Kathy Whitworth was born in Monahans, Texas, and raised in Jal, New Mexico, near the Texas border, where her family owned a hardware store and her father, Morris, was elected mayor three times. She took up golf at age 15 when the friends she played tennis with wanted to give it a try.
Whitworth died suddenly on Dec. 24, 2022, with family and friends. She was 83.
Whitworth won 88 titles on the LPGA, six more professional titles than Mickey Wright, Sam Snead and Tiger Woods.
Here’s a look at some moments from one of the most illustrious careers in professional golf history.
Volunteers Of America North Texas Shootout – Final Round
IRVING, TX – MAY 03: Inbee Park of South Korea and Kathy Whitworth poses with the…
IRVING, TX – MAY 03: Inbee Park of South Korea and Kathy Whitworth poses with the trophy after Park won the 2015 Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout Presented by JTBC at Las Colinas Country Club on May 3, 2015 in Irving, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Whitworth_Kathy_LPGA_archive_00074
Kathy Whitworth, the winningest player in professional golf history, died suddenly on Christmas Eve with family…
Kathy Whitworth, the winningest player in professional golf history, died suddenly on Christmas Eve with family and friends. She was 83.
1977 Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore and Colgate Palmolive President David Foster present a first-place check for $36,000 to tournament…
Dinah Shore and Colgate Palmolive President David Foster present a first-place check for $36,000 to tournament winner Kathy Whitworth in 1977. (Photo: Desert Sun)
Wyndham740
LPGA Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth, the 2013 Junior Solheim Cup captain, scouts the field on…
LPGA Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth, the 2013 Junior Solheim Cup captain, scouts the field on Wednesday during the morning foursome matches at the 2012 Wyndham Cup at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla.
USWOMENS1981a
Golfer Kathy Whitworth waves to crowd, with golf ball in hand, after sinking a birdie put…
Golfer Kathy Whitworth waves to crowd, with golf ball in hand, after sinking a birdie put on the 9th hole during the first round of the U.S Womens Open, Thursday, July 23, 1981, La Grange, Il. Whitworth was the early leader with a 3-under-par 69.
USWOMENS1981b
Golfer Kathy Whitworth ponders her situation from a bunker on the fifth hole of the second…
Golfer Kathy Whitworth ponders her situation from a bunker on the fifth hole of the second round of the U.S. Womens Open, July 24, 1981, La Grange Ill. Whitworths two round total of 139 ties her for the lead with Bonnie Lauer.
USWOMENS1981
Kathy Whitworth, Avon, Conn., smiles July 25, 1981 after sinking a birdie putt on the 18th…
Kathy Whitworth, Avon, Conn., smiles July 25, 1981 after sinking a birdie putt on the 18th hole of the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open in Lagrange, Ill. The birdie gave her the third round lead with a total of 210.
kathy-whitworth-hair-1968
Golfer Kathy Whitworth, right, has her hair styled by Frank Long as Carol Mann dries her…
Golfer Kathy Whitworth, right, has her hair styled by Frank Long as Carol Mann dries her hair in a dryer following practice rounds at the U.S. Womens Open in Moselem Springs CC, July 3, 1968, Reading, Pa.
Women In World Golf Hall of Fame
1975: Kathy Whitworth she won 88 LPGA events, more than any golfer on either the LPGA…
1975: Kathy Whitworth she won 88 LPGA events, more than any golfer on either the LPGA or PGA Tours. In 1981 she became the first woman to earn more than $1 million on the LPGA Tour. (Getty Images)
USWOMENS1977
Golfer Kathy Whitworth, right, took her eyes off the game for a few moments as she…
Golfer Kathy Whitworth, right, took her eyes off the game for a few moments as she waited to take her second shot at the U.S. Womens Open, Hazeltine National Golf Course, July 23, 1977, Chaska, Minn. At left is Golfer Nancy Lopez.
USWOMENS1970
Golfer Kathy Whitworth rubs her Caddy down with a wet towel after the first round of…
Golfer Kathy Whitworth rubs her Caddy down with a wet towel after the first round of action in the U.S. Womens Open Golf Tourney, July 3, 1970, Muskogee, Okla. The temperature was over the century mark. Miss Whitworth is the leading money-winner on the ladies professional golf tour for year. The caddy is unidentified.
USWOMENS1983b
Golfer Kathy Whitworth watches the flight of her sixth tee shot during practice rounds at Cedar…
Golfer Kathy Whitworth watches the flight of her sixth tee shot during practice rounds at Cedar Ridge Country Club, July 27, 1983, Tulsa, Ok. Whitworth, the winningest women’s golfer in history, has never captured the US Women’s Open title.
