In 2018, Angela Stanford’s prospects looked bleak after she failed to birdie the 72nd hole of the Evian Championship in France.
The leader, Amy Olson, however, later double-bogeyed the same hole, giving Stanford her first and only major title.
Stanford had hoped to play in 100 straight majors, but the streak ended at 98. She failed to qualify and wasn’t given an exemption into this year’s United States Women’s Open.
With this year’s Evian Championship beginning on Thursday, Stanford, 46, reflected on her 2018 triumph and future in the game.
The following conversation has been edited and condensed.
What is your favorite memory from the 2018 event?
Finishing Friday afternoon. I’d played really well that day. Coming up at 18, the sun was setting and you could see the lake. That was kind of a cool moment. To have a chance to play for a major on the weekend was pretty special.
More than winning the tournament?
That’s kind of a given, and the winning part was weird. I did make the eagle on 15, but I doubled 16 and barely missed a birdie on 18. It would have been different if I would have made the winning putt. There was a lot of waiting at the end.
Did you think it was over when you missed the putt on 18?
Yeah, I thought that was it.
It doesn’t take anything away from the victory that Olson doubled the last hole?
No. I had a conversation with one of my former instructors. He’s like, a lot of people don’t realize that anything can happen in golf and you have to put yourself in the position to be in second place so if something happens to the person leading the golf tournament, you put yourself right there. That made me feel like I did everything I could to get there.
When you were five down going into the final round, what were you thinking?
I thought if I can make some putts and maybe get to a point where I was within two on the back nine, then I’ll have a chance. If you’re within a few on the back nine of a Sunday, anything can happen.
Had you begun to doubt whether you’d ever win a major?
Yeah. I’d gotten to the point where if I never won a major, I was going to be content with my career and all the things that I’d been blessed with along the way.
Did you watch the U.S. Women’s Open?
I played in the Texas Women’s Open. They have a senior division now, so that really kind of preoccupied my mind. I saw the scores. I didn’t watch any on TV. I didn’t have time. I’ve always been a defender of the U.S.G.A. [United States Golf Association], the way they set up their golf courses, the way they do things. And I think part of me is kind of relieved that I don’t have to be that person anymore. It hurt so much that they didn’t give me that exemption. KPMG [the Women’s P.G.A. Championship, where she missed the cut] was going be 100.
No woman has ever gotten to 100, right?
No, and nobody outside of Jack Nicklaus has crossed 100. Now you know why I’ve been so upset. Something good will come of it, I hope.
Will you try to qualify for the Open next year?
No. I won’t play in another U.S.G.A. event until the Senior Open probably.
Next year, I’m not going to be playing full time. My body doesn’t function the way it used to, and I’m spending a lot of time trying to be competitive, and I’m barely getting it done.
You’re an assistant captain this year in the Solheim Cup. Do you want to be a captain yourself someday?
Yeah. I feel like I’ve learned quite a bit. From 2021 with Pat [Hurst, the captain] all the way to now with Stacy [Lewis, the 2024 captain]. I’m trying to do everything I can to make sure I’m prepared if they ask me to be a captain. I hope they ask me.
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