Karrie Webb

Karrie Anne Webb (born 21 December 1974) is an Australian professional golfer. She plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour, and also turns out once or twice a year on the ALPG Tour in her home country. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. She has 41 wins on the LPGA Tour, more than any other active player.

Early life and amateur career

Webb was born in Ayr, Queensland. She was a member of the Australian Amateur team, making six international appearances from 1992 to 1994, including a 1994 appearance in the Espirito Santo Trophy World Amateur Golf Team Championships.^[2] This was the year she became the Australian Stroke Play Champion^[3]

Professional career

Webb began her professional golfing career in 1994 playing on the Ladies European Tour, where she finished second at the Women's Australian Open,^[3] and the Futures Tour in the U.S., where she won one tournament.^[4] In 1995 she became the youngest ever winner of the Weetabix Women's British Open in her rookie season in Europe,^[3] prior to it being classed as an LPGA major, and was European Rookie of the Year. She qualified for the LPGA Tour after she finished second at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, despite playing with a broken bone in her wrist.^[4]

In 1996 Webb won her first LPGA tournament in her second LPGA start at the HealthSouth Inaugural, on the fourth hole of a sudden death playoff. She won three other tournaments and became the first LPGA player to win $1 million mark in a single season, topping the year end money list.^[5] She was also the 1996 LPGA Rookie of the Year.^[4]

In 1997 Webb won three times on the LPGA Tour including another win at the Weetabix Women's British Open, won her first Vare Trophy^[6] and was voted 1997 ESPY Best Female Golfer.^[7] In 1999 Webb won her first major championship at the du Maurier Ltd. Classic and won her first LPGA Tour Player of the Year award.^[8]

Webb also took part in the largest playoff in LPGA Tour history at the 1999 Jamie Farr Kroger Classic.^[9] Se Ri Pak birdied the first sudden death playoff hole to defeat Webb, Mardi Lunn, Carin Koch, Sherri Steinhauer, and Kelli Kuehne.^[10]

In 2000, Webb won two more major championships, following up her win at the Nabisco Championship with a win at the U.S. Women's Open. This gained her a second consecutive Rolex Player of the Year title and Vare Trophy, and she topped the money list, missing out on a chance to become the LPGA's first single-season $2 million winner by taking a mid season break to return home to Australia to run with the Olympic torch.^[11] Teamed with Rachel Hetherington representing Australia she won the Women's World Cup in Malaysia,^[12] was awarded the preeminent sport award in Australia, the Dawn Fraser Award.^[13] and was named Female Player of the Year by the Golf Writers Association of America.^[14]

She successfully defended her U.S. Women's Open title in 2001 and won the LPGA Championship, to become the youngest winner of the LPGA Career Grand Slam.^[15] She teamed with David Duval to play against Annika Sörenstam and Tiger Woods in a made-for-TV Battle at Bighorn between the two best male and two best female players in the world. At the time, it provided women's golf its largest audience ever.^[16] Webb's win at the 2002 Women's British Open, which had become an LPGA major in 2001, meant she completed a Super Career Grand Slam – every available major championship in women's golf in her career.^[17]

Webb then suffered a three-year slump. She collected just two LPGA wins in the next two years, and in 2005 had a best LPGA finish of tied sixth^[18] although she did team up with Rachel Hetherington to represent Australia at the Women's World Cup of Golf^[19] and won her fifth ANZ Ladies Masters title back home in Australia.^[20]

Webb qualified for entry to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000, but was not eligible for induction until she had played ten LPGA Tour events in each of ten seasons. She met this criterion on 9 June 2005 when she completed the first round of the LPGA Championship.^[21] At age 30, she became the youngest living person ever to enter the Hall of Fame,^[15] and kept that distinction until 2007, when fellow LPGA star Se Ri Pak was inducted.

Webb staged a comeback season in 2006. In the final round at the Kraft Nabisco Championship she holed a 116-yard shot from the fairway to eagle the 18th hole, and then birdied the same hole in a sudden-death playoff to beat Lorena Ochoa and win her second Kraft Nabisco Championship.^[22] She won four other tournaments including the Evian Masters^[23] and Mizuno Classic.^[24] Her 2006 Kraft Nabisco win took her into the top ten of the Women's World Golf Rankings for the first time since they were introduced in February 2006.

