Kathy Whitworth, born as Kathrynne Ann Whitworth, was professional golf’s all-time wins leader, died suddenly on Christmas Eve at the age of 83.
Whitworth was a giant in professional golf and one of the most dominant players ever. Her career, which spanned nearly three decades, saw her win 88 LPGA events including six major championships. She won the women’s PGA championship three different times in 1967, 1971, and 1975.
Her 88 wins are the most of any professional golfer, giving her six more than both Tiger Woods and Sam Snead. She is one of just three LPGA golfers to win more than 61 championships in a career, joining Mickey Wright (82) and Annika Sorenstam (72).
She won at least won a title in all but two years between 1962 and 1985.
Along with her 88 LPGA wins, Whitworth also won one European tour event and nine other non-PGA tournaments.
The list of accomplishments in Whitworth’s career also goes well beyond the tournament wins.
In 1981 she became the first woman golfer to earn more than $1 million for her career, is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, was LPGA player of the year seven times, was twice named the Associated Press female athlete of the year (in 1965 and 1967), and was named golfer of the decade between 1968 and 1977 by Golf Magazine.
