Golf

The Most Significant Achievements and Moments in Women’s Golf

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Sep 11, 2024 / 1330 Views

Evan Walker

Development in any sport is a time-taking process and involves a combination of standout moments and personalities. Women’s golf has traversed a similar route with landmarks and iconic names playing a part in taking the game to a point where favourable comparisons can be drawn with the men’s sport.

We delve into History and look at some defining achievements and moments in women’s Golf, along with the personalities who played a part in shaping the sport.

Significant moments and achievements in the history of women’s golf

1. Birth of LPGA Tour (1950)

In 1950, a group of 13 women signed a charter forming what is now the oldest continuous women’s professional sports league, the LPGA Tour.

This week at the Cognizant Founders Cup, we’ve been able to honor the past, present and future of the LPGA Tour. pic.twitter.com/MllltuZ87K

— LPGA (@LPGA) October 10, 2021

With 33 official events in this calendar year, drawing players from 28 countries, and a jaw-dropping USD 116.55 million on offer in prize money, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour is a platform where every female professional Golfer aspires to comPete.

But back in the day, a group of 13 golfers founded what would become the US’s oldest running professional women’s sports league, set up with the goal of pitting the best against the best while offering modest monetary incentives.

The LPGA debuted in 1950 with 15 contests and a humble USD 50,000 in prize purse. The Tour’s concept spread to other continents, and leagues sprung up in Japan, Australia, Korea, and Europe. Together, they fostered the game all over the world, and the rest is history.

2. Title IX: The Game-Changer (1972)

In 1972, the landmark federal civil rights law known as Title IX enactment had a profound impact on women’s sport, including golf. By making it illegal for gender to be a factor in educational disparities, Title IX mandated that all federally funded schools — ranging from elementary to college — provide equal opportunities in education programs and activities, including sport.

The law had a huge iNFLuence on women’s sport in schools by increasing budgets and granting college scholarships. Prior to its implementation, female Golfers’ expectations for facilities, equipment, and coaching were low, but Title IX transformed the collegiate Golf experience.

Legendary golfers like Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez developed their skills through college golf scholarships, and without Title IX, these athletes would not have been the household names they are today.

3. Annika Sorenstam’s legendary moment at Colonial Invitational (2003)

women's golf history moments and achievements — Annika Sorenstam made history as the first woman in 58 years to compete in a PGA event. (Image: Matt Rourke/ AFP)

When Annika Sorenstam received her highly anticipated sponsor’s exemption to play at the Bank of America Colonial in 2003, the golfing world held its breath. Sure, she wasn’t the first woman to grace the PGA Tour, but this felt different.

The buzz was electric. The greatest woman golfer of her time stepping onto that hallowed fairway after conquering the LPGA. But could she take on the men?

Unfazed by the spotlight, Sorenstam hit a perfect shot on the 10th tee with her 4-wood, amidst the media frenzy. Her opening round was a masterclass in ball-striking. The next day fate played its hand, and the 74 led her to miss cut. But those fleeting moments are now part of golf folklore.

4. Se Ri Pak’s US Women’s Open win (1998)

It was the final round of the 1998 US Women’s Open, and amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn sank an extraordinary 40-foot putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff with South Korea’s relatively unknown 20-year-old Se Ri Pak. Sudden death followed, and Pak prevailed to become the first Korean to win the US Open.

Regarded one of the greatest achievements in women’s golf history, Pak’s victory influenced scores of Korean golfers like Inbee Park, the 2008 US Women’s Open champion.

5. Inaugural Solheim Cup (1990)

Karsten Solheim, the founder of golf equipment brand Ping, and his wife Louise created the Solheim Cup. Inspired by the Ryder Cup, the move was to empower women golfers.

The Americans dominated the first edition in 1990 at Orlando, Florida, winning 11½-4½. The crowds were small, and television cameras were not rolling. With time, the Solheim Cup gained traction and developed into a prestigious biannual event.

6. Babe Zaharias’ greatest comeback story (1954)

Babe Didrickson Zaharias, a trailblazer in golf, arrived with a fanbase in tow. Before golf, she had won two golds and a silver in track and field at the 1932 Olympics. When she teed up in 1935, the fairways witnessed her legacy.

Zaharias demonstrated her superiority in golf even as an amateur, and made history by being the first American to win the US Women’s Amateur (1946) and British Ladies Amateur Championships (1947). In 1950, when 13 women forged the LPGA Tour, Zaharias was one among the visionaries.

