U.S. Women’s Open: Must-see television awaits from picturesque Pebble Beach

PEBBLE BEACH – When does women’s golf become must-see TV? When it’s held at possibly the most picturesque place on Earth, and when it’s on prime-time network television for the very first time.

“The two of them together is like a match made in heaven,” said Morgan Pressel, a golfer-turned-analyst for NBC Sports and Golf Channel.

The United States Golf Association loves the idea so much that it’s hosting the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach for the first time this week, then returning again in 2035, 2040, and 2048.

“Fans want to see golf courses that they recognize,” said Michelle Wie West, a Stanford graduate and 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion. “They want to be able to recognize the shots that we’re hitting, recognize the course that we’re playing.”

Television viewers will watch in the first time ever in prime-time over the weekend – a milestone for women’s golf as it pushes for more recognition and bigger tournament purses.

Coverage of the third and final rounds will span six hours on both Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m. (PT). That caps 26 hours of total coverage over the four days, including from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday (USA Network).

“People are going to tune in because they’ve heard of Pebble Beach,” Pressel added. “They might not have watched an LPGA event ever in their life, but they’ve heard of Pebble Beach, and here it is on Sunday evening, and they’re flipping through channels and say, ‘Wow this is really amazing. This is some incredible golf. What an exciting event.’ “

“This year, we’ll see unprecedented time on prime-time TV,” Wie West added. “That has a lot to do with, (a), the commitment of the organization that’s running it, but also, (b), the venue as well.” Wie West will come up from her Southern California home and come out of a one-year retirement to play in this U.S. Open.

What carries more weight for women’s golf, this being at Pebble Beach or it being in prime-time television on the weekend?

“Pebble, in itself, is the impetus to even having it in prime-time, because it is such a coveted venue,” said on-course reporter Kay Cockerill, a San Jose native who grew up in Los Gatos and retired from the LPGA 25 years ago.

Mike Whan, USGA’s CEO, calls Pebble Beach the “pinnacle” of America’s golf courses, and showcasing that with the world’s best female golfers makes for must-see television.

“It’s game-changing,” Whan said, “not just for the players, but for the little daughters that will follow them, and the little girls that will watch it on prime-time television.”

“What are they going to see?” Pressel asked. “They’re going to see incredible golf, and wonderful storytelling and hopefully shine light on new faces, obviously the top of the game now but potentially new faces, which is so special about a Women’s Open.”

The newest star is 20-year-old Rose Zhang, who turned pro after repeating as the individual NCAA Champion out of Stanford. She won her pro debut June 1 at the Mizuho Americas Open in New Jersey, and she tied for eighth at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on June 22. As for her history at Pebble Beach, she set the women’s course record (9-under, 63) to win the Carmel Cup in September.

“I’m very excited to see what Rose Zhang can do on a golf course where she has the women’s course record,” NBC Sports announcer Tom Abbott said. “That could be a massive boost for the LPGA Tour and for women’s golf and for women’s sports, in general.”

“She’s a delight to watch,” added Cockerill. “The world is going to fall in love with her. Many already have.”

Pressel, herself, was just 12 when she became the then-youngest player to ever qualify for a U.S. Women’s Open, in 2001. She’s gone on to win two LPGA Tour events, play for Team USA six times at the Solheim Cup, and, two years ago, take up the role of television analyst.

“It’s going to be epic,” Pressel said, “and it’s going to be iconic.”

WHAT: 78th U.S. Women’s Open

WHEN: Thursday-Sunday

WHERE: Pebble Beach Golf Links

PAR: 71

YARDAGE: 6,546

PURSE: $10 million (in 2022)

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Minjee Lee

COURSE RECORD: 63 (Rose Zhang, 2022)

TELEVISION: Thursday, 1-3 p.m. (Peacock), 3-8 p.m. (USA); Friday, 1-3 p.m. (Peacock), 3-8 p.m. (USA); Saturday, noon-6 p.m. (NBC/Peacock); Sunday, noon-6 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT PEBBLE BEACH

1929 U.S. Amateur: Harrison R. Johnston

1940 U.S. Women’s Amateur: Betty Jameson

1947 U.S. Amateur: Robert H. (Skee) Riegel

1948 U.S. Women’s Amateur: Grace S. Lenczyk

1961 U.S. Amateur: Jack Nicklaus

1972 U.S. Open: Jack Nicklaus

1982 U.S. Open: Tom Watson

1992 U.S. Open: Tom Kite

1999 U.S. Amateur: David Gossett

2000 U.S. Open: Tiger Woods

2010 U.S. Open: Graeme McDowell

2018 U.S. Amateur: Viktor Hovland

2019 U.S. Open: Gary Woodland

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CALIFORNIA

14 – Pebble Beach Golf Links*

11 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco

5 – Del Paso Country Club, Sacramento

4 – The Los Angeles Country Club, Los Angeles (includes 2023 U.S. Open)

4 – Monterey Peninsula Country Club, Pebble Beach

3 – Bel-Air Country Club, Los Angeles (includes 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur)

3 – The Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades

3 – San Diego Country Club, Chula Vista

3 – Torrey Pines Golf Course, San Diego

*Pebble Beach also will host the 2035, 2040, 2048 U.S. Women’s Open; the 2027, 2032, 2037, 2044 men’s U.S. Open