Patty Berg
Name:
Patricia Jane "Patty" BergCountry:
USALived:
[1918-2006]. Born on Feb 13, 1918 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Died on Sept 10, 2006 in Ft Myers, Florida, aged 88.Original/Home Club:
Occupation:
Professional golfer and golf instructor; golf writer; one of 13 founders of the LPGA (1950).Turned Pro:
1940Majors (15): Titleholders Ch'ship (1937, '38, '39, '48, '53, '55, '57); Western Open (1941, '43, '48, '51, '55, '57, '58); US Wone's Open (1946). US Women's Amateur champion (1938). Curtis Cup player (1936, '38). Total professional wins (63), including LPGA Tour (60). LPGA Tour leading money winner (1954, '55, '57). Old Tom Morris Award (1986, GCSAA). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1951).
No figure in women's golf spanned as many eras or did as much for her sport as Patty Berg - a superb player, great promoter, wonderful teacher and a charismatic personality. She began playing golf at the age of 13 and showed a remarkable talent for the game. Always outgoing and enthusiastic, she became a prolific winner of amateur and professional golf championships in the 1940s and 1950s.
Berg's tournament record, with a total of 60 LPGA Tour wins, includes a record 15 major championships (a record that still stands today). Her first three majors (back-to-back wins in the Titleholders Championship, 1937-39) came when she was still an amateur. Berg was the winner of the inaugural U.S. Women's Open in 1946.
Together with Babe Zaharias, Betty Jameson and Louise Suggs, Berg dominated the women's professional game in the 1940s and '50s. She was one of the 13 founder members of the US LPGA Tour and was appointed its first President in 1950. In addition to her golfing achievements, she will also be fondly remembered for strong religious faith and for giving her time to many charitable endeavours.
America
Civitan
Played as the Muskogee Civitan Open. Ruth Jessen and Shirley Englehorn finished in second place behind Berg.
Played as the American Women's Open. Kathy Cornelius finished in second place behind Berg.
Played as the American Women's Open. Louise Suggs finished in second place behind Berg.
Majors
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The Women's Western Open (29th). Second-placed Beverly Hanson (USA) finished 4 shots behind defending champion Berg (USA). [The Kahkwa Club, Erie, PA].
Played as the All-American Women's Open. Jackie Pung finished in second place behind Berg.
America
George S. May
Played as the World Championship of Women's Golf. Berg (USA) beat Fay Crocker (Uruguay) in an 18-hole playoff (Berg 77, Crocker 79). [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL. Now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].
Majors
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Played as the Titleholders Championship (18th). Anne Quast (USA, amateur) finished 3 shots behind Berg (USA). [Augusta CC, Augusta, GA].
Awards
LPGA Tr
Berg (USA) won her third LPGA Tour Money List, with 1957 season earnings of $16,272 on the Tour. Fay Crocker (USA) was second on the money list.
Played as the Havana Open. Betty Dodd finished in second place behind Berg.
Majors
x
The Women's Western Open (28th). Second-placed Wiffi Smith (USA) finished 1 shot behind Berg (USA). [Montgomery CC, Montgomery, AL].
America
George S. May
Played as the All American Open. Second-placed Jackie Pung (USA) finished 2 shots behind Berg (USA), who recorded her fifth win in this event. [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL; now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].
Played as the Arkansas Open. Louise Suggs finished in second place behind Berg.
Berg (USA) won her third (and second straight) Vare Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour.
America
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Played as the inaugural Dallas Open. Berg (USA) beat Betsy Rawls (USA) and Marlene Hagge (USA, née Bauer) in a sudden-death playoff. [Glen Lakes CC, Dallas, TX; club/course no longer exists].
Majors
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The Women's Western Open (26th), played for the first time as a stroke play event. Second-placed Louise Suggs (USA) and Fay Crocker (Uruguay) finished 2 shots behind Berg (USA). [Maple Bluff CC, Madison, Wisconsin].
America
George S. May
Played as the World Championship of Women's Golf. Second-placed Lena Faulk (USA) finished 1 shot behind Berg (USA), who recorded her third straight win in this event. [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL. Now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].
America
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Played as the St Petersburg Open. Second-placed Jackie Pung (USA) finished 1 shot behind Berg (USA). [Sunset G&CC, St Petersburg, Florida; now called Vinoy GC].
Played as the Clock Open. Second-placed Gloria Fecht finished in second place behind Berg.
Majors
x
Played as the Titleholders Championship (16th). Second-placed Mary Lena Faulk (USA) finished 2 shots behind Berg (USA). [Augusta CC, Augusta, GA].
Played as the All American Open.
America
George S. May
Played as the All American Open. Second-placed Fay Crocker (Uruguay) finished 6 shots behind Berg (USA), who won this event for the fourth time. [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL; now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].
Awards
LPGA Tr
Berg (USA) won her second straight LPGA Tour Money List, with 1955 season earnings of $16,297 on the Tour. Louise Suggs (USA) was second on the money list.
Berg (USA) won her second Vare Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour.
Played as the Orlando Mixed Foursome. Winning team : Patty Berg & Pete Cooper. Second-placed team : Grace Smith & George Bolestra.
America
George S. May
Played as the World Championship of Women's Golf. Second-placed Louise Suggs (USA) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Berg (USA). [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL. Now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].
America
x
Played as the inaugural (and only) Ardmore Women's Open. Second-placed Jackie Pung (USA) finished 1 shot behind Berg (USA). [Dornick Hills CC, Ardmore, Oklahoma].
