Betsy King
Name:
Betsy KingCountry:
USABorn:
Aug 13, 1955 in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.Original/Home Club:
Occupation:
Professional golferTurned Pro:
1977MAJORS (6): Nabisco Dinah Shore (1987, '90, 97); US Women's Open (1989, '90); US LPGA Ch'ship (1992). Solheim Cup player (1990, '92, '94, '96, '98). Solheim Cup captain (2007). Total professional wins (38), including LPGA Tour (34). US LPGA leading money winner (1984, '89, '93). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1995).
During her time at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, King and teammates Beth Daniel, Sherri Turner and Cindy Ferro won the 1976 Intercollegiate national golf team championships. The following year, having turned professional, King joined the LPGA Tour, but had to wait a further 7 years until 1984 to record her first Tour win.
Subsequent wins came thick and fast, allowing King to record a career total of 34 LPGA Tour tiles, including six major championships. 20 of these wins came between 1984 and 1989, making her the most prolific winner, male or female, during that period.
The last of King's three Leading Money Winner titles came in 1993. As of 2012, she is still the last American player to top the LPGA season-ending money list. King retired from the LPGA Tour in 2005, captained the USA Solheim Cup team in 2007, and became active in several charitable causes.
America
ShopRite
Played as the ShopRite LPGA Classic (Jun 29-Jul 1). Second-placed Lorie Kane (Can) finished 2 shots behind Betsy King (USA), who won this event for the third time and recorded the last of her 34 LPGA Tour titles. [Bay course, Seaview Resort, Galloway, nr Atlantic City, NJ].
America
Corning
Played as the LPGA Corning Classic (May 25-28). King (USA) beat Kelli Kuehne (USA) and Vickie Goetze-Ackerman (USA) with a birdie at the second playoff hole. [Corning CC, Corning, nr Elmira, New York].
America
Cup Noodles
Played as the Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open (Feb 17-19). Second-placed Brandie Burton (USA) finished 2 shots behind King (USA). [Kapolei GC, Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii].
Majors
Nabisco
Played as the Nabisco Dinah Shore (26th) (March 27-30). Second-placed Kris Tschetter (USA) finished 2 shots behind King (USA), who won this event for the third time. [Dinah Shore Tournament course, Mission Hills CC, Rancho Mirage, CA].
America
ShopRite
Played as the ShopRite LPGA Classic (June 23-25). Second-placed Rosie Jones (USA) and Beth Daniel (USA) finished 2 shots behind Betsy King (USA), who recorded her 30th LPGA Tour win. [Greate Bay CC, Somers Point, NJ].
Asia
Toray
Played as the Toray Japan Queens Cup (LPGA & Jpn LPGA Trs event). Jane Geddes (USA) finished in second place behind King (USA). [Lions CC, Miki-shi, Hyogo, Japan].
Awards
LPGA Tr
King (USA) won her third LPGA Tour Player of the Year Award, based on a points system for top 10 finishes and performance in Majors.
Awards
LPGA Tr
King (USA) won her third LPGA Tour Money List, with 1993 season earnings of $595,992 on the Tour. Patty Sheehan (USA) was second with $540,547; Brandie Burton (USA) was third with $517,741.
King (USA) won her second Vare Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour (over a minumum of 70 rounds). Brandie Burton (USA) was second with 71.02; Patty Sheehan (USA) was third with 71.04. Nancy Lopez (USA) averaged 70.83, but played only 65 rounds.
America
JCPenney
Played as the JCPenney LPGA Skins Game (unofficial LPGA Tr event). King (USA) won with a total of 7 skins worth $185,000. Second: Nancy Lopez (USA) with skins worth $110,000. Third: defending champion Pat Bradley (USA) with skins worth $85,000. Fourth: Dottie Mochrie (USA, née Pepper) with skins worth $70,000. [Stonebriar CC, Frisco, nr Dallas, Texas].
Majors
Mazda
The Mazda LPGA Championship (38th) (May 14-17). Second-placed Karen Noble (USA), Liselotte Neumann (Swe) and JoAnne Carner (USA) finished 11 shots behind King (USA), who recorded her fifth major championship win. [Bethesda CC, Bethesda, Maryland].
