Kathy Whitworth, the most successful player in professional golf history was suddenly killed on Christmas Eve. She was 83.
In an LPGA release, Bettye Odle, long-time Whitworth partner, said that Kathleen “left this world the same way she lived it, loving, laughing, and creating memories.”
Rhonda Glenn, author of “The Illustrated History of Women’s Golf”, said that Whitworth’s greatest strength was her inability to quit and her determination. She wanted to be the best player in the world, and she didn’t hesitate to admit it.
Whitworth was born in Monahans in Texas and raised in Jal in New Mexico near the Texas border. Her family owned a hardware shop. Morris Whitworth, her father, was elected mayor three more times. When her friends, who were tennis players, encouraged her to try it, she took up golf.
Whitworth stated that he doesn’t recall ever playing tennis again, some years back to Golfweek. “Once I began playing golf, I put myself on a diet. My mother wanted me to be on a diet. But I would practice out so that I wasn’t by the fridge.
She was a quick learner and joined the LPGA when she was 19.
Whitworth won 88 LPGA titles, six more than Sam Snead, Mickey Wright, and Tiger Woods. Whitworth was ecstatic when Annika Sorenstam announced that she would be retiring in 2008. Annika was not interested in chasing her LPGA record of just 88 wins.
Whitworth was not exactly relieved to hear that her record would be maintained for a long time. Whitworth didn’t set out to be the best professional golfer, nor did it desire the accomplishment.
Whitworth stated that he didn’t know there was a tournament record while playing. “I didn’t know how many tournaments Sam and Mickey (Snead) won.” If she hadn’t quit, I feel like Mickey would have won 100.
We are sorry to hear of Kathy’s sudden death. She will be missed as the LPGA’s leader in wins and class, as well her all-time winnings. We send our condolences to her family and friends. Kathy, thank you for setting such high standards. RIP pic.twitter.com/WNpZVLl67y
Annika Sorenstam (@ANNIKA59 December 25, 2022
Whitworth won her 88th win in 1985 at the United Virginia Bank Classic, but she didn’t officially retire until twenty years later.
Whitworth, who was celebrating her 80th birthday, noted that records are meant for breaking and that Woods’ win at the 2019 Masters rekindled the debate about whether hers will ever match.
Whitworth, 80, could still recall everything with great detail from her first lesson with Harvey Penick (3 days on the grip) up to her first check ($33).
Whitworth loved to tell stories about the time she nearly quit the game in 1959, her first year on tour. It was a conversation with her dad and mom at the kitchen table that turned things around. She also shared a quote from Betsy Rawls, “I always work harder for an80 than I do for a 70”.
She learned to overcome the negative rounds and turn them into positives. Whitworth was a seven-time Player’s of the Year and Vare Trophy Winner. She finished second 95 times. Whitworth won her first LPGA title in 1962 and her last in 1985.
She attributes her “winning” syndrome to a disciplined mindset that she developed over years, which enabled her to focus and concentrate with great success.
Whitworth said, “The bad rounds never got really bad” and that the good rounds were better.
Whitworth, a statuesque and elegant-looking woman, never let a hair down. The seventh member of LPGA Hall of Fame was just as humble as she was kind.
Kathy Whitworth (courtesy LPGA).
Whitworth was not an LPGA founder. However, she was a pioneer during the early days of LPGA, doing whatever it took to make it a success. Glenn said that Whitworth accepted a fourth term of office as tour president near the end her LPGA career. Whitworth was faced with the issue of an all-exempt tour.
Whitworth stated to Glenn that the LPGA does not owe older players anything. Whitworth stated that the LPGA does not owe him anything. All the stuff we did for the LPGA, why do I owe everything to the LPGA?
“We have to make room for these younger players. People won’t know who we are unless we make our names public. Watch out, after I quit, people will forget who you were.
This was not the case. Whitworth’s generosity and record will be remembered forever.
Whitworth’s Whitworth story about Renee Powell, her friend and second African-American to be on the LPGA after Althea Gilison, is the most interesting. It reveals her character.
When the players arrived at the hotel for the week fifty-plus years ago, the desk informed Powell they didn’t have an account for her. It was “lost.”
Whitworth entered the hotel and said to the employees: “Either her stays or we all go.”
The humble Jal woman, New Mexico from Jal will be remembered by the golf world forever. She knew what it meant for life to win.
