No LPGA golfer has ever* started the year by winning their first three tournaments

Be careful there's an asterisk in the title of my post.

Ai Miyazato is going for her third win out in California this week.

Japan's Ai Miyazato is chasing history here, but attempting to do so in the wind while starting with a six-shot deficit is, well, as difficult as bettering Tiger Woods' record at her home course in America.

Miyazato became the sixth player in the history of the LPGA to win the first two tournaments of the year, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since Marilynn Smith did it in 1966*. At the Kia Classic Presented by J Golf at La Costa Resort here, Miyazato is attempting to become the first ever to win the first three tournaments of an LPGA season.

Oh no there is another asterisk. Now let me explain.

What is being written is true. There's just a little more too it. In Smith's case-

The first event of 1966 was the Lagunita Invitational played in Venezuela. It was won by Kathy Whitworth. This according to the LPGA's 2008 media guide book.*(I got a copy when I blogged the Stanford International) I checked further, the win is not included in official wins and media reports at the time said the tournament was unofficial.

Smith's two wins came after Whitworth's unofficial victory.

As for the first to win the first 3 of a season, we must turn back the clock even further to 1951. Babe Zaharias won The Ponte Verda Beach Women's Open and the Tampa Women's Open to open the year. Then she won the Florida 2-Ball with George Bayer. The Florida 2-Ball was an unofficial tournament though like with Whitworth's above win, its listed by the LPGA in its media guide book with nothing to say its unofficial unless you dig further.

Today's lesson in LPGA history is over. Beam me up Scotty.

*- The media guide book has a section listing all the winners by year and in order.

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