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Betsy King - Part 3 (1992 LPGA, 1997 Dinah Shore and the Solheim Cup)

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Winner of 34 LPGA Tour events, Betsy King reflects back on her final two major championships and her last several wins on tour. Betsy remembers the easy walk up the 18th fairway of her 11-shot victory at the 1992 LPGA Championship, at the time setting several records including largest winning margin, lowest raw score and lowest score to par in a major with each round in the 60’s.  Alongside, feel the intense pressure of clinching her 30th tournament to secure a coveted spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame and how the 1995 ShopRite LPGA Classic victory was pivotal in this journey. Drawing upon her experiences, Betsy delves into the psychological game of golf. Hear about her sessions with a sports psychologist, and how it enhanced her mental stamina, preparing her for nerve-racking press conferences and improving her gameplay. Plus, get an insider’s peek into the LPGA Skins Game and the strict qualifications for the LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame.  She recalls some of her favorite small towns to play in before recounting her final major win at the 1997 Dinah Shore, her third. Betsy takes us back to her Solheim Cup experience, playing in the inaugural event with Captain Kathy Whitworth and her honor of being Captain herself in 2007 in Sweden. In a heartfelt exchange, Betsy shares the bittersweet decision to retire, prompted by her parents' illnesses and deaths. She will  leave a wonderful philanthropic legacy with her work with Golf Fore Africa, helping to bring clean water to thousands. Betsy King concludes her life story, “FORE the Good of the Game.

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"FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.”

Thanks so much for listening!

Music playing  00:00

Mike Gonzalez  00:15

Yeah, well in between your back to back wins there you did have a victory in the Corning Classic finishing 65, 66 to beat Deb Richard by six.

King, Betsy  00:26

Okay. Yeah, that was Corning is, that was always a great event to go to because I mean, Corning is not a huge town and we were the event of the year. Everybody came out, they would do, you know, all downtown would be decorated with in the shop windows with stuff about the Corning Classic and it was everybody, you were kind of a, like a huge star there, you know, like, basketball players or whatever. But it was a very tight course. Not super long. But that year when I won, I remember I I barely made the cut. I you know, had a good finish just to make the cut. And then but I felt that I was playing well. And I remember saying, you know if I can just make the cut, I think I can do okay. And, you know, ended up playing very well on the weekend and winning.

Mike Gonzalez  01:20

Yeah. You mentioned how supportive the town of Corning was, what other small towns were some of your favorites that really came out and supported the tour events.

King, Betsy  01:30

Hershey, Hershey, Pennsylvania, right. We played there. And we used to have some of our biggest galleries of the year there. Rochester, New York. I never played particularly well there. But the crowd support there was phenomenal. Anywhere that we went where they don't have tons of professional sport teams, you know, you become the event of the year they have, you know, even Springfield was like that Illinois, you know, they have a highlight show each night after the news. Highlights of the tournament. Yeah. And it really made it special. You felt very special to be there.

Mike Gonzalez  02:09

Yeah, yeah. I remember Kathy Whitworth. And when you visit with her, she she just loved going to Rochester.

King, Betsy  02:16

Oh, and she played well there. She had her at eighth when there. And I remember kind of going out to watch her. You know, because she did have a chance to break. You know, set this record or whatever. And it was fun fun to see.

Mike Gonzalez  02:33

Well, let's go to 1992. Three more wins. Bruce opening up with another major.

Devlin, Bruce  02:38

Boy, what a victory. This was rounds of 68, 66, 67, 66  17 under par. And you just scraped in by eleven

King, Betsy  02:55

That I know for a fact that obviously was the best set I ever played in a tournament for four days. I just Bethesda Country Club. It was a challenging Golf Course very tight off the tees. Small greens at the time. It's been redone since we are there too. But I just played extremely well off for days. I think I had a six shot lead heading into the last round. And you know, just kept it in play potted? Well, I know I had a 10 shot lead, got standing on the last tee and birdied the last hole to win by 11. So it was if it if there can be a stress free time, that was probably yet to stand on the last tee with a 10 shot lead.

Mike Gonzalez  03:42

Unless of course there was water on the last goal.

King, Betsy  03:46

20 shots no I don't know it was it was great.

Devlin, Bruce  03:50

And it was the largest winning margin in the event up to that time.

King, Betsy  03:55

And I think it was the lowest score in relation to par in a major at that time. 17 was an amazing Yes.

Mike Gonzalez  04:04

Yeah. And 267 was the lowest absolute score up to that point as well. First player with all four rounds in the 60s for an LPGA event. Just a lot of records set during the tournament. You made two bogeys all week. Okay. Okay. Yeah, it was You missed 11 greens all week.

King, Betsy  04:26

Oh, I did. Wow. Wow. Yeah. And they weren't big greens.

Mike Gonzalez  04:34

Well, I love the quote by JoAnne Carner. I picked up maybe in an SI article, I don't remember but after the third round. JoAnne was quoted as saying it'll take about a 60 on Saturday and I think I'd still lose by one. Yeah. And then after the final round, she says she's so quiet talking about Betsy King. She's so quiet. She doesn't get the publicity she deserves. She doesn't seem to have a lot to say. She just goes out and whips our butt.  That sounds like JoAnne doesn't it?.

King, Betsy  05:06

So yeah, no, I just played really, really well. So it's nice to I don't have to think about what's the best tournament you've ever played? I know what's the best round you ever play?

Devlin, Bruce  05:18

Yeah. That's it. Yeah. Yeah, that's great.

Mike Gonzalez  05:22

Well, you were still in the midst of a tenure zone. So we'll we'll go into, you know, we'll go on to finish up 1992 With a few more victories, Bruce.

Devlin, Bruce  05:31

the Phar-Mor in Youngstown, where you Oh, guess what she won in a playoff again? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Donna Andrews, Beth Daniel and Meg Mallon.

King, Betsy  05:42

Yep, I remember that was like a huge playoff and I think I won on the second playoff hole. I don't remember who dropped out of the first one but the second playoff hole was a par three and I made a bird birdie I believe to win

Mike Gonzalez  05:57

and then the next couple of wins I think came in Japan one in 92  at the Mazda Japan classic and then one in 93 at the Toray Japan Queen's Cup. And so back to the the long crazy bus rides very much so.

King, Betsy  06:14

And I remember in 93 I I hadn't won all year and then you know one there so that was sort of like my last chance to keep the win streak alive for you know, winning a tournament every year. So ya know? That was it. That was a good win.

Mike Gonzalez  06:34

But 93 is still a good year right? I mean player the year money winner, leading money winner,  Vare Trophy winner. So you know in 93 you finish up your 10th straight year with with multiple wins with the with the two victories with the second victory coming at the the LPGA Skins Game if you want to call that maybe what an official event but you won the Skins Game down at Stonebriar.

King, Betsy  06:57

Right, right. Yeah, I think I played on it twice, I believe. But yeah, that was nice. For for the LPGA goes more exposure. I know Nancy played in it. Dottie Pepper, I think played in it the year I played in it. Yeah, that was a lot of fun. It was it was it's it's so different from playing in a tournament. It's I think the hardest part of that format is when you have to make a putt to tie. It's easier to make. Yeah. And when the skin it's harder to, to get the tie so that you don't lose the skin. So but it was great for the tour. And obviously, I feel fortunate that I had an opportunity to play in that.

Mike Gonzalez  07:40

Yeah. So we're going to skip a year now, which is unusual to skip 94 and go to 95 to pick up that next victory. But you know, you come in at 95 You're coming up on 40 years old. What's the what's the mindset at this point? Do you think I'm gonna be playing for a while or I'm not sure I'm, I'm enjoying the life on the road as much as I did when I was younger was what was happening?

King, Betsy  08:05

Well, for me at the time, you know, my 30th Win got me into the Hall of Fame. So that was that that was the pressure point. For me. I was stuck on 29 for a little while. And, you know, the hardest part probably was going into the press interviews. If you didn't win, you didn't win, even though you think second or third. It was like what happened? You know? So yeah,

Mike Gonzalez  08:32

you did that. You did that 41 times, by the way, going into that press conference before getting that I really getting that 30 of the winners 41 events.