Her 41 LPGA Tour victories places her tied for 10th with Babe Zaharias on the list of players with the most career LPGA tournament wins^[25] and first among all active players.

Awards and honors

• In 1995, she earned Rookie of the Year honors on the Ladies European Tour. The following year she earned Rookie of the Year honors on the LPGA Tour.
• In 1996, she won the money list on the LPGA Tour. She also won the money list in 1999 and 2000.
• In 1999 and 2000, she earned Player of the Year honors on the LPGA Tou.
• In 2005, she was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Professional wins (56)

LPGA Tour wins (41)

LPGA Tour playoff record (4–6)

LPGA majors are shown in bold.

ALPG Tour wins (13)

• 1998 (1) Australian Ladies Masters²
• 1999 (1) Australian Ladies Masters²
• 2000 (2) AAMI Women's Australian Open⁴, Australian Ladies Masters²
• 2001 (1) ANZ Ladies Masters⁴
• 2002 (1) AAMI Women's Australian Open⁴
• 2005 (1) ANZ Ladies Masters⁴
• 2007 (2) MFS Women's Australian Open⁴, ANZ Ladies Masters⁴
• 2008 (1) MFS Women's Australian Open⁴
• 2010 (1) ANZ Ladies Masters⁴
• 2013 (1) Volvik RACV Ladies Masters⁴
• 2014 (1) ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open⁵

LPGA of Japan Tour wins (3)

• 2000 (1) Nichirei Cup World Ladies
• 2001 (1) Nichirei Cup World Ladies
• 2006 (1) Mizuno Classic³

Ladies European Tour wins (15)

• 1995 (1) Women's British Open¹
• 1997 (1) Women's British Open¹
• 2000 (1) AAMI Women's Australian Open⁴
• 2001 (1) ANZ Ladies Masters⁴
• 2002 (2) AAMI Women's Australian Open⁴, Women's British Open¹
• 2005 (1) ANZ Ladies Masters⁴
• 2006 (1) Evian Masters¹
• 2007 (2) MFS Women's Australian Open⁴, ANZ Ladies Masters⁴
• 2008 (1) MFS Women's Australian Open⁴
• 2010 (1) ANZ Ladies Masters⁴
• 2013 (2) Volvik RACV Ladies Masters⁴, ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters
• 2014 (1) ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open⁵

Note: Webb won The Evian Championship (formerly named the Evian Masters) once before it was recognized as a major championship on the LPGA Tour in 2013, but after it was co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour in 2000. Webb won the Women's British Open twice before it was recognized as a major championship on the LPGA Tour in 2001, but after it was co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour in 1994 and once after it was recognized as a major championship in 2001.

Futures Tour wins (1)

• 1995 Golden Flake Golden Ocala Futures Classic

Other wins (2)

• 2000 Women's World Cup Golf (with Rachel Hetherington)
• 2003 ConAgra LPGA Skins Game

Notes

• ¹ Co-sanctioned by LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour
• ² Co-sanctioned by LPGA Tour and ALPG Tour
• ³ Co-sanctioned by LPGA Tour and LPGA of Japan Tour
• ⁴ Co-sanctioned by ALPG Tour and Ladies European Tour
• ⁵ Co-sanctioned by ALPG Tour, Ladies European Tour, and LPGA Tour

Major championships

Wins (7)

¹ Defeated Ochoa with birdie on first extra hole

Results timeline

Results not in chronological order.

^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.
^^ The Evian Championship was added as a major in 2013
† Webb won the Women's British Open in 1995 and 1997 before it became an LPGA major.

CUT = missed the half-way cut
NT = no tournament
"T" = tied for place

Summary

• Most consecutive cuts made – 23 (2007 British Open – 2013 U.S. Open)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 9 (1999 U.S. Open – 2001 U.S. Open)

LPGA Tour career summary

^ official as of 13 July 2022^[28][29][30]
* Includes matchplay and other tournaments without a cut.

World ranking

Position in Women's World Golf Rankings at the end of each calendar year.

