Alison Nicholas (born 6 March 1962) is an English professional golfer, who won the 1997 U.S. Women's Open.
Nicholas won the Women's British Open in 1987, when it was recognised as a major championship by the Ladies European Tour only, and the 1997 U.S. Women's Open. She became the seventh player to have won both the British and U.S. Open titles, joining Laura Davies, Jane Geddes, Betsy King, Patty Sheehan, Liselotte Neumann and Annika Sörenstam.
At her retirement at the end of the 2004 season, Nicholas had won 12 events on the Ladies European Tour. She topped the European Tour Order of Merit in 1997 and finished in the top-10 15 times in 16 seasons between 1985 and 2000. She also won four times on the LPGA Tour, between 1995 and 1999, including winning the U.S. Women's Open in 1997. In 1992, she won both the Western Australian Open and the Malaysian Open.
She won the 1991 Vivien Saunders Trophy for lowest stroke average (71.71). In 1997, she became the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year, was awarded The Association of Golf Writers Trophy and was voted LET Players' Player of the Year, 1997 Evening Mail Sports Personality of the Year and 1997 Midlands Sports Personality of the Year.
In the 1998 Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to women's golf,United Kingdom list: and in 2002 became a Life Member of the Ladies European Tour.
Nicholas was a member of the European Solheim Cup team in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000, forming a formidable partnership with Laura Davies. She was non-playing assistant captain in 2005. In 2007, Nicholas was selected captain for the 2009 and 2011 European Solheim Cup teams. In 2011, she led the European team to a 15–13 victory at Killeen Castle outside Dublin, Ireland.
| LPGA Tour major championships (1) |
| Other LPGA Tour (3) |
| 1 | 28 May 1995 | LPGA Corning Classic | −13 (70-67-66-72=275) | 3 strokes | Barb Mucha |
| 2 | 10 Sep 1995 | Ping-AT&T Wireless Services LPGA Golf Championship | −9 (66-73-68=207) | 3 strokes | Kelly Robbins |
| 3 | 13 Jul 1997 | U.S. Women's Open | −10 (70-66-67-71=274) | 1 stroke | Nancy Lopez |
| 4 | 20 Feb 1999 | Sunrise Hawaiian Ladies Open | −7 (70-66-73=209) | 1 stroke | Annette DeLuca Moira Dunn |
LPGA Tour playoff record (0–1)
| 1 | 1993 | LPGA Corning Classic | Kelly Robbins | Lost to par on first extra hole |
| Laura Davies Muffin Spencer-Devlin |
| Corinne Dibnah |
| Jane Connachan |
| Dale Reid |
| Alison Sheard |
| Patricia Gonzalez |
| Liselotte Neumann |
| Peggy Conley Sofia Grönberg |
| Sofia Grönberg |
| Alicia Dibos |
| Patricia Meunier |
| Trish Johnson |
| 1 | 1990 | Laing Ladies Charity Classic | Laurette Maritz | Lost |
| Nancy Lopez |
| Career | 18 | 7–8–3 | 1–3–2 | 4–3–0 | 2–2–1 | 8.5 | 47.22% |
| 1990 | 3 | 1–2–0 | 0–1–0 lost to N. Lopez 6&4 | 1–0–0 won w/L. Davies 2&1 | 0–1–0 lost w/L. Davies 4&3 | 1 | 33.3% |
| 1992 | 3 | 2–1–0 | 0–1–0 lost to J. Inkster 3&2 | 1–0–0 won w/L. Davies 1up | 1–0–0 won w/L. Davies 1up | 2 | 66.7% |
| 1994 | 3 | 2–1–0 | 1–0–0 def P. Sheehan 3&2 | 1–0–0 won w/L.Davies 2&1 | 0–1–0 lost w/L.Davies 2&1 | 2 | 66.7% |
| 1996 | 3 | 0–1–2 | 0–0–1 halved w/ K. Robbins | 0–1–0 lost w/L. Davies 1dn | 0–0–1 halved w/H. Alfredsson | 1 | 33.3% |
| 1998 | 2 | 0–2–0 | 0–1–0 lost to T. Green 1dn | 0–1–0 lost w/H. Alfredsson 3&1 | 0 | 0% | |
| 2000 | 4 | 2–1–1 | 0–0–1 halved w/S. Steinhauer | 1–1–0 won w/L. Davies 4&3, lost w/L.Davies 6&5 | 1–0–0 won w/H. Alfredsson 3&2 | 2.5 | 62.5% |
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