Kathy Whitworth

Kathrynne Ann Whitworth (born September 27, 1939) is an American professional golfer. Throughout her playing career she won 88 LPGA Tour tournaments, more than anyone else has won on either the LPGA Tour or the PGA Tour. In 1981 she became the first woman to reach career earnings of $1 million on the LPGA Tour.[1] She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Kathy Whitworth
Personal information
Full nameKathrynne Ann Whitworth
Born (1939-09-27) September 27, 1939
Monahans, Texas
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Nationality United States
ResidenceTexas
Career
CollegeOdessa College
Turned professional1958
Retired2005
Current tour(s)Legends Tour
Former tour(s)LPGA Tour (joined 1958)
Professional wins98
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour88 (1st all time)
Ladies European Tour1
Other9
Best results in LPGA major championships
(wins: 6)
Western OpenWon: 1967
Titleholders C'shipWon: 1965, 1966
ANA InspirationT2: 1983
Women's PGA C'shipWon: 1967, 1971, 1975
U.S. Women's Open2nd: 1971
du Maurier ClassicT14: 1980
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame1975 (member page)
LPGA Tour
Money Winner
1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
LPGA Tour
Player of the Year
1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973
LPGA Vare Trophy1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972
Associated Press
Female Athlete of the Year
1965, 1966
LPGA William and
Mousie Powell Award
1986
Patty Berg Award1987

Amateur career

Whitworth was born in Monahans, Texas.[2] Whitworth lived in Jal, New Mexico where her father owned a hardware store.[3] She began playing golf at age of 15 and won the 1957 and 1958 New Mexico State Amateur Championship. She attended Odessa College. She became a professional player at 19, joining the LPGA in December 1958.[4]

Professional career

In 1962 she won her first tournament, the Kelly Girls Open.[5] She won a total of six major championships. She was LPGA Player of the Year seven times between 1966 and 1973, won the Vare Trophy for best scoring average by an LPGA Tour Player a record seven times between 1965 and 1972,[6] and entered the World Golf Hall of Fame[7] in 1975. She was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year in 1965 and 1967. She was Named "Golfer of the Decade" by Golf Magazine for the years 1968 to 1977 during the 1988 Centennial of Golf in America celebration. She received the 1985 William Richardson Award from the Golf Writers Association of America for consistent outstanding contributions to golf.

She was the U.S. team captain at the inaugural Solheim Cup match in 1990.[8]

In 1974 Whitworth won the Orange Blossom Classic.[9] It was her fifth triumph in that tournament that was also known during its existence as the St. Petersburg Open. Only three other LPGA golfers have won the same tournament five times.

Whitworth retired from competitive golf in 2005 after competing in the BJ's Charity Classic, an event on the Women's Senior Golf Tour. She is a member of the New Mexico Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Texas Golf Hall of Fame, and the Women's Sports Foundation Hall of Fame

Professional wins

LPGA Tour wins (88)

