This week is major championship week and this playing of the 2020 Women’s U.S. Open will mark a first in major championship history.
When Thursday’s first round begins at The Champions complex in Houston, it will mark the first time that a major will be staged over two courses.
This is a full-field event and given the reduced daylight with this December move, both courses at The Champions will be used. The first two rounds will have competitors on both the Cypress Creek Course and the Jackrabbit Course. After the 36-hole cut, the final two rounds will be staged over the Cypress Creek Course, which would have hosted all four rounds had it been played last summer.
The Champions Club is a famous Texas venue. It was founded in 1957 by major champions Jack Burke Jr. and Jimmy Demaret. Houston is the hometown to both of the tour legends. Cypress Creek was designed by Texan Ralph Plummer, a Houston native. It opened in 1959. In 1964 the Jackrabbit course was added. It is a George Fazio design. Cypress Creek is the more difficult of the two. It was carved out of a thick forest and features large greens complexes.
The 1967 Ryder Cup was the first high-profile event staged at The Champions. Ben Hogan was the U.S. Captain that year. It has also been the site for the 1969 U.S. Open, the 1993 U.S. Amateur.
Two courses are a contrast. Cypress Creek — huge greens and more generous fairways. Jackrabbit: Tighter with smaller greens.
This week’s the world’s best women take center stage. Two courses and a December major. Here’s a breakdown on some of the players to watch out for this week:
Sei Young Kim: Positively on a roll. Has gone back-to-back in her last two outings — the PGA then the Pelican. She’s closed that gap on No. 1 Jin Young Ko to .31 of a point in the world rankings. A win here could move her to No. 1.
Inbee Park: Was solid last week at VOA. This Hall Of Fame player knows how to win a U.S. Open. Like her backswing — slow and steady — it’s a long four days and 72 holes.
Danielle Kang: Has taken an extended amount of time off. Ranked fourth in the world and hunting another major. Will she be a bit rusty from her hiatus?
Jin Young Ko: No. 1 is back, with a couple of events in the books, she’s trending up. Don’t be surprised if she’s right there on the final nine on Sunday.
Nelly Korda: Highest ranked American has been on the mend and now we know what happened to that back of hers as she explained this week after arriving at The Champions:
“I just did something stupid,” Korda said on Tuesday. “I tried cracking my back and my back went into spasm.” The PGA Championship was staged in October at Aronimink Golf Club and overnight temperatures dipped into the 50s. Her body began to tighten in the chilly air. She tried cracking her back on the 13th hole during the first round. The spasms that followed led to her withdrawal. “My body does not do well in cold weather,” Korda said. “It gets really tight and I just made a little oopsie, which turned into a little bit longer of an oopsie.”
Korda says she is now pain-free. “I wanted to take it slow until I was 100 percent. This year it’s a funky year, too, so I didn’t want to come back too early and kind of aggravate it again.”
She says she’s not 100 percent. That doesn’t bode all that well coming into the season’s final major. Add the fact that there will be some cooler temps in Houston later in the week. There’s a 60 percent chance of rain on Friday then Saturday morning temps will start out in the mid-40s before warming up.
Nasa Hataoka: Anyone named after the U.S. space program has to have a shot.
So Yeon Ryu: Started returning to form last week. Could be a factor.
Lexi Thompson: She’s been playing in U.S. Opens since the age of 12. She’s looking for a knew caddie after her looper from this season left to work for Kevin Chappell on the men’s tour. She’s using Bryson DeChambeau’s caddie, Tim Tucker, this week.
Jessica Korda: If her younger sister isn’t up to the task, perhaps Jessica is.
Stacy Lewis: Hometown lady and a sentimental favorite. Knows both courses.
Angela Stanford: Last week’s winner at the VOA is jazzed about playing a major in her home state.
Jeongeun Lee6: The defending champion’s recent form hasn’t been very good. Don’t see her in the mix this week.
There you have it.
Time for the season’s final major.
A bit of history the first two days then another major champion on Sunday.
Bring it on!
First, Second Round Tee Times:
