EDITORIAL: Did “We” Forget About the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open
The 2006 U.S. Women’s Open is one of the biggest golf/sporting events (pro or amateur) ever played in Rhode Island.
Played at famed Newport Country Club, the tournament was won by Annika Sorenstam in a 18-hole Monday playoff.
However, it has seemingly been forgotten about.
Last week the LPGA Tour announced that it was bringing a tournament to TPC Boston in the summer of 2024 – the FM Global Championship.
In the LPGA’s press release sent to media members all over the country, they state “The 2024 FM Global Championship marks the LPGA Tour’s return to New England for the first time since the 2004 U.S. Women’s Open, held at Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Mass.”
The words New England and 2004 U.S. Women’s Open are highlighted because that is the focus.
If they had said “return to Boston” or “Massachusetts” for the first time since 2004, than obviously that’s different. But, that is not the case.
What makes matters worse is, these press releases are distributed everywhere and, generally speaking, news organizations essentially copy and paste them into their own articles and post it with a good image and perhaps a rewritten lede.
That is why you see the same quotes, facts and similar wording in every article.
So you have the original press release on LPGA.com, and an article on ESPN, both with the LPGA Tour returning to New England for the first time since 2004.
Golfweek frames it as a return to the “Boston market for the first time since 2004,” so perhaps they get off the hook.
Even RI’s own Brad Faxon posted on Instagram about the 2004 stat.
GolfNewsRI commented on the post to correct him and it appears he deleted our comment and reposted his post with wrong information.
Am I missing something? Did we forget about the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open at Newport?
In Rhode Island, we take a lot of pride in any pro or major sporting event that comes here, because it does not happen often.
That’s why we still tell stories of when Tiger Woods won the U.S. Amateur here, or when the NCAA Tournament came to the Amica Mutual Pavilion. It’s why we are jacked up for the 2024 U.S. Senior Open and why so many people are still disappointed that the CVS Charity Classic is gone.
And that’s why the 2006 event being seemingly forgotten about is disappointing.
Below is the final round and playoff of the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open at Newport Country Club. Enjoy.