To the outside world it was a monumental win, the country girl from the tiny North Queensland town of Ayr dominating on the global stage.
For Karrie Webb, it was major number three and the triumph of a tournament she had long held in high regard.
But 25 years later, that historic victory at the Merit Club in Libertyville represents a major moment of equality, legacy and of the legendary.
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It was the 2000 US Women’s Open.
Professional win number 23. Her second major for the year. The first of consecutive US Open Titles. The provider of the two points needed for entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame.
And to the Aussie legend, seven-time major winner and sporting icon, who spoke to FoxSports.com.au from her Florida home in the early Spring evening in the lead up to the anniversary, it’s a milestone that’s simply snuck up on her.
“Well, it makes me feel old, but in the same breath, it just doesn’t seem like it was that long ago when you think about, you know, what, 25 years sounds like,” Webb said.
And as we embark on a trip down memory lane, the significance of that victory, to both her at the time and to the players now, isn’t lost on Webb.
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Karrie Webb kisses the US Women’s Open trophy after winning the event in 2000.Source: AP
“It was significant. One, I held the US. Open, so highly, so I always put a lot of pressure on myself to play well at the US Open. But winning that event also that got me the two points I needed to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame.
“That capped off something that I never had on my dreamboard, to be in the Hall of Fame…That’s that seems a little out of reach for someone that grew up in Ayr.”
It was impressive. And something that, even earlier in that week, seemed to be missing the tacs and string to even make it to the dream board, with Webb admitting she had a shocking lead in to the tournament.
“In that particular US Open I had a very, very poor prep and even had a really bad warm up on Thursday morning and heading to the first tee, I was like, ‘no expectations’,” Webb said with a wry smile.
“Even though in 2000, I’d already won a major (The Nabisco, now Chevron Championship) and I’d won four of my first five events of the year. So I was already having an amazing year, but I literally went to the range, not knowing what to expect and played the first hole really poorly. I had a really poor tee shot and just made a very poor bogey on the first. Never had a chance of making par.”
“And then on the second tee, it was a par three, and I just flushed a six iron to, I think, it was in within 10 feet, and made the putt for birdie and then that was it. I was off to the races for the rest of the tournament.”
Off to the races indeed, she held a four-shot lead heading into the final round, but found herself in a fierce fight for the crown with not only her friend and local hope, Meg Mallon, but the whole of America.
“Meg always played well in the US Open and it was actually the first time I had felt like a pro-American crowd,” Webb said.
Her lead had slipped on the front nine, not helped when she put her tee shot in the drink on the par-3 seventh for double bogey, as Mallon charged on.
“We were tied after nine holes on that last day and it was the first time it’d ever really hurt. People chanting USA, like, not cheering for Meg, but cheering for, you know, the USA. And I was like, it’s not the Solheim Cup. It’s not a team event. It was really the first time I’d really felt the crowd was not on my side.”
It was on the 10th that changed the momentum for the final time, Webb sinking her putt for birdie, while Mallon three-putted for bogey. The pendulum had swung.
Webb with caddie Evan Minster lining up birdie putt on fourth green.Source: AFP
“Meg and I have had many drinks and talked about this tournament because she says she handed it to me and I said that I just played well on the back nine and she didn’t,” Webb said.
Webb headed to the final hole with a four-shot lead and birdie 18 for an incredible five-stroke victory.
“Well, it’s nice to be able to walk up the last and just enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy the crowds. I did have some friends in the crowd too, so that was nice,” Webb said.
“I think it’s a tough position to be in when you’re playing with a good friend because it’s a huge moment for me and it’s a huge disappointment for her. So it’s hard to really celebrate exuberantly in front of, you know, someone who I know, would have given anything to be in the same position.”
That’s Webb; a fierce competitor on course yet with the empathy and humility that are the hallmark of a true champion.
This may have been a big moment for Webb personally but it was also a turning point for women’s golf.
The major tournament was scheduled the same weekend as the men’s Open at St Andrews, won by Tiger Woods as he completed his career slam – the Tiger slam.
“There was no major national media that week because all the golf, national media were over at the British Open. Golf World, which was a weekly publication, had Tiger and I on the cover and it’s a picture of me and then he’s in the reflection of my glasses, fist pumping a putt in. And so, you know, it was sort of highlighting the fact that we shouldn’t have these two tournaments on at the same time. “
It never happened again.
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The 2000 US Open also changed the game for women’s golf with the prize purse up some 57 per cent from the previous year. It was the first tournament with more than US$2million prize purse. The winner took home $500,000.
It was a big moment back then, but US Open players today compete for a US$12million (A$19m) prize purse, the winner taking home US$2.4million.
“I think it’s a failure of my generation if the girls aren’t playing for that sort of money now. That’s how I look at it,” Webb said.
“When I first came on tour, on my rookie year, one of the first tournaments I won was, at the time outside of the US. Open, the biggest purse of $1.2 million and I won, so $180,000, and I was in the media centre and Louise Suggs, who was one of our founders, who I became good friends with, was in there and she didn’t win $180,000 in her entire career.”
“So, you know, I think it’s a failure of each generation if the next generation isn’t playing for more money. Yeah. It’s what should be happening. “
Creating a legacy in the sport is important to Webb. The Karrie Webb Scholarship is example of that and has played a significant role in the Aussie domination on the LPGA we’re experiencing at the moment with a record nine Aussies on tour in 2025.
Every year since 2008 two girls are awarded the opportunity to spend a week with Webb in the US during the one of the majors as she takes them inside the ropes and provides valuable mentorship.
All but two of the golfers currently on the LPGA have been a part of the program with Steph Kyriacou turning pro just before she had the chance. Yet all the girls on tour, in one way or another, receive valuable advice, support and mentorship from the World Golf Hall of Famer.
“Golf’s been so good to me. But I didn’t do it without help either. My first couple of years on tour, the Aussie girls guided me around and helped me,” Webb said.
“I just felt like I wanted to be a part of that next generation coming through. And I also felt like, there wasn’t enough being done. So, I wanted to see what I’m seeing now, you know, we’ve got a bunch of great players, Aussie girls out on tour, flying the flag really well.”
Karrie Webb at the Women’s Open at St Andrews in 2024.Source: Getty Images
When chatting to foxsports.com.au Kyriacou was full of adoration for the seven-time major champion.
“”I remember the first time I met Karrie, Stacey Peters (former LPGA golfer, Karrie Webb Scholarship holder & Golf Australia Female Pathway Manager) put me in a practice round with her and forced me to ask all these questions and I had nothing for her,” Kyriacou said.
“I was like, ‘Oh My God’. I am playing with a legend. But … she is so approachable. All the advice I ask for, she gives me. I have had dinners with her and she has introduced me to other LPGA legends.”
Webb also has her eye on Kyriacou for this US Open.
“Steph Kyriacou has been playing great. I feel like she’s not far away from breaking out and winning soon. And she does play well on the majors. She seems to play really well on tough golf courses. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see her up there as well,” she said.
As for life for Webb now. She divides her time between Florida and Australia, designs golf courses and still competes from time to time, just don’t mention that ‘R’ word.
“I don’t know, I mean, the guys don’t that have to say they’re retired, so I don’t. I almost feel like I have to, so people stop asking me if I’m going to play or not. But I don’t even know if I’m going to play or not, that’s the problem,” she said.
“I’m quite happy to do a few things here and there and stay involved. Like next week Jack Nicklaus invited me to be a part of the captain’s club and that meeting is at the Memorial every year. Yeah, so I’m in Columbus, and then I go to the US Open,”
To put it simply…
“Enjoying life. Yeah.”
