No one has ever set a benchmark in golf like Kathy Whitworth did. Her 88 victories are the most by any player.
Her partner said that she died on Christmas Eve and that she was the first woman to earn a million dollars on the LPGA. Her age was 83.
The cause of death was not disclosed by Bettye Odle.
Odle said in a statement that Kathy left this worth the way she lived.
In 1962, she won the first of her 88 titles. During her career, she won six majors and broke Wright's record of 82 career wins.
At the United Virginia Bank Classic, she won her last victory.
"Winning didn't get old," he once said.
The biggest of the women's majors was missing from her career. She said that she would have swapped being the first to make a million for winning the Open, but it took some of the sting out of not winning.
She was the AP Female Athlete of the Year in 1965, and the same year she beat out King for the Wimbledon singles title. The World Golf Hall of Fame had a person in it.
She was the golfer of the year seven times in eight years. She won the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average seven times.
She was identified by a single number.
Woods has equaled Snead's record of 82 wins on the tour. When Sorenstam retired after the 2006 season at age 36, she had 72 wins, more than any other woman on the tour.
Betsy said that Mickey had the best swing and was the greatest golfer. Kathy was the best player in the game.
He learned to play golf in New Mexico while growing up in West Texas. She started playing golf at the age of 15 on a nine-hole course.
She won the New Mexico State Amateur two times. She became a pro at the age of 19 and was on the tour for a year.
I knew what I wanted to do, that's why I was so lucky. golf grabbed me by the throat I don't know how much I liked it. I used to think that everyone knew what they wanted to do when they were young.
Wright had a nice swing. The man was all about winning.
In the 1960's and 1960's, she had 11 victories. She earned less than $50,000 in all but one year. The total prize fund for the next five years will top $100 million.
Junior clinics were conducted by Whitworth and he remained active in the game.
She once said that she didn't think about the legacies of 88 tournaments. I did it because I wanted to win and not because I wanted to set a record. I'm not really weird. I was very lucky to be successful. I don't think I'm a better person because of what I've done in being a better player.
If people remember me at all, it will be a good thing.