BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Karrie Webb has played only three tournaments in 2018. This week's waterlogged U.S. Women's Open at Shoal Creek will be the fourth for the Hall of Famer.
"Everyone is blaming me for the rain, by the way," Webb said Wednesday. "I played Dallas, and we only played 36 holes, and we played Kingsmill, and we only played 54 holes. So it's partially my fault, I guess."
Despite the lousy weather leading up to her 23rd consecutive U.S. Women's Open appearance, the two-time Open champion is in good humor these days, enjoying, at age 43, a respite from a full tour schedule for the first time in her distinguished career (41 LPGA victories, seven majors). Webb received a special exemption from the USGA to compete at Shoal Creek, in which she is one of only five players in their 40s.
"I'm excited to be here," she said. "The U.S. Open is a special golf tournament. I think it is the ultimate in our sport. Anyone would want a U.S. Open on their résumé. I feel pretty fortunate to have two of those."
Between her outstanding rookie LPGA season in 1996 and 2017, the Australian played in 92 of the 93 majors that were contested, missing only the 2004 Women's British Open.
She has not missed the week-to-week grind this season, as she stepped back from a schedule that had never seen her play fewer than 19 events in a year.
"This is a real experimental year, as far as where I am at with playing part-time," said Webb, whose most recent victory came in 2014. "I have always been a grinder and practicer. I thought if I didn't put the time in and didn't play well, I didn't deserve to because I didn't work hard enough. That's sort of been my motto. That change in mindset is something that is the experiment to see if I cannot do the grind and still enjoy the few tournaments that I play."
Her highlight on the course in 2018 was a tie for 19th at Kingsmill, but that pales compared to the pleasure of spending about two months in her home country following the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open in mid-February.
"That was the longest consecutive amount of time I have spent in Australia in 22 years," said Webb, who lives in South Florida. "Just being home felt good. Being around my family and going to gymnastics and soccer matches. And one of my nieces plays golf, so I was playing golf with her. Just normal stuff with my family was enjoyable."
Like the rest of the field, Webb hasn't gotten an extended look at Shoal Creek because of the poor weather. "It's not the best preparation for a U.S. Open," she said. "I'm sure that adds to the anxiety of the week. We're all under-done, I guess as far as our preparation. No one is probably feeling they have seen the course as much as they usually would have liked."
Experience might matter a lot this week. One of only seven women to win the title in consecutive years, Webb sure has that -- and she is rested and ready to play.
She knows the Open, if not her season, can be a grind.
"My mind and body feel really fresh," she said.