Kathy Whitworth

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox golfer 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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

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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=Eugene>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=GC>Template:Cite news</ref> She attended Odessa College.<ref name="NYT" />

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.<ref name=GC/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Professional career

In 1962, Whitworth won her first tournament, the Kelly Girls Open.<ref name=GC/><ref>Kalb, p. 122.</ref> 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.<ref name=GC/> In 1974, she won the Orange Blossom Classic for the fifth time,<ref name="OBC">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name=GC/><ref name=Garrity>Template:Cite magazine</ref> She was the first LPGA player to earn $1 million, in 1981.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=BBC>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=NYT>Template:Cite news</ref>

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,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1975 and into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1982.<ref name=GC/><ref name="WGHOF">Template:Cite web</ref> She was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year in 1965 and 1967.<ref name=Eugene/> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> She received the 1986 William Richardson Award from the Golf Writers Association of America for consistent outstanding contributions to golf.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She is also a member of the New Mexico Hall of Fame,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Texas Sports Hall of Fame,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Texas Golf Hall of Fame,<ref name=":0" /> and the Women's Sports Foundation Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Later life and death

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.<ref name=NYT/> At the time of her death she lived in Flower Mound, Texas with her partner, Bettye Odle.<ref name=NYT/><ref name=GC/> She died in Flower Mound on December 24, 2022, at age 83, after collapsing while attending a neighbor's Christmas party.<ref name=GC/><ref name=BBC/><ref name=NYT/>

