History
The LPGA Championship tournament was launched in 1955 at Orchard Ridge Country Club in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. It began with 54 holes of stroke play, after which the two low scorers, Beverly Hanson and Louise Suggs, played a 36-hole match to determine the championship, with Hanson winning 4 and 3.
The following year, the tournament went to 72 holes of stroke play, which was very unusual at the time, since most LPGA tour events were played over 54 holes.
The championship has had several semi-permanent homes through the years. It was played at the Stardust Country Club in Las Vegas from 1961 through 1966; at the Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Mass., from 1967 through 1968 and from 1970 through 1974; at the Jack Nicklaus Sports Center at Kings Island, Ohio, from 1978 through 1989; and at the Bethesday, Maryland, Country Club from 1990 through 1993.
The DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, DE, has hosted the tournament since 1994.
Mazda sponsored the event from 1987 through 1993. Since 1994, it has been officially known as the McDonald's LPGA Championship.