What Is 1958 United States Women's Open

Overview

The 1958 United States Women's Open was a pivotal moment in women’s golf history, marking the 13th playing of the tournament and the first of Mickey Wright’s four U.S. Women's Open victories. Held at Forest Country Club in Indianapolis, Indiana, the event showcased rising talent and fierce competition during a transformative era for women’s professional golf.

The tournament drew top players from across the country, competing over 72 holes of stroke play. Despite challenging weather and course conditions, the event highlighted the growing skill and determination of female athletes in a male-dominated sport.

• June 26–28, 1958 was the official date range for the championship, making it one of the longest-running annual women’s golf events by that time.
• Forest Country Club in Indianapolis hosted the event, becoming the first Indiana course to stage the U.S. Women's Open.
• Mickey Wright, age 23 at the time, claimed her first U.S. Women's Open title, finishing with a total score of 303 (7-over-par).
• Runner-up Kathy Cornelius finished just three strokes behind Wright, posting a 306, demonstrating the tight competition.
• The course measured approximately 6,080 yards, a significant length for women’s golf in the late 1950s, with narrow fairways and thick rough.

How It Works

The U.S. Women's Open operates under the United States Golf Association (USGA) guidelines, emphasizing stroke play, strict eligibility, and challenging course setups to identify the most consistent golfer over four rounds.

• Stroke Play Format: All competitors play 72 holes over four days, with the lowest cumulative score winning. In 1958, ties after 72 holes led to an 18-hole playoff the next day.
• Eligibility Requirements: Open to any female professional or amateur with a USGA handicap index not exceeding 2.4, though most entrants were professionals by 1958.
• Course Setup: The USGA designed Forest Country Club to test accuracy, with fairway widths averaging 28 yards and fast, undulating greens.
• Weather Impact: Rain delays and high humidity affected scoring; the par-72 course averaged 75.8 strokes per round across the field.
• Prize Money: The winner received $2,500 from a total purse of $10,000, a significant sum for women’s sports at the time.
• Historical Context: This was the first year all four rounds were completed without major interruptions, signaling improved tournament organization.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1958 U.S. Women's Open with other major women’s championships of the era:

The 1958 U.S. Women's Open stood out for its competitive depth and challenging scoring conditions. Compared to other events, it had the highest winning score among stroke play tournaments, reflecting the difficulty of Forest Country Club. Mickey Wright’s ability to win both the U.S. Open and the Women’s Western Open that year underscored her dominance in 1958.

Why It Matters

The 1958 U.S. Women's Open was a landmark in the evolution of women’s professional golf, establishing Mickey Wright as a major force and setting new standards for course difficulty and tournament prestige.

• Mickey Wright went on to win three more U.S. Women's Opens, becoming one of only four women to win the title four times.
• The tournament helped legitimize women’s golf as a serious professional sport, attracting media coverage and sponsor interest.
• Forest Country Club’s hosting duties demonstrated that Midwestern courses could meet USGA championship standards.
• The three-stroke margin highlighted the increasing competitiveness of the field, with 12 players within 10 strokes of the lead.
• Wright’s victory inspired a generation of female golfers, including future stars like Nancy Lopez and Annika Sörenstam.
• The 1958 event contributed to the LPGA’s growth, which expanded from 14 events in 1957 to 21 by 1960.

Today, the 1958 U.S. Women's Open is remembered not only for Wright’s breakthrough win but also as a turning point in the visibility and professionalism of women’s golf. Its legacy endures in the modern U.S. Women's Open, now one of the most prestigious events in the sport.