A lot of people think that “golf” stands for “gentlemen only, ladies forbidden,” which is understandable since a lot of people believed it. Because, well, golf has a long history of not letting women play. In fact, in the late 1800s, some golf clubs and courses wouldn’t even let women join.

Thank goodness times have changed, and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) now makes it easy for women to play golf and win prizes. It’s also important not to forget the seven very talented women who made it to the PGA to compete with the guys.

Women’s golf is just as exciting now as it was in the past, and these 10 women helped make it possible.

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10. Betsy King

Portrait of Betsy King, a legendary female golfer known for her numerous LPGA Tour victories and contributions to women's golf.
Betsy King, celebrated for her exceptional talent and sportsmanship, is one of the most accomplished female golfers in history, with multiple major championships to her name.
Country:Career:Pro winsMajor championships
United States1977-2005396

Betsy King had been playing on the LPGA for seven years before she won her first professional match. Once she started to win, though, it was hard to stop her. She won a huge 28 times between 1984 and 1992.

The fact that she is a woman player gives other late bloomers hope.

9. Karrie Webb

Portrait of Karrie Webb, an Australian professional golfer known for her remarkable achievements and seven major championship titles.
Karrie Webb, a legendary figure in women’s golf, has made history with her exceptional skills and numerous accolades, including seven major championships.
CountryCareerPro winsMajor championships
Australia1994-present567

Kararie Webb has won 41 times on the LPGA Tour, which is more than any other current female golfer right now.

She was one of Australia’s best female players of all time, and from 1999 to 2002, she won six of the 16 majors she played in. During that time, she also placed in the top five of three other major tournaments and only missed the top 15 twice. In the early 2000s, Annika Sorenstam and she were pretty much the only two women competing in the LPGA.

Despite her recent decrease in performance, Webb continues to be a significant contender in major championships.

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8. Amy Alcott

Portrait of Amy Alcott, a renowned American professional golfer, known for her three major championship titles and significant contributions to women's golf.
Amy Alcott, a celebrated professional golfer, has made her mark in history with three major championships and a lasting impact on the sport.
Country:Career:Pro winsMajor championships
United States1975-2008345

In the end, Amy Alcott ruled the LPGA in the 1980s, winning at least four tour events in three different years (1979, 1980, and 1984). She is also one of only a few women to have won a major three times.

The 1980 U.S. Women’s Open, which she won by nine strokes, may have been her most impressive win.

7. Se Ri Pak

Portrait of Se Ri Pak, a South Korean professional golfer known for her groundbreaking achievements in women's golf and two major championship titles.
Se Ri Pak, a trailblazer in women’s golf, is celebrated for her remarkable career, which includes two major championships and a significant influence on the sport globally.
CountryCareerPro winsMajor Championship
South Korea1996-2016395

In the end, Se Ri Pak was one of the first Korean players to really do well in the US. From the start, she was on fire. She displayed exceptional talent right from the beginning, achieving victory in four competitions during her first year as a professional — two of which were prestigious major championships.

Pak was better than most golfers because she was good at putting. During her career, she won all six of her playoff matches.

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6. Kathy Whitworth

Portrait of Kathy Whitworth, a legendary American professional golfer known for her record 88 LPGA Tour victories and significant contributions to women's golf.
Kathy Whitworth, acclaimed for her extraordinary talent, holds the record for the most LPGA Tour victories, with 88 wins and a lasting impact on women’s golf.
CountryCareer:Pro winsMajor championships
United States1958-2005986

In the end, Kathy Whitworth has 88 LPGA wins, making her the female player with the most wins. She was also the first woman to make $1 million in LPGA earnings, which wasn’t a surprise.

She has also won more times around the world than either Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus.

5. Betsy Rawls

Portrait of Betsy Rawls, a distinguished American professional golfer known for her four major championship titles and significant contributions to women's golf.
Betsy Rawls, a celebrated figure in women’s golf, is renowned for her impressive achievements, including four major championships and a lasting legacy in the sport.
CountryCareerPro winsMajor championships
1951-19751951-1975588

Finally, Betsy Rawls won a game every year for 19 years, from her first LPGA Tour event in 1951 to 1970.

In the 1960s, she was president of the LPGA, and she was one of the first golfers to be admitted into the LPGA Hall of Fame. She was also made a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

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4. Babe Zaharias

Portrait of Babe Zaharias, a legendary American athlete known for her achievements in golf, track and field, and her pioneering role in women's sports.
Babe Zaharias, a trailblazer in American sports, excelled in golf and track and field, leaving an enduring legacy as one of the greatest female athletes of all time.
Country:CareerPro winsMajor championships
United States1947-19564810

In the end, Babe Zaharias was the first woman to ever qualify for a PGA Tour event. She did it three times, at the Los Angeles Open, the Phoenix Open, and the Tucson Open. She also tried to get into the U.S. Open, but the USGA wouldn’t let her in.

She was also good at sports outside of golf. In the 1930s, she threw in a few spring training games. She still throws a baseball 296 feet farther than any other woman in the world.

3. Louise Suggs

Portrait of Louise Suggs, a pioneering American professional golfer celebrated for her significant contributions to women's golf and her 11 major championship titles.
Louise Suggs, a legendary figure in women’s golf, is renowned for her 11 major championships and her role in shaping the future of the sport.
CountryCareerPro winsMajor championships
United States1948-19626111

In the end, Louise Suggs made a name for herself in the golf world by helping to create the LPGA with Babe Zaharias, Patty Berg, and Marilynn Smith. She also won 11 major titles.

In her time, she was thought to be the best female golfer in the world. In exhibition matches, she even beat guys like Same Snead and Ben Hogan.

2. Annika Sorenstam

Portrait of Annika Sorenstam, a legendary Swedish professional golfer known for her exceptional achievements, including 10 major championships and 72 LPGA Tour victories.
Annika Sorenstam, one of the most accomplished female golfers in history, is celebrated for her 10 major championships and remarkable influence on the sport.
Country:CareerPro winsMajor championships
Sweden1992-20089710

In 2003, Annika Sorenstam was the third woman to play in a PGA Tour event at Colonial. She quickly became so well-known in the golf world that people called her by her first name, like “Arnie,” “Ernie,” or “Tiger.”

After retiring in 2008 to focus on raising a family, she made a comeback at the age of 50 and emerged victorious in the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

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1. Patty Berg

Portrait of Patty Berg, a pioneering American professional golfer known for her remarkable achievements, including 15 major championships and her role in founding the LPGA.
Patty Berg, a legendary figure in women’s golf, is celebrated for her 15 major championships and her foundational role in the establishment of the LPGA.
CountryCareerPro winsMajor championships
United States1940-19796315

The bottom line is that Patty Berg was such a good athlete that she played quarterback for her Minneapolis, Minnesota, football team when she was young.

She began playing golf when she was 13 years old and won 29 junior titles very quickly. From 1946 to 1958, she played on the LPGA Tour 93 times and won multiple times. In those 93 events, she had 77 top-25 wins in majors. Girls all over the world are thought to have become interested in golf because of her influence on the sport.