1953 U.S. Women's Open
The 1953 U.S. Women's Open was the eighth U.S. Women's Open, held June 25–28 at the Country Club of Rochester in Rochester, New York. It was the first U.S. Women's Open conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA), and the final two rounds were played on Saturday.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 25–28, 1953 |
| Location | Rochester, New York |
| Course(s) | Country Club of Rochester |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play – 72 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 74 |
| Length | 6,417 yards (5,868 m) |
| Field | 37: 17 pros, 20 amateurs |
| Prize fund | $7,500 |
| Winner's share | $2,000 |
| Champion | |
| Betsy Rawls | |
| 302 (+6), playoff | |
Betsy Rawls won an 18-hole playoff on Sunday by six strokes over runner-up Jackie Pung, 71 to 77. It was the third of eight major championships for Rawls and the second of four U.S. Women's Opens.
Patty Berg set a course record with a 71 on Thursday and was the 36-hole leader on Friday evening, eight strokes ahead of the field. Her final two rounds of 80 and 79 on Saturday dropped her to solo third, one stroke out of the playoff.
Notably absent was two-time champion Babe Zaharias, who was recovering from colon cancer surgery. She returned in 1954 and won by a record twelve strokes in her final U.S. Women's Open.