Betsy King
Encyclopedia
- Betsy King was also a childhood name for Lizzie Lloyd KingLizzie Lloyd KingElizabeth "Lizzie" Lloyd King was the infamous alleged murderer of Charles Goodrich, whom she is said to have shot three times in the head on 20 March 1873 in Brooklyn, New York, United States. The murder was headline news in the city, until her capture more than three months after the event...
.
Betsy King (born August 13, 1955) is an American professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won six major championships
Women's major golf championships
Women's golf has a set of major championships which parallels that in men's golf, but the women's system is younger and has been less stable than the men's. Many professional stroke play events for women are played over three rounds , but the majors are played over four rounds , which is the...
and 34 LPGA Tour victories in all.
Career
King was born in Reading, PennsylvaniaReading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
. King graduated from Exeter Township High School in 1973. She played collegiately at Furman University
Furman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
, and was on the 1976 national championship team that included future LPGA players Beth Daniel
Beth Daniel
Beth Daniel is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1979 and won 33 LPGA Tour events, including one major championship, during her career. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame....
, Sherri Turner
Sherri Turner
-Amateur career:Turner was born in Greenville, South Carolina. A golfer by the age of 5, she was the 1974-75 Carolinas Junior champion. While playing for Furman University, she was a medalist at three tournaments, including the Women's Southern Intercollegiate. She was selected for the All-American...
and Cindy Ferro. King was low amateur at the 1976 U.S. Women's Open, then joined the LPGA Tour in 1977. She won her first tournament at the 1984 Women's Kemper Open
Women's Kemper Open
The Women's Kemper Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1979 to 1992. It was played at several different courses in California and Hawaii.-Tournament locations:-Winners:*1992 Dawn Coe*1991 Deb Richard*1990 Beth Daniel*1989 Betsy King...
. She won three titles in 1984, and added 21 top-10 finishes to earn LPGA Tour Player of the Year honors. From 1984 through 1989, King won a total of 20 LPGA events, more wins than any other golfer in the world, male or female, during that time period.
After that first win in 1984, King won at least once each of the next 10 years, with a high of six victories in 1989. She finished in the top-10 on the money list every year from 1985–95, and again in 1997. Along the way, King was named Player of the Year three times, won two scoring titles and three money titles. In 1993 she won a scoring title and the money title, but only one tournament. She finished second five times, including at two majors. She averaged a major a year from 1987 to 1992, then won a sixth major in 1997. The last of her 34 LPGA wins came in 2001. With her 30th win in 1995, she gained entry into the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
.
From 1996 to 2004, there was an event on Tour, the Wachovia LPGA Classic
Wachovia LPGA Classic
The Wachovia LPGA Classic was an annual golf tournament for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour that took place at the Berkleigh Country Club in Kutztown, Pennsylvania from 1996 through 2004...
, hosted by King. She was also a worker for charitable causes, organizing Habitat for Humanity house building projects and working in former Soviet bloc countries with orphan relief agencies. She played for the United States in the Solheim Cup
Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament for professional women golfers contested by teams representing Europe and the United States. It is named after the Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer Karsten Solheim, who was a driving force behind its creation.The inaugural Cup was held in 1990,...
five times (1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998) and was the captain of the 2007 United States team. She led the team to a 16-12 win over Europe in the 2007 Solheim Cup
2007 Solheim Cup
The 2007 Solheim Cup, the tenth edition of the tournament, was held between Friday, 14 September and Sunday, 16 September, at Halmstad GK, Halmstad, Sweden. It was a three-day contest for professional female golfers, pitting the 12 best players born in the United States against the 12 best players...
held in Halmstad, Sweden between 14 and 16 September 2007. She is the last American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to date to be the leading money winner on the LPGA Tour.
LPGA wins (34)
- 19841984 LPGA TourThe 1984 LPGA Tour was the 35th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 26 to November 4. The season consisted of 36 official money events. Amy Alcott and Patty Sheehan won the most tournaments, four each...
(3) Women's Kemper OpenWomen's Kemper OpenThe Women's Kemper Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1979 to 1992. It was played at several different courses in California and Hawaii.-Tournament locations:-Winners:*1992 Dawn Coe*1991 Deb Richard*1990 Beth Daniel*1989 Betsy King...
