- Betsy King was also a childhood name for Lizzie Lloyd King.
Betsy King | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
Born | Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. | August 13, 1955||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||||||||||||||||
Sporting nationality | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Residence | Limekiln, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
Career | |||||||||||||||||
College | Furman University | ||||||||||||||||
Turned professional | 1977 | ||||||||||||||||
Former tour(s) | LPGA Tour (1977–2005) | ||||||||||||||||
Professional wins | 39 | ||||||||||||||||
Number of wins by tour | |||||||||||||||||
LPGA Tour | 34 | ||||||||||||||||
Ladies European Tour | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
LPGA of Japan Tour | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
Other | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
Best results in LPGA major championships (wins: 6) | |||||||||||||||||
Chevron Championship | Won: 1987, 1990, 1997 | ||||||||||||||||
Women's PGA C'ship | Won: 1992 | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Women's Open | Won: 1989, 1990 | ||||||||||||||||
du Maurier Classic | 2nd/T2: 1989, 1993 | ||||||||||||||||
Women's British Open | 59th: 2002 | ||||||||||||||||
Achievements and awards | |||||||||||||||||
|
Betsy King (born August 13, 1955) is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won six major championships and 34 LPGA Tour victories in all.
Early life, college and amateur career
King was born on born August 13, 1955, in Reading, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Exeter Township High School in 1973. She played collegiately at Furman University, and was on the 1976 national championship team that included future LPGA players Beth Daniel, Sherri Turner and Cindy Ferro. She was low amateur at the 1976 U.S. Women's Open.
Professional career
King joined the LPGA Tour in 1977. She won her first tournament at the 1984 Women's Kemper Open. 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, she won a total of 20 LPGA events, more wins than any other golfer in the world, male or female, during that time period.[1]
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, she 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.[1]
From 1996 to 2004, there was an event on Tour, the Wachovia LPGA Classic, 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 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 held in Halmstad, Sweden between September 14 and 16, 2007. In 2001, she was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional wins (39)
LPGA Tour (34)
Legend |
---|
LPGA Tour major championships (6) |
Other LPGA Tour (26) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mar 25, 1984 | Women's Kemper Open | −9 (71-72-73-73=289) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
2 | Apr 29, 1984 | Freedom/Orlando Classic | −14 (69-67-66=202) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
3 | Aug 26, 1984 | Columbia Savings Classic | −7 (72-70-67-72=281) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
4 | Mar 3, 1985 | Samaritan Turquoise Classic | −8 (69-68-72-71=280) | Playoff | ![]() |
5 | Sep 2, 1985 | Rail Charity Classic | −11 (65-73-67=205) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
6 | Aug 10, 1986 | Henredon Classic | −11 (70-67-70-70=277) | Playoff | ![]() |
7 | Sep 1, 1986 | Rail Charity Classic | −11 (70-72-63=205) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
8 | Mar 22, 1987 | Circle K Tucson Open | −7 (70-71-72-68=281) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
9 | Apr 5, 1987 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | −5 (68-75-72-68=283) | Playoff | ![]() |
10 | Jun 7, 1987 | McDonald's Championship | −6 (72-68-71-67=278) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
11 | Aug 23, 1987 | Atlantic City LPGA Classic | −6 (70-71-66=207) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
12 | Mar 6, 1988 | Women's Kemper Open | −8 (73-72-66-69=280) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
13 | Sep 5, 1988 | Rail Charity Golf Classic | −9 (68-68-71=207) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
14 | Sep 11, 1988 | Cellular One-Ping Golf Championship | −3 (71-70-72=213) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
15 | Jan 15, 1989 | The Jamaica Classic | −11 (64-68-70=202) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
16 | Feb 26, 1989 | Women's Kemper Open | −14 (63-72-67=202) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
17 | Apr 23, 1989 | USX Golf Classic | −13 (67-70-72-66=275) | Playoff | ![]() |
18 | Jun 25, 1989 | McDonald's Championship | −16 (69-65-71-67=272) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
19 | Jul 16, 1989 | U.S. Women's Open | −6 (67-71-72-68=278) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
20 | Aug 27, 1989 | Nestle World Championship | −13 (66-71-70-68=275) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
21 | Apr 1, 1990 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | −5 (69-70-69-75=283) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
22 | Jul 15, 1990 | U.S. Women's Open | −4 (72-71-71-70=284) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
23 | Aug 19, 1990 | JAL Big Apple Classic | −15 (75-67-63-68=273) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
24 | May 26, 1991 | LPGA Corning Classic | −15 (69-73-65-66=273) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
25 | Jul 21, 1991 | JAL Big Apple Classic | −9 (73-66-67-73=279) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
26 | May 17, 1992 | Mazda LPGA Championship | −17 (68-66-67-66=267) | 11 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
