It was the first U.S. Women's Open conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA),[2][3][4] and the final two rounds were played on Saturday.

[5] Betsy Rawls won an 18-hole playoff on Sunday by six strokes over runner-up Jackie Pung, 71 to 77.

Patty Berg set a course record with a 71 on Thursday and was the 36-hole leader on Friday evening, eight strokes ahead of the field.

[7] Notably absent was two-time champion Babe Zaharias, who was recovering from colon cancer surgery.

[2][8][9] She returned in 1954 and won by a record twelve strokes in her final U.S. Women's Open.