Legend
LPGA Tour major championships (6)
Other LPGA Tour (82)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 Jul 8, 1962 Kelly Girls Open −7 (73-73-69=215) 1 stroke Sandra Haynie
2 Oct 14, 1962 Phoenix Thunderbird Open −3 (72-71-70=213) 4 strokes Mickey Wright
3 Jun 30, 1963 Carvel Ladies Open −2 (72-74-71=217) 1 stroke Marilynn Smith
4 Jul 28, 1963 Wolverine Open −9 (72-64-62=198) 5 strokes Betsy Rawls
5 Aug 4, 1963 Milwaukee Jaycee Open −2 (70-73-73-70=286) 7 strokes Jackie Pung
Louise Suggs
6 Aug 25, 1963 Ogden Ladies' Open −5 (69-75-71=215) 5 strokes Mickey Wright
7 Sep 8, 1963 Spokane Women's Open −3 (67-70-73=210) 2 strokes Marilynn Smith
8 Oct 20, 1963 Hillside Open Even (70-72-77=219) 4 strokes Mickey Wright
9 Nov 10, 1963 San Antonio Civitan Open +7 (73-73-78-75=299) Playoff Mickey Wright
10 Nov 17, 1963 Mary Mills Mississippi Gulf Coast Invitational Even (72-77-70=219) 4 strokes Mickey Wright
11 Jul 5, 1964 San Antonio Civitan Open −5 (70-72-71-70=283) 3 strokes Marlene Hagge
12 Mar 21, 1965 St. Petersburg Open −7 (70-66-71-74=281) 4 strokes Sandra Haynie
13 May 2, 1965 Shreveport Kiwanis Invitational −6 (70-70-70=210) 6 strokes Patty Berg
14 Jun 6, 1965 Blue Grass Invitational −3 (70-69-74=213) 4 strokes Clifford Ann Creed
15 Aug 1, 1965 Lady Carling Midwest Open Even (72-77-70=219) 1 stroke Sandra Haynie
16 Jul 18, 1965 Yankee Open −3 (73-68-72=213) 2 strokes Carol Mann
17 Jul 25, 1965 Buckeye Savings Invitational −6 (70-67-70=207) 1 stroke Susie Maxwell Berning
18 Oct 3, 1965 Mickey Wright Invitational −9 (68-73-71-71=283) 6 strokes Donna Caponi
19 Nov 28, 1965 Titleholders Championship −1 (71-71-74-71=287) 10 strokes Peggy Wilson
20 May 8, 1966 Tall City Open −5 (67-70-71=208) 1 stroke Mickey Wright
21 Jun 5, 1966 Clayton Federal Invitational +1 (68-72-68=208) 4 strokes Shirley Englehorn
22 Jun 19, 1966 Milwaukee Jaycee Open −7 (68-71-69-65=273) 12 strokes Sandra Haynie
23 Jul 30, 1966 Supertest Ladies Open −3 (71-70-72=213) 3 strokes Mickey Wright
24 Aug 7, 1966 Lady Carling Open (Massachusetts) −5 (74-73-70=217) 1 stroke Carol Mann
25 Aug 13, 1966 Lady Carling Open (Maryland) −2 (70-71-73=214) 3 strokes Peggy Wilson
26 Oct 30, 1966 Las Cruces Ladies Open −2 (69-71-74=214) 6 strokes Marilynn Smith
27 Nov 6, 1966 Amarillo Ladies' Open +2 (76-71-68=215) Playoff Mickey Wright
28 Nov 27, 1966 Titleholders Championship +3 (74-70-74-73=291) 2 strokes Judy Kimball Simon
Mary Mills
29 Mar 26, 1967 Venice Ladies Open +4 (70-71-76=217) 1 stroke Clifford Ann Creed
Gloria Ehret
30 Apr 23, 1967 Raleigh Ladies Invitational −1 (72-72-71=215) 5 strokes Susie Maxwell Berning
31 Jun 7, 1967 St. Louis Women's Invitational +2 (68-70-71=209) 2 strokes Carol Mann
32 Jul 16, 1967 LPGA Championship −8 (69-74-72-69=284) 1 stroke Shirley Englehorn
33 Aug 6, 1967 Lady Carling Open (Ohio) −4 (71-70-71=212) 1 stroke Susie Maxwell Berning
34 Aug 20, 1967 Women's Western Open −11 (71-74-73-71=289) 3 strokes Sandra Haynie
35 Oct 1, 1967 Ladies' Los Angeles Open −4 (71-68-73=212) 4 strokes Murle Breer
36 Oct 29, 1967 Alamo Ladies' Open −3 (71-71-71=213) 3 strokes Sandra Haynie
37 Mar 17, 1968 St. Petersburg Orange Blossom Open Even (70-71-72=213) 1 stroke Sandra Haynie
Judy Kimball Simon
38 May 26, 1968 Dallas Civitan Open −4 (70-70-69=209) 1 stroke Carol Mann
39 Jun 30, 1968 Lady Carling Open (Maryland) −2 (71-70-73=214) 1 stroke Carol Mann
40 Aug 4, 1968 Gino Paoli Open −1 (69-72-74=215) Playoff Marlene Hagge
41 Aug 18, 1968 Holiday Inn Classic −1 (74-70-62=206) 3 strokes Judy Kimball Simon
Carol Mann
42 Sep 22, 1968 Kings River Open −8 (68-71-69=208) 10 strokes Sandra Haynie
43 Oct 22, 1968 River Plantation Invitational −8 (67-70-68=205) 8 strokes Kathy Cornelius
44 Nov 3, 1968 Canyon Ladies Classic +2 (78-69-71=218) 2 strokes Donna Caponi