Devlin, Bruce  08:42

Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

King, Betsy  08:44

And I in fact, that by that time, I was working with a sports psychologist, you know, because obviously, when I started, there wasn't even such a thing, you know, in relation. And I, I that was one of the things I worked on with him was just to have an answer to share, when that question was asked, so you just had this answer already queued up. And so you didn't waste energy thinking about what you were going to say? And yeah, good point. Yeah, yeah. Which was helpful, which was very helpful.

Mike Gonzalez  09:16

But others have felt the pressure you felt with, you know, trying to get that last victory to get you in the LPGA Hall of Fame. There have been several other guests that have really struggled to get that right over there, as well.

King, Betsy  09:28

Right. And I was the last person that qualified under those quite criteria. When I got in, it was 30 wins with two different majors, which looking back on it was, how do you count the U.S. Open, win it twice, and it doesn't count as two different majors.

Devlin, Bruce  09:44

Yeah, it's silly. Of course,

King, Betsy  09:47

et cetera. But but so it was quite an accomplishment to make to make it in and if we start talking about Atlantic City, I'll tell you about it. Yeah.

Mike Gonzalez  10:00

Well you birdied the final two holes for that victory. Of course we're talking about the 1995 ShopRite LPGA Classic. Your second winner that event at Great Bay Country Club in New Jersey by two over Beth Daniel and Rosie Jones. So big, big win and your career

King, Betsy  10:14

very much so and what was amazing not amazing, but I had held the lead at that tournament. I don't know if it was one year or two years prior probably two years. I had a one shot lead standing on the last hole. It's a very tight par for you don't hit driver off the tee dogleg right. And I drove it right into the trees and I pitched it out hit a poor wedge on the green and three putted to make a double to miss getting into a playoff not only losing the event, you know, if I poor I win if I Bogey, I'm in a playoff, I make double and miss a playoff. So an emery poly one. And so then here I am, two years later standing on the last tee with a one shot lead. Now trying to get the last one to get into the Hall of Fame. And so I believe I hit either three, either three wood or five wood off the tee, I think three would hit it very well down down the middle. And then wedged on and made about a 1012 footer for birdie to win by two. So

Mike Gonzalez  11:21

yeah, I hate to put you on the spot with this question. But but because the qualification criteria are much different between the LPGA Hall of Fame which came first and the World Golf Hall of Fame for the typical LPGA player, do they hold one? Maybe more dear than than the other?

King, Betsy  11:42

Um, you know, I that's all happened since me. I mean, I when I got in the LPGA Hall of Fame that automatically qualified me for the World Golf Hall of Fame. So I don't know, they they changed all that criteria after that after I got in. So I I don't really know. I mean, as far as that. But I do know, I was the last person that got in under the LPGA Hall of Fame criteria of 30 wins with two different majors. And the feeling was that there would be there would there'd be way too many people. I mean, way too, there wouldn't be enough people that would qualify. When I made it in. I was the 14th person to get in in 45 years. So

Devlin, Bruce  12:27

yeah, it's a bit heavy criteria. Really, when you think about it, yeah,

King, Betsy  12:33

you know, there's more competition, the fields are deeper and they don't eat as many tournaments. You know, that I would play probably, on average, close to 30 events a year now the top players if they play 25 That's that's a big schedule.

Devlin, Bruce  12:49

Right? Right.

Mike Gonzalez  12:50

There aren't gonna be too many more in history. I don't think unless things change dramatically. They're gonna win 34 times or more.

King, Betsy  12:56

Yeah, you know, I think that too, and then Annika came along and Lorena and Karrie Webb they were probably the best of the next generation. Yeah, and then but, but today I you know, who knows? It's hard to when you're not playing. It's hard to know. You know, when you play alongside you can obviously recognize the best talent when you're just good players. Yeah, from when you look in from the outside. It's kind of hard to tell that.

Mike Gonzalez  13:25

So about this time you went through I think about a nine year stretch where you actually hosted the tournament, the walk oviya tournament in Yeah,

King, Betsy  13:32

yep. Yep, that was a dream come true. For me. I wanted to try to get something going in my hometown and it worked out. We started actually it was a local bank. That was the original sponsor. Meridian bank that was based in Berks County, and Vanity Fair, VF Corp, they were also their corporate headquarters were in Reading at the time, and they're the largest apparel only company in the world. So those two CEOs, you know, put up the basis for the person that got us started. And in that nine year run the then the, after a year or two, the bank became the title sponsor, and it went from Core state to Wachovia to First Union. They kept changing this bank spurge, and now I believe it's Wells Fargo. And so by the time it became, well, First Union was based in Charlotte, and they're like, Okay, why are we sponsoring a tournament in Reading, Pennsylvania? Yeah, so that's when it went away. But it was great fun. It was great for the community. It was great for charity, and I feel very honored that we were able to have an event, an LPGA event. I wanted to have the players come and see where I grew up and at the same good idea. LPGA

Devlin, Bruce  14:57

Yeah. So even though you didn't When in 1996, it didn't take you very long to jump back in the winner's circle in 1997 Another major victory at The Dinah Shore, where you one by two over Kris Tschetter

King, Betsy  15:15

you know, I can hardly remember anything about I don't know why I didn't, I didn't I just realized I was somewhere within the last couple of months that somebody was looking at my record, and I didn't even realize that it was 42 when I won that event. Because nowadays, like there's hardly anybody plays into their 40s It seems like everybody's retiring. They're starting younger and then retiring younger but um, you know, I obviously played well. I don't think I was paired with with Kris the last day. But

Mike Gonzalez  15:52

it might have been might have been Kelly Robbins because you were tied with Kelly after three rounds. Okay.

King, Betsy  15:57

Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know why I don't remember much about it. I think I think I went in the pond. That was the only time I went into the end of the water because Amy, you know, started that tradition. But she did it. And then the next year, it didn't continue. And then it kind of kept. It started again after that. So when I went in, I couldn't even get my caddie to go in with me. First of all. We were still going into the pond, you know, which they kind of cleaned up, you know, that morning, they would clean it up. But still, and I didn't do a big runny or anything because they really weren't doing that, you know, then the last few years. It's become a it's been great. It's been you know, they show it every year on ESPN and it's been great. That's probably what I remember most is that I did get to go into the water that time.

Mike Gonzalez  16:57

Yeah. Well, this was your farewell as a winner to The Dinah Shore. Of course, the it was a fond farewell this spring as they played the last what we still had to short Mission Hills before moving on to Texas. A little bit bittersweet. Were you there?

King, Betsy  17:12

I did go. I did go last week. I was I mean, last year, I wasn't at, you know, the whole event. But I did go at the start of the week. And I think I watched the first day of play. But yeah, it was, you know, obviously, there's a lot of memories there. And, you know, there's good and bad with everything. I mean, having Chevron step up as a major sponsor is, you know, great for the event. And at the same time, it's interesting because the last few years, I don't think they had the budget that they had at one time and they weren't advertising it. The crowds didn't seem to be as big as they used to be. And, you know, I think part of that was just that maybe the term and had run its course there. I'm not sure but when Dinah was affiliated when there was more of a celebrity by end, it definitely had a different atmosphere than it has today.

Mike Gonzalez  18:08

Yeah, well in 97 at that, when at the Nabisco Dinah Shore, you must had the putter going because you had zero 3-putts that week.

King, Betsy  18:17

Okay, well that's that's an accomplishment that's good. Yeah, that's

Mike Gonzalez  18:21

good. I'm not sure I've gotten nine holes without a three putt. Well let's let's finish up with your last few victories. We go on now to 2000 Bruce with a couple of wins

Devlin, Bruce  18:35

and the Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open and the LPGA Corning cCassic again second time there were the sudden death playoff with the Vicki Goetz and Kelli Kuehne. Okay.

