Kathy Whitworth

About Kathy Whitworth

It is one of the most famous records in golf: 88 victories over a span of 23 years, an average of 3.8 victories per season starting with the Kelly Girl Open in 1962 and ending with the United Virginia Bank Classic in 1985. In those three decades, Kathrynne Ann Whitworth surpassed the victory totals of Mickey Wright (82) and Sam Snead (82) to lodge herself atop the category of Most Tournament Victories By a Professional, Man or Woman.

Whitworth did this with what she considered average talent. “I never had a golf swing,” she said. But she did have staying power. From 1963-1973 she was leading money winner eight times, second on the money list twice and third once. In that span, she won the Vare Trophy and Player of the Year honors seven times each.

With all that success, it still took her until 1981 to become the first woman in golf to earn $1 million. Fifteen years later, Karrie Webb became the first woman to accomplish that feat in one year, and she did so with four victories and 12 top-five finishes. Whitworth had eight victories in 1963, eight victories in 1965 and 11 victories in 1968, and in none of those years did she make more than $50,000.

Whitworth passed the seven-figure threshold at the U.S. Women’s Open, the one major championship that eluded her. “I would have swapped being the first to make a million for winning the Open, but it was a consolation which took some of the sting out of not winning.”

Born in Monahans, Texas, Whitworth grew up in Jal, N.M., where her father owned a hardware store. She got her first set of clubs from her grandmother and started playing golf at 15. Two years later Whitworth won the first of two consecutive New Mexico State Amateur titles.

Her start on the LPGA Tour was less than auspicious. She played 26 events as a rookie and made less than $1,300. After playing so poorly, Whitworth considered quitting, but a visit to Harvey Penick convinced her to keep going. Self-conscious and shy, Whitworth was adopted by Wright, Betsy Rawls, Gloria Armstrong and Jackie Pung. She soon gained confidence in herself and her ability.

“When I won eight tournaments in 1963, I was living on a high,” Whitworth said. “I got in a winning syndrome. I played really well and it came easily. You don’t think you’re that great, but you’re in the groove with good concentration. Nothing bothers you.”

Whitworth qualified for the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1975, but the stress of playing at such a high level for so long eventually took its toll. She described the 1974 and 1975 seasons as “traumatic,” and in the late 1970s, her game deteriorated. Only the pursuit of the $1 million barrier and the records of Wright and Snead kept her going.

Victory No. 82 came in the 1981 Kemper Open. She passed Wright the next year with a victory at the Lady Michelob. She won once in 1983, when she made a 40-foot putt on the 72nd hole of the Kemper Open. With one last push, she won three times in 1984 and again the following season. At that point, she assumed responsibility as the LPGA’s vice president and ultimately its president.

“I don’t think about the legacy of 88 tournaments-I did it because I wanted to win, not to set a record or a goal that no one else could surpass,” she said. “I’m not some great oddity. I was just fortunate to be so successful. What I did in being a better player does not make me a better person. When I’m asked how I would like to be remembered, I feel that if people remember me at all, it will be good enough.”

Achievements

• Owns 88 tournament titles, more than any other professional golfer in history, male or female.
• Was LPGA Tour’s leading money winner eight times (1965-68, 1970-73).
• Is a seven-time LPGA Player of the Year (1966-69, 1971-73).
• Is a seven-time winner of the Vare Trophy (1965-67, 1969-72), the most in LPGA history.
• Competed in 26 sudden-death playoffs in her career.
• In 2005, officially retired from competitive golf after competing in the BJ’s Charity Classic, an event on the Women’s Senior Golf Tour.
• In 1985, recorded her last official victory and the 88th of her career at the United Virginia Bank Classic on May 12.
• In 1983, tied Sam Snead’s record of 84 official professional golf victories at the Women’s Kemper Open with a 40-foot putt on the 72nd hole; recorded her 11th LPGA career hole-in-one at the Henredon Classic; holds the LPGA all-time record for most holes-in-one in a career.
• Between 1962 and 1982, won 82 LPGA titles; her win at the CPC International in 1982, which was her 82nd victory, tied her with fellow LPGA Tour Hall of Fame member Mickey Wright for the most number of wins; won the Lady Michelob to surpass Wright.
• In 1981, her third-place finish at the U.S. Women’s Open made her the first player in the history of the LPGA to surpass the $1 million mark in career earnings.
• In 1975, became the seventh member of the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame.
• In 1970, won the Orange Blossom Classic for the third year in a row, becoming the fourth player in LPGA history to win the same event three consecutive times (a total of eight players have now accomplished that feat).
• In 1968, carded a career-low 62 (-7) in the third round of the Holiday Inn Classic, which she won; the 62 tied Mickey Wright’s 62 (-9) at the 1964 Tall City Open as the lowest third round in LPGA history (Grace Park shot 61 in the third round at the 2004 Welch’s/Fry’s Championship to break the record) and lowest final round by a winner in LPGA history (Juli Inkster and Annika Sorenstam tied the latter record in 2003 and 2006, respectively).
• In 1967, won her 30th career LPGA title at the Raleigh Ladies Invitational at the age of 27 years, 6 months and 27 days; is the second-youngest player to reach the 30-win milestone (Mickey Wright is the youngest).
• Won eight tournaments in 1965, nine in 1966, eight in 1967 and 10 in 1968.
• In 1962, won her first tournament at the Kelly Girl Open.
• In 1959, joined the LPGA Tour.