Shirley Englehorn
Mary Mills
45 Nov 17, 1968 Pensacola Ladies Invitational −3 (71-71-74=216) 3 strokes Jo Ann Prentice
46 Nov 24, 1968 Louise Suggs Invitational −8 (69-69-72=210) 7 strokes Carol Mann
47 Mar 17, 1969 Orange Blossom Classic +3 (74-70-72=216) Playoff Shirley Englehorn
Marlene Hagge
48 Mar 23, 1969 Port Charlotte Invitational −1 (72-72-74=218) 1 stroke Sandra Haynie
Sandra Post
49 Mar 30, 1969 Port Malabar Invitational −3 (68-72-70=210) 4 strokes Mickey Wright
50 Apr 20, 1969 Lady Carling Open (Georgia) −4 (70-72-70=212) Playoff Mickey Wright
51 Jun 15, 1969 Patty Berg Classic −5 (69-73-72=214) 1 stroke Sandra Haynie
52 Sep 14, 1969 Wendell-West Open −3 (69-72-72=213) 1 stroke Judy Rankin
53 Nov 2, 1969 River Plantation Women's Open Even (70-71-72=213) 1 stroke Betsy Rawls
54 Mar 22, 1970 Orange Blossom Classic +3 (73-72-71=216) 1 stroke Carol Mann
55 Oct 18, 1970 Quality Chek'd Classic −11 (71-67-67=205) 3 strokes JoAnne Carner
56 Apr 18, 1971 Raleigh Golf Classic −4 (71-72-69=212) 5 strokes Pam Barnett
57 May 23, 1971 Suzuki Golf Internationale +1 (72-72-73=217) 2 strokes Sandra Haynie
Sandra Palmer
58 Jun 6, 1971 Lady Carling Open −9 (71-68-71=210) 6 strokes Jane Blalock
59 Jun 13, 1971 Eve-LPGA Championship −4 (71-73-70-74=288) 4 strokes Kathy Ahern
60 Apr 30, 1972 Alamo Ladies Open −10 (66-71-72=209) 3 strokes Mickey Wright
61 Jul 23, 1972 Raleigh Golf Classic −4 (72-69-71=212) 2 strokes Marilynn Smith
62 Aug 6, 1972 Knoxville Ladies Classic −4 (71-68-71=210) 4 strokes Sandra Haynie
63 Aug 20, 1972 Southgate Ladies Open Even (69-71-76=216) Playoff Jocelyne Bourassa
64 Oct 1, 1972 Portland Ladies Open −7 (75-69-68=212) 4 strokes Sandra Haynie
65 Feb 11, 1973 Naples Lely Classic +3 (68-76-75=219) 2 strokes JoAnne Carner
66 Mar 11, 1973 S&H Green Stamp Classic −2 (73-71-70=214) 2 strokes Mary Mills
67 Sep 9, 1973 Dallas Civitan Open −3 (75-72-66=213) Playoff Mary Mills
68 Sep 16, 1973 Southgate Ladies Open −2 (72-70=142) 1 stroke Gerda Boykin
69 Sep 23, 1973 Portland Ladies Open −2 (71-73=144) 2 strokes Sandra Palmer
70 Oct 21, 1973 Waco Tribune Herald Ladies Classic −7 (68-72-69=209) 4 strokes Kathy Cornelius
Pam Higgins
Marilynn Smith
71 Nov 4, 1973 Lady Errol Classic −3 (68-75-70=213) 2 strokes Gloria Ehret
Shelley Hamlin
72 Mar 3, 1974 Orange Blossom Classic −7 (70-68-71=209) 1 stroke Sandra Haynie
73 Jun 1, 1975 LPGA Championship −4 (70-70-75-73=288) 1 stroke Sandra Haynie
74 Sep 14, 1975 Southgate Open Even (72-72-69=213) 4 strokes Gerda Boykin
75 Feb 7, 1976 Bent Tree Classic −7 (69-69-71=209) 1 stroke Hollis Stacy
76 Aug 22, 1976 Patty Berg Classic −7 (66-73-73=212) 2 strokes Sandra Post
77 Apr 3, 1977 Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle +1 (76-70-72-71=289) 1 stroke JoAnne Carner
Sally Little
78 Apr 24, 1977 American Defender Classic −10 (69-68-69=206) 1 stroke Pat Bradley
79 May 22, 1977 LPGA Coca-Cola Classic −11 (67-68-67=202) 3 strokes Donna Caponi
80 Sep 10, 1978 National Jewish Hospital Open −5 (70-75-66-65=276) 3 strokes Pat Bradley
Gloria Ehret
Jo Ann Washam
81 May 17, 1981 Coca-Cola Classic −8 (69-72-70=211) Playoff Alice Ritzman
82 Apr 18, 1982 CPC Women's International −7 (73-68-73-67=281) 9 strokes Patty Sheehan
83 May 16, 1982 Lady Michelob −9 (69-68-70=207) 4 strokes Sharon Barrett
Barbara Moxness
84 Mar 20, 1983 Women's Kemper Open −4 (72-77-70-69=288) 1 stroke Dale Eggeling
85 Jul 22, 1984 Rochester International −7 (73-68-71-69=281) Playoff Rosie Jones
86 Sep 16, 1984 Safeco Classic −9 (69-75-65-70=279) 2 strokes Laura Baugh
Marta Figueras-Dotti
87 Oct 14, 1984 Smirnoff Ladies Irish Open −3 (70-74-69-72=285) 2 strokes Pat Bradley
Becky Pearson
88 May 12, 1985 United Virginia Bank Classic −9 (69-66-72=207) 1 stroke Amy Alcott