King, Betsy  18:47

Yeah, the wind in Hawaii that was on Oahu at a course called Kapolei again wins always a factor when we play there but I played well that week and and I liked the course there it was outside of Honolulu. And I had a number of wins in Hawaii. Hawaii's been a great state for me and winning my first one Yeah. And then kind of one of my last wins there. And I think I never won on the Big Island but I want to Maui and Kauai and Oahu. So yeah, that I always enjoyed going there and then Corning that year. I do remember going into the playoff there and winning that was was was fun to do. A lot of fun to do.

Mike Gonzalez  18:49

Well, you played right up to age 50. So take us as you did take us through your decision. You know as a youngster of turning professional now now take us through the thought process of winding it down and setting your timeline for that.

King, Betsy  19:52

Well my last year, I think I only made one or two cuts. I know I made it up in Palm Springs And then I don't remember if I made another one, but I actually, you know, sometimes outside circumstances make the decision for you. And my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in June of that year. And so I made the decision to stay home. And he basically only lived till September, he had colon cancer that had already spread. And he was a physician, my dad, you know, I'd mentioned he'd gone to medical school. And he made the decision, he was 85 years old, he said, I'm not going to do anything. He had had surgery. And they had done what they could through that, but he elected not to do any chemo. And so he did not last very long. And I was I was pretty close to my father. So. So that that kind of was the decision that was made for me, I did go out and play one event, I believe, or one or two while he was sick. And then I said, I can't do this. And I went back home, so and then my mother had dementia, she died of either Alzheimer's or dementia. She lived about a year and a half after my dad. And so I was involved with her care. You know, she, both my parents died at home, they did not want to go into assisted living, so we had care come in to take care of them. And then I would stay there as much as I could. So those those illnesses of my parents and death were really what made me not made me but were a big part of the reason why I retired. And I, you know, I'm happy that I did it that way I wouldn't have wanted not to. So

Mike Gonzalez  21:41

anyway, well, you closed out a beautiful career. And as Bruce alluded to earlier, the playoff record is quite unusual of you'd be surprised to hear sort of what the playoff record overall is for these 71. World Golf Hall of Fame and major winning guests that we have had to date.

Devlin, Bruce  22:02

What is it's not? It's not a winning record. It's a about 43 and a half percent. Yeah. Well, so

King, Betsy  22:12

I think, well, I believe my answer would be to that, that the more golf you play, the more the better chance that the better player is going to win. And so in a playoff win it often man and one hole. And so

Mike Gonzalez  22:31

yeah, and that's, that's very true. It's kind of what we found, I think if we adjusted for the multiperson playoffs, right, so sometimes there were three or more so right here just for all that. The record is probably 50-50 which says it's about a coin flip.

Devlin, Bruce  22:45

Mike Gonzalez  22:49

But 8&6 is pretty good with some with some really good winds, just ticking through the majors. You had a wonderful record the majors, starting with the Dinah Shore 21 cuts made and 23 starts with with a three wins and a T-2 to Helen Alfredsson in 1993 LPGA Championship 24 cuts made in in 28 starts with four top fives and seven top 10s Of course we've got the winner 9092 But also, you were second third to Jane Geddes in 1987. US Open 20 cuts made out of 30 Start six top fives a couple of wins Of course. 10 top 10s And then the British Open which just came too late, obviously. I think a lot of players wish that would have come along earlier to play some of those great courses that you said is on the open road. Everybody would have enjoyed that. And then the du Maurier, which was a major from 79 to 2018. cuts made in 20 starts there and, and 11 Top 10s Eight top fives couple seconds. One at Beaconsfield in in 89. And wanted to London Hunt Club in 1993. So of all of those any woulda, shoulda, coulda is

King, Betsy  24:03

yeah, when you start. I know exactly. It would be the du Maurier I lost to play off to Brandie Burton. And whatever mulligan and I needed to not go into the playoff would be it for me making one more putt or whatever, you know, that would have done it. That would be because at the time du Maurier for part of my career was a major on the tour. Yeah. That that that would be the place where I would use the mulligan

Mike Gonzalez  24:33

Yeah. Well, let's talk Solheim cup. Bruce. What a record.

Devlin, Bruce  24:37

Yeah. As a player seven, six and two. Whitworth and Mickey Walker were your captains in 1990 at Lake Nona that had to be a thrill.

King, Betsy  24:52

It was that was the first one there were there were eight people on the team. You know Kathy Whitworth as your Captain, all time winner. And Whit was fun, you know, tell this story. She, when everybody knows this, and it kind of is a bit of a joke, but she had a lot of negative self talk that was her way of motivating herself

Mike Gonzalez  25:17

She was hard on herself.

King, Betsy  25:18

Yeah. And then the famous line was when she'd miss a putt, Kathy, how'd you ever get your card, you know, she 88 times. So anyway, at that event, when I remember sitting in the team room, and she goes now girls, is going to come down to whoever wants it the most. And if you don't want to win this, you're not going to win. And they all I could think was I'm sitting in the room here with Nancy Lopez, Pat Bradley, I believe Patti Sheehan. Dottie I don't know if Dottie was on that team, but it was very competitive people and I'm thinking these are the eight, eight most competitive to people I've ever met my life. I think we all kind of lose. We want to win, you know, and but it's neat to see how the Solheim Cup has grown. I mean, that was the start. It was, you know, like known as a great course it was a great venue for the event and I, I have some of my most fondest memories there.

Mike Gonzalez  26:21

So five times as a player in the Solheim Cup. I think we went win loss won won won So 4-1  record as a team and then what a privilege to be the captain of the Solheim Cup 2007 with a win at The Halmsstead Golf Club in Sweden with you against Helen Alfredsson and quite a team you had that year.

King, Betsy  26:44

Yeah, that was a lot of fun. I had a great team. The weather was not the best that year we had a delay in fact one of the days that we had to finish the matches Sunday morning before we started the singles because of delay on Saturday we'd had really high winds and some rain to the point where it blew over some of the the tents on the property and Julie was on that team Morgan Pressell, Paula Creamer, Angela Stanford. I'm trying to think Brittany Lincicome that was her first Solheim Cup Natalie Gulbis. It was it was a great group of players and I was just hoping to make it a memorable week for them. And they, they played really well. I think we were down a little bit going into the singles but we came back and one is usual Americans in general, I've always been stronger in the single matches. And I I do remember, Morgan drew, Annika to play in the in the singles and she was really excited about it. And she took her down, she played really did, defeated her. And she wanted to play or she wanted to play or Morgan was such a great match player, you know, she had a pretty good average career match play. And she, at that time was just confident in her ability to win.

Mike Gonzalez  28:08

Yep, took her down to one must have been a heck of a match. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So, Bruce, as you look back on Betsy King's career, and you look at some of the accolades and award I was stood, quietly finalist.

Devlin, Bruce  28:23

Yeah. 87, 89 Golf Writers Female Player of the Year, ESPY Award for the Best Female Golfer in 1994. World Golf Hall of Fame in 1995 LPGA William and Mousie Powell Award in 86, National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame, 2002 Silver Anniversary Awards. And one thing that I know Betsy King is so proud of his her philanthropy that she has done over the years Habitat for Humanity, Romanian orphans, Golf Fore Africa, which I believe you have. You make three trips a year for that, right? Well,

King, Betsy  29:10

I haven't, I've made 25 trips to Africa since I started Golf Fore Africa. I haven't. I'm headed there again, this August. I haven't gone since the pandemic and we as a group, but we went walls last year, but on average, closer to two trips a year. But I've done every time I go I'm greatly inspired and want to continue the work and also would love to see it go on after me so that we can continue to make a difference in Africa, basically, by bringing clean water improve sanitation and hygiene education, to villages to health clinics and to schools in rural Africa. That's what we're doing.