In 1953, colon cancer threatened her career, but she underwent surgery and won the 1954 US Women’s Open with a 12-shot margin, showcasing her resilience. The win is still remembered as one of sports’ greatest comeback stories and among the key watershed moments in women’s golf.

7. Nancy Lopez’s winning streak (1978)

Nancy Lopez made a remarkable impression on the LPGA Tour by winning nine times in her rookie 1978 season, which included five straight wins and a first Major.

Known for her raw talent, competitiveness, and underdog narrative, Lopez revolutionised women’s golf with her impeccable style, captivating fans worldwide and putting the sport on the global map.

In five years, Lopez had a huge influence on the LPGA with prize money going up from USD 2.6 million in her first season to an astonishing USD 6.25 million primarily due to her accomplishments.

8. Kathy Whitworth’s all-time victory mark (1982)

Kathy Whitworth. (Image: Texas Golf Hall of Fame)

Kathy Whitworth won her 83rd LPGA Tour win at the Lady Michelob in 1982 to surpass Sam Snead as the winningest professional golfer of any tour, men’s or women’s, 20 years after her first win in 1962.

Whitworth won five more times on the LPGA Tour, resulting in 88 wins, a record that seems unlikely to be broken. Whitworth also made history by being the first woman on Tour to earn more over USD 1 million in her career.

9. Annika Sorenstam’s historic 59 (2001)

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A post shared by Annika Sorenstam (@annikas59)

When Annika Sorenstam shot 59 in the Standard Register Ping LPGA event at Arizona in 2001, she cemented her place as one of the greatest players of all time.

It was the first sub-60 in LPGA history and remains the only one to this day. She recorded eight victories in the course of the season and won 11 times the following year.

Her unrivalled superstar status on the LPGA elevated the women’s game to a new level.

10. Augusta National spotlights women’s amateurs (2019)

The prestigious Augusta National Golf Club raised the profile of women’s golf by holding the 2019 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

It featured college stars Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi in a thrilling head-to-head duel, and proved that the fairways of Augusta belonged to them.

11. USGA hikes US Women’s Open purse (2022)

In 2022, the United States Golf Association (USGA) quadrupled the prize money for the US Women’s Open, from USD 5.5 million to USD 10 million, coinciding with Mike Whan’s tenure as CEO, in what was a huge boost to women’s golf.

Other tournaments like the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Amundi Evian Championship, AIG Women’s Open and CME Group Tour Championship followed suit and significantly raised the winner’s purse.

12. Ann Gregory cuts through discrimination (1956)

Ann Gregory made history in 1956 by competing in the US Women’s Amateur and becoming the first African-American woman to participate in a USGA championship. Not stopping there, she also played the US Women’s Open the same year.

Amidst the civil rights movement, Gregory faced discrimination — like being mistaken for a maid in a golf locker room and being excluded from the players’ dinner at the 1959 US Women’s Amateur. But she remained undeterred and her legacy opened the door for future African-American women golfers. Remarkably, Althea Gibson joined the LPGA seven years later, becoming the first African-American woman to do so.

13. Inbee Park’s career Grand Slam (2015)

Inbee Park’s golf career began in 1998 when her parents woke her up to see Se Ri Pak’s victory at the US Women’s Open. Park, a week shy of turning 10, tried out her first golf clubs just two days after Pak’s win.

When Park won the Women’s British Open in 2015, she completed her career Grand Slam and joined an exclusive group of seven women with four Major titles. With 21 LPGA titles, including seven Major wins, Park helped popularise golf in South Korea, and inspired a long line of outstanding Asian woman players.

14. Lydia Ko becomes World No. 1 at 17 (2015)

Lydia Ko created golf history in 2015 by becoming the youngest to achieve the top spot in the sport. At 17, she surpassed Tiger Woods, who had held the record since 1997 when he achieved the top spot at 21.

Ko was in line for more glory as the Paris Olympics gold medal made her the only golfer with a medal in all editions since golf made a comeback at Rio 2016.

15. Mickey Wright wins 13th LPGA title in one year (1963)

Mickey Wright won the 1963 LPGA Championship with a final-round 70, setting a record with her 13th win of the season. Her swing was praised by Ben Hogan, who called it the best he had seen.

Wright played her last full season in 1973, battling a foot injury, but still managed her 82nd victory, a close second to Kathy Whitworth’s record. Wright was indicted in the LPGA Hall of Fame soon after its formation in 1967.

(Main and featured image: LPGA)