Frank Thomas

Notable Sports Figures
Chronology
1939 Born September 27 in Monahans, Texas
1954 Begins playing golf
1957 Begins attending Odessa Junior College in Odessa, Texas;
wins first of two New Mexico State Amateur titles
1958 Drops out of college to turn professional; finishes almost last
in Titleholders Championship in Augusta, Georgia
1961 Attends 6-week golf clinic held by Patty Berg, co-founder of
LPGA
1962 Wins first LPGA tournament
1967 Becomes president of the LPGA for first time; other years as
president are 1968, 1971 and 1989
1985 Wins last LPGA tournament
1986 Loses entire retirement fund of $388,000 when Technical
Equities Corporation declares bankruptcy
1988 Mother diagnosed with cancer, goes into remission by 1991;
serves as vice president of LPGA
1989 Serves as president of LPGA for final time
1990 Acts as captain for first U.S. team to play the Solheim Cup
1991 Retires from professional golf
1995 Finishes tied for 35th in the Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of
Champions
1996 Competes in the Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of
Champions and the Nabisco Dinah Shore
2001 Finishes tied for 13th at Hy-Vee Classic in Des Moines, Iowa;
competes in the Great Lakes Classic in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Loudermilk was Whitworth’s first tutor, but he felt his
skills were limited. When he thought she was ready
Loudermilk contacted one of golf’s legendary teachers
and asked him if he would work with her. Harvey
Penick, a renowned tutor at the Austin Country Club,
agreed to meet with Whitworth.
Whitworth began making periodic trips to Austin, a
400-mile trek, for three- and four-day lessons. She would
make the drive with her mother who would take notes of
Penick’s suggestions. Penick would contact Loudermilk
with information about Whitworth’s progress and what
she needed to practice. Whitworth explained to Dave Anderson
of the New York Times, “Harvey changed the
whole game for me.… He gave me a knowledge of the
game and the swing.” Armed with this knowledge, Whitworth
began making the rounds of amateur tournaments
in the Southwest.
Dedication and Focus
In 1957, Whitworth’s tireless practicing and the dedication
of her mentors and family helped her win the New
Mexico State Women’s Championship. Her prize was a
turquoise necklace that she turned down, instead asking
that the awarding committee give her a trophy. The committee
obliged. In 1958, Whitworth won the state championship
again. This second win bolstered her confidence
and she began to meet the professionals of women’s golf.
With financial backing from her father and several Jal
businessmen, Whitworth decided to turn professional.
Whitworth’s first season of professional golf was in
1959. She had dropped out of Odessa Junior College to
Awards and Accomplishments
Whitworth
1965, 1967 Named Associate Press Athlete of the Year
1965-67, Awarded the Vare Trophy for best scoring average
1969-72
1966-69, Named LPGA Player of the Year
1971-73
1966-69, Named Rolex Player of the Year
1971-73
1968-77 Named “Golfer of the Decade,” by GOLF Magazine
1970 Wins Orange Blossom Classic third year in row; second in
LPGA history to win same event three times in a row
1975 Inducted into LPGA Hall of Fame
1981 Becomes first LPGA player to surpass $1 million in career
earnings
1982 Inducted into Texas Sports Hall of Fame
1984 Breaks record for number of tournament titles with 85th win;
inducted into International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame
1985 Sets record for number of tournament titles with 88th win;
awarded William Richardson Award for consistent outstanding
contribution to golf, Golf Writers Association of America; with
Mickey Wright, first woman to play in the Legends of Golf
tournament
1986 First recipient of the William and Mousie Powell Award
1987 Presented with the Patty Berg Award
2000 Named one of the LPGA’s top 50 players and teachers
2001 Presented with the Leadership Award, Executive Women’s Golf
Association
2002 Inducted into the Sun Country Hall of Fame, New Mexico Golf
Academy, Albuquerque
pursue her career and was learning the realities of tournament
play. Although she was thrilled to be playing
professionally, she did not play well and made no
money. Increasingly discouraged, Whitworth went home
to discuss plans of leaving the tour. She credits a pep
talk from her parents with inspiring her to return to the
tour. The next week she tied for last place and won $33.
That win was enough to keep her going.
Whitworth became determined to make golf her career.
In 1961 she attended a six-week golf clinic held by
LPGA co-founder Patter Berg. Through Berg’s clinic,
Whitworth learned many different styles of shots, which
she relentlessly practiced. The practice paid off. She
started placing in the top ten. In 1962, at the Kelly Girls
Open in Elicott City, Maryland, Whitworth won her first
match. After that she routinely placed in the top two
spots along with women’s golf legend Mickey Wright.
From 1965 to 1974, Whitworth claimed at least two
of the following three titles each year: player of the year,
lowest scoring average, or leading earner. She earned all
three titles five different years. For 17 years in a row, she
won at least one tournament; a record matched only by
male players Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
The extreme competitiveness of professional golf
eventually took a toll on Whitworth’s nerves. By 1973,
she was beginning to feel its effects and she began to
back off from the idea of winning. Her game deteriorated
significantly through the 1970s, hitting an all-time
low in 1979 and 1980 when she recorded no wins. In
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