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A
Superstar that Promoted the Game |
By
Jordan Frye
2005 Communications Intern
With over 57 career victories, Patty Berg was not only a tremendous
golfer, but also a fantastic teacher and a brilliant promoter
of the sport. Her contributions to women’s golf are
immeasurable.
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Patty
Berg |
Berg
won 15 majors as a professional, including the first U.S Women’s
Open in 1946, the Western Open seven times and Titleholders
Championship four times.
A pioneer in women’s golf, Berg was the first president
of the LPGA, which was established in 1948. Berg was recognized
as a member of the Big Four, along with Babe Didrickson Zaharias,
Betty Jameson and Louise Suggs.
Born in Minneapolis on Feb. 13, 1918, Berg was a natural athlete.
Always a competitor at heart, she participated in many sports
during her youth, including speed skating. She began to concentrate
on golf at age 13, and it became her life-long passion.
In 1934, Berg won the Minneapolis City Championship, her first
tournament win as an amateur.
“That was my proudest moment ever,” Berg said.
“After that, I began to dream.”
After a few disappointing losses in the Women’s Amateur,
Berg finally won the event in 1938. It would be one of 10
wins she would acquire as an amateur that year.
At a time when women’s golf was in its beginnings, Berg
established herself as a leading lady when she turned professional
in 1940. She won her first tournament in 1941 in the Women’s
Western Open, but a car accident shortly following the tournament
kept her away from the game for 18 months.
After the successful rehabilitation of her knee and a two-year
period in the Marines, Berg, a graduated second lieutenant,
returned to golf and won the first U.S. Women’s Open
in 1946.
Throughout her career, Berg has executed a full schedule of
exhibitions and clinics all over the world. She began as a
promoter for Wilson Sporting Goods and has continued to reach
thousands of people across the globe—an estimated 10,000
performances in her career.
While maintaining this vigorous schedule even during her full-time
professional competition, Berg attained several milestones
as a female golfer.
Berg was the leading money winner in the LPGA in 1954, 1955,
and 1957 and became the first woman to win $100,000 in career
earnings. She was awarded the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring
average in 1953, 1955 and 1956. The Associated Press voted
her outstanding woman athlete of the year three times, and
she was honored by the USGA in 1963 with the Bob Jones Award
for outstanding sportsmanship.
Berg won her final professional event in 1961, but still played
well into her seventies. After cancer surgery in 1971, she
continued to compete until hip replacement surgery nine years
later put her competitive career to rest.
Her lifetime achievements were honored by the LPGA in 1978
when the association created the Patty Berg Award. This award
is presented yearly to the lady golfer who has made the greatest
contribution to the sport throughout that year.
Berg will forever be remembered for her lifetime dedication
to the world of women’s golf. |
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