27 | Jul 12, 1992 | The Phar-Mor in Youngstown | −7 (71-67-71=209) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
28 | Nov 8, 1992 | Mazda Japan Classic1 | −11 (66-72-67=205) | Playoff | ![]() |
29 | Nov 7, 1993 | Toray Japan Queens Cup1 | −11 (68-70-67=205) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
30 | Jun 25, 1995 | ShopRite LPGA Classic | −9 (66-71-67=204) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
31 | Mar 30, 1997 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | −12 (71-67-67-71=276) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
32 | Feb 19, 2000 | Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open | −12 (67-67-70=204) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
33 | May 28, 2000 | LPGA Corning Classic | −12 (69-68-69-70=276) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
34 | Jul 1, 2001 | ShopRite LPGA Classic | −12 (65-69-67=201) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
1Co-sanctioned by the LPGA of Japan Tour
LPGA Tour playoff record (8–6)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1979 | Wheeling Classic | ![]() |
Lost to par on first extra hole |
2 | 1985 | Samaritan Turquoise Classic | ![]() |
Won with eagle on first extra hole |
3 | 1986 | Henredon Classic | ![]() |
Won with par on second extra hole |
4 | 1986 | Rail Charity Classic | ![]() ![]() |
Won with birdie on second extra hole |
5 | 1986 | Konica San Jose Classic | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sheehan won with birdie on first extra hole |
6 | 1987 | Mazda Classic | ![]() |
Lost to par on first extra hole |
7 | 1987 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | ![]() |
Won with par on second extra hole |
8 | 1988 | Crestar Classic | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Inkster won with eagle on first extra hole |
9 | 1989 | USX Golf Classic | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
10 | 1992 | The Phar-Mor in Youngstown | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
11 | 1992 | Mazda Japan Classic | ![]() |
Won with birdie on fourth extra hole |
12 | 1993 | du Maurier Ltd. Classic | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
13 | 1994 | Toray Japan Queens Cup | ![]() |
Lost to par on first extra hole |
14 | 2000 | LPGA Corning Classic | ![]() ![]() |
Won with birdie on second extra hole |
LPGA majors are shown in bold.
Ladies European Tour (1)
- Note: King won the Women's British Open once before it became co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour in 1994 and recognized as a major championship by the LPGA Tour in 2001
LPGA of Japan Tour (3)
- 1981 Ajinomoto-Itsuki Charity Classic
- 1992 Mazda Japan Classic1
- 1993 Toray Japan Queens Cup1
1Co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour
Legends Tour (1)
- 2013 Fry's Desert Golf Classic (with Jane Crafter)
Other (3)
- 1990 Itoman LPGA World Match Play Championship
- 1993 JCPenney/LPGA Skins Game
Major championships
Wins (6)
Year | championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | −5 (68-75-72-68=283) | Playoff1 | ![]() |
1989 | U.S. Women's Open | −4 (67-71-72-68=278) | 4 stroke | ![]() |
1990 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | −5 (69-70-69-75=283) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
1990 | U.S. Women's Open | −4 (72-71-71-70=284) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
1992 | Mazda LPGA Championship | −17 (68-66-67-66=267) | 11 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
1997 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | −12 (71-67-67-71=276) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
1 Won on second extra hole with a par
Results timeline
Tournament | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LPGA Championship | T49 | CUT | T27 | ||
U.S. Women's Open | T8 | CUT | T20 | CUT | CUT |
du Maurier Classic | ... | ... | ... | T26 |
Tournament | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kraft Nabisco Championship | ... | ... | T52 | T24 | T7 | 4 | 1 | T35 | T4 | 1 |
LPGA Championship | 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 | T11 | 56 | T2 | T48 | T11 | CUT | 1 | T61 | 77 | CUT |
LPGA Championship | 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 | T23 |
Tournament | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kraft Nabisco Championship | 74 | T36 | T28 | T58 | T62 | ||||||
LPGA Championship | T54 | T47 | CUT | T17 | CUT | ||||||
U.S. Women's Open | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | ||||||
Women's British Open ^ | 59 | CUT | T60 |
^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.
CUT = missed the half-way cut.
WD = withdrew
DQ = disqualified
"T" = tied
Summary
- Starts – 106
- Wins – 6
- 2nd-place finishes – 4
- 3rd-place finishes – 6
- Top 3 finishes – 16
- Top 5 finishes – 24
- Top 10 finishes – 35
- Top 25 finishes – 55
- Missed cuts – 19
- Most consecutive cuts made – 38
- Longest streak of top-10s – 8
Team appearances
Professional
- Solheim Cup (representing the United States): 1990 (winners), 1992, 1994 (winners), 1996 (winners), 1998 (winners), 2007 (non-playing captain, winners)
- Handa Cup (representing the United States): 2012 (tie, Cup retained), 2013
See also
References
- ^ a b "Betsy King at about.com". Archived from the original on February 28, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
External links
- Betsy King at the LPGA Tour official site
- Betsy King at the Legends Tour official site (also at former site)
- Betsy King at golf.about.com at the Wayback Machine (archived February 28, 2017)
- Betsy King at the National Polish-American Sports Hall Of Fame at the Wayback Machine (archived November 1, 2016)