THE USGA WILL RETURNS TO ERIN HILLS IN 2022 AND 2025, find out why. Visit ErinHills.com. IF THE COOL WEATHER doesn’t suit you. See Mistwoodgolfdome.com.   _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS. Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy Linkedin and Facebook. At Mid Pines Golf Resort in Southern Pines North Carolina.

THE U.S. SENIOR WOMEN’S OPEN is getting ready for it’s second meeting.

After an extremely successful inaugural championship, round 2 tee’s off next month in Southern Pines North Carolina.

Laura Davies is on a roll when it comes to winning senior majors. She took the senior slam or half slam, since there are only two senior women’s majors in 2018.

Davies wasn’t to upset about getting only 10 months, with the newest of USGA trophies after winning at the Chicago Golf Club last July.

Laura Davies with the trophy at the Chicago Golf Club.

With this years edition of the U.S. Sr. Women’s Open hitting the first tee next month, at Peggy Kirk Bells Pine Needles Resort, Davies feels she can correct that shortfall be simply winning again.

If she does, she will keep the trophy for 14 months this time, as the 2020 version of the senior women’s open moves back up north and into July.

With the first championship into the history books, what did the USGA learn from the experience last summer in Wheaton at Chicago Golf. What changes for this year, what stays the same.

JoAnne Carner (L) at the Chicago Golf Club with USGA PR manager Julia Pine.

One of the more exciting moments of that first championship, was watching JoAnne Carner hit the first tee shot. Carner then shot her age of 79 in the first round, by making a birdie on the par 5,18th hole.

Can that moment be repeated ? It could be, as Carner will have another shot to play with, since recently turning 80.  Because Carner is returning to play in the championship again this year.

If there is one disappointment, it’s that Bell herself is not here to witness the championship. After passing away a couple of years ago. When told her course would hold the championship, she requested her staff speak with USGA CEO and Executive Director Mike Davis. And see if Davis would add a super-senior division in the championship. If Davis would do that, she would dust off her clubs and come out and play. Nobody who knew Bell, doubts that she would have done just that.

  WELCOME TO PINE NEEDLES home of the 2019 U.S. Sr. Women’s Open, and now the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open. The par 3, third hole on the Pine Needles Course.

Click here to hear our interview with USGA championship manager of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open Katherine Thigpen.

Thigpen talks about the first year at the Chicago Golf Club, what to expect this year in year two, the return of 80 year old JoAnne Carner, on media day with Laura Davies who is ready to win again. Where is the 2020 U.S. Senior Women’s Open being played, find out where.

Tickets are now on sale for both the U.S Sr. Women’s Open, and the U.S. Amateur Championship that will be played on Pinehurst #2 and Pinehurst #4 in August.

For more information on the U.S Senior Women’s Open, please visit USGA.org or visit the Pine Needles and Mid Pines resort website.