Karrie Webb

An all-time great of the game, and arguably the best player in the history of the AIG Women's Open, no player has won the Championship more times than Karrie Webb.

As a 20-year-old rookie on the Ladies European Tour in 1995, Webb not only claimed victory on her maiden outing in the AIG Women's Open, but did so in spectacular fashion, triumphing by six shots over the Duke’s course at Woburn.

The Australian’s remarkable display ensured her victory was a formality by the time she reached the final hole of the Championship. Yet despite her dominance in the event, the World Golf Hall of Famer Webb revealed she could hardly believe the situation she found herself in.

“I’d been playing quite decently and had quite a few top-10s leading up to it, so I felt good about my game, but I don’t think you ever expect that,” said Webb.

“One of my greatest memories of the week is standing on that last tee. I think I backed off twice because I looked up and I was like, ‘I’m gonna win the Women’s Open, I can’t believe that I’m about to win the Women’s Open!’

“It was nice that I could play the last knowing that was about to happen. I was eight months into my professional career, so it was definitely very surreal. I was kind of like: ‘Is this real? Am I going to wake up from a dream?’”

Webb repeated the feat in 1997 at Sunningdale, remarkably winning by eight strokes, setting the record for the lowest four round total in the history of the Championship in the process at 269, 19 under. A third title then followed at Turnberry, counting as a major, in 2002, where a superb final round of 66 saw off her compatriot Michelle Ellis. Sherri Steinhauer won her third title in 2006, joining Webb as the only two players with three Championship wins.

The Australian's career is full of incredible statistics, with 41 LPGA victories and seven major championships. And with five other top-5 finishes in the AIG Women's Open, Webb has a strong argument to being the Championship's best ever player.