There’s so much LPGA history stored up at Mission Hills, that it’s near impossible to cut down the “best of” to 10. Some of these memories are ones certain players would like to forget, but nevertheless will forever be etched in the minds of golf fans around the globe.
From Amy Alcott’s first plunge to Lexi Thompson’s rules fiasco, the drama has often been sky high on a course named after one of television’s most famous faces – Dinah Shore. After 2022 the event, now known as the Chevron Championship, will move away from Mission Hills for the first time in 50 years to a yet-to-be announced course in Texas.
Here are some of the most unforgettable moments from the year’s first major.
Pernilla Lindberg imitates a selfie as she poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the 2018 ANA Inspiration on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo by Getty Images)
It wasn’t just that Pernilla Lindberg made her first LPGA title a major after 193 starts. Or that she won it on the first Monday finish in tournament history. Or that it took eight playoff holes, many of them played in the dark. It was all of that plus the woman Lindberg stared down to get it done – LPGA Hall of Famer Inbee Park. There wasn’t anything instant about it, but it proved to be a classic nonetheless.
Juli Inkster 2004 Kraft Nabisco Championship at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Juli Inkster won the first of two majors in her first full season on the LPGA at the Dinah. The three-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion defeated Pat Bradley in a playoff to announce her presence in a major way. She’d go on to win the du Maurier later that summer.
In-Kyung Kim reacts after missing a putt on the 18th hole which would have given her the tournament win in regulation during the final round of the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
When In-Kyung Kim missed a one-foot putt to win the 2012 Kraft Nabisco, the entire golf world felt her pain. The nightmare will never leave those who saw it unfold live. Kim ultimately lost in a playoff to Sun Young Yoo. Five years later she broke through with her first major title at the 2017 AIG Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns.
Dottie Pepper celebrates winning the 1992 Dinah Shore at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Allsport)
Dottie Pepper’s Sunday blitz included a final-round 66 that saw her romp the field by six strokes. Meg Mallon was her closest pursuer. Pepper set a new scoring mark for a major at the time, and she still holds the 72-hole record for the Chevron at 19 under. It was her second title at Mission Hills, following a 1992 victory.
Annika Sorestam poses with the trophy after winning her second Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
The only player to win back-to-back at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course since the event became a major in 1983, Annika Sorenstam accomplished the feat in style with her bright red shoes. In fact, the shoes might be the most memorable part of the victory for the 10-time major champion, who defeated fellow Swede Liselotte Neumann by one stoke. Even Sorenstam couldn’t stop staring at them. “These shoes, I really don’t know why I put them on,” said Sorenstam. “I think I got more comments on the shoes and socks and I was thinking about changing after the turn because I got quite distracted. Every time I stood over a putt, I saw these little red toes and made me smile.”
Lorena Ochoa jumps into the water to celebrate her victory in the 2008 Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
While Lorena Ochoa’s 10-under 62 in 2006 was eye-poppingly good, the moment that sticks out the most for the popular Mexican was her fiesta in Poppie’s Pond in 2008. Two dozen friends and family jumped into the pond with Ochoa as a mariachi band filled the air. There has never been anything quite like it since.
Brittany Lincicome celebrates in the water surrounding the 18th green after winning the 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Clubin Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Brittany Lincicome’s magnificently struck hybrid that ultimately won her the 2009 Kraft Nabisco will long be remembered as one of the best shots in tournament history. Facing an approach of 210 yards to reach the famed 18th at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course in two, a shaky Lincicome hit a towering shot to 4 feet, setting up an eagle putt that kept her out of a playoff with fellow Americans Kristy McPherson and Cristie Kerr.
Lexi Thompson walks off the 18th green as So Yeon Ryu celebrates with her caddie after Ryu defeated Thompson in a playoff during the final round of the 2017 ANA Inspiration at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
“Is this a joke?” Lexi Thompson’s reaction to receiving a four-stroke penalty walking off the 12th green Sunday at the ANA Inspiration won’t be forgotten. LPGA officials had received an email from a viewer about a possible rules infraction during the third round when Thompson was on the seventh hole of the final round. Remarkably, Thompson birdied the next hole but ultimately lost to So Yeon Ryu in a playoff.
Karrie Webb raises her arm in victory after taking the champion’s leap after a playoff win in the 2006 ANA Inspiration at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage.
Karrie Webb hit one of the greatest shots in major championship history when she holed a pitching wedge for eagle from 116 yards on the 72nd hole. But that closing 7-under 65 wasn’t enough to seal the deal. She then had to defeat Lorena Ochoa in a playoff, giving the Aussie her seventh major title. “I think my heart just about jumped out of my chest,” said Webb, “because it was aching for about five minutes after.”
Amy Alcott gets a hug from her caddie, Bill Kurre, after winning the 1988 Nabisco Dinah Shore at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.
In 1988, Amy Alcott sparked the tradition of the winner jumping into the pond on No. 18 after winning her second title at Mission Hills. Alcott grabbed caddie Bill Kurre and leapt into history, starting one of the tour’s greatest traditions. Only it wasn’t exactly spontaneous. Alcott commanded a seven-stroke lead heading down the stretch and Dinah – known for her white bell-bottoms and crisp red blazer – was standing behind the 18th green wearing black pants. Someone else held a robe.
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