Patty Berg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Patty Berg |
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|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Patricia Jane Berg |
| Born | February 13, 1918 Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Died | September 10, 2006 (aged 88) Fort Myers, Florida |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Career | |
| College | University of Minnesota |
| Turned professional | 1940 |
| Former tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 63 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| LPGA Tour | 60 (4th all time) |
| Other | 3 |
| Best results in LPGA Major Championships (Wins: 15) |
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| Western Open | Won: 1941, 1943, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1958 |
| Titleholders C'ship | Won: 1937, 1938, 1939, 1948, 1953, 1955, 1957 |
| LPGA Championship | 2nd: 1956, 1959 |
| U.S. Women's Open | Won: 1946 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 1951 |
| LPGA Tour Money Winner |
1954, 1955, 1957 |
| LPGA Vare Trophy | 1953, 1955, 1956 |
| Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year |
1938, 1943, 1955 |
| Bob Jones Award | 1963 |
| Patty Berg Award | 1990 |
Patricia Jane Berg (February 13, 1918 – September 10, 2006) was an amazing American professional golfer. She helped create the LPGA, which is a major golf organization for women, and was its very first president. Patty Berg holds the record for winning the most major golf titles by a female golfer, with 15 wins! She is also a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, which means she's one of the best golfers ever.
When it was cold, she also enjoyed speed skating.
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About Patty Berg
Patty Berg was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When she was young, she loved football and even played quarterback on a local team! At age 13, her parents suggested she try golf in 1931. She quickly became very good at it.
Early Golf Days
By 1934, Patty started her amateur golf career. She won the Minneapolis City Championship that year. The next year, she won a state amateur title. She went to the University of Minnesota.
Patty became famous across the country when she reached the final of the 1935 U.S. Women's Amateur tournament. She won the Titleholders in 1937. In 1938, she won the U.S. Women's Amateur and the Women's Western Amateur. She also won the 1938 Titleholders Championship and was part of the winning Curtis Cup team. Because of all these achievements, Patty was named the Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year. This was the first of three times she would receive this honor! In 1939, she won her third Titleholders championship in a row.
Becoming a Pro Golfer
After winning 29 amateur titles, Patty became a professional golfer in 1940. Her career was put on hold for a bit in 1941 when she was in a car accident. She hurt her knee, but she worked hard to recover.
During World War II, Patty volunteered for the United States Marine Corps. She became a second lieutenant in 1942 and served in the Marine Reserves until 1945.
Even though some people thought her golf career might be over, Patty returned to the game in 1943. She won the Women's Western Open that year. In 1946, she won the very first U.S. Women's Open.
Founding the LPGA
In 1948, Patty helped create the Women's Professional Golf Association (WPGA), which was the start of the LPGA. She won three tournaments in 1948 and 1949. When the LPGA officially began in 1950, Patty was one of the 13 founding members. She was also chosen as the association's first president, showing her strong leadership.
Patty won a total of 57 events on the LPGA and WPGA tours. Her last victory was in 1962. She was again voted the Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year in 1942 and 1955. From 1953 to 1956, Patty won the Vare Trophy three times. This award goes to the golfer with the lowest scoring average on the LPGA. She was also the LPGA Tour's top money winner in 1954 and 1957. Her seven wins at the Titleholders tournament are still a record!
Patty Berg won 15 women's major golf championships in her career. These included her seven Titleholders victories, seven wins in the Women's Western Open, and the 1946 U.S. Women's Open championship.
Awards and Legacy
In 1963, Patty received the Bob Jones Award. This is the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association for great sportsmanship in golf. The LPGA also created the Patty Berg Award in 1978 to honor her.
In her later years, Patty worked with another golfer, Nolan Henke. They started the Nolan Henke/Patty Berg Junior Masters to help young golfers develop their skills.
Patty Berg was sponsored by Joe Jemsek, who owned famous public golf courses. She represented one of his courses, St. Andrews Golf & Country Club, for over 60 years!
Patty loved teaching golf. She once said she taught over 16,000 golf clinics in her lifetime. Many of these were sponsored by Wilson Sporting Goods and were called "The Patty Berg Hit Parade." She believed she personally introduced over half a million new players to the game of golf! She worked with Wilson's Advisory Staff for 66 years.
Patty Berg passed away in Fort Myers, Florida, in 2006 at the age of 88.
Major Championship Wins
Patty Berg won 15 major championships during her career. These were some of the most important tournaments in women's golf.
- 1937 Titleholders Championship
- 1938 Titleholders Championship
- 1939 Titleholders Championship
- 1941 Women's Western Open
- 1943 Women's Western Open
- 1946 U.S. Women's Open
- 1948 Titleholders Championship
- 1948 Women's Western Open
- 1951 Women's Western Open
- 1953 Titleholders Championship
- 1955 Titleholders Championship
- 1955 Women's Western Open
- 1957 Titleholders Championship
- 1957 Women's Western Open
- 1958 Women's Western Open
Team Appearances
Patty Berg played for the United States in the Curtis Cup as an amateur.
- 1936 (The U.S. team tied and kept the Cup)
- 1938 (The U.S. team won)
