Azahara Muñoz

1.1. Childhood and Education

Muñoz was born on 19 November 1987, in Málaga, Andalusia, in southern Spain. She also has roots in Doña Mencía, Córdoba province, Andalusia. In 2006, she enrolled at Arizona State University in the United States. She pursued a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in business, graduating magna cum laude in May 2009. While at Arizona State, she was also recognized for her academic excellence, earning the Edith Cummings Munson Award in both 2008 and 2009, becoming the only double winner of the award. Additionally, she was named a 2006-08 NGCA Academic All-American, a 2006-09 First-Team All-Pac-10 selection, a 2006-07 NGCA Second-Team All-American, and the 2009 Pac-10 Scholar of the Year.

1.2. Amateur Achievements

Muñoz achieved considerable success in amateur golf. At just 14 years old, she won the 2002 Spanish Amateur title. Her other notable amateur victories include the 2004 Girls Amateur Championship and the 2009 British Ladies Amateur. In the final of the 2009 British Ladies Amateur, she defeated her Arizona State University teammate and fellow Spaniard, Carlota Ciganda. Muñoz was also the runner-up to Amanda Blumenherst at the 2008 U.S. Women's Amateur.

During her collegiate career at Arizona State, she became the NCAA Individual Champion in 2008 during her junior year, securing the win with a 25 ft putt on the first playoff hole against Tiffany Joh of UCLA. Despite undergoing surgery on her right wrist in January 2009, which sidelined her for over a month in her senior year, Muñoz helped lead the Sun Devils to the 2009 NCAA team title by finishing fourth individually at the championships.

Her team appearances as an amateur include:

• European Girls' Team Championship (representing Spain): 2001 (winners), 2002 (winners), 2003 (winners), 2004, 2005
• Junior Solheim Cup (representing Europe): 2002, 2003 (winners), 2005
• European Lady Junior's Team Championship (representing Spain): 2006
• Espirito Santo Trophy (representing Spain): 2006, 2008
• European Ladies' Team Championship (representing Spain): 2007 (winners), 2008
• Mediterranean Games: 2009 Pescara (Gold medals in Individual and Women's team events)

In 2009, prior to turning professional, she also participated in three professional major championships as an amateur, achieving a tie for 40th place twice.

2.1. Early Professional Career (2009-2010)

Muñoz turned professional in September 2009, just two weeks before the first stage of the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament in California, where she finished second and advanced. In December, she finished fifth at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament in Florida, earning full playing privileges for the LPGA Tour in 2010.

Her professional debut came on 1 October 2009, on the Ladies European Tour (LET) at the Madrid Ladies Masters, where she received a sponsor's exemption. In a dramatic finish, she shot a final round 64 (-9) and won the three-round event on the first playoff hole, defeating her former Arizona State teammate Anna Nordqvist with an eagle putt. This victory earned her 50.00 K EUR and a three-year exemption on the LET. Later in October, she also won a rain-shortened, one-round event on the Banesto mini-tour in Barcelona, earning 5.00 K EUR. By the end of 2009, she was ranked 179th in the Women's World Golf Rankings.

In her rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 2010, Muñoz made the cut in her first eleven events. She accumulated over 402.00 K USD in LPGA competition earnings, recording two top-ten finishes. She also placed within the top twenty in all three major championships she played that year. Muñoz finished 30th on the LPGA money list and 17th in scoring average. She comfortably won the LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year award with 704 points, significantly ahead of compatriot Beatriz Recari, who had 419 points. She also earned an additional 26.38 K EUR from five events on the Ladies European Tour, with total 2010 LET earnings reaching 96.63 K EUR from seven events. Her performance elevated her to 41st in the Women's World Golf Rankings by the end of 2010.

2.2. LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour Highlights

Muñoz secured her first LPGA Tour victory at the Sybase Match Play Championship in Gladstone, New Jersey, in May 2012, where she defeated Candie Kung 2 and 1 in the final. Her path to the final included a controversial semifinal match against Morgan Pressel, where Muñoz came back to win 2 and 1 after Pressel received a slow-play penalty. This victory significantly boosted Muñoz's world ranking from 27th to 19th and moved her from tenth to second on the 2012 LPGA Tour money list.

On the Ladies European Tour, Muñoz has claimed five titles:

• 2009 Madrid Ladies Masters
• 2013 Lacoste Ladies Open de France
• 2014 Lacoste Ladies Open de France (making it back-to-back wins)
• 2016 Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open De España
• 2017 Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open De España Femenino (making it back-to-back wins)

2.3. Performance in Major Championships

Azahara Muñoz has consistently competed in all five LPGA major championships throughout her career. Her best finishes in majors include a tied for 7th at the 2014 ANA Inspiration and a tied for 4th at the 2014 Women's PGA Championship.

Her year-by-year results in major championships are as follows:

^ The Evian Championship was added as a major in 2013.
CUT = missed the half-way cut
NT = no tournament
T = tied

Her overall major championship record is summarized below:

Muñoz's longest streak of consecutive cuts made in majors is 9 (from the 2013 Evian Championship to the 2015 Women's British Open). She achieved a streak of top-10 finishes three times.

3.1. LPGA Tour Wins

Muñoz has one LPGA Tour victory.

Her LPGA Tour playoff record is 0-2.

3.2. Ladies European Tour Wins

Muñoz has five Ladies European Tour victories.

¹ Muñoz sank an eagle putt on the first playoff hole to win.

4.1. LPGA Tour Career Summary

The table below summarizes Azahara Muñoz's LPGA Tour career statistics through the 2024 season.

• Includes matchplay and other events without a cut.

4.2. Women's World Golf Rankings

The table below illustrates Azahara Muñoz's position in the Women's World Golf Rankings at the end of each calendar year.

5.1. Amateur Team Competitions

Her amateur team appearances include:

• European Girls' Team Championship (representing Spain): 2001 (winners), 2002 (winners), 2003 (winners), 2004, 2005
• Junior Solheim Cup (representing Europe): 2002, 2003 (winners), 2005
• European Lady Junior's Team Championship (representing Spain): 2006
• Espirito Santo Trophy (representing Spain): 2006, 2008
• European Ladies' Team Championship (representing Spain): 2007 (winners), 2008

5.2. Professional Team Competitions

Muñoz has been a key member of several European professional teams, including:

• Solheim Cup (representing Europe): 2011 (winners), 2013 (winners), 2015, 2019 (winners)
• International Crown (representing Spain): 2014 (winners)