COLORADO SPRINGS — Last month, 55-year-old Betsy King entered a U.S. Women’s Open qualifying round in Mesa, Ariz., as a lark, hoping to use it as a practice session for a women’s golf Legends event.
The LPGA Hall of Famer had no inkling she would shoot 73-71 to become the oldest competitor at The Broadmoor this week. King retired from the LPGA Tour in September 2005 to attend to her ailing parents. And shoulder surgery a year later convinced her to forget about a comeback.
“There were just a number of events that happened that I felt God was telling me it was time to retire,” King recalled Tuesday. “And my game wasn’t there too. The last year, ’05, I played in only 10 events and I think only made the cut once or twice.”
King certainly had her day.
She won six major championships, including back-to- back U.S. Women’s Opens in 1989 and 1990, and was ranked No. 1 in the world in 1989. That year she became the first player to surpass the $500,000 and $600,000 milestones in single-season earnings.
Coincidentally, the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor marked her last top-10 finish in a major championship. She tied for third.
King, who is playing in her 31st U.S. Women’s Open, said making the cut would make for a rewarding week this time. She said this will be her final LPGA event — unless she wins.
“I can always change my mind,” she said, “(but) that would be a real miracle, believe me.”
Times have changed.
Juli Inkster, still more than competitive at age 51, was asked about how the LPGA Tour has changed. Inkster talked about the tour adding a dozen events outside the U.S., including some in Asia. “My passport looks like it has chicken pox — with all the stamps on it.”
Remembering 1995.
King and Inkster are among nine golfers in this year’s field who played in the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open here. They are joined by Laura Davies, Pat Hurst, Cristie Kerr, Leta Lindley, Michele Redman, Sherri Steinhauer and Wendy Ward.
Kerr was a 17-year-old amateur in 1995.
“I think it’s playing pretty similarly (to 1995),” Kerr said Tuesday. “This is a fantastic golf course. The fairways are generous for a U.S. Open. But, you know, if you do miss the fairway, the rough is pretty brutal. I think this is going to be a pretty good test this week.”
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
