Inside Kathy Whitworth’s iconic career as LPGA legend and ‘winningest’ golfer in history dies at 83

THE most victorious golfer in history, Kathy Whitworth, has died at age 83.

With 88 wins, Whitworth achieved the most victories by any player on a single professional tour. 

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Her LPGA Tour wins spanned nearly a quarter-century and she became the first woman to earn $1million in her career.

Whitworth’s death on Christmas Eve was confirmed by her longtime partner.

Her cause of death is unknown but Bettye Odle, her partner, said that it was sudden as she celebrated with family and friends.

“Kathy left this world the way she lived her life – loving, laughing and creating memories,” Odle said in a statement.

The first of Whitworth’s 88 titles was in the Kelly Girls Opens in July 1962.

She won six majors during her career and would break Mickey Wright’s record of 82 carer wins when she captured the Lady Michelob in the summer of 1982.

Her last win was in 1985 at the United Virginia Bank Classic.

“Winning never got old,” she once said.

The only major award that Whitworth didn’t receive was the coveted US Women’s Open

“I would have swapped being the first to make a million for winning the Open, but it was a consolation which took some of the sting out of not winning,” she said in 1981.

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