If you are into golf, you might know that women’s physique makes it challenging to hit long-range in golf. Most of you might know it, but not that female golfers for the same range have greater accuracy and control of the ball. Yet, some of the best women golfers even outshine men with a firm grip on these factors.
While some of you might have the misconception that women golfers aren’t under much limelight., it’s not true. Organizations like LPGA, Women’s Open U.S.A., and KPMG Women Golf Association do their best to felicitate their efforts. Are you waiting to know who these women are and how they have achieved this credibility? Let’s dig into the details!
Best Women Golfers of All Time
Golf is a classic game that has maintained its legacy and ethical gameplay for a long time. While men are considered better golfers than women, this is not true. There have been several examples that have proved it false. Yet we have compiled a list of the top 10 timeless evergreen golfers from the list!
1. Annika Sorenstam
How about a golfer who shot 59 in competition 1?
Well, no matter how challenging and age-old the sport is, only a few have achieved this milestone. When it comes to female golfers, only Annika Sörenstam has earned it, making her one the best female golfers of all time!
Further, Annika Sörenstam didn’t gain as much recognition as others until 2003. But the 59 shot in competition one introduced her to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 20. So forget about women golfers, but she’s even one of the best golfers of all time.
Later on, she won four major championships, which added a feather to her cap.
Are you a golfer enthusiast who loves the sport from the core of her heart? If yes, how tough is it to make it to the LPGA?
Undoubtedly, some are not able to make it throughout their lives. Here’s where Annika has played and won 72 LPGA tournaments, including both majors and international.
Moreover, Annika has won 97 professional tournaments, which is the most for any female golfer. Besides, her lowest season score Averages to 68.6969 in 2004.
Apart from the game, she has a personality and charm in her personal life. She’s bold enough to take her stand, and it’s evident that she went ahead with a second marriage with Jerry McGee. He’s the son of former PGA Tour and Champions player Mike McGee. The two are now happily married and have a son, Nicholas, as well.
2. Inbee Park
How about the youngest best women’s golfers to be a part of the LPGA Hall of Fame?
Well, some of you have guessed it right: I’m talking about Inbee Park! But have you ever wondered what accomplishments made her a star of the ascendant at a raw age? By the way, are you aware she’s even one of the best looking women golfers and a chirpy one?
Inbee Park renowned achievements include winning an Olympic Gold Medal twice for golf, where no other woman reached the feat. She was inducted into LPGA after her KPMG-led tournaments because of her exceptional putting skills.
Women’s physique makes it agreeable that their ball range is comparatively shorter than men’s. Yet, female golfers exceed in the fact that they manage things with better accuracy and control. Here’s where Inbee Park nails both factors.
This exceptional girl can putt from 10-15 feet away as well. Such significant skills account for the fact that the South Korean golfer has won seven major championships and 21 LPGA tour events.
Besides, she shared an exciting chemistry with her coach, Gi Hyeob Nam (since 2011). It’s evident that the two later tied the knot privately.
3. Mickey Wright
How many of you have been intrigued with golf since your childhood?
Well, if yes, then you must know about Mickey Wright, the best women’s golfer of all time, who started playing at 12.
Mickey Wright was a timeless beauty, and her remarkable and record-setting plays in the 50s and 60s raised her to fame. It was in 1952 when she celebrated her first professional for the U.S. Golfing Association junior girls’ championship. A champion of the World Amateur at the U.S Open Women’s tournament was highly passionate about golf.
Initially, Mickey had Stanford University but later dropped it. Later, she continued as a full-time golfer, and the amateur championship proved her dedication.
Besides, even experienced golfers sometimes struggle with a perfect swing. Here’s where Mickey Wright had the power to swing 300-yard drives. Her perfection and swinging to long ranges set her apart from others.
Moreover, she is regarded as a top women’s golfer as she had 82 professional victories in her career. Her more noteworthy tournaments include those with the LPGA, which were consecutive for some years.
Wright has even been a part of the LPGA Hall of Fame, World Golf Hall of Fame, International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, and PGA of America Hall of Fame in specific years.
However, the American Women golfer had passed away in 2020.
4. Nancy Lopez
Is it possible for you to professionally venture into golf and win some tournaments back to back?
Honestly, it sounds no less than a “mission impossible,” yet one of the female golfers has achieved this milestone. It’s none other than Nancy Lopez. It was her debut year in LPGA tournaments in 1978 when she turned out victories by winning 5 out of 9 back-to-back tournaments. This exceptional achievement won her LPGA Player of The Year and Rookie of the Year.