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 Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
2 Oct 14, 1962 Phoenix Thunderbird Open −3 (72-71-70=213) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright
3 Jun 30, 1963 Carvel Ladies Open −2 (72-74-71=217) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Marilynn Smith
4 Jul 28, 1963 Wolverine Open −9 (72-64-62=198) 5 strokes Template:Flagicon Betsy Rawls
5 Aug 4, 1963 Milwaukee Jaycee Open −2 (70-73-73-70=286) 7 strokes Template:Flagicon Jackie Pung
Template:Flagicon Louise Suggs
6 Aug 25, 1963 Ogden Ladies' Open −5 (69-75-71=215) 5 strokes Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright
7 Sep 8, 1963 Spokane Women's Open −3 (67-70-73=210) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Marilynn Smith
8 Oct 20, 1963 Hillside Open Even (70-72-77=219) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright
9 Nov 10, 1963 San Antonio Civitan Open +7 (73-73-78-75=299) Playoff Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright
10 Nov 17, 1963 Mary Mills Mississippi Gulf Coast Invitational Even (72-77-70=219) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright
11 Jul 5, 1964 San Antonio Civitan Open −5 (70-72-71-70=283) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Marlene Hagge
12 Mar 21, 1965 St. Petersburg Open −7 (70-66-71-74=281) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
13 May 2, 1965 Shreveport Kiwanis Invitational −6 (70-70-70=210) 6 strokes Template:Flagicon Patty Berg
14 Jun 6, 1965 Blue Grass Invitational −3 (70-69-74=213) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Clifford Ann Creed
15 Aug 1, 1965 Lady Carling Midwest Open Even (72-77-70=219) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
16 Jul 18, 1965 Yankee Open −3 (73-68-72=213) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Carol Mann
17 Jul 25, 1965 Buckeye Savings Invitational −6 (70-67-70=207) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Susie Maxwell Berning
18 Oct 3, 1965 Mickey Wright Invitational −9 (68-73-71-71=283) 6 strokes Template:Flagicon Donna Caponi
19 Nov 28, 1965 Titleholders Championship −1 (71-71-74-71=287) 10 strokes Template:Flagicon Peggy Wilson
20 May 8, 1966 Tall City Open −5 (67-70-71=208) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright
21 Jun 5, 1966 Clayton Federal Invitational +1 (68-72-68=208) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Shirley Englehorn
22 Jun 19, 1966 Milwaukee Jaycee Open −7 (68-71-69-65=273) 12 strokes Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
23 Jul 30, 1966 Supertest Ladies Open −3 (71-70-72=213) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright
24 Aug 7, 1966 Lady Carling Open (Massachusetts) −5 (74-73-70=217) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Carol Mann
25 Aug 13, 1966 Lady Carling Open (Maryland) −2 (70-71-73=214) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Peggy Wilson
26 Oct 30, 1966 Las Cruces Ladies Open −2 (69-71-74=214) 6 strokes Template:Flagicon Marilynn Smith
27 Nov 6, 1966 Amarillo Ladies' Open +2 (76-71-68=215) Playoff Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright
28 Nov 27, 1966 Titleholders Championship +3 (74-70-74-73=291) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Judy Kimball Simon
Template:Flagicon Mary Mills
29 Mar 26, 1967 Venice Ladies Open +4 (70-71-76=217) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Clifford Ann Creed
Template:Flagicon Gloria Ehret
30 Apr 23, 1967 Raleigh Ladies Invitational −1 (72-72-71=215) 5 strokes Template:Flagicon Susie Maxwell Berning
31 Jun 7, 1967 St. Louis Women's Invitational +2 (68-70-71=209) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Carol Mann
32 Jul 16, 1967 LPGA Championship −8 (69-74-72-69=284) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Shirley Englehorn
33 Aug 6, 1967 Lady Carling Open (Ohio) −4 (71-70-71=212) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Susie Maxwell Berning
34 Aug 20, 1967 Women's Western Open −11 (71-74-73-71=289) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
35 Oct 1, 1967 Ladies' Los Angeles Open −4 (71-68-73=212) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Murle Breer
36 Oct 29, 1967 Alamo Ladies' Open −3 (71-71-71=213) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
37 Mar 17, 1968 St. Petersburg Orange Blossom Open Even (70-71-72=213) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
Template:Flagicon Judy Kimball Simon
38 May 26, 1968 Dallas Civitan Open −4 (70-70-69=209) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Carol Mann
39 Jun 30, 1968 Lady Carling Open (Maryland) −2 (71-70-73=214) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Carol Mann
40 Aug 4, 1968 Gino Paoli Open −1 (69-72-74=215) Playoff Template:Flagicon Marlene Hagge
41 Aug 18, 1968 Holiday Inn Classic −1 (74-70-62=206) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Judy Kimball Simon
