Kathy Whitworth | |||||||||||||||
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||
Full name | Kathrynne Ann Whitworth | ||||||||||||||
Born | Monahans, Texas, U.S. | September 27, 1939||||||||||||||
Died | December 24, 2022 Flower Mound, Texas, U.S. | (aged 83)||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||||||||||||||
Sporting nationality | ![]() | ||||||||||||||
Career | |||||||||||||||
College | Odessa College | ||||||||||||||
Turned professional | 1958 | ||||||||||||||
Current tour(s) | Legends Tour | ||||||||||||||
Former tour(s) | LPGA Tour (joined 1958) | ||||||||||||||
Professional wins | 98 | ||||||||||||||
Number of wins by tour | |||||||||||||||
LPGA Tour | 88 (1st all time) | ||||||||||||||
Ladies European Tour | 1 | ||||||||||||||
Other | 9 | ||||||||||||||
Best results in LPGA major championships (wins: 6) | |||||||||||||||
Western Open | Won: 1967 | ||||||||||||||
Titleholders C'ship | Won: 1965, 1966 | ||||||||||||||
Chevron Championship | T2: 1983 | ||||||||||||||
Women's PGA C'ship | Won: 1967, 1971, 1975 | ||||||||||||||
U.S. Women's Open | 2nd: 1971 | ||||||||||||||
du Maurier Classic | T14: 1980 | ||||||||||||||
Achievements and awards | |||||||||||||||
|
Kathrynne Ann Whitworth (September 27, 1939 – December 24, 2022) was an American professional golfer. During her playing career she won 88 LPGA Tour tournaments, more than anyone else on the LPGA or PGA Tours. Whitworth was also a runner-up 93 times, giving her 181 top-two finishes.[1] In 1981, she became the first woman to reach career earnings of $1 million on the LPGA Tour. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Early life and amateur career
[edit]Whitworth was born on September 27, 1939, in Monahans, Texas, the youngest of three daughters of Morris Whitworth, a hardware store owner and later mayor in Jal, New Mexico, where she grew up.[2][3][4] She attended Odessa College.[5]
Initially a tennis player, Whitworth began playing golf at 14. After working with Hardy Loudermilk, she won the 1957 and 1958 New Mexico State Amateur Championships. At 19, she changed coaches to Harvey Penick and turned pro, joining the LPGA in December 1958.[4][6]
Professional career
[edit]In 1962, Whitworth won her first tournament, the Kelly Girls Open.[4][7] Between that and her victory in the United Virginia Bank Classic in 1985, she won 88 tournaments on the LPGA Tour, the highest number of any player in the history of professional golf, including on the men's PGA Tour. Six were major championships.[4] In 1974, she won the Orange Blossom Classic for the fifth time,[8] one of only four LPGA golfers to have won the same tournament five times. She was the U.S. team captain at the inaugural Solheim Cup match in 1990.[4][9] She was the first LPGA player to earn $1 million, in 1981.[10][11][5]
Whitworth 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,[12] and was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1975 and into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1982.[4][13] She was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year in 1965 and 1967.[3] 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.[citation needed] She received the 1986 William Richardson Award from the Golf Writers Association of America for consistent outstanding contributions to golf.[14] She is also 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.[citation needed]
Later life and death
[edit]Whitworth retired from competitive golf in 2005 after competing in the BJ's Charity Classic on the Women's Senior Golf Tour. In 2007, with Jay Golden, she published Kathy Whitworth's Little Book of Golf Wisdom.[5] At the time of her death she lived in Flower Mound, Texas with her partner, Bettye Odle.[5][4] She died in Flower Mound on December 24, 2022, at age 83, after collapsing while attending a neighbor's Christmas party.[4][11][5]
Professional wins
[edit]LPGA Tour wins (88)
[edit]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 | ![]() |
2 | Oct 14, 1962 | Phoenix Thunderbird Open | −3 (72-71-70=213) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
3 | Jun 30, 1963 | Carvel Ladies Open | −2 (72-74-71=217) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
4 | Jul 28, 1963 | Wolverine Open | −9 (72-64-62=198) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
5 | Aug 4, 1963 | Milwaukee Jaycee Open | −2 (70-73-73-70=286) | 7 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
6 | Aug 25, 1963 | Ogden Ladies' Open | −5 (69-75-71=215) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
7 | Sep 8, 1963 | Spokane Women's Open | −3 (67-70-73=210) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