Mike Gonzalez  29:53

Yeah, so that that first trip in 2006, must have been a transformational Last time,

King, Betsy  30:00

it was it was very much. So I went with a group of women that an agency called World Vision that does relief and development, I invited to Africa to see the effect of poverty and the AIDS pandemic, particularly on women and children. And, you know, we talk about poverty here and not saying it doesn't exist, but it does not exist at the level, to the extent you see it anywhere in the world, and particularly what I saw in Africa. And, you know, and its effect. I mean, when you see people that don't know where their next meal is coming from that lack access to clean water, that live in, in entire communities that have no sanitation, have no electricity, are sleeping on dirt floors. You know, it's it's, you can't see that and not do anything about it. I know I can't change the world, but I can change the world that I'm in. And that's Yep, we've set as a goal for golfer Africa.

Mike Gonzalez  31:07

Yeah, well, just looking at your website, in in terms of access to clean water 450 wells installed 300,000 People help 15 million in money granted over that time. And that's leaving you quite a legacy. Yeah, sure. Yeah.

King, Betsy  31:27

I, I just feel honored that we've had people come alongside us to make a difference. I mean, I'm personally committed financially as well. But without all the donors that have stepped up to help us that have played in our events. The players that have lent their name their notoriety, have fundraised for us to play in our events have gone to Africa with us. Without all of that, you know, we couldn't have done what we've been able to do. So I just want to thank everyone for their support.

Mike Gonzalez  31:58

Yeah. So Bruce, as we wind down here, there's three questions. Betsy has answered one of them. And so we got Yeah, she's already answered one. Oh, that's fine. I'll take the first question. And that's this, Betsy, we're going to put you back to 20 years old or so you're just starting the tour 22, 23. To what you know, now, you know, then what you know, now, what would you have done differently?

King, Betsy  32:25

Well, what came immediately to mind is to be nicer to everyone. I mean, I did it most of the time. But, you know, sometimes I didn't. And sometimes you get in a bubble, and you feel like, I can't be nice to everyone or not, it's not in a bad way. But like, oh, I don't have time to do all that. And if I were to have to do it over again, I would have I think I would be friendlier, including while I was playing and realize that it's not going to affect my ability to compete. Well. I think people get too, too put in that bubble. And when I go to tournaments now and I see players with headphones on while they're practicing and walking around, it kind of makes me mad. Because I really know they're doing it to shut out people as opposed to, you know, just that they need to do that to perform well. So that that would be for me, the one thing I would do differently.

Devlin, Bruce  33:27

Okay, last one. How would you like Betsy King to be remembered?

King, Betsy  33:34

Well, hopefully, that I did the best that I could with the God given ability that I have to be the best player that I can be. And then secondly, that I've also done that to be the best person that I can be.

Devlin, Bruce  33:50

Well, you've been a wonderful guest for us Betsy and I know, I won't speak for Mike, because I know he'd like to say it as well. But you've been a fabulous guest, and we appreciate your time. And all I can say is what a wonderful career you had. Thanks. 

King, Betsy  34:08

Well thank you. Thanks so much. Again, I just want to congratulate you guys on what you're doing. I think it's great to get these stories down. And let's keep the history of golf alive. And I'm very pleased to have been a part of it. Thank you.

Mike Gonzalez  34:24

Wonderful having you. And you're so pleased to be able to add your story to all the great stories we've been able to tell so far. 

King, Betsy  34:30

Right. Thank you. Thanks so much.

Mike Gonzalez  34:33

Thank you for listening to another episode of for the good of the game. Please, wherever you listen to your podcast on Apple and Spotify. If you like what you hear, please subscribe. Spread the word. Tell your friends straight down until we tee it up again. For the good of the game. So long, everybody

Music playing  34:54

King, Betsy

Golf Professional

Introduction

In the world of golf, there are few names as iconic and inspiring as Betsy King. Her journey from a young girl with a passion for the sport to becoming a dominant force on the LPGA Tour is a tale of determination, resilience, and unwavering dedication. With 34 LPGA Tour victories, including six major championships, Betsy King's impact on the game goes beyond the numbers; she's a true embodiment of the spirit of golf.

Early Years and Love for the Game

Betsy King's story began in Reading, Pennsylvania, where she was born on August 13, 1955. Growing up in a family that embraced sports, King found herself drawn to golf from a young age. Her father introduced her to the game, and as she swung her first club, a lifelong love affair was ignited.

Despite facing challenges in accessing golf facilities as a girl, King's determination knew no bounds. She practiced diligently, honing her skills on public courses and driving ranges. Her early experiences instilled in her a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for the opportunities that golf could provide.

Collegiate Success and Transition to the Pros

King's journey to the top of the golfing world began with her college years at Furman University. A standout player, she helped lead the Furman Lady Paladins to an NCAA Championship title in 1976. Her collegiate success was a stepping stone to her professional career, where she turned heads with her tenacity and skill.

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clock This article was published more than  32 years ago

LPGA SEES ITS STAR ASCENDING AS SEASON OPENS

The Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour opens its season Thursday with a new star, a new Hall of Fame entrant and new optimism.

Meg Mallon, that new light many consider the most refreshing and talented presence on the women's tour since the arrival of Nancy Lopez, is the fitting defending champion for the schedule's opener, the LPGA Classic in Lake Worth, Fla.

Mallon, who broke though in her fifth year for dramatic victory in last summer's $1 million LPGA Championship at Bethesda Country Club and annexed her second major title in the U.S. Open, amassed four victories and a cool $633,802 for the year, second only to Pat Bradley. Bradley won four events and $763,118 and was recently inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame with 30 career victories.

Mallon, the quick-to-smile Natick, Mass., native honored this month by the Washington Touchdown Club as female athlete of the year, was a popular winner at Bethesda, where she sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the final green to edge Bradley and Ayoko Okamoto. This year's LPGA Championship at Bethesda will be played earlier in the season, May 14-17, to better space out the four major championships and to play the Bradley Boulevard course in its best springtime condition.

Charles S. Mechem Jr., who took over as LPGA commissioner a little over a year ago, may be improving a tour sometimes perceived as lacking fans and TV exposure. There was also an awkward three-week lull in the schedule last April -- prime golf season -- when no tournaments were played.

This year's version seems more solid, with no "spring break," more tournaments, more televised events and increased purses.

"We will be playing 40 events, the most the LPGA has ever played," said Mechem, noting also there will be "five to six more events on television this year." The LPGA Tour has added another tournament (May 28-31), the return of the Skins Game the week after the LPGA Championship (featuring Lopez, Mallon, Bradley and Jan Stephenson), and the Women's Championship (April 16-19).

Lopez, forced to skip the LPGA Championship and much of last season's schedule in expectation of her third daughter (born in October), is entered in this week's Florida opener. So are fellow top performers Bradley, Amy Alcott, Beth Daniel, Patty Sheehan and Betsy King.

"Our prize money will go up from $18 1/2 million to about $21 million," added Mechem. "Spring break is over, is the best way to put it. We have only one week {off} in the spring now, that is Masters week, and frankly it's a week we don't necessarily want a tournament. I feel really good about the year, I really do."

When Mechem took office Jan. 1, 1991, he faced a major problem: "I felt the tour had a massive inferiority complex. I don't think the tour had the confidence in itself that it had the right to have, and that was occasioned by a number of things; partly the growth of the men's tour in the '70s and the senior tour in the '80s. I think our players read and heard about the growth of those and basically said 'Well, what about us?' And we had to go to work on that.

"A player like Meg is a great advance for the LPGA. She's not only talented as a player but a wonderful person, and she is not only very popular with the other players, but is a wonderful representative for the LPGA with the media and the fans. She's anxious to play."

Mechem said some LPGA players were asking Bradley, 40, when she might retire and she replied, "When you start beating me, I'll retire; not until then."

"I think we've got as strong a group of players as the LPGA has ever had. Not only the proven stars . . . then you've got the emerging stars, Deb Richard, Danielle Ammaccapane, Kris Tschetter, Dottie Mochrie and a great rookie crop," said Mechem, a confessed 18-handicapper. ("I prove it every time I get a chance.")

