The USGA and Pebble Beach officials yesterday "formally announced" the golf course as host of the '23 U.S. Women’s Open and the '27 U.S. Open, according to Ron Kroichick of the S.F. CHRONICLE. This might count as "no-big-deal news on the men’s side," but it is the "first time the women will play America’s national championship" at Pebble Beach. This is a "giant, groundbreaking step." Golf HOFer Juli Inkster said, "It’s great for women’s golf." Kroichick notes one way for the women’s game to "attract more attention, and potentially more viewers, is to take its most important events to prestigious, rich-in-history courses." That is why the Olympic Club near S.F. "previously was awarded" the '21 U.S. Women’s Open. And now that is why Pebble Beach will "host the championship for the first time two years later" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/25). GOLFCHANNEL.com's Randall Mell wrote this "ranks as one of the most important breakthroughs for women wanting to play the game’s historic venues as major championship tests," ranking with the women first getting to play the Old Course at St. Andrews for the Ricoh Women’s British Open in '07 and getting to play Oakmont for the first time in a U.S. Women’s Open in '92 (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 10/24). The AP noted Pebble Beach has "hosted the U.S. Women's Amateur twice, but never the Women's Open." Pebble Beach will be the "ninth course that has hosted the men's and women's U.S. Open" (AP, 10/24).
GROWING THE GAME: Golf Channel's Matt Ginella said the venue can "really elevate the status" of a particular major. Golf Channel's Charlie Rymer also said it is "really important for the women to go to these historic venues," and Pebble Beach is a "national treasure." Golfer Trevor Immelman said, “The fact that they have announced it so early, means we can really get behind it and kids who are 14, 15, 16 years old, they can look at this and say, ‘Five years time, I want to play the Women's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach’" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 10/25).