Note: Whitworth won the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle (now known as the ANA Inspiration) before it became a major championship.

LPGA Tour playoff record (8-20)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1960 Waterloo Open Wiffi Smith Lost to birdie on first extra hole
2 1962 J.E. McAuliffe Memorial Betsy Rawls Lost on second extra hole
3 1963 San Antonio Civitan Open Mickey Wright Won with birdie on first extra hole
4 1966 Amarillo Ladies' Open Mickey Wright Won with birdie on first extra hole
5 1966 Pensacola Ladies Invitational Sandra Haynie Lost to par on first extra hole
6 1967 Shirley Englehorn Invitational Shirley Englehorn Lost to par on second extra hole
7 1967 Mickey Wright Invitational Sandra Haynie Lost to birdie on first extra hole
8 1968 LPGA Championship Sandra Post Lost 18-hole playoff (Post:68, Whitworth:75)
9 1968 Gino Paoli Open Marlene Hagge Won with birdie on first extra hole
10 1969 Lady Carling Open Mickey Wright Won with par on first extra hole
11 1969 St. Louis Women's Invitational Sandra Haynie
Peggy Wilson
Haynie won with par on third extra hole
Whitworth eliminated with birdie on first hole
12 1969 Lincoln-Mercury Open Donna Caponi Lost to par on first extra hole
13 1969 Corpus Christi Civitan Open Carol Mann Lost to par on third extra hole
14 1970 LPGA Championship Shirley Englehorn Lost 18-hole playoff (Englehorn:74, Whitworth:78)
15 1972 Lady Eve Open Judy Rankin Lost to eagle on first extra hole
16 1972 Southgate Ladies Open Jocelyne Bourassa Won with par on fifth extra hole
17 1972 Dallas Civitan Open Jane Blalock Lost to birdie on first extra hole
18 1972 Corpus Christi Civitan Open JoAnn Prentice
Sandra Palmer
Prentice won with birdie on tenth extra hole
Whitworth eliminated with par on third extra hole
19 1972 Lady Errol Classic Jane Blalock
Sandra Palmer
Blalock won with birdie on third extra hole
20 1973 Dallas Civitan Open Mary Mills Won with par on second extra hole
21 1974 Burdine's Invitational Sandra Palmer Palmer won with birdie on fifth extra hole
22 1974 Lady Tara Classic Donna Caponi
Sandra Spuzich
Spuzich won with par on fifth extra hole
Whitworth eliminated with par on third hole
23 1978 Lady Stroh's Open Pat Meyers
Sandra Post
Post won with birdie on second extra hole
24 1981 CPC Women's International Sally Little
Hollis Stacy
Little won with birdie on first extra hole
25 1981 Coca-Cola Classic Alice Ritzman Won with birdie on second extra hole
26 1982 United Virginia Bank Classic Sally Little Lost to birdie on first extra hole
27 1983 Rochester International Ayako Okamoto
Donna White
Okamoto won with birdie on third extra hole
28 1984 Rochester International Rosie Jones Won with par on first extra hole

