Legendary women’s golfer Kathy Whitworth passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 83, her longtime partner Bettye Odle said in a statement.
“It is with a heart full of love that we let everyone know of the passing of the winningest Golf Professional ever, Kathy Whitworth. Kathy passed suddenly Saturday night celebrating Christmas Eve with family and friends. Kathy left this world the way she lived her life, loving, laughing and creating memories,” said Bettye in a statement released by the LPGA Tour.
Whitworth won 88 titles and was the first woman to earn $1 million on the LPGA.
A handful of those titles came at Pleasant Valley Country Club, which hosted multiple LPGA Championships and other women’s golf tournaments in the 60s and 70s.
Whitworth is considered the winningest golfer in history.
“Kathy was a champion in the truest sense of the word, both on the golf course and off. In the short time I spent with Kathy, I was truly blown away by her and her approach to the game and to life. Her strength, insightfulness and vibrancy were obvious from the minute you met her! She inspired me as a young girl and now as the commissioner and I know she did the same for so many others,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan.
Whitworth was elected to to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975.