Sophie Gustafson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sophie Gustafson |
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Gustafson in April 2011
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| Personal information | |
| Born | 27 December 1973 Varberg, Sweden |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Nationality |  Sweden |
| Residence | Särö, Kungsbacka, Sweden |
| Spouse | Ty Votaw (2006–10) |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1992 |
| Former tour(s) | Ladies European Tour (joined 1994) LPGA Tour (joined 1998) |
| Professional wins | 26 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| LPGA Tour | 5 |
| Ladies European Tour | 16 (6th all-time) |
| Ladies Asian Golf Tour | 1 |
| Other | 5 |
| Best results in LPGA Major Championships |
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| Kraft Nabisco C'ship | T7: 2001 |
| LPGA Championship | T6: 2007 |
| U.S. Women's Open | T10: 2006 |
| du Maurier Classic | T33: 2000 |
| Women's British Open | 2nd/T2: 2005, 2006 |
| The Evian Championship | CUT: 2013 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| Ladies European Tour Player of the Year |
1998, 2000, 2003 |
| Ladies European Tour Order of Merit winner |
2000, 2003, 2007, 2009 |
| Ladies European Tour Stroke Average trophy |
2000, 2002, 2003, 2007 |
| Swedish Golfer of the Year | 2000 |
| Heather Farr Player Award | 2012 |
Sophie Gustafson (born on December 27, 1973) is a professional golfer from Sweden. She was a member of the LPGA Tour in the United States and is a lifetime member of the Ladies European Tour (LET). Throughout her career, she won five LPGA Tour titles and 23 international tournaments. Her victories span five of the six continents where golf is played: North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia. Sophie won the LET's "Order of Merit" award four times. She also represented Europe in the Solheim Cup eight times between 1998 and 2011. In 2000, she won the Women's British Open, which became a major championship the following year. She also finished second in this event in 2005 and 2006.
Contents
Early Life and Golf Beginnings
Sophie Gustafson grew up in Särö, a town near Kungsbacka on Sweden's west coast. When she was young, she played many different sports with her two older brothers. These included soccer, tennis, table tennis, ice hockey, sailing, and figure skating.
When Sophie was ten years old, a 9-hole golf course was built close to her home. This is when she and her family started playing golf. By the age of 14, she decided to focus only on golf. She joined the Kungsbacka Golf Club, which had 27 holes and better practice areas. Sophie showed great talent and became a professional golfer at 18 in 1992. At the same time, she was studying marketing, economics, and law at Aranäs High School.
Professional Golf Career
In 1993, Sophie won the Swedish Junior Matchplay Championship. This was special because it was open to both amateur and professional players in Sweden.
Sophie joined the Ladies European Tour (LET) in 1995. Her first professional wins came in 1996. She won the Rörstrand Ladies Open on the Swedish Telia Tour and the Déesse Ladies Swiss Open on the LET. In 1997, she won the Thailand Ladies Open.
Rising to the Top
The year 1998 was very successful for Sophie. She won two more times on the LET and finished second in the "Order of Merit," which ranks players by their earnings. She was also voted "Players' Player of the Year" by her fellow golfers. That year, she played in the Solheim Cup for the first time.
The year 2000 was a big breakthrough. Sophie won her first LPGA Tour title at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship. She also won the Women's British Open, which was co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET. She added two more wins in Europe and teamed up with Carin Koch to win the first TSN Ladies World Cup Golf. Sophie also played a key role in Europe's Solheim Cup victory that year. She ended 2000 as the top player on the LET's money list and was again named "Players' Player of the Year."
In 2001, Sophie won another LPGA Tour event and the AAMI Women's Australian Open. She also reached over $1 million in career earnings on the LPGA Tour. In 2003, she won three more LET events and earned another "Order of Merit" title. She also won her fourth LPGA title at the Samsung World Championship, passing $2 million in LPGA career earnings. That year, she made history by becoming the first woman to play in a men's Japan Golf Tour event. She was also part of the winning European Solheim Cup team in her home country of Sweden.
Later Career and Solheim Cup Success
Sophie faced some health challenges in 2004. Despite this, she continued to play well, leading the LPGA Tour in driving distance. In 2006, she won the Siemens Austrian Ladies Golf Open, her first victory in nearly three years. This win made her a "Life Member" of the LET. She earned her thirteenth LET win in 2007 at the De Vere Ladies Scottish Open.
Sophie Gustafson was a very important part of the European Solheim Cup team. She played in the event eight times: in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011. Europe won the cup in 2000, 2003, and 2011 with Sophie on the team.
Awards and Honors
Sophie has received many awards for her contributions to golf:
- In 1998, she received Elite Sign No. 116 from the Swedish Golf Federation for her national team appearances and championship performances.
- In 2000, the Association of Swedish Golf Writers named her the Swedish Golfer of the Year.
- In 2001, the Swedish Golf Federation gave her the Golden Club award for her outstanding impact on Swedish golf.
- In 2004, she became an honorary member of the PGA of Sweden.
Personal Life
In 2006, Sophie Gustafson married Ty Votaw, who used to be the commissioner of the LPGA Tour. They later divorced in 2010.
Sophie has a significant stuttering problem, which means she rarely speaks to the media. However, during the 2011 Solheim Cup, she made an exception and spoke on camera with Golf Channel.
During her time on the LPGA Tour, she lived in Orlando, Florida. After she stopped playing full-time, she moved back to Särö, Sweden.
Since 2015, Sophie has played in only a few golf tournaments. Instead, she started working as a caddie for LET player Beth Allen. They worked together until July 2017. Sophie is also interested in riding motorcycles.
Images for kids
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Sophie Gustafson in April 2011
