One In A Million: Louise Suggs

A week ago, the golf world was hit with the news that LPGA founder Louise Suggs had passed away at the age of 91.

It was a sad day for anyone who knew and admired “Weesie,” and I am certainly part of that group. I first met Louise during one of her beloved visits to LPGA Headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla., and I liked her immediately.

She was feisty, fiery and focused, but also hilarious and a blast to be around. During my tenure there, I was lucky enough to have multiple conversations with her, visit with her at a number of LPGA events – including the 50^th anniversary celebration in 2000 – and interact with her on a regular basis.

There was always a buzz in the office whenever Louise came by, and we all got a kick out of her “TEED OFF” license plate and by stories about her dog, “Dammit.” She would get serious when she spoke about the LPGA Tour, which was her “baby,” and she never hesitated to share her opinion about a topic or situation.

I remember the fun we had celebrating Louise’s 80^th birthday while traveling on the charter to the 2003 Solheim Cup in Sweden, the way the staff and players flocked to her like moths to a flame with smiles and looks of admiration and the joy in her eyes when she was spending time with people who loved the Tour as much as she did. No one loved the Tour more than her, and everyone loved her for that.

Much has been written about her legendary career, but I think she did even more for the game outside the ropes. The fact that the Rookie of the Year award is named in Louise’s honor is no accident, and anyone who was lucky enough to receive that trophy from Louise herself has a precious memory for a lifetime.

So, last Friday was an immensely sad day for us all, and the lumps in our throats were real and justified. There’s no doubt many tears were shed over the news of her passing, but that just would have made her mad.

She would say something like, “Cut it out. Go do something.” And she would be right.

But we all can’t help but sigh with sadness as we think about how she will be missed, the way she made the world a better and more interesting place and what she meant to us all for so many years. She truly was one in a million.

It’s clear there are a number of current players who will do their due diligence to carry on Louise’s ideals, and that’s a great thing.

And maybe, just maybe, the next time they peer to the heavens to check the wind direction before hitting a shot, they’ll think of her and smile, knowing she’s looking down on them and saying, “Hit it close, girl, hit it close!”