Besides, Nancy Lopez not only won but also aced it with grace. This is because she secured the lower stroke average as well, winning the Vare Trophy. This feat wasn’t an easy journey, yet she is the only LPGA golfer to win all these titles in a single season.
Moreover, during her rookie season, she was felicitated with the Associated Best Female Athlete of the Year award. Her achievements weren’t confined to the rookie season, and for a few more years, she also remained a star in the ascendant.
It is evident that throughout her journey, she won 48 LPGA events and three championships. She has even earned many accolades, including achieving Female Player of the Year multiple times.
Further, the Golf World Hall of Fame has even indicted her. Not only this, she, with her valuable contributions, has helped fellow sportspersons and organizations as well. This solidifies that she’s one of the best both on-field and off-field.
5. Betsy Rawls
How many times have you watched LPGA tournaments? Do you understand how complex it is to win those matches? How about a female golfer who has triumphed in 55 LPGA tournaments?
If yes, then you must know about Betsy Rawls, who achieved this feat, which consisted of 8 major championships! Even in her rookie year, she earned the U.S. Women’s Open title in 1951.
Besides, you must know that winning the U.S. Women’s Open is not easy. Here, Betsy Rawls has turned out victorious by winning it four times.
Moreover, she always used different tactics and strategies, so she mostly achieved lower scores. Especially in 1950, she had the lowest scoring average. It marked a significant year in her career since she was one of the top money earners.
Moreover, she has completed other major golf tournaments as well and won them. These include the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and Women’s Western Open.
Additionally, Rawls has even been the Secretary and President of LPGA. Its committee had even inducted her into the LPGA Hall of Fame class in 1967. She even accomplished a feat after her retirement by becoming the LPGA tournament director and even that of the McDonald’s LPGA Championship.
Further, you would have experienced the stigma when people undermine women in sports. But, Betsy Rawls stood stellar by officiating the men’s U.S Open in 1980. This made her win the Bob Jones Award in 1996 and the 2000 LPGA Commissioner’s Award.
Therefore, it’s evident that she is an ideal woman golfer and even outshines men!
6. Kathrynne Ann Whitworth
How about an all-time famous female golfer who began her career in tennis?
If yes, then you must know about Kathrynne Ann Whitworth!
Right from childhood, she had a bend towards sports, especially Tennis. She was an avid tennis player. Gradually, as she turned 14, things started to take a turn. Her fascination with golf grew, and so she began playing it.
What made her exceptional was the guidance of a versatile coach, Harvey Penick, with the training of whom she was a fantastic golf player by 19. Victory was at her doorstep, and she had to walk towards it.
It was soon, 3 years later, that Kathy won the Kelly Girls Open, which is challenging. One of the things that added a feather to her cap was the LGPA. This is because the veteran player had won it 88 times, and achieving this feat isn’t easy.
The 1960s and 70s marked the wonder tears of her career as she had also won six big tournaments. What makes her remarkable is that she was the first American captain for the Solheim Cup in 1990. Becoming one is challenging even for a pro, but she did. This shows her skills and how excellent a golfer she was!
Though she has been incredible to our unfortunate, she passed away at 83. While attending her neighbor’s Christmas party, Kathrynne collapsed, which was a great grief for the whole industry.
7. Patty Berg
How about a woman golfer greatly responsible for making LPGA achieve its current feat?
Patty Berg is one such personality, and the list is incomplete without including her. She helped start the LPGA, and owing to her hard work, the committee assigned her as its president. The American golfer didn’t fall in love with golf naturally. There was something remarkable about her spirit and skills that they suggested her to play golf. Soon, she was intrigued by it and became passionate about it.
It is evident that within years of her debut in golf, she had won the Minneapolis City Championship. This was the beginning of her journey, and further victories added more to it. Winning 63 tournaments, including 15 major championships, successfully marks her incredible career.
Thus, the Golf Hall of Fame even inducted her. She has become a female golfer with the most major wins (i.e., 15). Moreover, her record is intact even today.
8. Mae Louise Suggs
How about one of the best women golfers who has been the first LPGA player to achieve the career Grand Slam?
If yes, the Mae Loise Suggs is someone you should know about!
Her significant achievements include winning the LPGA championship to receive the career grand slam in 1957. She had begun playing golf at right as a teenager. Soon, she was among the few women golfers who helped create LPGA in 1950.
