Bio

5’11”...Started playing golf at the age of 6…Credits Derek Hardy, the late Davis Love Jr., Dave Pelz, Mike McGetrick and Jack Lumpkin as the teachers most influencing her career...Named Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year in 1980 and 1990...Won the 1981 Seagrams Seven Crowns of Sport Award for Women’s Golf...Won the 1990 United Press International Female Athlete of the Year...Inducted into the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame in September 1995…Qualified for the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame in February 1999...Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Nov. 20, 2000...Recognized during the LPGA’s 50th Anniversary in 2000 as one of the LPGA’s top-50 players and teachers…Also works for Golf Channel as an on-air analyst for LPGA tournaments.

Career

• In 2009, served as captain of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
• In 2007, best finish was a tie for 29th at the Sybase Classic Presented by ShopRite, where she carded a season-low 69 during the final round; named captain of the 2009 U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
• In 2006, best finish was a tie for sixth at the Weetabix Women’s British Open; named assistant captain of the 2007 U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
• In 2005, her best of two top-10 finishes was a tie for fifth at the Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi, and also tied for ninth at the Kraft Nabisco Championship; as one of Nancy Lopez’s two captain’s picks, competed on her eighth U.S. Solheim Cup Team (tied with Meg Mallon for most appearances), became the oldest player in Solheim Cup history at the age of 48 years, 10 months and 25 days and scored one point for the victorious U.S. Team (later surpassed by Juli Inkster in 2009); recorded the fifth hole-in-one of her LPGA career during the third round of the Safeway International Presented by Coca-Cola.
• In 2004, best finish was second place at the BMO Financial Group Canadian Women’s Open, where she crossed the $8 million mark in career earnings.
• In 2003, won her first tournament since 1995 at the BMO Financial Group Canadian Women’s Open, where she became the oldest winner in LPGA history at the age of 46 years, 8 months and 29 days, breaking JoAnne Carner’s record, which had stood for 18 years; finished second at the Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi, where she tied her career-low 62 in the first round; tied for second at the Samsung World Championship; was a member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team, posting a 2-1-1 record; crossed the $7 million mark in career earnings at The Office Depot Championship Hosted by Amy Alcott, where she tied for 13th; was named recipient of the Heather Farr Player Award.
• In 2002, best finish was second place at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by AIG; was a member of the victorious U.S. Solheim Cup Team, posting a 1-1-1 record.
• In 2001, best finish was third at the Evian Masters; tied for third at back-to-back events, where she finished one shot out of a sudden-death playoff both times–the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez and the LPGA Champions Classic.
• In 2000, on the strength of six top 10s, crossed the $6 million mark in career earnings; placed fourth at the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic and tied for fourth at the Japan Airlines Big Apple Classic and the AFLAC Champions Presented by Southern Living; was a captain’s pick for the U.S. Solheim Cup Team; was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Nov. 20.
• In 1999, became the 16th member of the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame; tied for second at the First Union Betsy King Classic for her best finish of the season; posted her career-low 62 during the second round of the Philips Invitational Honoring Harvey Penick, which included an LPGA-record nine consecutive birdies.
• In 1998, best finish was third at the First Union Betsy King Classic; carded her fourth LPGA career ace at the SAFECO Classic.
• In 1997, played in just nine events due to a left shoulder injury and thoracic muscle spasms; best finish was third place at the HEALTHSOUTH Inaugural.
• In 1996, best finish was a tie for fifth at the CoreStates Betsy King Classic; became the third player in LPGA history to cross the $5 million mark in career earnings following the Standard Register PING; was a member of the victorious U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
• In 1995, captured her 32nd career victory at the PING Welch’s Championship in Boston.
• In 1994, won four times, including a sudden-death playoff win over Laura Davies at the JAL Big Apple Classic; earned her third Rolex Player of the Year and Vare Trophy honors; was a member of the victorious U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
• In 1993, best finish was a tie for second at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
• In 1992, tied for second five times, including sudden-death playoff losses at the Sun-Times Challenge [to Dottie (Pepper) Mochrie] and the Phar-Mor in Youngstown (to Betsy King); was a member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
• In 1991, crossed the $3 million mark in career earnings at the Orix Hawaiian Ladies Open; won the Phar-Mor at Inverrary and the McDonald’s Championship; finished second four times, including a sudden-death playoff loss to Cindy Rarick at the Northgate Computer Classic.
• In 1990, captured seven tournament titles, including a sudden-death playoff win (her first since 1983) over Patty Sheehan at the Phar-Mor in Youngstown; recorded her third LPGA career hole-in-one at the Centel Classic; became the first player ever to cross $700,000 and $800,000 in season earnings; set an LPGA record for consecutive rounds in the 60s with nine (which was broken by Annika Sorenstam in 2002); earned Rolex Player of the Year and Vare Trophy honors; was a member of the victorious U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
• In 1989, broke a four-and-a-half-year winless drought (1985-89) at the Greater Washington Open; crossed the $2 million mark in career earnings at the Konica San Jose Classic; defeated by Dottie (Pepper) Mochrie in a sudden-death playoff at the Oldsmobile Classic for one of four runner-up finishes.
• In 1988, was absent from the Tour for 13 weeks with mononucleosis; played 17 events and finished second at the Women’s Kemper Open and the Atlantic City Classic, where she lost in a sudden-death playoff to Juli Inkster.
• In 1987, tied for second at the Henredon Classic for her best finish of the season.
• In 1986, best finish was a tie for second at the LPGA Corning Classic.
• In 1985, won the Kyocera Inamori Classic for her 14th career title.
• In 1984, became the Tour’s eighth millionaire by collecting $9,281 at the du Maurier Ltd. Classic; best finish was a tie for second at the LPGA Championship.
• In 1983, won the McDonald’s Kids Classic, her 13th LPGA title, by way of a sudden-death playoff against JoAnne Carner; lost the Columbia Savings Classic in a sudden-death playoff to Pat Bradley.
• In 1982, posted her third consecutive multiple-win season by winning five LPGA events, including a sudden-death playoff victory over Carole Jo Callison at the American Express Sun City Classic, where Daniel also recorded her second LPGA career hole-in-one.
• In 1981, won the Florida Ladies Citrus in a four-way, sudden-death playoff and the World Championship of Women’s Golf. In 1980, won four times, earned $231,000 and was named the LPGA Player of the Year, joining Nancy Lopez as the only LPGA players to win Rookie of the Year followed by Player of the Year the very next season (Annika Sorenstam joined them in 1995).
• In 1979, qualified for the LPGA Tour at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament in January, where she won by five shots; won the Patty Berg Classic and was named LPGA Rookie of the Year.
• In 1978, turned professional in October.

Amateur
Daniel captured the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship title in 1975 and 1977 and was a member of the U.S. Curtis Cup Team in 1976 and 1978. She also was a member of the World Cup Team in 1978.