8 | Oct 20, 1963 | Hillside Open | Even (70-72-77=219) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
9 | Nov 10, 1963 | San Antonio Civitan Open | +7 (73-73-78-75=299) | Playoff | ![]() |
10 | Nov 17, 1963 | Mary Mills Mississippi Gulf Coast Invitational | Even (72-77-70=219) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
11 | Jul 5, 1964 | San Antonio Civitan Open | −5 (70-72-71-70=283) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
12 | Mar 21, 1965 | St. Petersburg Open | −7 (70-66-71-74=281) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
13 | May 2, 1965 | Shreveport Kiwanis Invitational | −6 (70-70-70=210) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
14 | Jun 6, 1965 | Blue Grass Invitational | −3 (70-69-74=213) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
15 | Aug 1, 1965 | Lady Carling Midwest Open | Even (72-77-70=219) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
16 | Jul 18, 1965 | Yankee Open | −3 (73-68-72=213) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
17 | Jul 25, 1965 | Buckeye Savings Invitational | −6 (70-67-70=207) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
18 | Oct 3, 1965 | Mickey Wright Invitational | −9 (68-73-71-71=283) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
19 | Nov 28, 1965 | Titleholders Championship | −1 (71-71-74-71=287) | 10 strokes | ![]() |
20 | May 8, 1966 | Tall City Open | −5 (67-70-71=208) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
21 | Jun 5, 1966 | Clayton Federal Invitational | +1 (68-72-68=208) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
22 | Jun 19, 1966 | Milwaukee Jaycee Open | −7 (68-71-69-65=273) | 12 strokes | ![]() |
23 | Jul 30, 1966 | Supertest Ladies Open | −3 (71-70-72=213) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
24 | Aug 7, 1966 | Lady Carling Open (Massachusetts) | −5 (74-73-70=217) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
25 | Aug 13, 1966 | Lady Carling Open (Maryland) | −2 (70-71-73=214) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
26 | Oct 30, 1966 | Las Cruces Ladies Open | −2 (69-71-74=214) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
27 | Nov 6, 1966 | Amarillo Ladies' Open | +2 (76-71-68=215) | Playoff | ![]() |
28 | Nov 27, 1966 | Titleholders Championship | +3 (74-70-74-73=291) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
29 | Mar 26, 1967 | Venice Ladies Open | +4 (70-71-76=217) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
30 | Apr 23, 1967 | Raleigh Ladies Invitational | −1 (72-72-71=215) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
31 | Jun 7, 1967 | St. Louis Women's Invitational | +2 (68-70-71=209) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
32 | Jul 16, 1967 | LPGA Championship | −8 (69-74-72-69=284) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
33 | Aug 6, 1967 | Lady Carling Open (Ohio) | −4 (71-70-71=212) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
34 | Aug 20, 1967 | Women's Western Open | −11 (71-74-73-71=289) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
35 | Oct 1, 1967 | Ladies' Los Angeles Open | −4 (71-68-73=212) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
36 | Oct 29, 1967 | Alamo Ladies' Open | −3 (71-71-71=213) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
37 | Mar 17, 1968 | St. Petersburg Orange Blossom Open | Even (70-71-72=213) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
38 | May 26, 1968 | Dallas Civitan Open | −4 (70-70-69=209) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
39 | Jun 30, 1968 | Lady Carling Open (Maryland) | −2 (71-70-73=214) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
40 | Aug 4, 1968 | Gino Paoli Open | −1 (69-72-74=215) | Playoff | ![]() |
41 | Aug 18, 1968 | Holiday Inn Classic | −1 (74-70-62=206) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
42 | Sep 22, 1968 | Kings River Open | −8 (68-71-69=208) | 10 strokes | ![]() |
43 | Oct 22, 1968 | River Plantation Invitational | −8 (67-70-68=205) | 8 strokes | ![]() |
44 | Nov 3, 1968 | Canyon Ladies Classic | +2 (78-69-71=218) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
45 | Nov 17, 1968 | Pensacola Ladies Invitational | −3 (71-71-74=216) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
46 | Nov 24, 1968 | Louise Suggs Invitational | −8 (69-69-72=210) | 7 strokes | ![]() |
47 | Mar 17, 1969 | Orange Blossom Classic | +3 (74-70-72=216) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
48 | Mar 23, 1969 | Port Charlotte Invitational | −1 (72-72-74=218) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
49 | Mar 30, 1969 | Port Malabar Invitational | −3 (68-72-70=210) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
50 | Apr 20, 1969 | Lady Carling Open (Georgia) | −4 (70-72-70=212) | Playoff | ![]() |
