Maria Hjorth
Sophie Gustafson dreamed of a law career and studied accounting and marketing but her ambition for the sport of golf proved more profitable turning professional in 1992. She had her first win in the professional golf circuit in 1995 with the Swiss Open. She got the 1997 Thailand Open title in 1997.
The same year she won the Thailand Open, Gustafson earned a non-exempt status for the 1998 LPGA season. The next year, she placed second in the Weetabix Women’s British Open and earned a spot in the European Solheim Cup Team. She placed sixth on the Weetabix Open the next year but regained the title in 2000. In that year, she was also Rolex’s First Time Winner at the Chick-fill-ACharity Championship, garnered runner-up spot at the Mizuno Classic and earned three titles in the Ladies English Tournament.
In 2001, Gustafson won the Subaru Memorial of Naples, her third LPGA title and earned over $1 million in career earnings the same year. She retained the Weetabix Women’s British Open title in 2002, the Samsung World Championship and an Order of Merit award from the Ladies English Tournament. Her star seems to be shining still in 2004 when she tied for third at the Mitchell Company Championship and placing second on the Weetabix Women’s British Open.
Gustafson has consistently placed in the top ten rankings since 2001. Her 2008 LPGA performance records show a steady ranking averaging T11 at the Corona Morelia Championship, T7 at the Michelob ULTRA Open, T4 at the Ginn Tribute and an average scoring of T2 at the Sybase Classic. She is currently playing in the 2008 US Women’s Open.
The same year she won the Thailand Open, Gustafson earned a non-exempt status for the 1998 LPGA season. The next year, she placed second in the Weetabix Women’s British Open and earned a spot in the European Solheim Cup Team. She placed sixth on the Weetabix Open the next year but regained the title in 2000. In that year, she was also Rolex’s First Time Winner at the Chick-fill-ACharity Championship, garnered runner-up spot at the Mizuno Classic and earned three titles in the Ladies English Tournament.
In 2001, Gustafson won the Subaru Memorial of Naples, her third LPGA title and earned over $1 million in career earnings the same year. She retained the Weetabix Women’s British Open title in 2002, the Samsung World Championship and an Order of Merit award from the Ladies English Tournament. Her star seems to be shining still in 2004 when she tied for third at the Mitchell Company Championship and placing second on the Weetabix Women’s British Open.
Gustafson has consistently placed in the top ten rankings since 2001. Her 2008 LPGA performance records show a steady ranking averaging T11 at the Corona Morelia Championship, T7 at the Michelob ULTRA Open, T4 at the Ginn Tribute and an average scoring of T2 at the Sybase Classic. She is currently playing in the 2008 US Women’s Open.
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