Thompson said. “I’m sure the fans who come out and watch will see that.

“They’ll expect good golf and will see good golf. The senior players are capable of playing excellent golf. The challenge of the golf course is wonderful, and the way they set it up will be a challenge. The fans will see these ladies hit the ball far. They’ll enjoy watching.”

One thing the fans will be able to do is get closer to the players because of the no-rope fairways. Fans will be able to hear the interaction between players and caddies. The roped-off areas will be around the tees and greens.

“I hope the numbers are sufficient, and I don’t see a problem,” Semple Thompson said. “It will be a lot more fun for the spectators.”