The Samsung World Championship was an annual golf tournament played between 1980 and 2009, for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. It was a limited field event, open by invitation only.

The tournament was founded in 1980 by Mark McCormack, founder of the sports management firm IMG, originally with the world's top-12 LPGA players. The field was increased to 16 players in 1996 and to 20 in 1999. Electronics manufacturer Samsung became the title sponsor in 1995.

Tournament names through the years:

• 1980: World Series of Women's Golf
• 1981: World Championship of Women's Golf
• 1982-1984: Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf
• 1985: Nestle World Championship of Women's Golf
• 1986-1989: Nestle World Championship
• 1990: Trophee Urban-World Championship
• 1991: Daikyo World Championship
• 1992: no tournament
• 1993-1994: World Championship of Women's Golf
• 1995-1999: Samsung World Championship of Women's Golf
• 2000-2009: Samsung World Championship

The 2009 championship included 20 players: the previous year's defending champion; the 2008 Vare Trophy winner; the 2008 LPGA Money Winner; the winners of the four 2009 women's major golf championships: the Kraft Nabisco Championship, McDonald's LPGA Championship, U.S. Women's Open, and Women's British Open; the leading player from the Ladies European Tour in 2009; one sponsor's exemption selected by the championship selection committee; the leading "active" LPGA Hall of Fame member on the LPGA Official Money List in 2009; and the top money winners on the LPGA Tour from the 2009 season.

The 2009 participants listed in order of qualification or invitation:^[1]

1. Paula Creamer - Defending Champion
2. Lorena Ochoa - 2008 Vare Trophy Winner, 2008 LPGA Money Leader
3. Brittany Lincicome - Winner of 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship
4. Anna Nordqvist - Winner of 2009 LPGA Championship
5. Eun-Hee Ji - Winner of 2009 U.S. Women's Open
6. Catriona Matthew - Winner of 2009 Ricoh Women's British Open
7. Juli Inkster - Sponsor's Exemption
8. Cristie Kerr - LPGA Money Leader
9. Sophie Gustafson - LET Order of Merit Leader
10. Karrie Webb - Leading Active LPGA Hall of Fame Member
11. Jiyai Shin - Qualified from LPGA Money List
12. Ai Miyazato - Qualified from LPGA Money List
13. In-Kyung Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List
14. Yani Tseng - Qualified from LPGA Money List
15. Suzann Pettersen - Qualified from LPGA Money List
16. Angela Stanford - Qualified from LPGA Money List
17. Kristy McPherson - Qualified from LPGA Money List
18. Na Yeon Choi - Qualified from LPGA Money List
19. Lindsey Wright - Qualified from LPGA Money List
20. Song-Hee Kim - Qualified from LPGA Money List