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A look back on 50 years of the LPGA in Canada, a former major championship that’s still beloved

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A look back on 50 years of the LPGA in Canada, a former major championship that’s still beloved

Gail Graham vividly recalls sitting on the edge of a bunker at the 1987 du Maurier Classic watching JoAnne Carner and Ayako Okamoto hit shot after shot with contrasting styles.

“I probably sat there for an hour, so starstruck,” she said.

Graham, who hailed from British Columbia, was low amateur that week in Quebec, and the experience helped solidify the notion that she could have a career on the LPGA.

It’s a story that has played out time and time again at Canada’s crown jewel event, which celebrates 50 years this week at the CPKC Women’s Open. For a long time, Canada’s biggest women’s event was an LPGA major, run by the first woman to win in 1973 – Canada’s Jocelyne Bourassa. It’s been inspiring the next generation ever since.

The tournament – which has had 10 different names over the years – was elevated to a major in 1979 and was stripped of it only because the government passed laws that forbade a tobacco company from advertising at sporting events. With du Maurier out and the stability of the event in question after 2000, the LPGA chose to instead elevate the Women’s British Open to major championship status.

“It was heartbreaking,” said Graham. “It was devastating, really.”

But the event rallied, returning in 2001 with a five-year deal with the Bank of Montreal. Though it was no longer a major, Canada’s Lorie Kane notes that players still thought of it as the tour’s fifth major, long before the Evian was given the status.

In addition to taking the event to the best courses around Canada, the CKPC also does the little things well that mean much to players, such as first-class food in player dining and a caddie shack that this year comes complete with a barber and masseuse.

This 2024 CKPC takes place for the first time at the Earl Grey Club in Calgary. There are 17 Canadians in the field of 156, and the purse of $2.6 million features a first-place prize of $390,000.

Here’s a look back on the history of one of the LPGA’s most important events:

Jocelyne Bourassa of Canada walks on the green during the 1972 U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship on July 2, 1972 at the Winged Foot Golf Club, East Course in Mamaroneck, New York. (Photo by Martin Mills/Getty Images)

Bourassa wins the inaugural La Canadienne tournament, a 54-hole event, in the summer of 1973 at Municipal Golf Club in Montreal. The year prior, Bourassa had won LPGA Rookie of the Year honors as well as Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year and the Order of Canada.

While injuries kept Bourassa’s LPGA career limited to eight seasons, she had an extraordinary influence on Canadian golf as executive director of the du Maurier Classic and creator of the du Maurier Series, a developmental program for female amateurs and professionals.

In all, there were six stagings of the event before it became a major and those champions included Judy Rankin, JoAnne Carner, Donna Caponi and Carole Jo Skala. Imperial Tobacco Canada took over sponsorship of the event in 1974, and it expanded to 72 holes in 1978.

Amy Alcott watches the ball after her swing during the U.S Women”s Open at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana. Mandatory Credit: Gary Newkirk /Allsport

In 1979 the event, now known as the Peter Jackson Classic, was elevated to major championship ship status. Amy Alcott won the first edition as a major at Richelieu Valley Golf Club. For most of the 1970s, there were only two LPGA majors.

The event’s name changed to the du Maurier Classic in 1984. Du Maurier is brand of Imperial Tobacco.

Pat Bradley hits the ball during the Du Maurier Classic in Ontario, Canada. Mandatory Credit: Gray Mortimore /Allsport

The who’s who list of champions in Canada includes a number of LPGA Hall of Famers like Pat Bradley, who won it three time as a major from 1980 to 1986. Sandra Haynie, Hollis Stacy, Juli Inkster, Laura Davies and Karrie Webb are among the stars who won the du Maurier Classic while it was a major.

Meg Mallon watches the ball after swinging during the Du Maurier Classic at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Aylmer, Quebec, Canada.Mandatory Credit: Harry How /Allsport

Meg Mallon was the last player to win the event as a major in 2000. She’d go on to win it again in 2002 and 2004. With the event’s future uncertain, it was fitting that Kane, playing in the final group with Annika Sorenstam, made the last putt on Sunday as fans lined the 18th wearing “I am a Kane-adian” shirts.

Kane had just won on the LPGA for the first the week prior in St. Louis after nine runner-up finishes.

“I don’t mind telling you that that’s the one that got away,” said Kane, who ultimately tied for fifth that week at Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

Annika Sorenstam of Sweden in action during the Weetabix Women’s Open on the Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club in Sunningdale, England. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Munday /Allsport

It was the Bank of Montreal that ultimately stepped up to save the event, coming in as title sponsor for the next five years. Sorenstam won in 2001 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ontario. Kane, who once again played in the final group with Sorenstam, tied for third.

It was Sorenstam’s sixth victory of the season. She won eight times that year, and her presence in Canada went a long way.

Cristie Kerr, winner of the Canadian Women’s Open at the London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ontario on August 13, 2006. (Photo by S. Levin/Getty Images)

In 2006, the Canadian National Railway took over as sponsor and the event was renamed the CN Canadian Women’s Open. Cristie Kerr won that first edition with the new sponsor. CN was title sponsor through 2013, when the Canadian Pacific Railway took over.

Amateur Lydia Ko of New Zealand poses with the trophy and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police after a three shot victory during the final round of the Canadian Women’s Open at The Vancouver Golf Club on August 26, 2012 in Coquitlam, Canada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

At 15 years, 4 months and 2 days, Lydia Ko became the youngest winner in LPGA history at the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open. The previous mark of 16 years, 8 months and 8 days was set by Lexi Thompson at the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic.

Ko closed with a 5-under 67 to finish three clear of a stacked field that included 48 of the top 50 players in the world. Stacy Lewis played alongside Ko on Sunday and called it one of the most impressive rounds of golf she’d ever witnessed.

Ko won the the event a second time in 2013 while still an amateur.

Brooke Henderson of Canada with the champions trophy and her sister & caddie, Brittany, following the final round of the CP Womens Open at the Wascana Country Club on August 26, 2018 in Regina, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

In 2018, Brooke Henderson became the first Canadian to win the CP Women’s Open since Bourassa in 1973. The four-stroke victory over Angel Yin allowed Henderson to soak up the atmosphere in rainy Regina, where fans were packed 30 deep to see one of the nation’s most popular sports figures triumph on home soil.

Henderson is Canada’s winningest player, with 13 LPGA victories, including two majors.

“Thank God I was not in the group with her because I was a mess,” said Graham, a two-time winner on the LPGA who was working as a on-course reporter that week. “I lived through trying to be that (Canadian) player to win that event. … To watch her do that, it was just a magical week.”

Lorie Kane of Canada hits her tee shot on the 6th hole during the first round of the CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club on August 25, 2022 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

In 2022, Kane teed it up her in her 30th and final Canadian Women’s Open. A four-time winner on the LPGA, Kane received the highest civilian honor, the Order of Canada, in 2006. In addition to her play inside the ropes, Kane’s work as an CPKC ambassador has helped to raise millions in support of children’s cardiac care.

Since 2014, the tournament has helped raise over $19 million to support cardiac research, equipment and care across North America. This year’s CPKC Has Heart program has a goal of raising $2,750,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Megan Khang of the United States poses with the trophy after winning the CPKC Women’s Open on the first playoff hole at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club on August 27, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Last year, the event was once again rebranded to the CPKC Women’s Open after the Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern merged. Megan Khang’s maiden LPGA victory in Vancouver helped launch the CKPC brand that debuted last spring.

CPKC, Golf Canada and the LPGA announced last summer that CPKC will remain title sponsor through the 2025 and 2026 tournaments, with an option to continue on in 2027 and 2028.

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