Who's who: Betsy Rawls

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Betsy Rawls

  • Name:

    Elizabeth Earle "Betsy" Rawls
  • Country:

    USA
  • Born:

    May 4, 1928 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1951 (aged 22)

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (8). Total professional wins (58), including LPGA Tour (55). LPGA Tour leading money winner (1952, '59). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1960).

Did you know?

Starting golf aged 17, Rawls embarked on a successful amateur career, which culminated in a second-placed finish at the 1950 U.S. Women's Open. After attending the University of Texas at Austin, Rawls joined the LPGA Tour as a professional in 1951. In that same year she recorded her first two LPGA Tour wins, one of them the U.S. Women's Open, which she would win three more times (1953, '57, '60).

Rawls retired from the LPGA Tour in 1975, with a total of 55 Tour wins. In 1961/62 she served as the LPGA's president, and was the first woman to serve on the Rules Committee for the mens' US Open.

Top tournaments won by Betsy Rawls

1972
America
Forty Niner CC
141 (-3)
$4,500
GAC

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Forty Niner CC

Score

141 (-3)

Prize money

$4,500

Title sponsor

GAC

Played as the GAC Classic. Mary Mills (USA), Kathy Whitworth (USA), Clifford Ann Creed (USA), Shirley Englehorn (USA), Betty Burfeindt (USA) and Judy Rankin (USA) finished 3 shots behind Rawls (USA), who recorded the last of her 55 LPGA Tour wins. Reduced to 36 holes due to rain. [Forty Niner CC, Tucson, AZ].

1970
America
210
$3,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

210

Prize money

$3,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Cincinnati Open. Pam Barnett finished in second place behind Rawls.

1970
America
Glen Lakes CC
214 (+1)
$3,750
Civitan

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Glen Lakes CC

Score

214 (+1)

Prize money

$3,750

Title sponsor

Civitan

Played as the Dallas Civitan Open. Second-placed Marilynn Smith (USA), Mickey Wright (USA) and Sandra Palmer (USA) finished 2 shots behind Rawls (USA). [Glen Lakes CC, Dallas, TX; club/course no longer exists].

1969
Majors
Concord Resort, NY
293 (+1)
$5,250
LPGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Concord Resort, NY

Score

293 (+1)

Prize money

$5,250

Title sponsor

LPGA

The LPGA Championship (15th) (July 24-27). Second-placed Susie Berning (USA) and Carol Mann (USA) finished 4 shots behind 41-year-old Rawls (USA), who recorded the last of her eight major championship wins. [Concord Resort & GC, Kiamesha Lake, NY].

1968
America
208
$2,025
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

208

Prize money

$2,025

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Mickey Wright Invitational. Kathy Whitworth and Sandra Haynie finished in second place behind Rawls.

1965
America
214
$1,275
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

214

Prize money

$1,275

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Waterloo Women's Open. Marlene Hagge, Carol Mann and Marilynn Smith finished in second place behind Rawls.

1965
America
218
$1,275
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

218

Prize money

$1,275

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Pensacola Ladies Invitational. Clifford Ann Creed finished in second place behind Rawls.

1964
America
Glen Lakes CC
282 (-2)
$2,100
Civitan

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Glen Lakes CC

Score

282 (-2)

Prize money

$2,100

Title sponsor

Civitan

Played as the Dallas Civitan Open. Second-placed and defending champion Mickey Wright (USA) finished 2 shots behind Rawls (USA). [Glen Lakes CC, Dallas, TX; club/course no longer exists].

1964
America
290
$1,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

290

Prize money

$1,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Valhalla Open. Ruth Jessen and Kathy Whitworth finished in second place behind Rawls.

1963
America
220
$1,200
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

220

Prize money

$1,200

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Sunshine Women's Open. Kathy Whitworth finished in second place behind Rawls.

1962
America
295
$1,250
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

295

Prize money

$1,250

Title sponsor

x

Played as the J.E. McAuliffe Championship. Kathy Whitworth finished in second place behind Rawls.

1962
America
146
$1,075
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

146

Prize money

$1,075

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Babe Zaharias Open. Betty Jameson, Ruth Jessen and Sandra Haynie finished in second place behind Betsy Rawls and Kathy Cornelius.

1961
America
221
$1,247
Bill Branin

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

221

Prize money

$1,247

Title sponsor

Bill Branin

Played as Bill Branin's Swing Parade.