Template:Flagicon Carol Mann
42 Sep 22, 1968 Kings River Open −8 (68-71-69=208) 10 strokes Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
43 Oct 22, 1968 River Plantation Invitational −8 (67-70-68=205) 8 strokes Template:Flagicon Kathy Cornelius
44 Nov 3, 1968 Canyon Ladies Classic +2 (78-69-71=218) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Donna Caponi
Template:Flagicon Shirley Englehorn
Template:Flagicon Mary Mills
45 Nov 17, 1968 Pensacola Ladies Invitational −3 (71-71-74=216) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Jo Ann Prentice
46 Nov 24, 1968 Louise Suggs Invitational −8 (69-69-72=210) 7 strokes Template:Flagicon Carol Mann
47 Mar 17, 1969 Orange Blossom Classic +3 (74-70-72=216) Playoff Template:Flagicon Shirley Englehorn
Template:Flagicon Marlene Hagge
48 Mar 23, 1969 Port Charlotte Invitational −1 (72-72-74=218) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
Template:Flagicon Sandra Post
49 Mar 30, 1969 Port Malabar Invitational −3 (68-72-70=210) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright
50 Apr 20, 1969 Lady Carling Open (Georgia) −4 (70-72-70=212) Playoff Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright
51 Jun 15, 1969 Patty Berg Classic −5 (69-73-72=214) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
52 Sep 14, 1969 Wendell-West Open −3 (69-72-72=213) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Judy Rankin
53 Nov 2, 1969 River Plantation Women's Open Even (70-71-72=213) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Betsy Rawls
54 Mar 22, 1970 Orange Blossom Classic +3 (73-72-71=216) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Carol Mann
55 Oct 18, 1970 Quality Chek'd Classic −11 (71-67-67=205) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon JoAnne Carner
56 Apr 18, 1971 Raleigh Golf Classic −4 (71-72-69=212) 5 strokes Template:Flagicon Pam Barnett
57 May 23, 1971 Suzuki Golf Internationale +1 (72-72-73=217) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
Template:Flagicon Sandra Palmer
58 Jun 6, 1971 Lady Carling Open −9 (71-68-71=210) 6 strokes Template:Flagicon Jane Blalock
59 Jun 13, 1971 Eve-LPGA Championship −4 (71-73-70-74=288) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Kathy Ahern
60 Apr 30, 1972 Alamo Ladies Open −10 (66-71-72=209) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright
61 Jul 23, 1972 Raleigh Golf Classic −4 (72-69-71=212) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Marilynn Smith
62 Aug 6, 1972 Knoxville Ladies Classic −4 (71-68-71=210) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
63 Aug 20, 1972 Southgate Ladies Open Even (69-71-76=216) Playoff Template:Flagicon Jocelyne Bourassa
64 Oct 1, 1972 Portland Ladies Open −7 (75-69-68=212) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
65 Feb 11, 1973 Naples Lely Classic +3 (68-76-75=219) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon JoAnne Carner
66 Mar 11, 1973 S&H Green Stamp Classic −2 (73-71-70=214) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Mary Mills
67 Sep 9, 1973 Dallas Civitan Open −3 (75-72-66=213) Playoff Template:Flagicon Mary Mills
68 Sep 16, 1973 Southgate Ladies Open −2 (72-70=142) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Gerda Boykin
69 Sep 23, 1973 Portland Ladies Open −2 (71-73=144) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Sandra Palmer
70 Oct 21, 1973 Waco Tribune Herald Ladies Classic −7 (68-72-69=209) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Kathy Cornelius
Template:Flagicon Pam Higgins
Template:Flagicon Marilynn Smith
71 Nov 4, 1973 Lady Errol Classic −3 (68-75-70=213) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Gloria Ehret
Template:Flagicon Shelley Hamlin
72 Mar 3, 1974 Orange Blossom Classic −7 (70-68-71=209) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
73 Jun 1, 1975 LPGA Championship −4 (70-70-75-73=288) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
74 Sep 14, 1975 Southgate Open Even (72-72-69=213) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Gerda Boykin
75 Feb 7, 1976 Bent Tree Classic −7 (69-69-71=209) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Hollis Stacy
76 Aug 22, 1976 Patty Berg Classic −7 (66-73-73=212) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Sandra Post
77 Apr 3, 1977 Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle +1 (76-70-72-71=289) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon JoAnne Carner
Template:Flagicon Sally Little
78 Apr 24, 1977 American Defender Classic −10 (69-68-69=206) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Pat Bradley
79 May 22, 1977 LPGA Coca-Cola Classic −11 (67-68-67=202) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Donna Caponi
80 Sep 10, 1978 National Jewish Hospital Open −5 (70-75-66-65=276) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Pat Bradley
Template:Flagicon Gloria Ehret
Template:Flagicon Jo Ann Washam