Other wins

  • 1962 Haig & Haig Scotch Foursome (with Mason Rudolph)
  • 1966 Lagunita Invitational
  • 1967 Ladies World Series of Golf
  • 1968 Ladies World Series of Golf
  • 1971 LPGA Four-Ball Championship (with Judy Kimball)
  • 1975 Colgate Triple Crown
  • 1978 Ping Classic Team Championship (with Donna Caponi)
  • 1980 Portland Ping Team Championship (with Donna Caponi)
  • 1981 Portland Ping Team Championship (with Donna Caponi)
  • 1984 Irish Ladies' Open (Ladies European Tour)

Major championships

Wins (6)

YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up
1965Titleholders Championship−1 (71-71-74-71=287)10 strokesPeggy Wilson
1966Titleholders Championship+3 (74-70-74-73=291)2 strokesJudy Kimball-Simon, Mary Mills
1967LPGA Championship−8 (69-74-72-69=284)1 strokeShirley Englehorn
1967Women's Western Open−11 (71-74-73-71=289)3 strokesSandra Haynie
1971Eve-LPGA Championship−4 (71-73-70-74=288)3 strokesKathy Ahern
1975LPGA Championship−4 (70-70-75-73=288)1 strokeSandra Haynie

See also

References

  1. McGarr, Elizabeth (July 13, 2009). "Kathy Whitworth". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  2. Sirak, Ron (July 6, 2009). "A Legend Like No Other". Golf Digest. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  3. Kathy Whitworth named female athlete of the year
  4. Kalb, Elliott (2006). Who's Better, Who's Best in Golf?. McGraw-Hill. p. 121. ISBN 0-07-146977-X.
  5. Kalb, p. 122.
  6. Hickok, Ralph (1995). A Who's Who of Sports Champions. Houghton Mifflin. p. 838. ISBN 0-395-73312-X.
  7. "World Golf Hall of Fame Profile: Kathy Whitworth". World Golf Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved April 15, 2007.
  8. Garrity, John (November 26, 1990). "Side By Side By Solheim". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  9. "Kathy Whitworth wins Orange Blossom Classic". The Day. Associated Press. March 4, 1974. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
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