Kathy Whitworth set a benchmark in golf nobody has ever touched, whether or not it was Sam Snead or Tiger Woods, Mickey Wright or Annika Sorenstam. Her 88 victories are essentially the most by any participant on a single skilled tour.
Whitworth, whose LPGA Tour victories spanned practically a quarter-century and who grew to become the primary girl to earn $1 million for her profession on the LPGA, died on Christmas Eve, her longtime accomplice mentioned. She was 83.
Bettye Odle didn’t disclose a reason behind dying, saying solely that Whitworth died abruptly Saturday night time whereas celebrating with household and associates.
“Kathy left this world the best way she lived her life — loving, chuckle and creating reminiscences,” Odle mentioned in a press release launched by the LPGA Tour.
Whitworth received the primary of her 88 titles within the Kelly Women Opens in July 1962. She received six majors throughout her profession and broke Mickey Wright’s document of 82 profession wins when Whitworth captured the Girl Michelob in the summertime of 1982.
Her last victory got here in 1985 on the United Virginia Financial institution Basic.
“Profitable by no means obtained outdated,” Whitworth as soon as mentioned.
All that was lacking from her profession was the U.S. Ladies’s Open, the most important of the ladies’s majors. Upon being the primary girl to surpass $1 million in profession earnings in 1981, she mentioned, “I might have swapped being the primary to make 1,000,000 for profitable the Open, nevertheless it was a comfort which took among the sting out of not profitable.”
Sorenstam referred to her on Twitter because the LPGA’s all-time victory chief and a “whole class act” who will probably be dearly missed.
“Thanks for setting the bar so excessive, Kathy,” she wrote.
Whitworth was the AP Feminine Athlete of the Yr in 1965 and in 1967, when she simply beat out Wimbledon singles champion Billie Jean King. Whitworth was inducted into the World Golf Corridor of Fame in 1982.
She was the LPGA participant of the 12 months seven instances in an eight-year span (1966 by way of 1973). She received the Vare Trophy for the bottom scoring common seven instances and she or he was the main cash winner in eight seasons.
However she was recognized by one quantity — 88.
Carlos Ortiz/Democrat & Chronicle through AP, File
Snead was credited with a document 82 wins on the PGA Tour, a complete Woods has since matched. Wright received 82 instances on the LPGA Tour, whereas Sorenstam had 72 wins when she retired after the 2006 season at age 36.
“I believe Mickey had one of the best swing, and was most likely the best golfer,” Betsy Rawls as soon as instructed Golf Digest. “However Kathy was one of the best participant of the sport that I’ve ever seen.”
Whitworth was born in Monahans, a small West Texas city, and discovered to play golf in New Mexico. She began at age 15 in Jal, New Mexico, on the nine-hole course constructed for the El Paso Pure Gasoline workers.
She quickly was a two-time winner of the New Mexico State Beginner. After briefly attending Odessa (Texas) Faculty, she turned professional at age 19 and joined the LPGA Tour in December 1958.
“I used to be actually lucky in that I knew what I wished to do,” Whitworth as soon as instructed Golf Digest. “Golf simply grabbed me by the throat. I can’t inform you how a lot I liked it. I used to suppose everybody knew what they wished to do once they have been 15 years outdated.”
AP Picture/David Kent, File
Wright had the extra aesthetically pleasing swing. Whitworth was all about grinding, and about profitable.
Whitworth received eight instances in 1963 and 1965, and she or he had 11 victories in 1968. In none of these years did she earn greater than $50,000. All these years later, the LPGA Tour whole prize fund for 2023 will prime $100 million.
Whitworth continued to conduct junior clinics and keep energetic within the recreation.
“I don’t take into consideration the legacy of 88 tournaments,” she as soon as mentioned. “I did it as a result of I wished to win, to not set a document or a objective that nobody else might surpass. I’m not some nice oddity. I used to be simply lucky to be so profitable. What I did in being a greater participant doesn’t make me a greater individual.
“After I’m requested how I want to be remembered, I really feel that if folks keep in mind me in any respect, it is going to be ok.”
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