1961
America
213
$1,247
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

213

Prize money

$1,247

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Cosmopolitan Open.

1960
America
211
$1,083
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

211

Prize money

$1,083

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Babe Zaharias Open. Fay Crocker finished in second place behind Rawls.

1960
Majors
292 (+4)
$1,710
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Score

292 (+4)

Prize money

$1,710

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Women's Open (15th) (July 21-23). Second-placed Joyce Ziske (USA) finished 1 shot behind Rawls (USA), who claimed her fourth and final US Women's Open title. [Worcester CC, Worcester, Mass.].

1960
America
Asheville CC
211 (-2)
$1,247
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Asheville CC

Score

211 (-2)

Prize money

$1,247

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Asheville Open. Second-placed Louise Suggs (USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Rawls (USA). [CC of Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina].

1960
America
208
$1,247
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

208

Prize money

$1,247

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Cosmopolitan Open. Bonnie Randolph finished in second place behind Rawls.

1959
America
Asheville CC
215 (+2)
$997
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Asheville CC

Score

215 (+2)

Prize money

$997

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Land of the Sky Open. Second-placed Joyce Ziske (USA) finished 1 shot behind Rawls (USA). [CC of Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina].

1959
America
291
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

291

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Mount Propsect Open. Mickey Wright finished in second place behind Rawls.

1959
Awards
$26,774
see Score
LPGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

$26,774

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

LPGA Tr

Rawls (USA) won her second LPGA Tour Money List, with 1959 earnings of $26,774 on the Tour. Mickey Wright (USA) was second on the money list.

1959
Awards
74.03
n/a
LPGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

74.03

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

LPGA Tr

Rawls (USA) won the Vare Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour.

1959
Majors
288 (-8)
$1,247
LPGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Score

288 (-8)

Prize money

$1,247

Title sponsor

LPGA

The LPGA Championship (5th) (July 2-6). Second-placed Patty Berg (USA) finished 1 shot behind Rawls (USA), who won the first of her two LPGA Championships. [Ross course, French Lick Resort, French Lick, Indiana].

1959
Majors
Ranier G&CC
293 (+1)
$1,247
x

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Ranier G&CC

Score

293 (+1)

Prize money

$1,247

Title sponsor

x

The Women's Western Open (30th). Second-placed Patty Berg (USA) and JoAnne Gunderson (USA, amateur, later known as JoAnne Carner) finished 6 shots behind Rawls (USA). [Rainier G&CC, Seattle, WA].

1959
America
282
$1,247
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

282

Prize money

$1,247

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Waterloo Women's Open. Fay Crocker finished in second place behind Rawls.

1959
America
215
$997
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

215

Prize money

$997

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Babe Zaharias Open. Louise Suggs finished in second place behind Rawls.

1959
America
$1,425
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

Prize money

$1,425

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Triangle Round Robin. Louise Suggs finished in second place behind Rawls.

1959
America
294
$997
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

294

Prize money

$997

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Royal Crown Open. Marlene Hagge finished in second place behind Rawls.

1959
America
285
$1,247
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

285

Prize money

$1,247

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Lake Worth Open. Louise Suggs finished in second place behind Rawls.

1959
America
221
$1,247
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

221

Prize money

$1,247

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Opie Turner Open. Louise Suggs finished in second place behind Rawls.

1958
America
Sunset G&CC, FL
291 (-5)
$1,247
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Sunset G&CC, FL

Score

291 (-5)

Prize money

$1,247

Title sponsor

x

Played as the St Petersburg Open. Second-placed Jackie Pung (USA) and Beverly Hanson (USA) finished 4 shots behind Rawls (USA). [Sunset G&CC, St Petersburg, Florida; now called Vinoy GC].

1958
America
302
$1,247
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

302

Prize money

$1,247

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tampa Open. Mickey Wright and Patty Berg finished in second place behind Rawls.

1957
America
214
$880
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

214

Prize money

$880

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Lake Worth Open. Fay Crocker finished in second place behind Rawls.

1957
Majors
299 (+7)
$1,800
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Score

299 (+7)

Prize money

$1,800

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Women's Open (12th) (June 27-29). Second-placed Patty Berg (USA) finished 6 shots behind Rawls (USA). Apparent winner Jackie Pung (USA) was disqualified for signing a card with an incorrect score on one hole, even though the overall score she signed for was correct. [East course, Winged Foot GC, Mamaroneck, NY].

