Patty Berg
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- ''This article is about the American golfer Patty Berg. For information about the California politician, see Patty Berg (politician).
She attended the University of Minnesota where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
She took up golf in 1931 and began her amateur career in 1934, winning her first title that year - the Minneapolis City Championship. She came to national attention by reaching the final of the 1935 U.S. Women's Amateur, losing to Glenna Collett Vare in Vare's final Amateur victory. Berg won the Titleholders in 1937 and won the Amateur in 1938 at Westmoreland.
After winning twenty-nine amateur titles she turned professional in 1940. During World War II she was a lieutenant in the Marines, 1942-45. In 1948, she helped establish, and became the first president of, the LPGA. She won the inaugural U.S. Women's Open. Berg won a total of 57 events on the LPGA and WPGA circuit, and was runner-up in the 1957 Open at Winged Foot. She was runner-up in the 1956 and 1959 LPGA Championships. In addition, Berg won the 1953, 1957, and 1958 Western Opens, the 1955 and 1957 Titleholders, both considered majors at the time. Her last victory came in 1962. The Associated Press named her woman athlete of the year in 1938, 1942 and 1955.
In 1963, she was voted the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. The LPGA established the Patty Berg Award in 1978. In recent years, Berg has teamed-up with PGA Tour player and fellow Ft. Myers resident, Nolan Henke, to establish the Nolan Henke/Patty Berg Jr. Masters to promote the development of young players.
See also
External links
- [Golf Stars Online] profiles and features
- [Berg Leaves Mark on Game]
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