, Freedom/Orlando ClassicFreedom/Orlando ClassicThe Freedom/Orlando Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1979 to 1984. It was played in Orlando, Florida at the Rio Pinar Country Club from 1979 to 1982 and at the Cypress Creek Country Club from 1983 to 1984.-Winners:Freedom/Orlando Classic...
, Columbia Savings Classic - 19851985 LPGA TourThe 1985 LPGA Tour was the 36th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 24 to November 10. The season consisted of 35 official money events. Nancy Lopez won the most tournaments, five...
(2) Samaritan Turquoise Classic, Rail Charity Classic - 19861986 LPGA TourThe 1986 LPGA Tour was the 37th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 23 to November 9. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Pat Bradley won the most tournaments, five. She also led the money list with earnings of $492,021.There were five...
(2) Henredon Classic, Rail Charity Classic - 19871987 LPGA TourThe 1987 LPGA Tour was the 38th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 29 to November 8. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Jane Geddes won the most tournaments, five...
(4) Circle K Tucson Open, Nabisco Dinah Shore, McDonald's ChampionshipMcDonald's Championship (golf)The McDonald's Championship was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1981 to 1993. It was played at the White Manor Country Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania from 1981 to 1986 and at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware from 1987 to 1993.-Winners:...
, Atlantic City LPGA Classic - 19881988 LPGA TourThe 1988 LPGA Tour was the 39th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from February 4 to November 6. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Juli Inkster, Rosie Jones, Betsy King, Nancy Lopez, and Ayako Okamoto won the most tournaments, three each...
(3) Women's Kemper OpenWomen's Kemper OpenThe Women's Kemper Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1979 to 1992. It was played at several different courses in California and Hawaii.-Tournament locations:-Winners:*1992 Dawn Coe*1991 Deb Richard*1990 Beth Daniel*1989 Betsy King...
, Rail Charity Golf Classic, Cellular One-Ping Golf Championship - 19891989 LPGA TourThe 1989 LPGA Tour was the 40th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 13 to November 5. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Betsy King won the most tournaments, six...
(6) The Jamaica ClassicThe Jamaica ClassicThe Jamaica Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1989 to 1991. It was played at the Tryall Golf Club in Jamaica....
, Women's Kemper OpenWomen's Kemper OpenThe Women's Kemper Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1979 to 1992. It was played at several different courses in California and Hawaii.-Tournament locations:-Winners:*1992 Dawn Coe*1991 Deb Richard*1990 Beth Daniel*1989 Betsy King...
, USX Golf Classic, McDonald's ChampionshipMcDonald's Championship (golf)The McDonald's Championship was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1981 to 1993. It was played at the White Manor Country Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania from 1981 to 1986 and at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware from 1987 to 1993.-Winners:...
, U.S. Women's Open, Nestle World Championship - 19901990 LPGA TourThe 1990 LPGA Tour was the 41st season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 19 to November 4. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Beth Daniel won the most tournaments, seven...
(3) Nabisco Dinah Shore, U.S. Women's Open, JAL Big Apple Classic - 19911991 LPGA TourThe 1991 LPGA Tour was the 42nd season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 18 to November 10. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Pat Bradley and Meg Mallon won the most tournaments, four each. Bradley led the money list with earnings of...
(2) LPGA Corning ClassicLPGA Corning ClassicThe LPGA Corning Classic was an annual golf tournament for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. It took place every year from 1979 through 2009 at the Corning Country Club in Corning, New York....
, JAL Big Apple Classic - 19921992 LPGA TourThe 1992 LPGA Tour was the 43rd season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 30 to November 8. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Dottie Mochrie won the most tournaments, four...
(3) Mazda LPGA Championship, The Phar-Mor in Youngstown, Mazda Japan Classic - 19931993 LPGA TourThe 1993 LPGA Tour was the 44th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from February 5 to November 7. The season consisted of 31 official money events. Brandie Burton won the most tournaments, three...
(1) Toray Japan Queens Cup - 19951995 LPGA TourThe 1995 LPGA Tour was the 46th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 12 to November 5. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Annika Sörenstam won the most tournaments, three. She also led the money list with earnings of $666,533.The season saw...
(1) ShopRite LPGA ClassicShopRite LPGA ClassicThe ShopRite LPGA Classic is a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour, held near Atlantic City, New Jersey. It took place annually from 1986 through 2006 and returned to the tour schedule in 2010 at a new venue, the Bay Course at the Dolce Seaview Resort, with a prize fund of $1.5... - 19971997 LPGA TourThe 1997 LPGA Tour was the 48th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 9 to November 23. The season consisted of 38 official money events. Annika Sörenstam won the most tournaments, six...
(1) Nabisco Dinah Shore - 20002000 LPGA TourThe 2000 LPGA Tour was the 51st season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 13 to November 19. The season consisted of 36 official money events. Karrie Webb won the most tournaments, seven. She also led the money list with earnings of $1,876,853.The U.S...
(2) Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open, LPGA Corning ClassicLPGA Corning ClassicThe LPGA Corning Classic was an annual golf tournament for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. It took place every year from 1979 through 2009 at the Corning Country Club in Corning, New York.... - 20012001 LPGA TourThe 2001 LPGA Tour was the 52nd season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 12 to November 18. The season consisted of 38 official money events. Annika Sörenstam won the most tournaments, eight. She also led the money list with earnings of $2,105,868.This was...
(1) ShopRite LPGA ClassicShopRite LPGA ClassicThe ShopRite LPGA Classic is a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour, held near Atlantic City, New Jersey. It took place annually from 1986 through 2006 and returned to the tour schedule in 2010 at a new venue, the Bay Course at the Dolce Seaview Resort, with a prize fund of $1.5...
LPGA majors
Women's major golf championships
Women's golf has a set of major championships which parallels that in men's golf, but the women's system is younger and has been less stable than the men's. Many professional stroke play events for women are played over three rounds , but the majors are played over four rounds , which is the...
are shown in bold.
Other wins
- 1985 Women's British OpenWomen's British OpenThe Women's British Open is a leading event in women's professional golf and the only tournament which is classified as a major championship by both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Since 2007, it has been called the Ricoh Women's British Open, for sponsorship reasons...
- 1990 Itoman LPGA World Match Play Championship
- 1993 JCPenney/LPGA Skins Game
- Note: King won the Women's British Open before it became a major championship.
Wins (6)
| Year | championship | Winning Score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|
| 1987 1987 Nabisco Dinah Shore The 1987 Nabisco Dinah Shore was played at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. This was the 16th edition of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and the fifth edition as a major championship... |
Nabisco Dinah Shore |
| playoff1 |  Patty SheehanPatty Sheehan Patty Sheehan is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1980 and won six major championships and 35 LPGA Tour events in all. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.... |
| 1989 1989 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship The 1989 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship was contested from July 13 to July 16 at Indianwood Golf and Country Club, Old Course, Five Farms, East Course. It was the 44th edition of the U.S. Women's Open.This event was won by Betsy King.-Final leaderboard:... |
U.S. Women's Open |
| 4 stroke | Nancy Lopez Nancy Lopez Nancy Marie Lopez is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won 48 LPGA Tour events during her LPGA career, including three major championships.-Amateur career:... |
| 1990 1990 Nabisco Dinah Shore The 1990 Nabisco Dinah Shore was played at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. This was the 19th edition of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and the eighth edition as a major championship. It was played from March 29 – April 1.... |
Nabisco Dinah Shore |
| 2 strokes | Shirley Furlong Shirley Furlong Shirley Furlong is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.Furlong won once on the LPGA Tour in 1988.-LPGA Tour wins :1Defeated Turner with par on first extra hole.-External links:... , Kathy PostlewaitKathy Postlewait Kathy Postlewait is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.Postlewait won four times on the LPGA Tour between 1983 and 1989.-LPGA Tour wins:LPGA Tour playoff record -External links:... |
| 1990 1990 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship The 1990 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship was contested from July 12 to July 15 at the Riverside Course of the Atlanta Athletic Club, in Johns Creek, Georgia. It was the 45th edition of the U.S. Women's Open.... |
U.S. Women's Open |
| 1 stroke | Patty Sheehan |
| 1992 1992 LPGA Championship The 1992 LPGA Championship was played at Bethesda Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. This was the 38th edition of the LPGA Championship and was played from May 14-17.This championship was won by Betsy King.-Final leaderboard:-External links:*... |
Mazda LPGA Championship |
| 11 strokes | JoAnne Carner JoAnne Carner JoAnne Gunderson Carner is a former American professional golfer. Her 43 victories on the LPGA Tour led to her induction in the World Golf Hall of Fame. She is the only woman to have won the U.S. Girls' Junior, U.S. Women's Amateur, and U.S. Women's Open titles, and was the first person ever to... ,  Liselotte NeumannLiselotte Neumann Liselotte Maria "Lotta" Neumann is a Swedish professional golfer. She currently plays primarily on the LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:... , Karen Noble |
| 1997 1997 Nabisco Dinah Shore The 1997 Nabisco Dinah Shore was played at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. This was the 26th edition of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and the 15th edition as a major championship. It was played from March 27–30.... |
Nabisco Dinah Shore |
| 2 strokes | Kris Tschetter Kris Tschetter Kris Tschetter is an American golfer, currently playing on the LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:As an amateur, Tschetter won the 1983 American Junior Golf Association Tournament of Champions and was a four-time winner of the South Dakota State Women’s Amateur Championship . In 1984, she qualified for... |
1 Won on second playoff hole with a on the par four sixteenth hole.
Results timeline
| Tournament | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LPGA Championship LPGA Championship The LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour... |
DNP | DNP | T49 | CUT | T27 |
| U.S. Women's Open | T8 | CUT | T20 | CUT | CUT |
| du Maurier Classic | ... | ... | ... | T26 | DNP |
| Tournament | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft Nabisco Championship Kraft Nabisco Championship The Kraft Nabisco Championship is one of the four major championships on the LPGA Tour. It was founded in 1972 by Dinah Shore and has been classified as a major since 1983... |
... | ... | T52 | T24 | T7 | 4 | 1 | T35 | T4 | 1 |
| LPGA Championship LPGA Championship The LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour... |
T38 | T21 | T11 | T7 | T44 | CUT | 2 | T24 | T8 | T5 |
| U.S. Women's Open | T21 | T25 | T32 | T5 | T8 | T3 | T4 | T12 | 1 | 1 |
| du Maurier Classic | T38 | T12 | T25 | 3 | CUT | T3 | 7 | T19 | T2 | T10 |
| Tournament | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft Nabisco Championship Kraft Nabisco Championship The Kraft Nabisco Championship is one of the four major championships on the LPGA Tour. It was founded in 1972 by Dinah Shore and has been classified as a major since 1983... |
T11 | 56 | T2 | T48 | T11 | CUT | 1 | T61 | 77 | CUT |
| LPGA Championship LPGA Championship The LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour... |
7 | 1 | T4 | T17 | T11 | T14 | T53 | T37 | T69 | T23 |
| U.S. Women's Open | T28 | T16 | T7 | T6 | T3 | CUT | T28 | CUT | T47 | T46 |
| du Maurier Classic | T6 | T28 | 2 | T4 | T5 | CUT | T3 | 3 | DNP | T23 |
| Tournament | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft Nabisco Championship Kraft Nabisco Championship The Kraft Nabisco Championship is one of the four major championships on the LPGA Tour. It was founded in 1972 by Dinah Shore and has been classified as a major since 1983... |
74 | T36 | T28 | T58 | T62 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| LPGA Championship LPGA Championship The LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour... |
T54 | T47 | CUT | T17 | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Women's Open | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT |
| Women's British Open Women's British Open The Women's British Open is a leading event in women's professional golf and the only tournament which is classified as a major championship by both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Since 2007, it has been called the Ricoh Women's British Open, for sponsorship reasons... ^ |
DNP | 59 | CUT | T60 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.
DNP = did not play.
CUT = missed the half-way cut.
"T" = tied
WD = withdrew
DQ = disqualified
Green background for a win. Yellow background for a top-10 finish.
See also
- Golfers with most LPGA Tour winsGolfers with most LPGA Tour winsThis table lists players with 10 or more wins on the LPGA Tour. It is based on the list on the LPGA Tour's official site, which differs slightly from the main win lists on player's personal profiles on the site...
- Golfers with most LPGA major championship winsGolfers with most LPGA major championship winsThis article lists all the women who have won the LPGA Tour's, past and present major championships by number of victories. The four current majors are shown first in the order in which they are played each season, followed by the three defunct majors in alphabetical order...