"If you just look at the schedule, what he's done for us, after a year, he's added television, with four or five new events on TV," Mallon said of Mechem. "They seem to tell us it's the only way to get national respect. More television has to help. I was on the board that helped hire Charlie. He's done great things for us."

In talking of LPGA Tour talent, Mallon said: "We're just getting deeper, much to the chagrin of players like myself who want to win more tournaments. We now have 50 people who can win any week, rather than the 10 or 15 it used to be.

"There are kids coming out of college who can leave school and get out there and play right away. They're so confident and they've had great experience in pressure tournaments in school. People like Brandie Burton" -- last season's long-hitting rookie of the year.

"Our international players are coming on strong too. It's going to be a dandy year. Beth Daniel will be happy and healthy. Betsy King has been working real hard on her game. The competition is going to be better than ever."

Staff writer Leonard Shapiro contributed to this report.

1992 LPGA TOUR SCHEDULE (MAJORS IN BOLDFACE)

DATE...............TOURNAMENT, SITE

Jan. 30-Feb. 2.....Oldsmobile LPGA Classic, Lake Worth, Fla.

Feb. 7-9...........Phar-Mor at Inverrary, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Feb. 20-22.........Itoki Hawaiian Ladies Open, Oahu, Hawaii

Feb. 26-29.........Women's Kemper Open, Maui, Hawaii

March 5-8..........Inamori Classic, Poway, Calif.

March 12-15........Ping/Welch's Championship, Tucson

March 19-22........Standard Register Ping, Phoenix

March 26-29........Nabisco Dinah Shore, Rancho Mirage, Calif.

April 3-5..........Las Vegas LPGA International

April 16-19........Sega Women's Championship, Stockbridge, Ga.

April 24-26........Sara Lee Classic, Old Hickory, Tenn.

April 30-May 3.....Centel Classic, Tallahassee, Fla.

May 8-10.......Crestar-Farm Fresh Classic, Chesapeake, Va.

May 14-17......Mazda LPGA Championship, Bethesda, Md.

May 21-24......LPGA Corning Classic, Corning, N.Y.

May 23-24......JCPenney/LPGA Skins Game, Frisco, Tex.

May 28-31......Oldsmobile Classic, East Lansing, Mich

June 4-7.......McDonald's Championship, Wilmington, Del.

June 12-14.....ShopRite LPGA Classic, Somers Point, N.J.

June 19-21.....Lady Keystone Open, Hershey, Pa.

June 25-28.....Rochester International, Pittsford, N.Y.

July 3-5.......Jamie Farr Toledo Classic, Sylvania, Ohio

July 10-12.....Phar-Mor in Youngstown, Vienna, Ohio

July 16-19.....JAL Big Apple Classic, New Rochelle, N.Y.

July 23-26.....U.S. Women's Open, Oakmont, Pa.

July 30-Aug. 2...LPGA Bay State Classic (site TBA)

Aug. 6-9..Stratton Mountain LPGA Classic, Stratton Mountain, Vt.

Aug. 13-16.......Du Maurier Ltd. Classic, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Aug. 21-23.......Northgate Computer Classic, Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Aug. 27-30.......Sun-Times Challenge, Naperville, Ill.

Sept. 5-7........Rail Charity Golf Classic, Springfield, Ill.

Sept. 11-13......Ping/Cellular One LPGA Golf Championship, Portland, Ore.

Sept. 17-20......Safeco Classic, Kent, Wash.

Sept. 24-27......Los Coyotes LPGA Classic, Buena Park, Calif.

Oct. 1-4.........Solheim Cup, Edinburgh, Scotland

Oct. 23-25.......World Championship of Women's Golf (site TBA)

Oct. 30-Nov. 1...Nichirei International, Ibaragi, Japan

Nov. 6-8.....Mazda Japan Classic, Hanno City, Saitama-Ken, Japan

Dec. 3-6.....JCPenney Classic, Tarpon Springs, Fla.

Dec. 10-13...JBP Cup LPGA Match Play Championship, Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii

32 Best Golfers Of The 90s

The 1990s was the decade Tiger Woods joined the pro ranks, but who were the best golfers of the 90s?

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The 1990s saw great changes in top-level golf. Prize money rocketed during this decade. When Corey Pavin topped the PGA Tour money list for 1991 he did so with winnings of $979,430. When Tiger Woods did the same in 1999 the corresponding figure was $6,616,585. Equipment also changed, with metal woods coming in, ball technology moving on and graphite shafts becoming common. But who were the leading golfers during that decade who were playing through these changes in the golfing landscape?

Alison Nicholas

Gibraltar-born Alison Nicholas won the U.S. Women’s Open in 1997 at Pumpkin Ridge. She overcame Nancy Lopez by a shot despite Lopez becoming the first player to shoot all four rounds in the 60s in a U.S. Women's Open. That year Nicholas won The Association of Golf Writers Trophy, Ladies European Tour Players' Player of the Year and Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year. Nicholas won four times on the LPGA Tour in the Nineties and four times on the Ladies European Tour. She was an ever-present on Europe’s Solheim Cup team during the decade.

Paul Azinger

Paul Azinger won half a dozen times in the Nineties culminating in his victory at the PGA Championship when he defeated Greg Norman in a playoff. He also won twice on the European Tour, claiming the International Open in 1990 and 1992. Then in late 1993 he was diagnosed with with cancer in his right shoulder, which involved six months of chemotherapy and five weeks of radiation as part of his treatment. He was able to resume his tournament career, but did not win again until 2000.

Helen Alfredsson

The Swede started her professional touring career on the Ladies European Tour in 1989, and on the LPGA Tour in 1992, when she was awarded Rookie of the Year. She won the Women’s British Open in 1990, but at the time it was not counted as an LPGA Major. She also won the Evian Masters of 1994 and 1998, which was also before that tournament enjoyed Major status. Therefore her one Major Championship victory is the Dinah Shore which she won in 1993. This was her maiden victory on the LPGA tour.

Bernhard Langer

In 1993 Bernhard Langer won his second Masters title, finishing four shots clear of the field. That year he was named European Tour Golfer of the Year. He also finished third in that year’s Open Championship. He was never to win The Open, coming second twice and third four times. He won 18 times on the European Tour during the decade, including winning the PGA Championship at Wentworth in 1993 and 1995. In 1990 he won the world cup with Torsten Giedeon.

Karrie Webb

Australian Karrie Webb turned professional in 1994. In 1995 she was Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year. In 1996 she was LPGA Rookie of the Year and Tour Money Winner; in 1997 she won LPGA Vare Trophy, for the lowest scoring average for the season; in 1999 she was the LPGA Tour Money Winner and also won the LPGA Tour Player of the Year award and won the Vare Trophy again. In 1999 she also won the first of her seven Majors, the du Maurier Classic.

Justin Leonard

Justin Leonard won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1992 and was Low Amateur at the U.S. Open of 1993. He turned pro on leaving college in 1994. In the Open Championship of 1997 at Royal Troon he was five shots off the lead going into the final round. He made six birdies on the front nine, added two more on the 16th and 17th holes and won by two shots after his final round 65. He was runner up in the next Major, the PGA Championship. He was also runner up in the notorious 1999 Open at Carnoustie when he lost out out in a three-way playoff.

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Davis Love III

When Davis Love III won the 1997 PGA Championship at Winged Foot it was with a score of 11 under par, which was five shots better than anyone else. Indeed only three other golfers scored under par. He was the last man to win a Major using a wooden-headed driver. He won the Players Championship in 1992, one of the dozen tournaments he won on the PGA Tour in the Nineties. He also won once on the PGA Tour of Japan. He finished runner up in the Masters in 1995 and 1999, and in the U.S. Open in 1996.

Vijay Singh

The 6 foot 2 inch Fijian won the PGA Championship in 1998 at Sahalee, equalling the course record in the process with with his second round 66. It was the first of his three Majors. PGA Tour Rookie of the year in 1993, he won eight times on the PGA Tour in the 1990s, seven times on the European Tour, twice on the Southern Africa Tour, once on the Asian Tour and once on Asia Golf Circuit. He won the World Match Play Championship in 1997 at Wentworth, beating Ernie Els in the final.

