At Glance
‣ Angela Stanford aimed to play in her 100th consecutive Major, a milestone only surpassed by Jack Nicklaus, but faced challenges in qualifying for the US Women’s Open after missing the cut at a qualifier and not receiving a special exemption from the USGA.
‣ Despite her disappointment in not qualifying for the US Women’s Open, Stanford expressed gratitude towards the LPGA media, fans, and sponsors, and reflected on her pride in pursuing her goal of playing in 100 consecutive Majors, acknowledging the support she felt from most of the golf community.
‣ Stanford hinted at retiring from the LPGA Tour, expressing a desire to enjoy her remaining time by playing her favorite courses and aiming to end her career with a positive outlook, despite the setback in achieving her goal of 100 consecutive Major appearances.
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Angela Stanford, an LPGA Tour star, recently played in her 98th consecutive Major. This happened at last week’s Chevron Championship. Before the event, she expressed a burning desire to hit the 100 mark. A milestone only Jack Nicklaus has surpassed in the game.
Winning the first women’s Major of the year wasn’t in the cards for her at The Club at Carlton Woods. So, Stanford knew her chances of keeping the streak alive hinged on next month’s US Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club. Her options? A special exemption or a qualifier in California.
The 2018 Amundi Evian Championship winner went to Soboba Springs Golf Course after a missed cut. But, as Golfweek first reported, her hopes were dashed. She hit consecutive rounds of 74, missing the qualification as Hsin Yu Lu and Mariel Galdiano secured their spots.
To make matters worse, the USGA had already informed Stanford that she wouldn’t receive a special exemption for the US Women’s Open. This was a departure from the Chevron Championship, further limiting her options.
After her qualifying attempt fell through, Stanford took to Instagram. “Unfortunately, I did not qualify for the US Open today,” she wrote. She thanked her supporters, acknowledging that while some doubted her goal, many believed in it.
Stanford also hinted that an invite to the US Women’s Open could have opened doors to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. “Thank you to the LPGA media, golf media, the fans, Chevron, and I believe KPMG and PGA of America would have embraced 100,” she added.
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Stanford’s dream of 100 consecutive Majors isn’t dead yet. She can still make it if she wins an LPGA Tour event before the US Women’s Open or climbs back into the world’s top 75. But, it’s a tall order. The 46-year-old’s last win was nearly four years ago, and she’s currently ranked 398th.
Reflecting on her journey, Stanford admitted feeling proud despite the slim odds. “As I was standing on my 36th hole today, I was overcome with pride,” she shared. It’s been a while since she felt that proud of herself.
Before the last week’s Major, Stanford hinted at retirement if she reached her goal. Although it seems like a long shot now, she’s considering ending her time on the LPGA Tour. “I’ve been told I should smile more on the course. I’m going to try that for the rest of the year,” she mused, thinking about playing her favorite courses one last time.
Stanford’s next shot at the US Women’s Open is at this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship at Wilshire Country Club. Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, there’s a surprise in store.
