Nancy Lopez and Kathy Whitworth (Image credit: Getty Images) If we look back at the history of professional golf, we will find some big names in both the men’s and women’s categories. Just like men, women have also dominated this sport and left behind a rich, beautiful, and record-breaking legacy. Just like the PGA Tour, there are titans who have mastered the sport on the LPGA Tour as well. As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, let’s take a look at those legends who have left an incredible mark on the sport and inspired many.
Women’s Day special: Meet the icons who built women’s golf
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, here are women golfers who have inspired many.Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1911–1956)Major Wins: 10 LPGA Tour Wins: 41When we talk about the greatest female golfer, the name Babe Didrikson Zaharias automatically comes to mind.Arguably the greatest female athlete of all time, Zaharias has been an inspiration to many female golfers. She first tried her hand at athletics and set big benchmarks there as well. She won two gold medals in track and field at the 1932 Olympics and later switched to golf. Not only did she take up a sport she had barely played before, but she went on to dominate it. She was a co-founder of the LPGA Tour in 1950. Her talent and showmanship drew massive crowds, single-handedly putting women’s professional golf on the map. She won 10 majors and 41 LPGA Tour titles in her remarkable career.Patty Berg (1918–2006)Major Wins: 15 LPGA Tour Wins: 60Patty Berg won 15 majors and 60 LPGA Tour titles during her career. She was also a co-founder of the LPGA Tour and its first president. With her motivational speeches and dominance on the course, Berg became a lifelong ambassador for the game.Louise Suggs (1923–2015)Major Wins: 11 LPGA Tour Wins: 61“Swing like Louise” is a phrase often heard on golf courses. Suggs was known for her technically perfect swing and serious approach to the sport. With 11 major titles and 61 LPGA Tour victories, Suggs became an inspiration for golfers around the world. She also played a major role in the development of the LPGA Tour.Mickey Wright (1935–2020)Major Wins: 13 LPGA Tour Wins: 82Known for her powerful and technically sound swing, Mickey Wright remains an example for golfers struggling with their swing, whether male or female. Calm and composed in demeanor, Wright often let her clubs do the talking. She won 13 majors and 82 LPGA Tour titles, including an incredible 44 victories over a four-year stretch in the early 1960s.Kathy Whitworth (1939–2022)Major Wins: 6 LPGA Tour Wins: 88Kathy Whitworth was one of the toughest competitors in golf. Known for thriving under pressure and adapting to different conditions, Whitworth won a record 88 LPGA Tour titles, the most in professional golf history, along with six major championships.Nancy Lopez (1957–Present)Major Wins: 3 LPGA Tour Wins: 48Nancy Lopez has been an inspiration to many golfers. In many ways, what Arnold Palmer was to the men’s tour, Nancy Lopez was to the LPGA. She played a significant role in popularizing women’s golf in the late 1970s and helped take it to the next level. Lopez won 48 LPGA Tour titles and three major championships during her illustrious career.Also read: Rory McIlroy withdraws from Arnold Palmer Invitational due to back injury