For one week in 1997, from April 20 to 26 to be precise, Tom Lehman was officially the best golfer in the world. He has an unusual golfing CV for a World No. 1 – he won only four regular events in his whole career on the PGA Tour, and one on the European Tour. But he also won the 1996 Open Championship. He was better at coming second than first – he had 19 runner-up finishes on tour. In 1995, 1996 and 1997 at the U.S. Open Lehman held the 54-hole lead. But he finished 3rd, tied 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Brandie Burton

After an amateur career which had included winning the Junior World Golf Championships twice, the U.S. Girls’ Junior and being runner up in the 1989 U.S. Women’s Amateur and playing on the victorious US Curtis Cup side in 1990, in which she won all of her three matches, Brandie Burton turned professional. She was LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1991. She won two Majors, the du Maurier Classics of 1993, when she beat Betsy King in a playoff, and 1998.

Meg Mallon began playing golf when she was seven years old. She joined the LPGA Tour in 1987 and had a breakthrough year in 1991 when she had her first victories, with four wins coming that season including in two of that year’s Majors, the LPGA Championship and the U.S. Women's Open. She had sixteen top-10 finishes in Majors that decade which, as well as her two wins, included second places at the US Women’s Open in 1995 and the Dinah Shore in 1999.

Juli Inkster

Between March and September 1999, Juli Inkster won six times on the LPGA Tour. These wins included the U.S. Women’s Open and the LPGA Championship, the third and fourth of the seven Major championships she won during her career, and both were secured with scores of 16 under par, which gave her margins of victory of five and four strokes respectively. In the other two Majors that year she came 3rd and 6th. She came second on the LPGA Tour money list that season, her best finish.

Corey Pavin

Corey Pavin topped PGA Tour's money list in 1991. In 1992 he came third at the Masters and in 1994 he was runner up in the PGA Championship, six shots behind wire-to-wire winner Nick Price. In 1995 he went into the final round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills three shots behind Tom Lehman and Greg Norman. Pavin is remembered for his 4-wood on the final hole, which he hit from 228 yards to within a few feet of the hole, and for him running down the fairway arms aloft in celebration as the ball was still on its journey. He won by two shots.

Seve Ballesteros

Severiano Ballesteros’ peak years were before the Nineties, but he was still one of the leading golfers entering this decade and in 1991 the charismatic Spaniard won his second European Tour Order of Merit. His winnings of £545,353 that year were more than £150,000 of his nearest rival. He also won the tour’s flagship event that year, the PGA Championship at Wentworth . He won eight times in this decade with his final win on the European Tour coming in May 1995. It was, appropriately enough, the Spanish Open.

Fred Couples

Fred Couples became World No. 1 on March 22, 1992, the first American player to be No. 1 since the rankings had been introduced in April 1986. He stayed there just the week before Nick Faldo displaced him. Faldo lasted just a week in turn before Couples regained top spot, with Couples staying No. 1 for 15 weeks before Faldo again supplanted him. During this second spell as World No. 1, Couples won his only Major, the Masters. He also won the Players Championship in 1996.

All eight of Lee Janzen’s PGA Tour wins came in the 1990s. These included his two US Open titles. He won in 1993 at Baltusrol with a two-shot margin over runner up Payne Stewart. Then, after three more top-10 finishes in Majors, he won the US Open again in 1998, at the Olympic Club, when he came back from being seven strokes off the lead in the final round. He won by a stroke, with Payne Stewart again the runner up. He also won the Players Championship of 1995.

Ernie Els won the US Open twice in the 1990s. Aged 24, he triumphed at Oakmont Country Club which involved an 18-hole playoff with Loren Roberts and Colin Montgomerie. Roberts and Els tied in this so this pair continued to sudden-death holes and The Big Easy won on the second of these. Els took the US Open again in 1997 by one shot from runner-up Colin Montgomerie. Els won the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit in the 1991/92 and 1994/95 seasons. He also spent nine weeks as the World No. 1 over three different spells during this decade.

John Daly was the ninth reserve for the PGA Championship of 1991. When players dropped out, he got a place at the last minute. He had never won on tour, was not able to play a practice round to familiarise himself with the course, and only made his tee time by driving through the night. With his distinctly non country club attitude and his huge drives based on his “Grip It and Rip It” philosophy, Long John stood out – even more so when he won the tournament. He won another Major when he beat Costantino Rocca in a playoff at St Andrews in 1995.

Mark O'Meara

Mark O'Meara had already won 10 times on the PGA Tour, twice on the European Tour and once on the PGA Tour of Japan during this decade when he rocked up at Augusta National for the Masters in April 1998. He won that Masters, by a stroke and then, three months later, added his second Major at a wet and windy Royal Birkdale when he defeated Brian Watts in a playoff after both had played the 72 holes in level par. At 41 years old, O’Meara became the oldest man to win two Majors in a season.

Patty Sheehan

In 1992 Patty Sheehan became the first golfer to win U.S. Women's Open and the Women's British Open in the same year. However at that time the British Open was not counted as a Major, so her tally of Major wins stands at six, four of which were secured during the 1990s. It could, and should, have been five as she was leading the U.S. Women’s Open of 1990 by 11 shots at one point during the third round, but ended up losing by one shot to Betsy King.

David Duval

In October 1997 David Duval won his first tour events, with back-to-back victories. This set off a golden period of him when he won 11 tour events up until April 1999. These wins included the Tour Championship and The Players Championship. In 1998 he won the Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award for the PGA Tour lowest scoring average. He also topped the PGA Tour money list that season. He was second to Tiger Woods on the 1997 and 1999 lists. From March 28 to July 3, 1999 he was top of the world golf rankings.

Ian Woosnam

On April 14, 1991 Ian Woosnam won the Masters and on April 15 he went to No. 1 in the world golf rankings. At the Masters Woosie had been in a tie for the lead with José María Olazábal and Tom Watson coming to the 72nd hole. But the other two had bunker trouble which left Woosnam with a par putt of 6-8ft for the Green Jacket. Woosnam says: “To be world number one – when you think how many golfers there are on this planet and you are the best golfer on it. Everyone wants to win a Major. But, for me, being world number one beats my Masters achievement.”

Payne Stewart

Payne Stewart won the U.S. Open in 1991 after an 18-hole playoff. At the The Open of 1993 at Royal St George’s, Stewart tied the record for the lowest round in The Open with his fourth-round 63, a record subsequently broken. In the 1998 US Open he was four shots ahead going into the final round, but ended up up losing out by a shot. The following year, at Pinehurst, he won his second U.S. Open and this third Major. A statue of him celebrating his winning putt now stands behind the 18th green.

Laura Davies

In 1994 Dame Laura Davies became the first golfer in the men’s or women’s game to win on five different tours in the same calendar year when she won in Europe, the US, Asia, Japan and Australia. But she considers 1996 to be the best year of her career as she won 10 times that year on five different tours, and won two Majors – the LPGA Championship and the du Maurier Classic. The last named was the final one of her four Major titles, which also included the LPGA Championship of 1994.

Four of her six women’s Majors titles were won in the 1990s. In 1990 she won the Dinah Shore and the US Women’s Open. In winning the LPGA Championship in 1992, by 11 shots, she recorded a 17-under 267, at the time a record low aggregate in LPGA history. Her final Major victory was the Dinah Shore in 1997. She also had 14 top-10 finishes in Majors in this decade. After retiring from competitive golf, she founded the charity Golf Fore Africa with the mission statement of “engaging the golf community to fund clean water projects in Africa.”

José María Olazábal

Ollie won the Masters in 1994 and 1999 having been runner up in 1991 at Augusta National. This decade also saw the last outings of his great Ryder Cup pairing with fellow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros. They played together in the 1991 and 1993 Ryder Cups, winnings 5.5 pts across their seven games. Olazábal also played in the victorious 1997 side under Seve’s captaincy, when the Ryder Cup was played in their homeland – the first time it had been played in continental Europe.