51 | Jun 15, 1969 | Patty Berg Classic | −5 (69-73-72=214) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
52 | Sep 14, 1969 | Wendell-West Open | −3 (69-72-72=213) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
53 | Nov 2, 1969 | River Plantation Women's Open | Even (70-71-72=213) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
54 | Mar 22, 1970 | Orange Blossom Classic | +3 (73-72-71=216) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
55 | Oct 18, 1970 | Quality Chek'd Classic | −11 (71-67-67=205) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
56 | Apr 18, 1971 | Raleigh Golf Classic | −4 (71-72-69=212) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
57 | May 23, 1971 | Suzuki Golf Internationale | +1 (72-72-73=217) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
58 | Jun 6, 1971 | Lady Carling Open | −9 (71-68-71=210) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
59 | Jun 13, 1971 | Eve-LPGA Championship | −4 (71-73-70-74=288) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
60 | Apr 30, 1972 | Alamo Ladies Open | −10 (66-71-72=209) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
61 | Jul 23, 1972 | Raleigh Golf Classic | −4 (72-69-71=212) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
62 | Aug 6, 1972 | Knoxville Ladies Classic | −4 (71-68-71=210) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
63 | Aug 20, 1972 | Southgate Ladies Open | Even (69-71-76=216) | Playoff | ![]() |
64 | Oct 1, 1972 | Portland Ladies Open | −7 (75-69-68=212) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
65 | Feb 11, 1973 | Naples Lely Classic | +3 (68-76-75=219) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
66 | Mar 11, 1973 | S&H Green Stamp Classic | −2 (73-71-70=214) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
67 | Sep 9, 1973 | Dallas Civitan Open | −3 (75-72-66=213) | Playoff | ![]() |
68 | Sep 16, 1973 | Southgate Ladies Open | −2 (72-70=142) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
69 | Sep 23, 1973 | Portland Ladies Open | −2 (71-73=144) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
70 | Oct 21, 1973 | Waco Tribune Herald Ladies Classic | −7 (68-72-69=209) | 4 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
71 | Nov 4, 1973 | Lady Errol Classic | −3 (68-75-70=213) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
72 | Mar 3, 1974 | Orange Blossom Classic | −7 (70-68-71=209) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
73 | Jun 1, 1975 | LPGA Championship | −4 (70-70-75-73=288) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
74 | Sep 14, 1975 | Southgate Open | Even (72-72-69=213) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
75 | Feb 7, 1976 | Bent Tree Classic | −7 (69-69-71=209) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
76 | Aug 22, 1976 | Patty Berg Classic | −7 (66-73-73=212) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
77 | Apr 3, 1977 | Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle | +1 (76-70-72-71=289) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
78 | Apr 24, 1977 | American Defender Classic | −10 (69-68-69=206) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
79 | May 22, 1977 | LPGA Coca-Cola Classic | −11 (67-68-67=202) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
80 | Sep 10, 1978 | National Jewish Hospital Open | −5 (70-75-66-65=276) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
81 | May 17, 1981 | Coca-Cola Classic | −8 (69-72-70=211) | Playoff | ![]() |
82 | Apr 18, 1982 | CPC Women's International | −7 (73-68-73-67=281) | 9 strokes | ![]() |
83 | May 16, 1982 | Lady Michelob | −9 (69-68-70=207) | 4 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
84 | Mar 20, 1983 | Women's Kemper Open | −4 (72-77-70-69=288) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
85 | Jul 22, 1984 | Rochester International | −7 (73-68-71-69=281) | Playoff | ![]() |
86 | Sep 16, 1984 | Safeco Classic | −9 (69-75-65-70=279) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
87 | Oct 14, 1984 | Smirnoff Ladies Irish Open | −3 (70-74-69-72=285) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
88 | May 12, 1985 | United Virginia Bank Classic | −9 (69-66-72=207) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
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. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1960 | Waterloo Open | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
2 | 1962 | J.E. McAuliffe Memorial | ![]() |
Lost on second extra hole |
3 | 1963 | San Antonio Civitan Open | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
4 | 1966 | Amarillo Ladies' Open | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
