This 84-year-old just broke her age at US Women’s Senior Open 

The legendary golfer universally known as “Big Mama” has just completed one of golf’s most impressive feats yet again.

JoAnne Carner, the icon of women’s golf who won 43 LPGA titles and two US Women’s Open titles during her glittering career, has broken her age once more at the ripe old age of 84.

The American Hall of Fame player shot an eight-over-par 80 during Thursday’s first round of the U.S Senior Women’s Open at Waverley Country Club in Portland.

That score was embellished by a fine birdie on her final hole, the 123-yard par-3 ninth, where she stuck her tee shot just three feet away from the pin.

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So, in truth, Carner won her battle hands down as she bettered her age by four shots.

Carner had already broken the record as the oldest woman to compete in a USGA Championship and her fine score shows she can still remarkably compete at the highest level of women’s senior golf.

And this is the sixth time that Carner, the 1994 Solheim Cup captain, has shot her age or better in five years since the first US Senior Women’s Open back in 2018.

“It felt good,” she said after her round. “I’ve been practicing a lot and really kind of spinning my wheels.

Take a bow, Big Mama. 👏 pic.twitter.com/R33cJCQayT

— USGA (@USGA) August 24, 2023

“Then is started to get the move here and had it on the range this morning and the first hole, then I fought it. Once in a while I’d hit one. It was just work all day.”

“I missed a lot of greens. It plays long for me because I have a 9-degree driver and I’m driving right into those hills, and I can’t adjust it, so I don’t get the carry, and I’m going in with long clubs all day, 3-woods all day long second shots, and then can’t get there.”

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew has the joint lead of the tournament in Oregon after her three-under 69 in round one.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.