Greg Norman

The Great White Shark spent the whole of 1996 atop the World Golf Rankings. He had moved back to top spot in June 1995 and remained there until April 1997, when Tiger Woods toppled him. In all, he spent 312 weeks of the 1990s as World No. 1. But he won only one Major in this period, The Open of 1993, and only two Majors in total. He was eight times a runner up in Majors, notorious for letting leading positions slip. At the 1996 Masters he had a six-shot lead entering the final round, yet finished second, five shots behind winner Nick Faldo.

Colin Montgomerie

Monty dominated European golf in the Nineties. He won the European Order of Merit every year from 1993 to 1999. He won 22 times on the European Tour in this decade, but never won on the PGA Tour, nor in a Major. He lost a three-way play off for the US Open in 1994. In 1995 he set a low-scoring record at the USPGA Championship. Unfortunately for him, so did Steve Elkington, and Monty lost the playoff. He was involved in eight playoffs on the European Tour and lost seven of them; the eighth was abandoned when darkness fell.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods had his first win on the PGA Tour in 1996, at the Las Vegas Invitational, where he beat Davis Love III in a playoff. In 1997 he came top of the PGA Tour season’s money list and won his first Major, the Masters, aged 21. Despite playing the first nine holes in four over par, he ended the tournament at 18 under and won by 12 shots from Tom K ite. In 1999 he won his second Major, the PGA Championship and again headed the season’s money list on the PGA Tour. That season he won eight times on tour.

“Having been a journeyman pretty much up until 1991, winning maybe seven tournaments worldwide in 12 years as a pro, all of a sudden the floodgates opened,” says Price. In 1992 he won the USPGA Championship, and in 1994 The Open followed by his second PGA Championship, becoming the seventh golfer to capture back-to-back Majors. His success was widely enjoyed for, as Lee Trevino says, “Of all the players I know, I don't know a nicer individual. You can't find a person out there that could say a bad word about him.”

Annika Sörenstam

One of the best women’s golfers of all time, the Swede turned pro in 1992. She was the Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year in 1993 and Rookie of the Year on the LPGA Tour in 1994. In 1995 she was the Ladies European Tour Player of the Year and the LPGA Player of the Year, LPGA Tour Money Winner, LPGA Vare Trophy winner and Ladies European Tour Order of Merit winner. She also won the U.S. Women’s Open that year, the first of her ten Majors in her career, and a title which she defended successfully the following year.

Sir Nick Faldo was renowned for his intense work ethic and for not buckling in tense moments on the golf course, often winning out when his opponents did exactly that. He spent 91 weeks as World No. 1 in the 1990s including an unbroken period from July 1992 to February 1994. He won four of his six Major titles during this decade – the Open Championships of 1990 and 1992, at St Andrews and Muirfield respectively, and The Masters of 1990 and 1996. He also won the European Tour Order of Merit in 1992.

Contributing Writer Golf courses and travel are Roderick’s particular interests and he was contributing editor for the first few years of the Golf Monthly Travel Supplement. He writes travel articles and general features for the magazine, travel supplement and website. He also compiles the magazine's crossword. He is a member of Trevose Golf & Country Club and has played golf in around two dozen countries. Cricket is his other main sporting love. He is the author of five books, four of which are still in print: T he Novel Life of PG Wodehouse ; The Don: Beyond Boundaries ; Wally Hammond: Gentleman & Player and England’s Greatest Post-War All Rounder .

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Class of 2018, dottie pepper.

Residence: Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Born in Gansevoort, New York just outside Saratoga Springs, Dottie Pepper was born into a family engulfed in athletics. Her father, Don, was a former major league baseball player (at one time playing first base for the Detroit Tigers) and her grandmother, a talented player on the local golf circuit.

Her beginnings in the game can be credited to her grandmother, who taught her how to play the game at the age of 8 and bought her the clubs as well as a junior membership for her to pursue her new passion. She competed in her first tournament at age 11, winning the junior division, but lost the overall title in sudden-death (coincidentally to the family member who first opened her eyes to the game).

Dottie began playing golf at Brookhaven Golf Club, and was also a member of McGregor Links Country Club, where she continued to learn and hone her game under veteran PGA professional George Pulver. He was her main coach through the early years and was in his late 70s by then, eventually passing about a decade later.

In 1980, Pepper competed in the NYS Girls’ Junior and finished runner-up to Jamie DeWeese of Rochester. The following year at the age of 15, she won both the N.Y.S. Girls’ Junior and N.Y.S. Women’s Amateur Championships, becoming the only woman in NYSGA history to accomplish that feat. When she won the Women’s Amateur title at Rome Country Club, she became the youngest champion in the history of the tournament.

She would not capture another Women’s Amateur before turning professional, but won her second Junior title two years later at McConnellsville Golf Club in 1983 (runner-up in 1980 and 1984).

Pepper committed to playing college golf at Furman University, where she was named All-American three times and earned five individual collegiate victories. In her sophomore and senior season for the Paladins, she was selected as the University’s Female Athlete of the Year. In 1987, she led the team to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships and was named the Furman University Athlete-of-the-year. 

Outside of her college play, she qualified for the 1984 U.S. Women’s Open at Salem Country Club in Peabody, Mass. and finished as the low amateur in the tournament.

Upon graduating with a degree in Physical Education from Furman, she joined the LPGA tour in 1987, where she went on to win 17 tour events. She captured two major championships, including the 1992 and 1999 ANA Inspiration (formerly the Nabisco Dinah Shore). In winning the 1999 major championship, she won with a record-setting 19-under par, the lowest score in relation to par at any LPGA Tour event. She was the tour leader in wins during the 1992 and 1996 seasons and was a member of six Solheim Cup teams.

Once her playing days were over due to injuries, Pepper transferred her focus to sports broadcasting and has been in the forefront of the golf media since the early 2000s. She began working as a golf commentator for NBC and the Golf Channel and in 2013, after a short break, she returned to commentating for ESPN, working major tournaments on the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tour. In 2015, she made history once again, becoming the first woman to call the venerable Master’s Tournament when she stepped in for David Feherty that year.  Currently, she works as an on-course reporter for CBS Sports and covers many of the major televised events.

Beyond broadcasting, Pepper is a past member of the PGA of America’s Board of Directors and has been working on various junior golf initiatives to help grow the game.

Pepper currently resides in Saratoga Springs with her husband, golf writer and historian David Normoyle. The two married in May 2010.

Dottie Pepper’s Career Highlights

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Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation relocating to Vanderbilt Legends Club

The Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation will be relocating to Vanderbilt Legends Club beginning in 2024. (Courtesy Korn Ferry Tour)

The event will remain in mid-Tennessee through at least 2028

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The Korn Ferry Tour announced today a five-year partnership with the Vanderbilt Legends Club at Vanderbilt University to host the annual Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation beginning this season. The 2024 Simmons Bank Open will be played Sept. 12-15 on the North Course at Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tennessee, and the Tennessee Golf Foundation (TGF) will continue as the operator and host organization of the event.

“We are thrilled about the future of the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation,” said Tennessee Golf Foundation President Whit Turnbow. “Vanderbilt University and the Legends Club have been interwoven into the history of the TGF dating back to the early 1990s, and to align that relationship with the strategic vision of the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR University was a match made in heaven. The golf teams, staff and membership have been a joy to work with and we look forward to showing the Legends Club to the world in September!”

Founded in 1992, Vanderbilt Legends Club is a 36-hole golf club located approximately 20 miles south of downtown Nashville. The North Course at Vanderbilt Legends Club, which stretches 7,190 yards from the championship tees, was designed by world-renowned golf course architect Bob Cupp, as well as World Golf Hall of Famer and 19-time PGA TOUR winner Tom Kite.