5 | 1966 | Pensacola Ladies Invitational | ![]() |
Lost to par on first extra hole |
6 | 1967 | Shirley Englehorn Invitational | ![]() |
Lost to par on second extra hole |
7 | 1967 | Mickey Wright Invitational | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
8 | 1968 | LPGA Championship | ![]() |
Lost 18-hole playoff (Post:68, Whitworth:75) |
9 | 1968 | Gino Paoli Open | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
10 | 1969 | Lady Carling Open | ![]() |
Won with par on first extra hole |
11 | 1969 | St. Louis Women's Invitational | ![]() ![]() |
Haynie won with par on third extra hole Whitworth eliminated by birdie on first hole |
12 | 1969 | Lincoln-Mercury Open | ![]() |
Lost to par on first extra hole |
13 | 1969 | Corpus Christi Civitan Open | ![]() |
Lost to par on third extra hole |
14 | 1970 | LPGA Championship | ![]() |
Lost 18-hole playoff (Englehorn:74, Whitworth:78) |
15 | 1972 | Lady Eve Open | ![]() |
Lost to eagle on first extra hole |
16 | 1972 | Southgate Ladies Open | ![]() |
Won with par on fifth extra hole |
17 | 1972 | Dallas Civitan Open | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
18 | 1972 | Corpus Christi Civitan Open | ![]() ![]() |
Prentice won with birdie on tenth extra hole Whitworth eliminated by par on third hole |
19 | 1972 | Lady Errol Classic | ![]() ![]() |
Blalock won with birdie on third extra hole |
20 | 1973 | Dallas Civitan Open | ![]() |
Won with par on second extra hole |
21 | 1974 | Burdine's Invitational | ![]() |
Palmer won with birdie on fifth extra hole |
22 | 1974 | Lady Tara Classic | ![]() ![]() |
Spuzich won with par on fifth extra hole Whitworth eliminated by par on third hole |
23 | 1978 | Lady Stroh's Open | ![]() ![]() |
Post won with birdie on second extra hole |
24 | 1981 | CPC Women's International | ![]() ![]() |
Little won with birdie on first extra hole |
25 | 1981 | Coca-Cola Classic | ![]() |
Won with birdie on second extra hole |
26 | 1982 | United Virginia Bank Classic | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
27 | 1983 | Rochester International | ![]() ![]() |
Okamoto won with birdie on third extra hole |
28 | 1984 | Rochester International | ![]() |
Won with par on first extra hole |
Ladies European Tour wins
[edit]Other wins
[edit]- 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)
Major championships
[edit]Wins (6)
[edit]Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
1965 | Titleholders Championship | −1 (71-71-74-71=287) | 10 strokes | Peggy Wilson |
1966 | Titleholders Championship | +3 (74-70-74-73=291) | 2 strokes | Judy Kimball-Simon, Mary Mills |
1967 | LPGA Championship | −8 (69-74-72-69=284) | 1 stroke | Shirley Englehorn |
1967 | Women's Western Open | −11 (71-74-73-71=289) | 3 strokes | Sandra Haynie |
1971 | Eve-LPGA Championship | −4 (71-73-70-74=288) | 3 strokes | Kathy Ahern |
1975 | LPGA Championship | −4 (70-70-75-73=288) | 1 stroke | Sandra Haynie |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Kathy Whitworth - September 27, 1939 - December 24, 2022
- ^ Sirak, Ron (July 6, 2009). "A Legend Like No Other". Golf Digest. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
- ^ a b "Kathy Whitworth Named 'Female Athlete of the Year'". Eugene Register-Guard. AP. January 17, 1967. p. 3B.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Kathy Whitworth, the winningest player on the LPGA and PGA tours, dies at 83". Golf Channel. December 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Goldstein, Richard (December 26, 2022). "Kathy Whitworth, Golfer With Record for Victories In the U.S., Is Dead at 83". The New York Times. p. A13. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ Kalb, Elliott (2006). Who's Better, Who's Best in Golf?. McGraw-Hill. p. 121. ISBN 0-07-146977-X.
- ^ Kalb, p. 122.
- ^ "Kathy Whitworth wins Orange Blossom Classic". The Day. AP. March 4, 1974. p. 18. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
- ^ Garrity, John (November 26, 1990). "Side By Side By Solheim". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ McGarr, Elizabeth (July 13, 2009). "Kathy Whitworth". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
- ^ a b "Golfing great Kathy Whitworth dies at 83". BBC News. December 26, 2022.
- ^ Hickok, Ralph (1995). A Who's Who of Sports Champions. Houghton Mifflin. p. 838. ISBN 0-395-73312-X.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "William D. Richardson Award". Golf Writers Association of America. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Kathy Whitworth at the LPGA Tour official site (archived)
- Kathy Whitworth at the Legends Tour official site (also at former site)
- Kathy Whitworth at golf.about.com at the Wayback Machine (archived February 15, 2008)