Last week, Chella Choi clinched her first victory on the LPGA Tour after 157 starts. Which got us thinking back to how long ago it was that Choi made her first start, back in 2009 as an LPGA rookie. Here’s a look back at the year that not only Choi joined the LPGA but what else was happening around in and around the world of golf in 2009.

Michelle Wie Wins First Event On LPGA Tour

Although Michelle Wie had already been on the golf scene for years, it wasn’t until 2009 that she officially joined the Tour and promptly won her first event at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico. She won by two-strokes ahead of Paula Creamer.

Ochoa and Shin Dominate Awards

Lorena Ochoa clinched the Player of the Year, Vare Trophy and led in scoring average in 2009. But rookie Jiyai Shin was closely behind, finishing runner-up to Ochoa, and she herself clinched the top spot on the money list and Rookie of the Year honors.

Victory for Team U.S.A.

The last time the Americans walked away with a victory in the Solheim Cup was back in 2009. Led by captain Beth Daniel, the Americans defeated Team Europe 16 to 12 at Rich Harvest Farms outside Chicago. Rookie Michelle Wie and veteran Juli Inkster were the captain’s picks that helped lead Team U.S.A. to victory.

The Open Championship Where Watson Came So Close

59-year old Tom Watson made a run at history at the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry where he nearly became the oldest major championship in history. Watson dropped a shot on the 72^nd hole to fall into a tie with Stewart Cink and into a four-hole playoff where Cink defeated Watson by six strokes.

In Other News…

The Statue of Liberty reopened in July 2009 after being closed since the attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001, Slumdog Millionaire won the Oscar for Best Picture at the 2009 Academy Awards and Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger safely landed a U.S. Airways Flight in the Hudson in what would become known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

Michelle Wie Gets First Win, Team U.S.A. Clinches Victory at Solheim Cup and More in Flashback Friday

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