Morgan Looks to Join History as U.S. Senior Women’s Open Enters Weekend

Outside the clubhouse at San Diego Country Club stands a statue of Mickey Wright, a former member here and a four-time winner of the U.S. Women’s Open. That monument stands in silent appreciation of the 7th U.S. Senior Women’s Open, the championship that both celebrates history, and makes some of its history.

Looking to write her name into golf’s annals with indelible ink is Becky Morgan of Wales. The two-time Curtis Cup team member for Great Britain & Ireland made seven birdies and two bogeys in Friday’s second round as she carded the low score of the week, a 5-under-par 68 that put her at 4-under-par 142, the best through 36 holes.

One stroke back at 143 are Maria McBride, after a 70, and Corina Kelepouris, who posted a 71. Moira Dunn-Bohls is at 144 along with Liselotte Neumann, the 1988 U.S. Women’s Open champion, and Ashli Bunch. Laura Diaz is at 145 and defending champion Leta Lindley is at 146 with Trish Johnson at 147.

“This is my first one, having turned 50 last September,” said Morgan. “But I like the course. It's quite tricky. You've really got to hit the fairways, sort of get it in the right part of the greens, and today my putter was working, so it was good.”

Morgan, who started on the front nine, went out with four birdies and a bogey and came back home with three birdies and a bogey.

“Obviously it's only after two rounds,” Morgan said. “But since I've been on The Legends Tour the last four or five years I've played well in the senior LPGA tournaments and stuff, so I know my game is decent right now, so we'll see what happens on the weekend.”

How will she prepare for the pressure of the weekend and her flirtation with history?

“I think I might go to the outlet mall this afternoon,” she said with a smile. “Maybe hit a few balls now and then just go chill out and spend some money at the outlets.”

Of the six previous winners of the Senior Women’s Open, three were already USGA champions, with the senior victory extending their legacies as USGA icons. Jill McGill (2022) won the 1993 U.S. Women’s Amateur and the 1994 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links. Annika Sorenstam (2021) captured the U.S. Women’s Open three times. And Laura Davies (2018) took the 1987 U.S. Women’s Open. Both Davies and Sorenstam are in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

For Helen Alfredsson (2019), Trish Johnson (2023) and Leta Lindley (2024), victory in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open gave them the USGA title they had always craved.

Morgan, McBride and Kelepouris are all in that category of players for whom victory here would be a life-changing event, putting them in that rare group that will forever be introduced on the first tee as a USGA champion.

Once again, those who played in the morning wave – as Morgan, McBride and Kelepouris did – got better scoring conditions. Sorenstam, who played in the afternoon, began the second round leading at 3-under-par 70. But Sorenstam struggled on the greens and fell back with a 78 that put her at 148, in a knot with seven other players tied for tenth place, including five-time USGA champion Juli Inkster. 

Sorenstam started on the back nine and made four bogeys in a row beginning on No. 12 as she went out in 41. She needed 33 putts on the day.

A few who played in the afternoon managed to move up the leader board, none better than Bunch, who carded a 4-under-par 69. Neumann and Diaz both shot 71. 

Kelepouris played the back nine first and went out with eight pars and a birdie on No. 17. She made two birdies and one bogey on her inward nine.

“I just gotta keep going,” Kelepouris said. “I'm really inexperienced at this level, and stay within myself. All those players up on the leaderboard. I'm just going to do what Scott [her caddie] and I are doing with our game plan and see where it takes us.”

McBride played the front bogey free with two birdies and then birdied No. 10. She got to 5 under par when she made an eagle on the par-5 14th hole but bogeyed Nos. 15 and 18. 

“There were a few shots off the tee that maybe weren't the greatest,” McBride said. “But overall I really took advantage of the par-5s,” she said about playing them four under par on Friday.

“I'm obviously done early today,” McBride said. “Relax a little bit and we're just having a home-cooked meal. I'm staying with Charlotta [Sorenstam] and her husband, and her husband cooks, which is great. Just kind of enjoy the situation and enjoy going out there tomorrow and really being in contention.”

On the last two rounds, all of the leaders will be playing in the same conditions, all in the afternoon. If the first two days are any indication, what lies ahead is what the USGA intends for its championships: A complete test of skill and a thorough examination of mental toughness. That’s a test Mickey Wright passed with flying colors four times.