America
Phar-Mor
Played as The Phar-Mor in Youngstown. King (USA) beat Beth Daniel (USA), Donna Andrews (USA) and Meg Mallon (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [Squaw Creek CC, Vienna, Ohio].
Asia
Mazda
Played as the Mazda Japan Classic (LPGA & Jpn LPGA Trs event). Helen Alfredsson (Swe) finished in second place behind King (USA). [Musashigaoka CC, Hanno, Saitama, Japan].
America
JAL
Played as the JAL Big Apple Classic presented by Golf Magazine. Second-placed Ayako Okamoto (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind defending champion King (USA), who claimed her 25th LPGA Tour win. [Wykagyl CC, New Rochelle, New York].
America
Corning
Played as the LPGA Corning Classic. Second-placed Deb Richard (USA) finished 6 shots behind King (USA). [Corning CC, Corning, nr Elmira, New York].
America
Itoman
Played as the inaugural Itoman LPGA World Match Play Championship (Dec 6-9; unofficial LPGA Tr event). Betsy King (USA) beat Deb Richard (USA) 2-up in the 18-hole final. [Makai Club at Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii].
America
JAL
Played as the inaugural JAL Big Apple Classic presented by Golf Magazine. Second-placed Beth Daniel (USA) finished 3 shots behind King (USA). [Wykagyl CC, New Rochelle, New York].
Majors
USGA
The US Women's Open (45th) (July 12-15). Second-placed Patty Sheehan (USA) finished 1 shot behind defending champion King (USA). [Riverside course, Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Atlanta, GA].
Majors
Nabisco
Played as the Nabisco Dinah Shore (19th) (Mar 29-Apr 1). Second-placed Shirley Furlong (USA) and Kathy Postlewait (USA) finished 2 shots behind King (USA). [Dinah Shore Tournament course, Mission Hills CC, Rancho Mirage, CA].
Majors
USGA
The US Women's Open (44th) (July 13-16). Second-placed Nancy Lopez (USA) finished 4 shots behind King (USA), who won her second major championship title. [Old course, Indianwood G&CC, Lake Orion, Mich.].
America
Kemper
Played as the Women's Kemper Open. Jane Geddes (USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion King (USA). [Makai Club at Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii].
America
USX
Played as the USX Golf Classic. King (USA) beat Lynn Adams (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [Pasadena GC, Gulfport, Florida; now called Pasadena Yatch & CC].
America
x
Played as the Jamaica Classic. Second-placed Nancy Lopez (USA) finished 1 shot behind King (USA). [Tryall Club, Montego Bay, Jamaica].
America
Nestle
Played as the Nestle World Championship. Second-placed Pat Bradley (USA) and Patty Sheehan (USA) finished 1 shot behind King (USA). [PineIsle Resort, Lake Lanier, Georgia; now called Legacy Course on Lake Lanier].
Awards
LPGA Tr
King (USA) won her second LPGA Tour Player of the Year Award, based on a points system for top 10 finishes and performance in Majors.
America
McDonald's
Played as the McDonald's Championship. Second-placed Pat Bradley (USA) and Shirley Furlong (USA) finished 2 shots behind King (USA). [DuPont CC, Wilmington, Delaware].
Awards
LPGA Tr
King (USA) won her second LPGA Tour Money List, with 1989 season earnings of $654,132 on the Tour. Beth Daniel (USA) was second with $504,851; Nancy Lopez (USA) was third with $487,153.
America
Cellular One-PING
Played as the Cellular One-Ping LPGA Golf Championship (Sept 9-11). Second-placed Colleen Walker (USA) finished 1 shot behind Betsy King (USA). [Riverside G&CC, Portland, Oregon].
America
x
Played as the Rail Charity Golf Classic. Second-placed Margaret Ward (USA) finished 2 shots behind King (USA), who won this event for the third time in four years. [Rail GC, Springfield, Illinois].
America
Kemper
Played as the Women's Kemper Open. Beth Daniel (USA) finished 1 shot behind King (USA). [Makai Club at Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii].
King (USA) won the Vare Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour.
America
Circle K
Played as the Circle K Tucson Open. Second-placed Jan Stephenson (Aus) finished 2 shots behind King (USA). [North course, Randolph GC, Tucson, AZ].