81 May 17, 1981 Coca-Cola Classic −8 (69-72-70=211) Playoff Template:Flagicon Alice Ritzman
82 Apr 18, 1982 CPC Women's International −7 (73-68-73-67=281) 9 strokes Template:Flagicon Patty Sheehan
83 May 16, 1982 Lady Michelob −9 (69-68-70=207) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Sharon Barrett
Template:Flagicon Barbara Moxness
84 Mar 20, 1983 Women's Kemper Open −4 (72-77-70-69=288) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Dale Eggeling
85 Jul 22, 1984 Rochester International −7 (73-68-71-69=281) Playoff Template:Flagicon Rosie Jones
86 Sep 16, 1984 Safeco Classic −9 (69-75-65-70=279) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Laura Baugh
Template:Flagicon Marta Figueras-Dotti
87 Oct 14, 1984 Smirnoff Ladies Irish Open −3 (70-74-69-72=285) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Pat Bradley
Template:Flagicon Becky Pearson
88 May 12, 1985 United Virginia Bank Classic −9 (69-66-72=207) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon 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. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1960 Waterloo Open Template:Flagicon Wiffi Smith Lost to birdie on first extra hole
2 1962 J.E. McAuliffe Memorial Template:Flagicon Betsy Rawls Lost on second extra hole
3 1963 San Antonio Civitan Open Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright Won with birdie on first extra hole
4 1966 Amarillo Ladies' Open Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright Won with birdie on first extra hole
5 1966 Pensacola Ladies Invitational Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie Lost to par on first extra hole
6 1967 Shirley Englehorn Invitational Template:Flagicon Shirley Englehorn Lost to par on second extra hole
7 1967 Mickey Wright Invitational Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie Lost to birdie on first extra hole
8 1968 LPGA Championship Template:Flagicon Sandra Post Lost 18-hole playoff (Post:68, Whitworth:75)
9 1968 Gino Paoli Open Template:Flagicon Marlene Hagge Won with birdie on first extra hole
10 1969 Lady Carling Open Template:Flagicon Mickey Wright Won with par on first extra hole
11 1969 St. Louis Women's Invitational Template:Flagicon Sandra Haynie
Template:Flagicon Peggy Wilson 		Haynie won with par on third extra hole
Whitworth eliminated by birdie on first hole
12 1969 Lincoln-Mercury Open Template:Flagicon Donna Caponi Lost to par on first extra hole
13 1969 Corpus Christi Civitan Open Template:Flagicon Carol Mann Lost to par on third extra hole
14 1970 LPGA Championship Template:Flagicon Shirley Englehorn Lost 18-hole playoff (Englehorn:74, Whitworth:78)
15 1972 Lady Eve Open Template:Flagicon Judy Rankin Lost to eagle on first extra hole
16 1972 Southgate Ladies Open Template:Flagicon Jocelyne Bourassa Won with par on fifth extra hole
17 1972 Dallas Civitan Open Template:Flagicon Jane Blalock Lost to birdie on first extra hole
18 1972 Corpus Christi Civitan Open Template:Flagicon Jo Ann Prentice
Template:Flagicon Sandra Palmer 		Prentice won with birdie on tenth extra hole
Whitworth eliminated by par on third hole
19 1972 Lady Errol Classic Template:Flagicon Jane Blalock
Template:Flagicon Sandra Palmer 		Blalock won with birdie on third extra hole
20 1973 Dallas Civitan Open Template:Flagicon Mary Mills Won with par on second extra hole
21 1974 Burdine's Invitational Template:Flagicon Sandra Palmer Palmer won with birdie on fifth extra hole
22 1974 Lady Tara Classic Template:Flagicon Donna Caponi
Template:Flagicon Sandra Spuzich 		Spuzich won with par on fifth extra hole
Whitworth eliminated by par on third hole
23 1978 Lady Stroh's Open Template:Flagicon Pat Meyers
Template:Flagicon Sandra Post 		Post won with birdie on second extra hole
24 1981 CPC Women's International Template:Flagicon Sally Little
Template:Flagicon Hollis Stacy 		Little won with birdie on first extra hole
25 1981 Coca-Cola Classic Template:Flagicon Alice Ritzman Won with birdie on second extra hole
26 1982 United Virginia Bank Classic Template:Flagicon Sally Little Lost to birdie on first extra hole
27 1983 Rochester International Template:Flagicon Ayako Okamoto
Template:Flagicon Donna White 		Okamoto won with birdie on third extra hole
28 1984 Rochester International Template:Flagicon Rosie Jones Won with par on first extra hole

Sources:<ref name=LPGA60s>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=LPGA70s>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ladies European Tour wins

Other wins

Major championships

Wins (6)

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

Sources:<ref name=LPGA60s/><ref name=LPGA70s/>

See also

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Navboxes Template:1990 United States Solheim Cup team Template:1992 United States Solheim Cup team Template:Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year navbox Template:Authority control

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