Honours

Webb was awarded the Centenary Medal on 1 January 2001.^[50]

On 26 January 2010 Webb was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to golf, and to the community as a benefactor and supporter of a range of health and disability organisations.^[51]

In January 2018 Webb was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to golf at the elite level as a player, to the development of female golfers, as a mentor and role model, and through charitable and community organisations".^[52]

In 2022, she was inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame.^[53]

Team appearances

Amateur

• Espirito Santo Trophy (representing Australia): 1994
• Tasman Cup (representing Australia): 1993 (winners)
• Queen Sirikit Cup (representing Australia): 1992, 1993, 1994
• Gladys Hay Memorial Cup (representing Queensland): 1991, 1992, 1993

Professional

• World Cup (representing Australia): 2005
• International Crown (representing Australia): 2014, 2016
• The Queens (representing Australia): 2017 (captain)

See also

• List of female golfers
• List of golfers with most LPGA Tour wins
• List of golfers with most LPGA major championship wins
• Monday Night Golf
• Women's Career Grand Slam Champion

References

1. ^ "Karrie Webb". lpga.com. Ladies Professional Golf Association. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
2. ^ "Notable Past Players". International Golf Federation. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
3. ^ "Karrie Webb Player Profile". ALPG Tour. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
4. ^ "Karrie Webb Full Career Bio". LPGA. Archived from the original on 25 March 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
5. ^ "Annual Money Leaders". LPGA. Archived from the original on 25 January 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
6. ^ "Vare Trophy Winners". LPGA. Retrieved 7 March 2007.
7. ^ "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
8. ^ "Rolex Player of the Year Winners". LPGA. Archived from the original on 27 October 2006. Retrieved 7 March 2007.
9. ^ LPGA All-Time Records Archived 27 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
10. ^ "Pak wins six player playoff". Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
11. ^ Mickey, Lisa D. (15 September 2000). "Karrie weaving her own 'Webb'". Golf World. Archived from the original on 16 May 2003. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
12. ^ "Australia win women's world cup". BBC Sport. 3 December 2000. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
13. ^ "27th Australian Sport Awards Overview". AustralianSportAwards.com. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
14. ^ "Nelson, Webb & Woods gain Writers Awards". Golf Today. Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
15. ^ "Youngest member of the World Golf Hall of Fame". LPGA. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
16. ^ Arkush, Michael (31 July 2001). "Golf; Woods and Sorenstam Capture a Sloppy Battle". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
17. ^ Park, Martin (11 August 2002). "Webb cruises to sixth major victory". Ladies European Tour. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
18. ^ "Webb's comeback is the stuff of golf legends". Worldgolf.com. 3 August 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
19. ^ Park, Martin (10 February 2005). "Women's World Cup of Golf set for Friday". Ladies European Tour. Archived from the original on 25 October 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
20. ^ Park, Martin (27 February 2005). "Miyazato caught in Karrie's Webb". Ladies European Tour. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
21. ^ "Karrie Webb enters the Hall of Fame". LPGA. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
22. ^ "Webb's Dramatic Eagle Leads to Seventh Major". The New York Times. 3 April 2006. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
23. ^ "Webb tops Wie by a shot to win Evian Masters". USA Today. 29 July 2006. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
24. ^ "Webb ends Sörenstam's Mizuno streak". USA Today. 5 November 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
25. ^ "Official Career Wins". LPGA. Archived from the original on 25 January 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2007.
26. ^ "LPGA Tour Championship Results". USA Today. 20 November 2001. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
27. ^ "Rochester International Results". USA Today. 23 June 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
28. ^ "Karrie Webb stats". LPGA. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
29. ^ "Karrie Webb results". LPGA. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
30. ^ "Career Money". LPGA. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
31. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 26 December 2006.
32. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 25 December 2007.
33. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 30 December 2008.
34. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 29 December 2009.
35. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 28 December 2010.
36. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 27 December 2011.
37. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 31 December 2012.
38. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 30 December 2013.
39. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 29 December 2014.
40. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 28 December 2015.
41. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 26 December 2016.
42. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 25 December 2017.
43. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 31 December 2018.
44. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 30 December 2019.
45. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 28 December 2020.
46. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 27 December 2021.
47. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 26 December 2022.
48. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 25 December 2023.
49. ^ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 30 December 2024.
50. ^ "Karrie Webb". Australian Honours Database. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
51. ^ "Karrie Webb AM". Australian Honours Database. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
52. ^ "Australia Day 2018 Honours List". 26 January 2018.
53. ^ "2022 SAHOF Inductees & Award Winners". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.

External links

• Karrie Webb at the Golf Australia official site (archived)
• Karrie Webb at golf.about.com 22 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine