Professional Sports      

LPGA embraces historical  memory filled year in 2000

DAYTONA BEACH, FL. With the close of 2000 just a month away, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is about to close one of the most successful years in its history. While Australia's Karrie Webb was rewriting the record books, the LPGA was also reminiscing about its first 50 years and celebrating its place as the oldest, longest-running women's professional sports association in the world. While it would take more than a few pages to document the many memorable and historical moments from the year 2000, to follow are some of the highlights from the LPGA's 50th season.

LPGA's 50th birthday ... In 1950, 13 courageous women founded the LPGA, and 50 years later, the LPGA celebrated the founders and the other men and women whose efforts built the LPGA into the success and industry leader it is today

As an organization, the LPGA has been fortunate to share our 50th anniversary with our eight living founders this year. The original 13 founders were truly an amazing group of women. Some of them were household names, while others were well known within the golf industry. Each brought something different to what has become the most successful women's professional sports association in the world. But, they also had a common bond . . . a passion for this wonderful game of golf. In 1950, it took no small amount of courage, determination and feistiness to start a women's professional league when society, at that time, wasn't sending very many signals that women could or should be professional athletes. These women also had an abundance of vision . . . not only did they get a women's professional golf tour started and on its way, they also realized there needed to be a parallel path for women who wanted to work in golf as teachers, coaches and golf professionals. That vision resulted in the creation of the LPGA's Teaching and Club Professional Division in 1959. The LPGA founders and early pioneers were true trailblazers, from starting the Tour to refusing to include a "Caucasian only" clause in the original association documents.

The celebration started with the LPGA Night of Champions, a black-tie dinner at The Breakers, in Palm Beach, Fla., which was attended by more than 700 of the LPGA's sponsors, friends and family. The year included a number of special occasions and honors for the association, including a special award from the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association, LPGA Day in New York City and a USGA-hosted dinner during the U.S. Women's Open at the Merit Club. Celebrating Women in Golf: a 50th Anniversary Event capped the year's activities. Hosted at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., the three-day event brought together more than 500 women golfers, both amateur and professional, to play or learn to play golf, attend educational summits and share experiences. Both LPGA Tour players and teachers and club professionals from the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) Division, including many members of the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame, mingled with amateur golfers of all levels.

Webb weaves record year ... Coming off a record-setting 1999 season, Karrie Webb picked up right where she left off. Her seven victories, including two majors, and 17 top 10s earned the Australian her second consecutive Rolex Player of the Year and Vare Trophy honors. The 25-year-old won the first three events she entered: The Office Depot, Australian Ladies Masters (for the third consecutive time) and the inaugural LPGA Takefuji Classic. Webb "faltered" with a second-place finish at her next tournament, but made up for it with a 10-stroke win at The Nabisco Championship, her second major championship victory.

Just when the media began to hint Webb might be in a "slump" because she hadn't won in nearly four months, Webb made win number five a big one-the 2000 U.S. Women's Open. Her $500,000 first-place paycheck was the largest in the history of women's golf. She also pocketed $250,000 in the Nabisco Grand Slam Challenge for winning The Nabisco Championship and one other major in the same year.

Webb wasn't finished. At the Oldsmobile Classic, she tied the LPGA's 18-hole record with a 61 (-11) during the second round. When Webb left East Lansing, she owned her sixth trophy of the season, and the 18-, 36- and 54-hole scoring records (she set the 72-hole scoring record at the 1999 Australian Ladies Masters).

Finally, at the AFLAC Champions Presented by Southern Living, Webb bested Dottie Pepper in a sudden-death playoff to become the first player since Beth Daniel in 1990 to win seven times in a season. Despite two official events left in the season, Webb's win sealed her second-consecutive Rolex Player of the Year award.

Webb's $1,876,853 in earnings set a single-season earnings record, and she also set the record for fastest to reach $5 million and $6 million in career earnings. Webb took home her third Vare Trophy, and at 25 years old, is the youngest player in LPGA history to own three Vare trophies.

Sorenstam also soars ... Annika Sorenstam recorded a memorable season of her own, winning five tournaments and earning more than $1.4 million. Three of her wins (Welch's/Circle K Championship, Evian Masters and Jamie Farr Kroger Classic) came by way of sudden-death playoffs, one of which was over Webb. The Swede posted 15 top-10 finishes and gave Webb a run for her money in the Rolex Player of the Year race.

Rookies ... Grace Park and Dorothy Delasin got off to a quick and promising start with wins at the Kathy Ireland Greens.com Classic and Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, respectively. At the age of 19, Delasin was the youngest LPGA tournament winner since 1975. With stellar play by both rookies throughout the year, it was a close race for the Rolex Rookie of the Year trophy, with Delasin eventually taking home the honors. Delasin is the first U.S. player to win the rookie honors since Pat Hurst in 1995. Also, Delasin will be the first rookie to receive the Louise Suggs Trophy, which will be given annually to the Rolex Rookie of the Year.

The winner's circle ... In addition to Webb and Sorenstam, the LPGA Tour had eight multiple winners, including two Rolex First-Time Winners Sophie Gustafson and Lorie Kane. The remaining multiple winners are: Juli Inkster and Kane, 3 titles; and Laura Davies, Betsy King, Meg Mallon and Gustafson, two.

In addition to Gustafson and Kane, five other LPGA Tour players became Rolex First-Time Winners: Charlotta Sorenstam, Janice Moodie, Laurel Kean, Park and Delasin.

Solheim Cup ... For the second time in six stagings, the European squad gained The Solheim Cup title in dramatic style. For just the second time, The Solheim Cup was played in Scotland, and it was déjà vu. Scotland was also the site of the European Team's only other victory in 1992. In addition to the rain and soggy conditions, some of the lasting images from Loch Lomond Golf Club, the host for the match-play competition, include: Nancy Scranton's laughter while the rules were discussed when a towel dropped on her ball; Sophie Gustafson's steady play; Juli Inkster's birdie run in singles; and Carin Koch's smile of victory as she clinched the Cup for the Europeans. The level of golf played over the three days was outstanding, and this year's competition was a win-win for women's golf. The stage is set for the rivalry to continue in 2002 at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn.

LPGA Tour Hall of Fame ... Judy Rankin became the 17th member of the prestigious LPGA Tour Hall of Fame. In May, Rankin was voted into LPGA Tour Hall of Fame under the newly created Veteran's Category. Rankin joined Beth Daniel and Juli Inkster, both of whom qualified for the Hall during the 1999 season, at the induction ceremony for the World Golf Hall of Fame at the World Golf Village on Nov. 20.

Future Hall of Famers ... Webb and Annika Sorenstam completed the playing requirements for entrance into the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame, leaving only the 10-year membership requirement remaining to be met. Sorenstam earned her 27th point at the Welch's/Circle K Championship, while Webb stamped her ticket to the Hall at the U.S. Women's Open. Sorenstam will qualify after the 2003 season, while Webb will qualify at the conclusion the 2005 season.

New major ... At the end of September, the LPGA named the Weetabix Women's British Open as its newest major championship, replacing the du Maurier Classic. The criteria used for choosing the Weetabix Women's British Open included a sense of tradition and prestige, both within the LPGA and the world of golf; a commitment to stage the event on a renowned, world-class golf course(s); and financial resources consistent with a long-term commitment; television exposure and purse enhancements consistent with the LPGA's other majors.

Like the U.S. Women's Open, the Weetabix Women's British Open rotates among the top courses in Britain. Courses currently on the rotation schedule include Turnberry, Sunningdale, Royal Lytham and Royal Birkdale, where this year's tournament was held. For 2001, the tournament will boast a $1.5 million purse (a $250,000 increase), as well as network television coverage in the United States for the first time in the event's history. ABC Sports will televise the event in the United States, with the BBC providing coverage in the United Kingdom.

Money, money, money ... Karrie Webb, Annika Sorenstam and Meg Mallon took advantage of the richest season in LPGA history, each eclipsing the $1 million mark in single-season earnings. This marked the first time the LPGA has had three $1 million winners in a single season.

State Farm LPGA Series ... With her tie for fourth at the State Farm Rail Classic, Pat Hurst won the 2000 State Farm LPGA Series Bonus Pool. Hurst earned the $100,000 first-place check with 431 points, putting her 76 points ahead of runner-up Lorie Kane. The $250,000 The State Farm LPGA Series is a sponsored television series that features coverage of 10 LPGA events on ESPN and ESPN2. Players finishing in the top 20 at the 10 State Farm LPGA Series events earned points for the bonus pool. The State Farm Rail Classic, which offered triple State Farm LPGA Series points, was the final event for the bonus pool.

T&CP Hall of Fame ... The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) Division welcomed six inaugural members into the LPGA T&CP Hall of Fame on Oct. 25 during the kickoff dinner for Celebrating Women in Golf: an LPGA 50th Anniversary Event, Oct. 25-28, 2000, at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla. LPGA Founders Patty Berg, Marilynn Smith, Shirley Spork and Louise Suggs, as well as LPGA teaching legends Peggy Kirk Bell and Betty Hicks, were officially inducted into the newly created LPGA T&CP Hall of Fame at the dinner.

Crowne Plaza Achievement Award ... In addition to Karrie Webb's seven Tour titles, Rolex Player of the Year and Vare Trophy honors, she won the inaugural Crowne Plaza Achievement Award, an international award presented annually to the LPGA Tour player who earns the most points in eight selected LPGA Tour events. Webb earned 445 points, finishing 149.70 points ahead of second-place Meg Mallon (295.3 points). Webb will receive her award from a Bass Hotel and Resorts executive at the LPGA's annual awards dinner in January 2001, in Orlando, Fla. A $15,000 check will also be presented to the Give Kids a World non-profit foundation in honor of Webb.

[Source:  LPGA]