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On July 26, 1981, Kathy Whitworth became the first player in LPGA history to reach $1 million in career earnings.

The Texas native accomplished the feat at that year’s U.S. Women’s Open, which was held at La Grange Country Club in Illinois and won by Pat Bradley. Whitworth finished third to Bradley after holding the 54-hole lead, according to a New York Times article written by Gordon S. White, Jr., but she even though she didn’t win, the $9,500 paycheck Whitworth earned was enough cash to push her over the $1 million threshold in her 599th career LPGA Tour start.

The $1 million benchmark Whitworth reached in 1981 is still an incredibly significant milestone for women’s golf, as it is a reminder as to how much the LPGA organization has grown since its founding in 1950. For comparison, at just over the halfway point of the 2025 season, there are currently 18 athletes who have earned more than $1 million in season earnings.

Australian Minjee Lee, who currently leads the list with $3,133,885, has accrued nearly $18 million since joining the Tour in 2015, an amount she has earned having captured just 11 victories and playing in 241 tournaments in that span. Annika Sorenstam has led in career money since 2001 and still tops the list with $22,583,693 accrued in 307 events played.

Whitworth won a total of 88 titles on the LPGA throughout her career, making her the winningest professional golfer in history, male or female. Six of those victories were major championships, and her wins spanned from the 1962 to the 1985 seasons.

Whitworth is both an LPGA and W

On This Date: Kathy Whitworth Becomes First Athlete to Reach $1 Million in Career Earnings

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