Betsy King facts for kids
Betsy King, born on August 13, 1955, is a famous American professional golfer. She joined the LPGA Tour in 1977 and became one of the sport's biggest stars. Throughout her amazing career, she won six major championships and a total of 34 LPGA Tour tournaments.
Quick facts for kids Betsy King |
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|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 13, 1955 Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| 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) |
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| Kraft Nabisco C'ship | Won: 1987, 1990, 1997 |
| LPGA Championship | 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 | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 1995 |
| LPGA Tour Money Winner |
1984, 1989, 1993 |
| LPGA Tour Player of the Year |
1984, 1989, 1993 |
| LPGA Vare Trophy | 1987, 1993 |
| GWAA Female Player of the Year |
1987, 1989 |
| Best Female Golfer ESPY Award |
1994 |
| LPGA William and Mousie Powell Award |
1996 |
| Silver Anniversary Awards (NCAA) |
2002 |
Contents
Early Life and College Golf
Betsy King was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on August 13, 1955. She went to Exeter Township High School and graduated in 1973. After high school, she played golf at Furman University.
In 1976, Betsy was part of the Furman University golf team that won the national championship. Some of her teammates, like Beth Daniel and Sherri Turner, also became professional golfers later on. That same year, Betsy was the best amateur player at the U.S. Women's Open tournament.
Professional Golf Career
Betsy King started her professional career on the LPGA Tour in 1977. It took her a few years to get her first win, but in 1984, she won the Women's Kemper Open. That year was a big one for her, as she won three tournaments and had 21 top-10 finishes. She was even named the LPGA Tour Player of the Year.
From 1984 to 1989, Betsy King won 20 LPGA events. This was more wins than any other golfer in the world during that time, whether male or female! After her first win in 1984, she continued to win at least one tournament every year for the next 10 years. In 1989, she had her best year, winning six times.
Betsy was consistently one of the top players. She finished in the top 10 on the money list almost every year from 1985 to 1997. She was named Player of the Year three times (1984, 1989, 1993) and won the scoring title twice (1987, 1993). She also won the money title three times (1984, 1989, 1993).
Major Championship Wins
Betsy King won six major championships during her career. These are some of the most important tournaments in golf.
- 1987 Nabisco Dinah Shore
- 1989 U.S. Women's Open
- 1990 Nabisco Dinah Shore
- 1990 U.S. Women's Open
- 1992 LPGA Championship
- 1997 Nabisco Dinah Shore
Her last LPGA win was in 2001. Because of her many wins, she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1995.
Beyond the Course
Betsy King was also known for her charity work. She helped organize projects to build houses for Habitat for Humanity. She also worked with groups that helped orphans in countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union.
Betsy King represented the United States in the Solheim Cup five times (1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998). The Solheim Cup is a team competition between the best female golfers from the United States and Europe. The U.S. team won four of the five times she played. In 2007, she was the captain of the U.S. team, leading them to a 16–12 victory over Europe.
In 2001, she was honored by being inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.
Other Wins
Besides her 34 LPGA Tour wins, Betsy King also won other tournaments:
- One Ladies European Tour event: the 1985 Burberry Women's British Open.
- Three LPGA of Japan Tour events: 1981 Ajinomoto-Itsuki Charity Classic, 1992 Mazda Japan Classic, and 1993 Toray Japan Queens Cup.
- One Legends Tour event: the 2013 Fry's Desert Golf Classic (with Jane Crafter).
- Two other professional events: 1990 Itoman LPGA World Match Play Championship and 1993 JCPenney/LPGA Skins Game.
Team Appearances
Betsy King played for the United States in several team golf events:
- Solheim Cup: 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 (as a player). She was also the non-playing captain in 2007. The U.S. team won in 1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2007.
- Handa Cup: 2012, 2013.
See also
In Spanish: Betsy King para niños
- List of golfers with most LPGA Tour wins
- List of golfers with most LPGA major championship wins
