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Juli Inkster finished her final round as Meg Mallon was getting ready to tee off. Her bags packed, she asked her husband for the green pass that allowed each player to have one guest walk inside the ropes at the U.S. Women's Open, knowing Mallon's large family could use another one.

Inkster could have told Mallon's two brothers what to expect, because she had seen it all before.

Two years ago, Inkster had her own homecoming of sorts in the Women's Open at Prairie Dunes in Kansas. Returning to the scene of her first U.S. Women's Amateur title, she was a picture of poise in the final round and clutch with her putter, closing with the best round of her life to win her second Open title at age 42.

Now, Mallon and Inkster share more than a friendship that spans two decades.

In a tiny New England town of South Hadley, Mass., about an hour or so from where she was born, Mallon brought a record gallery to its feet at Orchards Golf Club by taking only 24 putts in the best round ever by a Women's Open champion, a 6-under 65 on the way to a two-stroke victory.

"I just can't believe the day that I had," Mallon said. "Today was magical."

Mallon, 41, joined Inkster and Babe Zaharias (43) as the only women in theirs 40s to win a Women's Open.

Future stars Michelle Wie, 14, and Paula Creamer, 17, tied for low amateur at 1-over 285, 11 strokes behind Mallon, in 13th.

Wie finished fourth this year at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, an LPGA major, ahead of the likes of Annika Sorenstam, an LPGA Hall of Famer and winner of 52 tour titles.

"I think it's wonderful that you see so many young players, it just shows that women's golf is growing," said Sorenstam, 33, who finished runner-up at the U.S. Women's Open. "Players are getting better at younger ages nowadays. I think that all has to do with the practice, the coaching, everything, high school golf, college golf. I think it's wonderful to see."

Much of the success is due to the continuing popularity of the American Junior Golf Association, which has grown into a virtual tour for teens. Other countries, such as Sweden, where Sorenstam is from, and Korea, which already has a Hall of Fame qualifier in Se Ri Pak, have federations to develop young talent.

PEPPER RETIRES: Dottie Pepper, whose resume includes six Solheim Cups and 17 wins on the LPGA Tour, announced her retirement due to injuries that took the joy out of golf. "When your body says 'no,' it doesn't matter how big your heart is," she said.

Pepper, 38, was given a special exemption for the Women's Open, in part because she had to withdraw the last two years with neck and shoulder injuries. She had to withdraw again last week, went to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and discovered a pinched nerve caused numbness in her face and down to her shoulder.

PGA TOUR: Tiger Woods will play in next month's Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Mich., a tournament he won in 2002 and was runner-up to Jim Furyk last year. Woods, who recently renewed his sponsorship deal with Buick, worth more than $40 million over five years, will be playing in the event for the sixth time. Buick's contract doesn't require Woods to play in specific events it sponsors. Masters champ Phil Mickelson said he's skipping the Buick Open to prepare for the PGA Championship two weeks later.