To the surface world it was a monumental win, the nation woman from the tiny North Queensland city of Ayr dominating on the worldwide stage.
For Karrie Webb, it was main quantity three and the triumph of a match she had lengthy held in excessive regard.
However 25 years later, that historic victory on the Benefit Membership in Libertyville represents a serious second of equality, legacy and of the legendary.
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It was the 2000 US Girls’s Open.
Skilled win quantity 23. Her second main for the 12 months. The primary of consecutive US Open Titles. The supplier of the 2 factors wanted for entry into the LPGA Corridor of Fame.
And to the Aussie legend, seven-time main winner and sporting icon, who spoke to FoxSports.com.au from her Florida dwelling within the early Spring night within the lead as much as the anniversary, it’s a milestone that’s merely snuck up on her.
“Nicely, it makes me really feel previous, however in the identical breath, it simply doesn’t seem to be it was that way back when you concentrate on, , what, 25 years appears like,” Webb stated.
And as we embark on a visit down reminiscence lane, the importance of that victory, to each her on the time and to the gamers now, isn’t misplaced on Webb.
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“It was vital. One, I held the US. Open, so extremely, so I all the time put a variety of stress on myself to play effectively on the US Open. However profitable that occasion additionally that received me the 2 factors I wanted to qualify for the LPGA Corridor of Fame.
“That capped off one thing that I by no means had on my dreamboard, to be within the Corridor of Fame…That’s that appears a little bit out of attain for somebody that grew up in Ayr.”
It was spectacular. And one thing that, even earlier in that week, appeared to be lacking the tacs and string to even make it to the dream board, with Webb admitting she had a surprising lead in to the match.
“In that exact US Open I had a really, very poor prep and even had a extremely dangerous heat up on Thursday morning and heading to the primary tee, I used to be like, ‘no expectations’,” Webb stated with a wry smile.
“Although in 2000, I’d already gained a serious (The Nabisco, now Chevron Championship) and I’d gained 4 of my first 5 occasions of the 12 months. So I used to be already having a tremendous 12 months, however I actually went to the vary, not figuring out what to anticipate and performed the primary gap actually poorly. I had a extremely poor tee shot and simply made a really poor bogey on the primary. By no means had an opportunity of constructing par.”
“After which on the second tee, it was a par three, and I simply flushed a six iron to, I feel, it was in inside 10 toes, and made the putt for birdie after which that was it. I used to be off to the races for the remainder of the match.”
Off to the races certainly, she held a four-shot lead heading into the ultimate spherical, however discovered herself in a fierce combat for the crown with not solely her buddy and native hope, Meg Mallon, however the entire of America.
“Meg all the time performed effectively within the US Open and it was really the primary time I had felt like a pro-American crowd,” Webb stated.
Her lead had slipped on the entrance 9, not helped when she put her tee shot within the drink on the par-3 seventh for double bogey, as Mallon charged on.
“We had been tied after 9 holes on that final day and it was the primary time it’d ever actually damage. Individuals chanting USA, like, not cheering for Meg, however cheering for, , the USA. And I used to be like, it’s not the Solheim Cup. It’s not a group occasion. It was actually the primary time I’d actually felt the gang was not on my aspect.”
It was on the tenth that modified the momentum for the ultimate time, Webb sinking her putt for birdie, whereas Mallon three-putted for bogey. The pendulum had swung.
“Meg and I’ve had many drinks and talked about this match as a result of she says she handed it to me and I stated that I simply performed effectively on the again 9 and he or she didn’t,” Webb stated.
Webb headed to the ultimate gap with a four-shot lead and birdie 18 for an unbelievable five-stroke victory.
“Nicely, it’s good to have the ability to stroll up the final and simply benefit from the environment and benefit from the crowds. I did have some mates within the crowd too, in order that was good,” Webb stated.
“I feel it’s a tricky place to be in while you’re enjoying with buddy as a result of it’s an enormous second for me and it’s an enormous disappointment for her. So it’s laborious to actually rejoice exuberantly in entrance of, , somebody who I do know, would have given something to be in the identical place.”
That’s Webb; a fierce competitor heading in the right direction but with the empathy and humility which can be the hallmark of a real champion.