Gradually, by the age of 16, she excelled by turning out victorious in the Georgia State Amateur championship in 1940. Soon, two years later, she again won the same championship, highlighting her previous.
Apart from that, she even won the Southern Amateur Championship in 1941 and 1947. Besides, she has been a three-time champion in the North and South Women’s Amateur held in 1942, 1946, and 1948.
Her repetitive victories in similar tournaments and championships highlight her nature. Mae isn’t someone who becomes over-confident in her accomplishments. Instead, she keeps up the pace and upscales her skills with time.
Moreover, her spirit continually rose when she became a pro in the sport in 1948. She has always chased consistency, which made her win 58 professional tournaments. Mae even ranked in the top three on the season-ending list for 10 years from 1950 to 1960.
Seeing her spirit, passion, and excellence, the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame introduced her. Thus, she became its charter member in 1967. Later, in 1979, she was included in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Moreover, even the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame recognized her excellence in 1966, recognizing her influence in golf. Undoubtedly, you would now be clear about what makes her one of the best women golfers.
9. Babe Zaharias
Would you like to know about a female golfer who has won 48 times in a mere span of 3 years?
Well, surely you would love to know about her. We are talking about Babe Zaharias, renowned as an extraordinary athlete. Her golf journey is much different than most others in the category.
This is because they always topped the list of best female golfers in the 1940s and early 1950s. During this time, she even took a break from sports.
Yet, in 1942, she again excelled and regained her amateur status. From this time to another three years, she turned out victories 48 times, of which 10 were in major tournaments.
Babe even had a glorious year in 1950 when she received the Grand Slam. This feat wasn’t easy as she had to win three women’s golfers championships, including the US Open, the Titleholders Championship, and the Women’s Western Open.
Moreover, due to this, she even became the top earner in women’s golf in 1950. The Year even remarks another milestone in her journey. She had set a record by reaching 10 wins faster than other golfers in LPGA history. It is because she did it only in 1 year and 20 days. Besides, no one has still broken the record.
The legacy of being the highest earning women golfer even continued in 51. Her health problems did disturb her in 1952, yet she conquered the Titleholders Championship.
Unfortunately, in 1953, she was diagnosed with Colon Cancer. Then, too, she was the quickest player to reach 20 wins and achieve another record. Soon, she underwent surgery and made a comeback in 1954. Besides, her comeback post-it wasn’t ordinary, as she won the Vare Trophy with her debut.
wasn’t ordinary, as she won the Vare Trophy with her debut.
Her talent and excellence weren’t confined to golf as she won basketball, baseball, sewing championship, and track and field; she was a singer and harmonica player. She recorded songs for Mercury Records as well. Thus, she wasn’t a sports legend but a woman of glory.
As people say, a woman is always a queen, but a man cannot be. This is because women are multitaskers yet ace every role gracefully, and Babe was a perfect example. Yet this exceptional woman has a destiny of a few years.
In 1955, the cancer caused severe pain in her lower spine, due to which she passed away at the mere age of 45 years. Her immense efforts still make her memorable and alive amongst women golfers even today!
10. Karrie Webb
Besides knowing the best women golfers in America, how about learning one of the greatest European Rookie of the Year?
If yes, then you should know about Karrie Webb!
She debuted in the world of golf in 1992 and represented Australia from then to 1994. Further, she honed her skills and even illustrated them to the world with her victory in the Australian Stroke Play Championship. Yet, this is just the beginning!
Karrie has played in different golf tours, including the Ladies European Tour and Women’s Australian Open, both of which stood second. She even won a tournament in the US Futures Tour.
Yet, the following year, she had a significant achievement. This was when she became the youngest winner of the Weetabix Women’s British Open. Since it was something exceptional at that age that she got the title of European Rookie of the Year.
Karrie Webb has even won 41 times on the LPGA Tour, which makes her one of the excellent golfers. Owing to it, she is also a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
The Final Words
If you are looking for the best women golfers of all time, you would have got your answer! These players, with their stellar accomplishments, have even outshined male golfers and made their mark in the world of golf. Annika Sörenstam tops the list, while we cannot forget the contribution of Nancy Lopez both on-field and off-field.
One of the noteworthy players on the list is Best Rawls, who has even led a men’s golf championship!
BTW are you venturing into golf? For how long have you been in the game? What do you think about the best women golfers?
Let us know in the comments below!