Awards
LPGA Tr
Berg (USA) won the LPGA Tour 1954 Money List, with earnings of $16,011 on the Tour. Babe Zaharias (USA) was second on the money list.
Played as the Triangle Round Robin Invitational. Betty Jameson finished in second place behind Berg.
Played as the Jacksonville Open. Second-placed Babe Zaharias and Louise Suggs finished 2 shots behind Berg.
Majors
x
Played as the Titleholders Championship (14th). Second-placed Betsy Rawls (USA) finished 9 shots behind Berg (USA). [Augusta CC, Augusta, GA].
America
George S. May
Played as the All American Open. Second-placed and defending champion Louise Suggs (USA) finished 1 shot behind Berg (USA). [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL; now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].
Played as the All-American Tam O'Shanter Open. Second-placed Louise Suggs finished 1 shot behind Berg.
Played as the Nevada - Reno Open. Berg won after a playoff against Louise Suggs.
Played as the New Orleans Women's Open. Second-placed Babe Zaharias finished 4 shots behind Berg.
Played as the Phoenix Weathervane. Patty Berg (USA) and Louise Suggs (USA) shared first place after a tie.
America
George S. May
Played as the World Championship of Women's Golf. Second-placed Louise Suggs (USA) finished 3 shots behind Berg (USA), who had been runner-up in this event in all five years of its existence from 1948. [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL. Now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].
Berg (USA) won the inaugural Vare Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour.
Played as the New York Weathervane. Second-placed Marilynn Smith (USA) finished 4 shots behind Berg (USA).
Played as the Richmond Open. Second-placed Betty Jameson finished 4 shots behind Berg.
Played as the New Orleans Women's Open. Second-placed Marilynn Smith and Betty Jameson finished 5 shots behind Berg.
Majors
x
The Women's Western Open (22nd). Berg (USA) beat Pat O'Sullivan (USA, amateur) by 2 holes in the final. [Whitemarsh Valley CC, Lafayette Hill, nr Philadelphia, PA].
Berg (USA) was overall winner of the 1951 Cross Country 144-hole Weathervane Tournament, which was played as four two-round events in Dallas, Indianapolis, New York and Pebble Beach. She won the New York and Pebble Beach events.
Played as the Pebble Beach Weathervane. Second-placed Babe Zaharias (USA) finished 4 shots behind Berg (USA).
Played as the Sandhills Open. Second-placed Babe Zaharias finished 10 shots behind Berg.
Played as the New York Weathervane. Second-placed Louise Suggs finished 1 shot behind Berg.
Played as the Eastern Open. Second-placed Babe Zaharias finished 1 shot behind Berg.
Played as the Hardscrabble Women's Invitational. Betsy Rawls finished in second place behind Berg.
Played as the Sunset Hills Open. Second-placed Louise Suggs finished 1 shot behind Berg.
Played as the Orlando Mixed Foursome. Winning team : Patty Berg & Earl Stewart.
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Majors
x
Played as the Titleholders Championship (9th). Second-placed Peggy Kirk (USA, amateur) and Babe Zaharias (USA) finished 1 shot behind Berg (USA). [Augusta CC, Augusta, GA].
Majors
x
The Women's Western Open (19th). Berg (USA) beat Babe Zaharias (USA) at the 37th hole of the final. [Skycrest CC, Prairie View, nr Chicago, IL - club no longer exists].
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Majors
WPGA
The inaugural US Women's Open Championship (Aug 26-Sept 1; only time on a match play basis). Berg (USA) beat Betty Jameson (USA) 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final. Berg won $5,600 in victory bonds. [Spokane CC, Spokane, Wash.].
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Played as the All American Open.
America
George S. May
Played as the All American Open. Second-placed Dorothy Germain (USA) finished 1 shot behind Berg (USA), who won this event for the second time in three years. [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL; now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].
Majors
x
The Women's Western Open (14th). Berg (USA) beat Dorothy "Dot" Kirby (USA, amateur) by 1 hole in the 36-hole final. [Glen Oak CC, Glen Ellyn, nr Chicago, IL].
Played as the All American Open.
America
George S. May
Played as the inaugural All American Open; the first women's golf event to pay cash prizes (vs war bonds or merchanise). Second-placed Betty Hicks (USA) finished 5 shots behind Berg (USA). [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL; now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].
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Majors
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The Women's Western Open (12th). Berg (USA) beat Mrs Burt Weil (née Olga Strashun) 7 and 6 in the final. This was Berg's first professional victory, for which she won a $100 war bond. [Cincinnati CC, Cincinnati, OH].
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Majors
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Played as the Titleholders Championship (3rd). Second-placed Dorothy Kirby (USA, amateur) finished 2 shots behind Berg (USA, amateur), who recorded her third straight win in this event. [Augusta CC, Augusta, GA].
Amateur
USGA
The US Women's Amateur Championship (42nd). Berg (USA) beat defending champion Estelle Lawson Page (USA) 6 and 5 in the final. [Westmoreland CC, Wilmette, IL].
Majors
x
Played as the Titleholders Championship (2nd). Second-placed Jane Cothran (USA, amateur) finished 14 shots behind defending champion Berg (USA, amateur). [Augusta CC, Augusta, GA].
Majors
x
Played as the inaugural Titleholders Championship. Second-placed Dorothy Kirby (USA, amateur) finished 3 shots behind Berg (USA, amateur). [Augusta CC, Augusta, GA].
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