U.S. golfers dominating women’s golf

It’s been 20 years since American golfers have enjoyed a sweep of the major tournaments in women’s golf, but it could happen again this year.

U.S. players are three-for-three in the majors for the first time since 1999. Lexi Thompson won the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Michelle Wie captured the U.S. Women’s Open and Mo Martin won the Women’s British Open.

While sweeping the majors is a tougher chore these days because of the addition of a fifth major last year, the Evian Championship in France, American players will try and keep their hopes alive. A number of Americans make a sweep distinctly possible starting with this week’s fourth major of the season, the Wegmans LPGA Championship in Pittsford, N.Y.

“The whole year has been great for Americans golf, not just in the majors. It shows where we’re going and we’re going in the right direction,” said American Stacy Lewis, world No. 1 and two-time major champion. “We have young talent and some girls who needed to get some wins in majors, and that helps.

“More than anything it’s great for the tour. It’s great for sponsors and selling our brand.”

It won’t be easy for Americans to win the final two majors. Players standing in their way include world No. 2 Lydia Ko; No. 3 Inbee Park, who won three majors last year; and No. 4 Suzann Pettersen, who won last year’s Evian Championship for her second major and finished runner-up to Martin in the Women’s British Open.

The tournament is in its final season as the LPGA Championship. Next year, the tour will team with the PGA of America to run the Women’s PGA Championship. The 2015 event will be played at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y. The tournament will be televised by NBC and moved around the country.

This story was originally published August 13, 2014 at 5:21 PM with the headline "U.S. golfers dominating women’s golf."