News Desk
WASHINGTON: Kathy Whitworth, the most successful professional golfer with a record 88 LPGA titles, passed away at 83, America’s Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) said.
She has six more trophies than her rival Mary Kathryn “Mickey” Wright, as well as Sam Snead and Tiger Woods – the joint record-holders in the men’s game.
The women’s tour announced her death on its official Twitter account.
Whitworth, who belonged to Monahans, US state of Texas, is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Her victories included six major championships, and she came as a runner-up 93 times. She started her career in 1959 and won at least once during a record 17 consecutive years and against multiple generations of women players.
Whitworth claimed her first LPGA title at the 1962 Kelly Girls Open and her last one at the 1985 United Virginia Bank Classic.
‘The greatest winner in golf’
Kathy’s great rival, Mickey Wright, won 82 titles during her career, six less than Whitworth. However, 13 of those were won in the majors.
LPGA co-founder Louise Suggs said “Mickey was the greatest golfer, but Kathy was the greatest winner.”
The association’s commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan described Kathy as “one of the most incredible women,” saying that “she was a champion in the truest sense of the word, both on and off the course.”
