Betsy Rawls, a four-time U.S. Women’s Open champion and eight-time major winner, died at her home in Delaware on Saturday, the LPGA confirmed.
She was 95.
“There are simply not many careers that can compare to Betsy’s,” said Mike Whan, the CEO of the USGA and former LPGA Tour commissioner.
With 55 wins and eight majors, Rawls ranks sixth on both lists. She is a member of both the LPGA Hall of Fame and World Golf Hall of Fame.
Whan added, “She was a legend in the game who would have been successful in anything she pursued, so we are all lucky she made golf her passion.”
Rawls was born May 4, 1928, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but moved to Texas in 1940 and grew up mostly in Arlington.
She studied physics at the University of Texas when she connected with famed swing coach Harvey Penick. She won the Texas Women’s Amateur in 1949 and 1950, and finished runner-up to Babe Zaharias in the 1950 U.S. Women’s Open.
“I had every intention of being a physicist,” Rawls said in a story posted on the LPGA’s website. “I played golf for fun and never considered turning professional. Then I decided it would be more fun to be in golf than physics, and Wilson paid me a salary and all my expenses. They paid my expenses for 20 years. One year, I gave 120 clinics.”
Rawls won the U.S. Women’s Open by five shots over Louise Suggs in 1951, the first of four titles in the biggest event in women’s golf.
She won at least once a year on tour from 1951 through 1965. She won the last of her eight majors at age 41 in the 1969 LPGA Championship by four shots.
Rawls led the LPGA Tour money list in 1952 and 1959. She won the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average in 1959 and led the LPGA in victories three times.
Associated Press report was used to produce post.
