Kathy Whitworth

Thanks to her exceptional athletic ability and unwavering commitment to excellence, Kathy Whitworth emerged as one of the most accomplished female golfers of all time.

Born in 1939 in Monahans, Texas, Kathrynne Ann Whitworth grew up in Jal, New Mexico, where her parents managed a local hardware store.

A gifted athlete who defied societal expectations for women of her era, she began playing golf at 15. Her early talent caught the attention of Harvey Penick, a legendary instructor, who became her mentor.

At the age of 19, Whitworth secured her second straight New Mexico State Amateur title and decided to leave her college in Odessa, Texas, where she held a golf scholarship, to pursue a professional career.

Her father, along with two business associates, pledged to support her for three years on the LPGA Tour, which was still in its early stages. Additionally, Wilson Sporting Goods offered her a contract covering her expenses and a stipend for conducting golf clinics, setting her on a promising path.

Although Whitworth appeared destined to make an immediate impact in women's golf, her rise was gradual. During her debut season in 1959, she competed in 26 events, earning just $1,217 with an average score of 80.30. Despite this slow start, she persevered to become the most successful winner in the history of American golf.

Few would guess that the tall, lean, and athletic figure fans admired for decades once weighed over 200 pounds in high school. Whitworth once joked, "Without golf, I might have ended up as the circus's fat lady. It kept me away from the refrigerator."

As she gradually shed weight, reaching her playing weight of 145 pounds, which she maintained throughout her career, her performance on the course improved significantly. In 1962, Whitworth claimed her first LPGA victory at the Kelly Girl Open and added another win that same season.

In 1962, Whitworth competed in 28 events (she was known for her dedication, averaging 25 tournaments annually from 1959 to 1991) and surpassed $10,000 in yearly earnings for the first time, totaling $17,044.

While not known for exceptional distance, Whitworth's driving was sufficient for her era. Her true strength lay in her reliable and consistent golf swing. It wasn't iconic or as graceful as Mickey Wright's, nor as unconventional as Nancy Lopez's, but it was effective and dependable, perfectly suited to her straight and steady style of play. Her swing proved remarkably durable over the years.

The year 1963 saw Whitworth claim victory in eight tournaments. After a quieter 1964 with just one win, she bounced back in 1965 with another eight wins, including her first major title at the Titleholders Championship, which she successfully defended the following year.

By 1967, Whitworth had added eight more wins to her record, including two additional majors: the LPGA Championship and the Western Open. Her impressive streak continued, but after a seven-win season in 1973, the physical and mental toll of maintaining such a high level of performance for over a decade began to show.

At one point, she even considered retiring. However, quitting wasn't in her nature, and she returned to the tour, securing more victories. In total, she amassed 88 LPGA wins, a record that remains unmatched by any golfer, male or female.

Interestingly, much like Sam Snead, who holds the record for the most tournament wins among men (81 official victories plus a British Open) but never clinched the U.S. Open, Kathy Whitworth also never won the U.S. Women's Open. However, just as with Snead, this absence in her major titles does nothing to lessen the greatness of her career.

Additionally, while building her impressive competitive legacy, Whitworth also took on every administrative role within the LPGA at least once, from treasurer to three-time president. This demanding and time-consuming responsibility was something Snead and other male golf legends never had to shoulder.

Whitworth entered the LPGA during an era when players managed the tour themselves, with everyone contributing to securing sponsors, organizing tournaments, and even preparing the courses. Despite these extensive organizational duties, she still managed to become the top earner eight times and won the Vare Trophy for the lowest stroke average seven times.

Even though her individual winnings were sometimes as modest as $800, Whitworth's consistent success made her the first female golfer to surpass $1 million in career prize money.

For more information about golf, see: