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Professional
Career Highlights
- One of 13 founders of the LPGA.
- One of the greatest female athletes of all time due to her accomplishments in golf, track and field, basketball and numerous other sports.
- Won 41 professional tournaments, including 10 events prior to the inception of the LPGA in 1950; five of her 41 victories came when she was an amateur (1940-47), including four major championships.
- In 1967, when the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame was created, was one of the six inaugural inductees; the LPGA recognized her induction year into the Hall of Fame of Women's Golf (1951) as her official induction year into the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame.
- In 1955, captured the final two victories of her career: Tampa Open and the Peach Blossom Classic.
- In 1954, won the U.S. Women's Open just months after a cancer operation; she was 43 years, 7 days old, and stands as the second-oldest player to win an LPGA major championship (behind Fay Crocker, 45 years, 7 months, 1 day old at the 1960 Titleholders Championship); captured her only Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average.
- In 1953, underwent the first of two cancer operations.
- From August 1952 to July 1955, served as president of the LPGA.
- In 1951, won her 10th LPGA title (not including her 10 wins prior to the inception of the Tour), setting an LPGA record that still stands for the fastest to 10 career wins — one year and 20 days; also holds the record for fastest to 20 wins — two years and four months at the 1952 Bakersfield Open; and fastest to 30 wins — five years and 22 days at the 1955 Tampa Open.
- From 1950-51, led the LPGA in money earnings.
- In 1950, won all three of the LPGA's major championships: U.S. Women's Open, Titleholders Championship and Western Open.
- She is the winner of 10 major championships: three U.S. Women's Open titles (1948, 1950 and 1954), three Titleholders Championships (1947, 1950 and 1952) and four Western Open victories (1940, 1944-45 and 1950).
- In August 1947, turned professional.
Major Championship History
| | |
47* |
48 |
49 |
50* |
51 |
52* |
53 |
54 |
55 |
 |
| | KNC |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
| | LPGA |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
DNP |
|
| | OPEN |
DNP |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
DNP |
DNP |
1 |
DNP |
|
| | DM |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
* Won four Western Opens (1940, 1944-45, 1950), which
was a major from 1930-67; won three Titleholders Championships (1947, 1950,
1952), which was a major from 1937-42, 1946-66 and in 1972.
LPGA Record
| Year |
# Events |
Best |
Money |
Rank |
Scoring Avg |
| 1950 |
10 |
1 |
$14,800 |
1 |
75.88 |
|
| 1951 |
14 |
1 |
15,087 |
1 |
74.92 |
|
| 1952 |
8 |
1 |
7,503 |
5 |
75.76 |
|
| 1953 |
10 |
1 |
$ 6,345 |
6 |
75.70 |
|
| 1954 |
17 |
1 |
14,452 |
2 |
75.61 |
|
| 1955 |
8 |
1 |
3,398 |
N/A |
75.60 |
|