1957
America
213
$880
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

213

Prize money

$880

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Peach Blossom Open. Betty Dodd finished in second place behind Rawls.

1957
America
298
$880
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

298

Prize money

$880

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tampa Open. Fay Crocker finished in second place behind Rawls.

1956
America
214
$880
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

214

Prize money

$880

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Peach Blossom Open. Fay Crocker finished in second place behind Rawls.

1956
America
293
$900
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

293

Prize money

$900

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tampa Open. Patty Berg finished in second place behind Rawls.

1956
America
291
$1,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

291

Prize money

$1,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Sarasota Open. Betty Dodd finished in second place behind Rawls.

1955
America
218
$1,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

218

Prize money

$1,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Carrollton Open. Second-placed Patty Berg finished 3 shots behind Rawls.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Inverness Four-Ball.

1954
America
211
$700
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

211

Prize money

$700

Title sponsor

x

Played as the St Louis Open. Second-placed Beverly Hanson finished 12 shots behind Rawls.

1954
America
311
$1,200
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

311

Prize money

$1,200

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tampa Women's Open. Second-placed Marlene Stewart and Polly Riley finished 2 shots behind Rawls.

1954
America
1 hole
$700
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

1 hole

Prize money

$700

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Texas Open. Rawls beat Betty Hicks by 1 hole in the final.

1953
Majors
Rochester CC
302 (+6)
$2,000
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Rochester CC

Score

302 (+6)

Prize money

$2,000

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Women's Open (8th) (June 25-28). Rawls (USA) beat Jackie Pung (USA) in an 18-hole playoff: Rawls 71 (-3), Pung 77 (+3). [CC of Rochester, Rochester, NY].

1953
America
293
$1,250
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

293

Prize money

$1,250

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Eastern Open. Rawls won after a playoff against Patty Berg.

1953
America
145
$875
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

145

Prize money

$875

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Barbara Romack Open. Second-placed Carol Bowman finished 2 shots behind Rawls.

1953
America
5 & 4
$500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

5 & 4

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Fort Worth Open. Rawls beat Polly Riley 5 and 4 in the final.

1952
America
140
Weathervane

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

140

Prize money

Title sponsor

Weathervane

Played as the Houston Weathervane. Second-placed Babe Zaharias (USA) finished 3 shots behind Rawls (USA).

1952
America
139
Weathervane

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

139

Prize money

Title sponsor

Weathervane

Played as the Seattle Open. Second-placed Alice Bauer (USA) and Marlene Bauer (USA, Marlene Hagge from late-1955) finished 11 shots behind Rawls.

1952
America
Weathervane

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

Weathervane

Rawls (USA) was overall winner of the 1952 Cross Country 144-hole Weathervane Tournament, which was played as four two-round events in Houston, Miami, New York and Seattle. She won the Seattle event.

1952
America
214
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

214

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Carrollton Open. Second-placed Louise Suggs finished 2 shots behind Rawls.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

226

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Eastern Women's Open. Second-placed Louise Suggs finished 2 shots behind Rawls.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

74

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Thomasville Open. Betty Jameson finished in second place behind Rawls.

1952
Majors
Skokie CC
1 hole
$1,000
x

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Skokie CC

Score

1 hole

Prize money

$1,000

Title sponsor

x

The Women's Western Open (23rd). Rawls (USA) beat Betty Jameson (USA) by 1 hole in the final. [Skokie CC, Glencoe, nr Chicago, IL].

1952
Awards
$14,505
see Score
LPGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

$14,505

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

LPGA Tr

Rawls (USA) won the LPGA Tour 1952 Money List, with earnings of $14,505 on the Tour. Betty Jameson (USA) was second on the money list.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Score

72

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Sacramento Women's Invitational Open. Second-placed Marlene Bauer (Hagge) and Babe Zaharias finished 2 shots behind Rawls.

1951
Majors
Druid Hills GC
293 (+5)
$1,500
LPGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Rawls, Betsy

Venue

Druid Hills GC

Score

293 (+5)

Prize money

$1,500

Title sponsor

LPGA

The US Women's Open (6th) (Sept 13-16). Second-placed Louise Suggs (USA) finished 5 shots behind 23-year-old Rawls (USA), who recorded her first major championship victory. [Druid Hills GC, Atlanta, GA].

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