This may occasionally have been a giant second for Webb personally nevertheless it was additionally a turning level for ladies’s golf.
The foremost match was scheduled the identical weekend as the boys’s Open at St Andrews, gained by Tiger Woods as he accomplished his profession slam – the Tiger slam.
“There was no main nationwide media that week as a result of all of the golf, nationwide media had been over on the British Open. Golf World, which was a weekly publication, had Tiger and I on the quilt and it’s an image of me after which he’s within the reflection of my glasses, fist pumping a putt in. And so, , it was form of highlighting the truth that we shouldn’t have these two tournaments on on the identical time. “
It by no means occurred once more.
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The 2000 US Open additionally modified the sport for ladies’s golf with the prize purse up some 57 per cent from the earlier 12 months. It was the primary match with greater than US$2million prize purse. The winner took dwelling $500,000.
It was a giant second again then, however US Open gamers at this time compete for a US$12million (A$19m) prize purse, the winner taking dwelling US$2.4million.
“I feel it’s a failure of my technology if the ladies aren’t enjoying for that form of cash now. That’s how I have a look at it,” Webb stated.
“Once I first got here on tour, on my rookie 12 months, one of many first tournaments I gained was, on the time outdoors of the US. Open, the most important purse of $1.2 million and I gained, so $180,000, and I used to be within the media centre and Louise Suggs, who was certainly one of our founders, who I turned good mates with, was in there and he or she didn’t win $180,000 in her total profession.”
“So, , I feel it’s a failure of every technology if the subsequent technology isn’t enjoying for more cash. Yeah. It’s what needs to be occurring. “
Making a legacy within the sport is necessary to Webb. The Karrie Webb Scholarship is instance of that and has performed a big function within the Aussie domination on the LPGA we’re experiencing for the time being with a document 9 Aussies on tour in 2025.
Yearly since 2008 two women are awarded the chance to spend per week with Webb within the US throughout the one of many majors as she takes them contained in the ropes and gives helpful mentorship.
All however two of the golfers at present on the LPGA have been part of this system with Steph Kyriacou turning professional simply earlier than she had the prospect. But all the ladies on tour, in a method or one other, obtain helpful recommendation, help and mentorship from the World Golf Corridor of Famer.
“Golf’s been so good to me. However I didn’t do it with out assist both. My first couple of years on tour, the Aussie women guided me round and helped me,” Webb stated.
“I simply felt like I wished to be part of that subsequent technology coming by way of. And I additionally felt like, there wasn’t sufficient being finished. So, I wished to see what I’m seeing now, , we’ve received a bunch of nice gamers, Aussie women out on tour, flying the flag very well.”
When chatting to foxsports.com.au Kyriacou was filled with adoration for the seven-time main champion.
“”I bear in mind the primary time I met Karrie, Stacey Peters (former LPGA golfer, Karrie Webb Scholarship holder & Golf Australia Feminine Pathway Supervisor) put me in a observe spherical along with her and compelled me to ask all these questions and I had nothing for her,” Kyriacou stated.
“I used to be like, ‘Oh My God’. I’m enjoying with a legend. However … she is so approachable. All the recommendation I ask for, she offers me. I’ve had dinners along with her and he or she has launched me to different LPGA legends.”
Webb additionally has her eye on Kyriacou for this US Open.
“Steph Kyriacou has been enjoying nice. I really feel like she’s not distant from breaking out and profitable quickly. And she or he does play effectively on the majors. She appears to play very well on powerful golf programs. So I wouldn’t be stunned to see her up there as effectively,” she stated.
As for all times for Webb now. She divides her time between Florida and Australia, designs golf programs and nonetheless competes once in a while, simply don’t point out that ‘R’ phrase.
“I don’t know, I imply, the fellows don’t that must say they’re retired, so I don’t. I virtually really feel like I’ve to, so folks cease asking me if I’m going to play or not. However I don’t even know if I’m going to play or not, that’s the issue,” she stated.
“I’m fairly completely happy to do just a few issues right here and there and keep concerned. Like subsequent week Jack Nicklaus invited me to be part of the captain’s membership and that assembly is on the Memorial yearly. Yeah, so I’m in Columbus, after which I’m going to the US Open,”
To place it merely…
“Having fun with life. Yeah.”