Players agree Senior Women's Open should matter to Hall of Fame

Winning the inaugural U.S. Senior Women's Open won't clinch a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame for Laura Davies.

It's just not part of the criteria to qualify, for better or worse.

That was news to Rosie Jones following her third-round 71 in the Open at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton on Saturday.

"You're kidding me?" said Jones, whose 2-under round has her in seventh place and 2 over for the tournament.

While the 54-year-old Davies is recognized as one of the best players of her generation - she's been a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame since 2015 - the LPGA does not count the Senior U.S. Open as one of its majors. The native of Coventry, England has won four major championships and a fifth would give her ample overall points to secure induction in the LPGA hall.

"Absolutely (it should be counted)," Jones said. "Just the same way with the (Senior) LPGA Championship should be a major. If the LPGA is not recognizing either one of these (for hall-of-fame criteria), then I'm thinking, 'Shame on you.'"

Juli Inkster agrees with Jones.

"I mean, it's a USGA event," said Inkster, who played with Davies on Saturday and shot a 5-under 68, which was bettered only by Davies' 7-under 66. At 11 under for the tournament, Davies leads Inkster by 5 strokes going into Sunday's final round.

"Laura Davies, if anybody is going to be in the LPGA Hall of Fame, she's pretty impressive and deserves to be in there," Inkster added. "It's not easy to win any tournament."

While Davies appreciates the support of her peers, she's OK with a senior major not counting as part of the LPGA's hall-of-fame criteria.

"You're not up against the absolute best players in the world," Davies said. "You're up against the best 50-plus (years of age) players in the world, and it doesn't really have bearing on the LPGA Hall of Fame. That's just my opinion."

A win Sunday would be the 85th of Davies' professional career.

Twitter: @JoeAguilar64