Secures her third U.S. Women’s Open title on 9 July 2006 with an 18‑hole playoff win at Newport Country Club.
On 9 July 2006, Annika Sörenstam captured her third U.S. Women’s Open title at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island, winning after an 18‑hole Monday playoff.[1][6] In difficult, windy conditions, she held off Pat Hurst in the playoff to secure another major victory.
The 2006 championship was especially meaningful because it came during a period when some speculated that Sörenstam’s dominance might be waning as younger stars emerged. Her ability to win again at the U.S. Women’s Open demonstrated her enduring competitiveness and mental resilience.[6] The Newport course, a historic venue dating to the 19th century, added further prestige to the occasion.
This third U.S. Women’s Open crown matched Sörenstam with some of the most decorated champions in the event’s history and reinforced her reputation as one of the greatest performers in demanding, high‑pressure major championships.[1] The playoff format required sustained concentration over an additional 18 holes, showcasing her fitness and strategic acumen.
Historically, the 9 July 2006 victory is viewed as the late‑career capstone to her U.S. Women’s Open record and part of the broader narrative of her ten major titles. It contributed to her final tally of 72 LPGA wins and nearly 90 professional victories worldwide, and it underscored the era‑defining nature of her presence on the LPGA Tour in the 1990s and 2000s.[1][5]