Kathy Whitworth set a benchmark in golfing nobody has ever touched, whether it become Sam Kathy Whitworth Snead or Tiger Kathy Whitworth Woods, Mickey Wright or Annika Sorenstam. Her 88 victories are the most by using any participant Kathy Whitworth on a unmarried expert tour.
Whitworth, whose LPGA Tour victories spanned nearly 1 / 4-century and who became the first female to Kathy Whitworth earn $1 million on the LPGA, died on Christmas Eve, her longtime companion stated. She become 83.
Bettye Odle did not reveal a motive Kathy Whitworth of loss of life, saying best that Whitworth died abruptly Kathy Whitworth Saturday night time Kathy Whitworth whilst celebrating with circle of relatives and pals.
“Kathy left this world the manner she lived her lifestyles — loving, laughing and growing memories,” Odle said in a announcement the LPGA Tour launched.
Whitworth won the primary of her 88 titles in the Kelly Girls Open in July 1962. She won six majors during her profession and broke Wright’s document of eighty two career wins whilst she captured the Lady Michelob within the summer time of 1982.
Her final victory came in 1985 on the United Virginia Bank Classic.
“Winning by no means were given antique,” Whitworth as soon as said.
All that became missing from her profession turned into the U.S. Women’s Open, the largest of the ladies’s majors. Upon being the first girl to surpass $1 million in career earnings in 1981, she said, “I could have swapped being the first to make 1,000,000 for winning the Open, but it changed into a consolation which took some of the edge out of no longer prevailing.”
Sorenstam mentioned her on Twitter as “a total class act” who “may be dearly ignored.”
“Thanks for Kathy Whitworth putting the bar so excessive, Kathy,” she wrote.
We are very sorry to pay attention approximately the unexpected passing of Kathy. As the LPGA‘s all-time wins, chief, and a complete elegance act, she can be dearly neglected. Our thoughts and prayers are along with her circle of relatives and near friends. Thanks for setting the bar so excessive, Kathy. RIP %.twitter.com/WNpZVLl67y— Annika Sorenstam (@ANNIKA59) December 25, 2022
Whitworth became the AP Female Athlete of the Year in 1965 and 1967, while she without difficulty beat out Wimbledon singles champion Billie Jean King. Whitworth turned into inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1982.
She changed into the LPGA participant of the Kathy Whitworth year seven Kathy Whitworth times in an eight-12 months span (1966 thru 1973). She won the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average seven instances and become the leading cash winner in 8 seasons.
But she became identified by means of one variety — 88.
Snead changed into credited with a document 82 wins on the PGA Tour, a total Woods has matched. Wright won 82 times at the LPGA Tour, at the same time as Sorenstam had seventy two wins whilst she retired after the 2006 season at age 36.
“I suppose Mickey had the quality swing and was among the best golfer,” Betsy Rawls once advised Golf Digest. “But Kathy turned into the high-quality participant of the Kathy Whitworth game that I even have ever seen.”
Kathy Whitworth responds to the crowd as she prepares to tee off in the course of the Tournament of Champions at Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y., on June 20, 2006. (Carlos Ortiz/AP)
Whitworth turned into Kathy Whitworth born in Monahans, a small West Texas town, and learned to play golf in New Mexico. She began at age 15 in Jal, New Mexico, at the 9-hole course constructed for the El Paso Natural Gas employees.
She soon turned into a -time winner of the New Mexico State Amateur. After in brief attending Odessa (Texas) College, she became pro at age 19 and joined the LPGA Tour in December 1958.
“I changed into definitely lucky in that I knew what I wanted to do,” Whitworth once advised Golf Digest. Kathy Whitworth “Golf just grabbed me by using the throat. I can’t let you know how lots I loved it. I used to think all Kathy Whitworth people knew what they desired to do when they have been 15 years vintage.”
Wright had the greater aesthetically desirable swing. Whitworth become all about grinding — and winning.
Whitworth won eight times in 1963 and 1965 and had Kathy Whitworth eleven victories in 1968. In none of these years did she earn greater than $50,000. All these years later, the LPGA Tour’s overall prize fund for 2023 will pinnacle $a hundred million.
Whitworth endured to conduct junior clinics and live energetic in the game.
“I don’t reflect onconsideration on the legacy of 88 tournaments,” she as soon as said. “I did it due to the fact I wanted to win, no longer to set a file or a aim that no person else may want to surpass. I’m not some great oddity. I turned into simply lucky to be so a success. What I did in being a higher player does not make me a higher man or woman.
“When I’m asked how I would love to be remembered, I experience that if humans remember me in any respect, it will likely be excellent enough.”