America
McDonald's
Played as the McDonald's Championship. Second-placed Ayako Okamoto (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind King (USA). [DuPont CC, Wilmington, Delaware].
America
x
Played as the Atlantic City LPGA Classic (Aug 21-23). Second-placed Nancy Lopez (USA) finished 3 shots behind Betsy King (USA). [Bay course, Seaview Resort, Galloway, nr Atlantic City, NJ].
Majors
Nabisco
Played as the Nabisco Dinah Shore (16th) (April 2-5). King (USA) beat Patty Sheehan (USA) at the second playoff hole, to record her first major championship win. [Dinah Shore Tournament course, Mission Hills CC, Rancho Mirage, CA].
America
x
Played as the Rail Charity Golf Classic. Defending champion King (USA) beat Alice Ritzman (USA) and Cathy Gerring (USA, née Kratzert) with a birdie at the second playoff hole. [Rail GC, Springfield, Illinois].
America
Henredon
Played as the Henredon Classic. King (USA) beat JoAnne Carner with a par at the second playoff hole. [Willow Creek CC, High Point, North Carolina; now known as the Willow Creek course of High Point CC].
America
x
Played as the Rail Charity Golf Classic. Second-placed Janet Anderson (USA) finished 2 shots behind King (USA), who claimed her fifth LPGA Tour win. [Rail GC, Springfield, Illinois].
America
Samaritan
Played as the Samaritan Turquoise Classic. King (USA) beat Patty Sheehan (USA) with an eagle at the first playoff hole. [Arizona Biltmore GC, Phoenix, Arizona].
Europe
Burberry
Played as the Burberry Women's British Open (Oct 2-5). Second-placed Marta Figueras-Dotti (Esp) finished 2 shots behind King (USA). [Combination of High & West courses, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
America
x
Played as the Freedom/Orlando Classic. Second-placed Alice Miller (USA) finished 2 shots behind King (USA), who recorded her second LPGA Tour win. [Cypress Creek CC, Orlando, Florida; permanently closed down in 2007].
America
Columbia Savings
Played as the Columbia Savings Classic. Second-placed Muffin Spencer-Devlin (USA) finished 1 shot behind King (USA). [Green Gables CC, Denver, Colorado; now permanently closed].
America
Kemper
Played as the Women's Kemper Open. Pat Bradley (USA) finished 3 shots behind King (USA), who claimed her first LPGA Tour win after seven years on the Tour. [Royal Ka'anapali course, Ka'anapali Resort, Maui, Hawaii; at the time known as the North course].
Awards
LPGA Tr
King (USA) won the LPGA Tour 1984 Money List, with earnings of $266,771 on the Tour. Patty Sheehan (USA) was second with $255,185; Ayako Okamoto (Jpn) was third with $251,108.
Awards
LPGA Tr
King (USA) won the LPGA Tour Player of the Year Award, based on a points system for top 10 finishes and performance in Majors.
Tournaments:
Women’s major championships: the month of June sees two women’s majors: the US Women’s Open (June 3-6), with A Lim Kim defending, and the Women’s PGA Championship (June 24-27), with Sei Young Kim defending.
Senior PGA Championship: the revered Southern Hills in Oklahoma hosts the 81st staging of this event (May 27-30); Ken Tanigawa holds the title from its last playing in 2019.
Who's Who:
Phil Mickelson: in winning the 2021 PGA Championship, the world’s most famous “leftie” became the oldest winner of a golf major championship.
Hideki Matsuyama: became the first Japanese professional to win a men’s major championship, when he triumphed in this year’s Masters Tournament.
New 27-hole golf complex to be built in southern Belgium
A new golf complex in southern Belgium, close to the border with Luxembourg, will start construction in June 2021.
American Dunes opens for play following Nicklaus transformation
Nicklaus Design has transformed the former Grand Haven Golf Club in Michigan into the American Dunes Golf Club, a new public course that is now open for play
New course opens for play at Barnbougle
Bill Coore designs 14-hole layout with “sporty” holes on dune ridge above Lost Farm (golf carts allowed).
Gamble Sands opens short course:
David McLay Kidd’s 14-hole QuickSands short course has opened for play at Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington.
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