Women’s golf is booming today thanks to golfers throughout history proving that it’s not just a sport for men. One key figure in golf history is Kathy Whitworth, who was born in Monahans, Texas in 1939 and passed away on 24 December 2022. To this day, Whitworth remains the player with the most LPGA wins ever. Read on to find out more about this significant sportswoman.
Kathy Whitworth: 88 victories on the LPGA tour
Kathy Whitworth is a legend in the world of golf. She began playing when she was 15 years old and quickly showed she had a natural gift for the sport. In 1958, at the age of 19, she became a professional golf player and began competing in the LPGA Tour. She won her first title in 1962 at the Kelly Girl Open, and from that moment onwards she was unstoppable, picking up countless wins. Throughout her career, Whitworth achieved a total of 88 LPGA Tour tournament titles, making her the golfer, male or female, with the most wins ever. In addition, she finished second place 95 times and was the first-ever LPGA player to earn a million dollars.
Source: Golfshot
Among her many achievements, she also won six LPGA Championship titles and four for the U.S. Women’s Open. Whitworth was Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 1965 and 196, easily defeating Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King. Whitworth was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975. And if all that wasn’t enough, she was also a seven-time LPGA Player of the Year over eight years (1966 to 1973) and on another seven occasions, she won the Vare Trophy, awarded to the player with the lowest scoring average for the LPGA Tour season.
However, beyond these very impressive numbers, if there’s something that really sets Kathy Whitworth apart, it’s her dedication and work ethic. With over more than 20 years of competing on the LPGA Tour circuit, she never stopped training and developing her game. And her determination and professionalism led her to become one of the most admired sportspeople of her generation.
Women’s golf in the Costa del Sol: the legend of Kathy Whitworth
After her death, Kathy Whitworth continued to be an influential figure in the world of women’s golf. Her legacy has inspired many generations of players since, and her name will always be remembered as synonymous with excellence and perseverance in sports.
Source: People
These days in the Costa del Sol, there are lots of women’s names that stand out in this sport. Players from the province of Malaga like Noemí Jiménez, Azahara Muñoz, Ana Peláez and Rocío Sánchez, and other retired players including Ana Belén Sánchez, who won the Solheim Cup, follow in the footsteps of such important figures such as Whitworth.
The Costa del Sol has hosted the Women’s Golf Open de España six times, a tournament that forms part of the Ladies European Tour and that brings together the best golfers from this part of the world. In 2019, Aloha Golf Club had the honour of hosting this exclusive tournament, although in other years it has been held in different clubs including Real Club de Guadalmina.
The icing on the cake of the Costa del Sol’s great commitment to women’s golf is the Solheim Cup, celebrated in September 2023 at Finca Cortesín. For the first time in the tournament’s history, the US and Europe will meet in Spain; a milestone that puts the Costa del Sol at the forefront of the sport.
The Costa del Sol is an unbeatable choice for golf enthusiasts as it has more than 70 world-class golf courses, great weather all year round, a wide selection of complementary leisure options, and hotels specialised for golf tourism. Women’s golf in Andalusia, and in particular, in the Costa del Sol, has only grown bigger and better in the last few years and boasts some of the best female golf players in Spain as ambassadors. Discover the Costa del Golf today.
