1963 U.S. Women's Open

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox individual golf tournament

| name = 1963 U.S. Women's Open

| image =

| caption =

| dates = July 18–20, 1963

| location = Cincinnati, Ohio

| course = Kenwood Country Club

| org = USGA

| tour = LPGA Tour

| format = Stroke play – 72 holes

| par = 73

| yardage = {{convert|6444|yd}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yMxYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6727%2C998492 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Harrison |first=Harold |agency=Associated Press |title=Two share gals' lead |date=July 19, 1963 |page=15 }}

| field = 40 after cut

| cut = 159 (+13){{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ycxYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5525%2C1386742 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Mary ties mark, leads gals' Open |date=July 20, 1963 |page=8 }}

| purse = $9,000

| winners_share = $2,000

| champion = {{flagicon|USA}} Mary Mills

| score = 301 (−3)

| previous = 1962

| next = 1964

}}

{{Location map

|USA

|relief = 1

|label = Kenwood
Country Club

|lat = 39.183

|long = -84.387

|caption = Location in the United States

|marksize = 5

|float =

|background =

|width = 240

}}

{{Location map

|USA Ohio

|relief = 1

|label = Kenwood
Country Club

|lat = 39.183

|long = -84.387

|caption = Location in Ohio

|marksize = 5

|float =

|background =

|width = 180

}}

The 1963 U.S. Women's Open was the 18th U.S. Women's Open, held July 18–20

at Kenwood Country Club, northeast of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mary Mills, age 23, won her only U.S. Women's Open title, three strokes ahead of runners-up Louise Suggs and Sandra Haynie.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c8cwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OAEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3041%2C3980039 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=Open captured by Marry Mills |date=July 21, 1963 |page=1C }}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4_5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I-MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4968%2C3687535 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Mills wins Open title |date=July 21, 1963 |page=2B}} It was the first of nine victories on the LPGA Tour for Mills and the first of her three major titles.

Retired tennis pro Althea Gibson, age 35, became the first African American to play in a U.S. Women's Open. She shot 78 and 82 for 160 (+14) and missed the cut by a stroke.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4v5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I-MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6917%2C3550235|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Mills leads ladies' Open |date=July 20, 1963 |page=2B}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CDQsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6MsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7264%2C2172770 |newspaper=Spartanburg Herald |location=South Carolina |agency=Associated Press |title=Althea Gibson to play pro golf circuit |date=December 13, 1963 |page=27 }} Three-time champion Mickey Wright did not play, opting for dental work,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R9BRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MGwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1560%2C1863912 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Dental work sidelines Mickey |date=July 13, 1963 |page=10 }}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S9BRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MGwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3425%2C2472796 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Miss Wright missing in Open golf |date=July 18, 1963 |page=28 }} which she had originally planned to have done the previous week.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-nYhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T4kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2092%2C1765830 |newspaper=Schenectady Gazette |location=New York |agency=Associated Press |title=Mickey set to continue pro tour |date=July 11, 1963 |page=35 }} Wright returned in 1964 to win her fourth title. Defending champion Murle Lindstrom tied for seventh.

The championship was played the same week as the PGA Championship, which concluded on Sunday.