Samsung World Championship

The Samsung World Championship was an annual golf tournament played between 1980 and 2009, for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. It was a limited field event, open by invitation only.

The tournament was founded in 1980 by Mark McCormack, founder of the sports management firm IMG, originally with the world's top-12 LPGA players. The field was increased to 16 players in 1996 and to 20 in 1999. Electronics manufacturer Samsung became the title sponsor in 1995.

Tournament names through the years:
 * 1980: World Series of Women's Golf
 * 1981: World Championship of Women's Golf
 * 1982-1984: Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf
 * 1985: Nestle World Championship of Women's Golf
 * 1986-1989: Nestle World Championship
 * 1990: Trophee Urban-World Championship
 * 1991: Daikyo World Championship
 * 1992: no tournament
 * 1993-1994: World Championship of Women's Golf
 * 1995-1999: Samsung World Championship of Women's Golf
 * 2000-2009: Samsung World Championship

2009 participants
The 2009 championship included 20 players: the previous year's defending champion; the 2008 Vare Trophy winner; the 2008 LPGA Money Winner; the winners of the four 2009 women's major golf championships: the Kraft Nabisco Championship, McDonald's LPGA Championship, U.S. Women's Open, and Women's British Open; the leading player from the Ladies European Tour in 2009; one sponsor's exemption selected by the championship selection committee; the leading "active" LPGA Hall of Fame member on the LPGA Official Money List in 2009; and the top money winners on the LPGA Tour from the 2009 season.

The 2009 participants listed in order of qualification or invitation:
 * 1) Paula Creamer - Defending Champion
 * 2) Lorena Ochoa - 2008 Vare Trophy Winner, 2008 LPGA Money Leader
 * 3) Brittany Lincicome - Winner of 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship
 * 4) Anna Nordqvist - Winner of 2009 LPGA Championship
 * 5) Eun-Hee Ji - Winner of 2009 U.S. Women's Open
 * 6) Catriona Matthew - Winner of 2009 Ricoh Women's British Open
 * 7) Juli Inkster - Sponsor's Exemption
 * 8) Cristie Kerr - LPGA Money Leader
 * 9) Sophie Gustafson - LET Order of Merit Leader
 * 10) Karrie Webb - Leading Active LPGA Hall of Fame Member
 * 11) Jiyai Shin - Qualified from LPGA Money List
 * 12) Ai Miyazato - Qualified from LPGA Money List
 * 13) In-Kyung Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List
 * 14) Yani Tseng - Qualified from LPGA Money List
 * 15) Suzann Pettersen - Qualified from LPGA Money List
 * 16) Angela Stanford - Qualified from LPGA Money List
 * 17) Kristy McPherson - Qualified from LPGA Money List
 * 18) Na Yeon Choi - Qualified from LPGA Money List
 * 19) Lindsey Wright - Qualified from LPGA Money List
 * 20) Song-Hee Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List