Golfers happy with turnout at Senior Open, look forward to next year
As she addressed a large crowd of spectators gathered outside Chicago Golf Club's clubhouse following her 10-shot win in the inaugural U.S. Senior Women's Open Championship, Laura Davies cradled her shiny trophy.
The 54-year-old Englishwoman, who shot 16 under for the four rounds, thanked everyone for coming out to watch the "old birds" play.
The "old birds" were certainly singing. They had high praise for the private Wheaton club, which opened in 1894. It is the oldest 18-hole course in North America and is one of the five founding clubs of the USGA.
"I think the Chicagoland area loved (the tournament)," said 62-year-old Amy Alcott, who shot 4 over on Sunday and tied for 42nd place. "I'm sure that we'll have a great event at Pine Needles."
Pine Needles Golf Club in North Carolina will host the second U.S. Senior Women's Open next summer.
History made:
It was easy for Laura Davies to be nostalgic after her win. She understands and appreciates the history the entire week provided.
"I've been looking at the boards out there," said Davies, who won the 1987 U.S. Women's Open. "Some of them are from 1890 and stuff, and all those names years ago that won the women's USGA events, they all had a first winner, and you look at them. One day people will look at this tournament when I'm long gone, and they'll see my name up there."
Well ... we're waiting:
Sunday's final group of Laura Davies, Juli Inkster and Trish Johnson were waiting to hit on nearly every hole. That was the case as well on Saturday when the three ladies played together.
It took them nearly 5 hours to complete their round on Sunday. While waiting to hit their tee shots on the par-3 seventh, Davies looked at her watch and noted to her caddie that they were on pace for almost a six-hour round.
Davies, for one, would prefer to play at a faster pace.
"All I do is whinge and moan all day about how slow the group in front is and just want to get on with it," Davies said. "That's just my personality, though. I get to the ball, and I want to hit my shot. Unfortunately in professional golf nowadays, that doesn't happen. You just have a drink, have a little chat with your playing partners, your caddie, and try to let the time go by because it is hard."
Alcott is all in:
Amy Alcott was told on Sunday that 79-year-old Joanne Carner plans to play senior-tournament golf when she's 80, which she'll turn next April 4.
"I'm sure she is," said Alcott, who celebrated her 62nd birthday on Feb. 22. "I'm going to play forever. As long as I can walk, I'll be in this (U.S. Senior Women's Open) tournament."
• Twitter: @JoeAguilar64