Members of the Kathy Whitworth Foundation with Whitworth’s longtime partner Bettye Odle
BELLEAIR, Fla. – More than one LPGA Tour legend will be recognized this week in different parts of the country. One day, almost to the minute, after Annika Sorenstam takes the microphone at Pelican Golf Club for a pre-tournament press conference at the event that bears her name – The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican – another indominable figure of the LPGA will be recognized nearly 900 miles away.
Kathy Whitworth, the winningest professional golfer in history who passed away at age 83 last Christmas Eve, will be inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame on Wednesday during the PGA Annual Meeting in Frisco, Texas, not far from where Whitworth lived for most of her life.
Whitworth is part of a class of inductees that includes Bob Dolan, the PGA professional at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Md.; Don Wegrzyn, who spent 47 years at Old Elm Club outside of Chicago; Coach Herb Wimberly, who led the men’s golf team at New Mexico State for 37 years; Suzy Whaley who was the first female president of the PGA of America; and renowned golf broadcaster and former University of Houston golfer Jim Nantz.
But if you asked her about her greatest accomplishment, it would be the time spent from 1999 until her death in 2022 when she hosted the Kathy Whitworth Invitational, a girls’ junior tournament at Mira Vista Country Club in Fort Worth.
That tournament was the perfect metaphor for Whitworth’s life. From the moment the best girl golfers in the country arrived in Fort Worth until long after they departed, Kathy Whit was there, watching, mentoring and helping them however she could.
Courtney Connell, the head pro at Mira Vista said of Whitworth, “She was very hands on. Over the years she personally met more than 1,700 junior golfers. When it came to helping others, it really mattered to her.”
About Kathy Whitworth Foundation
Kathy Whitworth Foundation is a Fort Worth-based 501(c)(3), celebrating Kathy Whitworth’s legendary career by supporting participation in junior girls golf. The foundation is committed to inspiring young women to embrace confidence, strong values, and responsibility, which will in turn provide opportunity to develop leadership and sportsmanship skills for life-long success. To learn more, visit https://kathywhitworthfoundation.org
About Kathy Whitworth Invitational Junior Girls Championship
Established in 1999, the Kathy Whitworth Invitational Junior Girls Championship draws some of the best junior girl golfers in the world to Fort Worth each spring. Since its inception, the tournament has been conducted in concert with the ideals of the USGA: to promote love of the game while building confidence, character, leadership, sportsmanship and responsibility. Tournament entry acceptance is based on playing ability and merit. Many Kathy Whitworth Invitational alumnae have played in college and the LPGA, including Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Nelly Korda, Jessica Korda, Christina Kim, Jane Rah, Brittany Lang, Rachel Heck and many more. In addition to elevating junior girls golf, the tournament benefits local charities in Tarrant County. For more information, visit https://kathywhitworthinvitational.com/.
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