“I’m delighted that Vanderbilt University has partnered with the PGA TOUR to keep the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation in the middle Tennessee area,” said Candice Storey Lee, Vanderbilt’s Vice Chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director. “We are extremely fortunate to have Vanderbilt Legends Club host a world-class event that will bring in some of the best golfers in the world to compete on the same course that our golfers play at on a daily basis. We hope that this partnership will continue to enrich a growing golf community in the greater Nashville area while showing support for Brandt, Mandy and the Snedeker Foundation.”

The courses at Vanderbilt Legends Club, as well as its pristine 19-acre practice facility, are widely recognized among the finest in Tennessee. The club has hosted numerous competitions, including the Tennessee State Open (1993-96), Southeastern Conference Women’s Championship (1995), LPGA Franklin American Mortgage Championship hosted by Vince Gill & Amy Grant (2000-06), NCAA Women’s Golf Championship (2012), NCAA Women’s Golf Franklin Regional (2022), and the annual Mason Rudolph Championship hosted by Vanderbilt.

The North Course at Vanderbilt Legends Club, which stretches 7,190 yards from the championship tees, was designed by world-renowned golf course architect Bob Cupp, as well as World Golf Hall of Famer and 19-time PGA TOUR winner Tom Kite. (Credit Vanderbilt Legends Club)

The 2024 Simmons Bank Open will be played Sept. 12-15 on the North Course at Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tennessee, and the Tennessee Golf Foundation (TGF) will continue as the operator and host organization of the event. (Credit Vanderbilt Legends Club)

The Korn Ferry Tour announced a five-year partnership with the Vanderbilt Legends Club at Vanderbilt University to host the annual Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation beginning this season. (Credit Vanderbilt Legends Club)

The Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation is a 72-hole tournament that has been a staple on the Korn Ferry Tour schedule since the inaugural playing in 2016 (not played in 2020 due to COVID-19). In 2022, the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation was honored with the prestigious Tournament of the Year Award as part of the PGA TOUR’s annual tournament meetings. Last year, the tournament became a Korn Ferry Tour Finals event, where players compete for increased purses and points over the final four events of the season to determine the season-long points race and claim one of 30 PGA TOUR cards.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Vanderbilt Legends Club and look forward to showcasing its exceptional course and facilities as host of the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation,” said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin. “The Legends Club will serve as a great test for our players during the Korn Ferry Tour Finals as they compete to earn membership on golf’s ultimate stage, the PGA TOUR. As up-and-coming stars continue to emerge from the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR University, we are excited to partner with Vanderbilt University, which is one of the most respected academic institutions in the nation and also one of the top collegiate golf programs annually."

The Simmons Bank Open first announced in 2017 that The Snedeker Foundation would be the official charitable beneficiary of middle Tennessee’s only PGA TOUR-sanctioned tournament. The Snedeker Foundation was founded in 2012 by nine-time PGA TOUR winner and 2012 FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker and his wife, Mandy, to help serve different charities in middle Tennessee. The foundation supports a variety of efforts on both the social and athletic fronts, including "Our Kids," which provides expert medical evaluations and crisis counseling services in response to concerns of child sexual abuse while also working to increase community awareness, education and training about child maltreatment.

"Mandy and I can’t wait to welcome the Simmons Bank Open and the golf world to Vanderbilt Legends Club this September,” said Brandt Snedeker. “Vanderbilt University has played such a vital role in my life and career, and we have so many special friendships and relationships that continue to this day. To bring those together with our Korn Ferry Tour event, which directly benefits the Snedeker Foundation, is very exciting. With the Simmons Bank Open being part of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, and the national exposure and media coverage that comes along with that, this is a positive thing for everyone involved. We know our friends at the Tennessee Golf Foundation will put on a first-class experience that all of middle Tennessee can be proud of."

Through the Tennessee Golf Foundation, the Snedeker Foundation annually supports the Sneds Tour, which puts forth a year-round junior golf tour in Tennessee aimed at allowing kids to learn, play and enjoy the game of golf, while also making competition more affordable through lower entry and registration fees. The Snedeker Foundation has raised in excess of $1 million for charities in the region and The Simmons Bank Open is proud to partner with the Snedekers in support of their mission.

Snedeker is a Nashville native who later played collegiately at nearby Vanderbilt University before earning PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year honors in 2007. Prior to that, Snedeker got his start on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he won twice in 2006 and earned his PGA TOUR card for the 2007 season.

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Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation moving to Vanderbilt Legends Club

The Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, which is part of the PGA Korn Ferry Tour, will move to Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin on Sept. 12-15.

The move comes after the last three tournaments were played at The Grove in College Grove. It will become the third location for the event, which began in 2016 at Nashville Golf and Athletic Club when it was known as the Nashville Golf Open.

The move comes five months after the LIV Golf tour announced it would add a stop at The Gove on June 21-23. LIV Golf is a Saudi-financed series that debuted in 2022. It was created as an alternative to the PGA Tour and offers the highest purses in golf history.

PGA pro Brandt Snedeker, a Nashville native and former Vanderbilt golfer, added his foundation as the official charitable beneficiary to the Simmons Bank Open in 2017 and has been very involved in the event since then.

"Vanderbilt University has played such a vital role in my life and career, and we have so many special friendships and relationships that continue to this day," Snedeker said in a release. "To bring those together with our Korn Ferry Tour event, which directly benefits the Snedeker Foundation, is very exciting. With the Simmons Bank Open being part of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, and the national exposure and media coverage that comes along with that, this is a positive thing for everyone involved."

The Simmons Bank Open entered into a five-year partnership with Vanderbilt Legends Club. The tournament will be played on the facility's North Course.

GRAYSON MURRAY WINS SIMMONS BANK OPEN: Grayson Murray wins Korn Ferry Tour's Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation

The Tennessee Golf Foundation will continue as operator and host organization of the event.

"We know our friends at the Tennessee Golf Foundation will put on a first-class experience that all of Middle Tennessee can be proud of," Snedeker said.

The Korn Ferry Tour serves a development tour for players trying to reach the PGA.

Grayson Murray, of Raleigh, North Carolina, won the  Simmons Bank Open  in 2023. He posted a 17-under-par 271 for a  three-stroke victory  over Mason Andersen, Jamie Lovemark and Carter Jenkins. Murray earned $270,000.

'We are thrilled about the future of the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation,” said Tennessee Golf Foundation President Whit Turnbow. “Vanderbilt University and the Legends Club have been interwoven into the history of the TGF dating back to the early 1990s, and to align that relationship with the strategic vision of the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour University was a match made in heaven.”

Founded in 1992, Vanderbilt Legends Club is a 36-hole golf club located approximately 20 miles south of downtown Nashville. The North Course at Vanderbilt Legends Club, which stretches 7,190 yards from the championship tees, was designed by golf course architect Bob Cupp, as well as World Golf Hall of Famer and 19-time PGA TOUR winner Tom Kite.

“I’m delighted that Vanderbilt University has partnered with the PGA TOUR to keep the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation in the Middle Tennessee area,” Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Lee said. “We are extremely fortunate to have Vanderbilt Legends Club host a world-class event that will bring in some of the best golfers in the world to compete on the same course that our golfers play at on a daily basis. We hope that this partnership will continue to enrich a growing golf community in the greater Nashville area while showing support for Brandt, (his wife) Mandy, and the Snedeker Foundation.”

The club has hosted the the SEC Championships (1995), Tennessee State Open (1993-96), LPGA Franklin American Mortgage Championship hosted by Vince Gill & Amy Grant (2000-06), NCAA Women’s Golf Championship (2012), NCAA Women’s Golf Franklin Regional (2022), and the annual Mason Rudolph Championship hosted by Vanderbilt.

“The Legends Club will serve as a great test for our players during the Korn Ferry Tour finals as they compete to earn membership on golf’s ultimate stage, the PGA Tour," Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin said. "As up-and-coming stars continue to emerge from the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour University, we are excited to partner with Vanderbilt University, which is one of the most respected academic institutions in the nation, and also one of the top collegiate golf programs annually."

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter