Patty Sheehan
Encyclopedia
Patty Sheehan is an American
professional golf
er. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1980 and won six major championships
and 35 LPGA Tour events in all. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame
.
Sheehan also hosts the Patty Sheehan & Friends, which is a tournament on the Legends Tour
. Patty Sheehan & Friends helps aid women and children's charities all across Northern Nevada.
in Reno, Nevada
. She won three straight Nevada high school championships (1972–74), three straight Nevada State Amateurs (1975–78) and two straight California Women's Amateurs (1977–78). She was the runner-up at the 1979 U.S. Women's Amateur
, then was the 1980 AIAW
(predecessor of the NCAA
) national collegiate champion. She went 4-0 as a member of the 1980 U.S. Curtis Cup
team. She attended University of Nevada
and San Jose State University
.
. She was strong throughout the 1980s, winning four times in both 1983 and 1984, and winning the LPGA Championship
in both seasons. She won LPGA Tour Player of the Year in 1983 and was one of several athletes named Sports Illustrated
Sportsman of the Year
in 1987.
Sheehan started off the 1990s with five wins in 1990. She won the U.S. Women's Open in 1992 and 1994, the Mazda LPGA Championship in 1995, and the Nabisco Dinah Shore
(now known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship) in 1996. That would be her final LPGA victory. She qualified for the LPGA Hall of Fame by winning her 30th tournament in 1993. She finished in the Top 10 on the LPGA money list every year from 1982-93.
Sheehan played on the U.S. Solheim Cup
team five times (1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2002) and captained the team in 2003.
Sheehan become one of the first LPGA players to publicly announce that she was a lesbian
. Sheehan and her partner Rebecca Gaston have two adopted children.
LPGA majors
are shown in bold.
1In a 18-hole playoff, Sheehan 72, Inkster 74.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1980 and won six major championships
Women's major golf championships
Women's golf has a set of major championships which parallels that in men's golf, but the women's system is younger and has been less stable than the men's. Many professional stroke play events for women are played over three rounds , but the majors are played over four rounds , which is the...
and 35 LPGA Tour events in all. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
.
Sheehan also hosts the Patty Sheehan & Friends, which is a tournament on the Legends Tour
Legends Tour
The Legends Tour, formerly known as the Women's Senior Golf Tour before the 2006 season, is a professional golf tour for women aged 45 and older. It is based in the United States, and is an offshoot of the main U.S. based women's tour, the LPGA Tour...
. Patty Sheehan & Friends helps aid women and children's charities all across Northern Nevada.
Amateur career
Sheehan was born in Middlebury, Vermont. She attended Earl Wooster High SchoolEarl Wooster High School
Earl Wooster High School, or Wooster High School , is a public secondary school in Reno, Nevada that is a part of the Washoe County School District. Its mascot is the Colt and the school colors are scarlet, white, and silver. As of the 2010 school year, Wooster was ranked 177th on Newsweek...
in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
. She won three straight Nevada high school championships (1972–74), three straight Nevada State Amateurs (1975–78) and two straight California Women's Amateurs (1977–78). She was the runner-up at the 1979 U.S. Women's Amateur
United States Women's Amateur Golf Championship
The U.S. Women's Amateur is the leading golf tournament in the United States for female amateur golfers. It is played annually and is one of the 13 United States national golf championships organized by the United States Golf Association . Female amateurs from all nations are eligible to compete...
, then was the 1980 AIAW
Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was founded in 1971 to govern collegiate women's athletics in the United States and to administer national championships. It evolved out of the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women . The association was one of the biggest...
(predecessor of the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
) national collegiate champion. She went 4-0 as a member of the 1980 U.S. Curtis Cup
Curtis Cup
The Curtis Cup is the best known team trophy for women amateur golfers, awarded in the biennial Curtis Cup Match . It is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and the Ladies Golf Union and is contested by teams representing the United States and "Great Britain and Ireland"...
team. She attended University of Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
and San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
.
Professional career
Sheehan turned professional and joined the LPGA Tour in 1980. She won LPGA Rookie of the Year honors in 1981 with her first professional victory coming at the Mazda Japan ClassicMizuno Classic
The Mizuno Classic is an annual women's professional golf tournament, jointly sanctioned by the two richest women's professional tours: the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and the LPGA of Japan Tour. It was an unofficial money event on the LPGA Tour from 1973 to 1975...
. She was strong throughout the 1980s, winning four times in both 1983 and 1984, and winning the LPGA Championship
LPGA Championship
The LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour...
in both seasons. She won LPGA Tour Player of the Year in 1983 and was one of several athletes named Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
Sportsman of the Year
Sportsman of the Year
Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated magazine has annually presented the "Sportsman of the Year" award to "the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement." Both Americans and non-Americans are eligible, though in the past the...
in 1987.
Sheehan started off the 1990s with five wins in 1990. She won the U.S. Women's Open in 1992 and 1994, the Mazda LPGA Championship in 1995, and the Nabisco Dinah Shore
Kraft Nabisco Championship
The Kraft Nabisco Championship is one of the four major championships on the LPGA Tour. It was founded in 1972 by Dinah Shore and has been classified as a major since 1983...
(now known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship) in 1996. That would be her final LPGA victory. She qualified for the LPGA Hall of Fame by winning her 30th tournament in 1993. She finished in the Top 10 on the LPGA money list every year from 1982-93.
Sheehan played on the U.S. Solheim Cup
Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament for professional women golfers contested by teams representing Europe and the United States. It is named after the Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer Karsten Solheim, who was a driving force behind its creation.The inaugural Cup was held in 1990,...
team five times (1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2002) and captained the team in 2003.
Sheehan become one of the first LPGA players to publicly announce that she was a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
. Sheehan and her partner Rebecca Gaston have two adopted children.
LPGA Tour wins (35)
- 19811981 LPGA TourThe 1981 LPGA Tour was the 32nd season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 29 to November 8. The season consisted of 36 official money events. Donna Caponi won the most tournaments, five...
(1) Mazda Japan Classic - 19821982 LPGA TourThe 1982 LPGA Tour was the 33rd season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 28 to November 7. The season consisted of 35 official money events. JoAnne Carner and Beth Daniel won the most tournaments, five each...
(3) Orlando Lady Classic, Safeco ClassicSafeco ClassicThe Safeco Classic was a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour in the Seattle area, sponsored by Safeco Insurance. It was played 18 times, from 1982 to 1999, at in Kent, Washington, usually in mid-September, the week following the Safeway Classic in Portland...
, Inamori Classic - 19831983 LPGA TourThe 1983 LPGA Tour was the 34th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 27 to November 13. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Pat Bradley and Patty Sheehan won the most tournaments, four each...
(4) Corning Classic, LPGA ChampionshipLPGA ChampionshipThe LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour...
, Henredon Classic, Inamori Classic - 19841984 LPGA TourThe 1984 LPGA Tour was the 35th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 26 to November 4. The season consisted of 36 official money events. Amy Alcott and Patty Sheehan won the most tournaments, four each...
(4) Elizabeth Arden ClassicElizabeth Arden ClassicThe Elizabeth Arden Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1969 to 1986. It was played at several different courses in the Miami, Florida area.-Tournament locations:-Winners:Elizabeth Arden Classic*1986 Ayako Okamoto*1985 JoAnne Carner...
, LPGA ChampionshipLPGA ChampionshipThe LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour...
, McDonald's Kids Classic, Henredon Classic - 19851985 LPGA TourThe 1985 LPGA Tour was the 36th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 24 to November 10. The season consisted of 35 official money events. Nancy Lopez won the most tournaments, five...
(2) Sarasota ClassicSarasota ClassicThe Sarasota Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1976 to 1988. It was played at Bent Tree Country Club in Sarasota, Florida.-Winners:Sarasota Classic*1988 Patty Sheehan*1987 Nancy Lopez*1986 Patty Sheehan*1985 Patty Sheehan...
, J&B Scotch Pro-AmJ&B Scotch Pro-AmThe J&B Scotch Pro-Am was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1979 to 1985. It was played at several courses in the Las Vegas, Nevada area.-Tournament locations:-Winners:J&B Scotch Pro-Am*1985 Patty Sheehan*1984 Ayako Okamoto*1983 Nancy Lopez... - 19861986 LPGA TourThe 1986 LPGA Tour was the 37th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 23 to November 9. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Pat Bradley won the most tournaments, five. She also led the money list with earnings of $492,021.There were five...
(3) Sarasota ClassicSarasota ClassicThe Sarasota Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1976 to 1988. It was played at Bent Tree Country Club in Sarasota, Florida.-Winners:Sarasota Classic*1988 Patty Sheehan*1987 Nancy Lopez*1986 Patty Sheehan*1985 Patty Sheehan...
, Kyocera Inamori ClassicKyocera Inamori ClassicThe Kyocera Inamori Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1980 to 1993. It was played at several different courses in California, mostly in the San Diego area....
, Konica San Jose ClassicKonica San Jose ClassicThe Konica San Jose Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1983 to 1989. It was played at the Almaden Golf & Country Club in San Jose, California.-Winners:Konica San Jose Classic*1989 Beth Daniel*1988 Kathy Guadagnino*1987 Jan Stephenson... - 19881988 LPGA TourThe 1988 LPGA Tour was the 39th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from February 4 to November 6. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Juli Inkster, Rosie Jones, Betsy King, Nancy Lopez, and Ayako Okamoto won the most tournaments, three each...
(2) Sarasota ClassicSarasota ClassicThe Sarasota Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1976 to 1988. It was played at Bent Tree Country Club in Sarasota, Florida.-Winners:Sarasota Classic*1988 Patty Sheehan*1987 Nancy Lopez*1986 Patty Sheehan*1985 Patty Sheehan...
, Mazda Japan Classic - 19891989 LPGA TourThe 1989 LPGA Tour was the 40th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 13 to November 5. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Betsy King won the most tournaments, six...
(1) Rochester International - 19901990 LPGA TourThe 1990 LPGA Tour was the 41st season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 19 to November 4. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Beth Daniel won the most tournaments, seven...
(5) The Jamaica ClassicThe Jamaica ClassicThe Jamaica Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1989 to 1991. It was played at the Tryall Golf Club in Jamaica....
, McDonald's ChampionshipMcDonald's Championship (golf)The McDonald's Championship was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1981 to 1993. It was played at the White Manor Country Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania from 1981 to 1986 and at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware from 1987 to 1993.-Winners:...
, Rochester International, Ping-Cellular One Golf Championship, Safeco ClassicSafeco ClassicThe Safeco Classic was a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour in the Seattle area, sponsored by Safeco Insurance. It was played 18 times, from 1982 to 1999, at in Kent, Washington, usually in mid-September, the week following the Safeway Classic in Portland... - 19911991 LPGA TourThe 1991 LPGA Tour was the 42nd season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 18 to November 10. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Pat Bradley and Meg Mallon won the most tournaments, four each. Bradley led the money list with earnings of...
(1) Orix Hawaiian Ladies Open - 19921992 LPGA TourThe 1992 LPGA Tour was the 43rd season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 30 to November 8. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Dottie Mochrie won the most tournaments, four...
(3) Rochester International, Jamie Farr Toledo Classic, U.S. Women's Open - 19931993 LPGA TourThe 1993 LPGA Tour was the 44th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from February 5 to November 7. The season consisted of 31 official money events. Brandie Burton won the most tournaments, three...
(2) Standard Register PING, Mazda LPGA Championship - 19941994 LPGA TourThe 1994 LPGA Tour was the 45th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from February 4 to November 6. The season consisted of 32 official money events. Beth Daniel won the most tournaments, four...
(1) U.S. Women's Open - 19951995 LPGA TourThe 1995 LPGA Tour was the 46th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 12 to November 5. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Annika Sörenstam won the most tournaments, three. She also led the money list with earnings of $666,533.The season saw...
(2) Rochester International, Safeco ClassicSafeco ClassicThe Safeco Classic was a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour in the Seattle area, sponsored by Safeco Insurance. It was played 18 times, from 1982 to 1999, at in Kent, Washington, usually in mid-September, the week following the Safeway Classic in Portland... - 19961996 LPGA TourThe 1996 LPGA Tour was the 47th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 11 to November 24. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Laura Davies, Dottie Pepper and Karrie Webb won the most tournaments, four each...
(1) Nabisco Dinah Shore
LPGA majors
Women's major golf championships
Women's golf has a set of major championships which parallels that in men's golf, but the women's system is younger and has been less stable than the men's. Many professional stroke play events for women are played over three rounds , but the majors are played over four rounds , which is the...
are shown in bold.
Other wins
- 1992 Women's British OpenWomen's British OpenThe Women's British Open is a leading event in women's professional golf and the only tournament which is classified as a major championship by both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Since 2007, it has been called the Ricoh Women's British Open, for sponsorship reasons...
, Wendy's 3-Tour ChallengeWendy's 3-Tour ChallengeThe Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge is an unofficial golf event held every November at the Lake Las Vegas Resort in Henderson, Nevada. The tournament is a unique stroke play event, and, as the name suggests, pits three-member teams from the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour, and Champions Tour against each other...
(with Nancy LopezNancy LopezNancy Marie Lopez is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won 48 LPGA Tour events during her LPGA career, including three major championships.-Amateur career:...
and Dottie Mochrie) - 1994 JCPenney/LPGA Skins Game
- Note: Sheehan won the Women's British Open before it became a major championship.
Legends Tour wins
- 2002 Copps Great Lakes Classic
- 2005 BJ's Charity Championship (with Pat Bradley; tie with Cindy RarickCindy RarickCindy Rarick is an American professional golfer. She competed as Cindy Flom in 1985 and from 1999 to 2001.- Amateur career :...
and Jan StephensonJan StephensonJan Lynne Stephenson is an Australian professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1974 and won three major championships and 16 LPGA Tour events in all....
) - 2006 World Ladies Senior Open
Wins (6)
| Year | Championship | Winning Score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|
| 1983 1983 LPGA Championship The 1983 LPGA Championship was played at Jack Nicklaus Golf Center in Kings Island, Ohio. This was the 29th edition of the LPGA Championship and was played from June 9-12.This championship was won by Patty Sheehan.-Final leaderboard:-External links:*... |
LPGA Championship LPGA Championship The LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour... |
| 2 strokes |  Sandra HaynieSandra Haynie Sandra Jane Haynie is an American professional golfer.Haynie was born in Fort Worth, Texas. She won 42 events on the LPGA Tour, including four major championships. She finished in the top ten on the money list every year from 1963 and 1975 and a 14th and final time in 1982, her best placing being... |
| 1984 1984 LPGA Championship The 1984 LPGA Championship was played at Jack Nicklaus Golf Center in Kings Island, Ohio. This was the 30th edition of the LPGA Championship and was played from May 31-June 1.This championship was won by Patty Sheehan.-Final leaderboard:-External links:... |
LPGA Championship LPGA Championship The LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour... |
| 10 strokes | Pat Bradley, Beth Daniel Beth Daniel Beth Daniel is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1979 and won 33 LPGA Tour events, including one major championship, during her career. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.... |
| 1992 1992 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship The 1992 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship was contested from July 23 to July 27 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. It was the 47th edition of the U.S. Women's Open.... |
U.S. Women's Open United States Women's Open Championship (golf) The United States Women's Open Golf Championship, one of thirteen national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association , is one of the LPGA's major championships along with the LPGA Championship, the Women's British Open, and the Kraft Nabisco Championship... |
| Playoff1 | Juli Inkster Juli Inkster Juli Inkster is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. With a professional career spanning 27 years to date, Inkster's 31 wins rank her second in wins among all active players on the LPGA Tour; she has over $11 million in career earnings... |
| 1993 1993 LPGA Championship The 1993 LPGA Championship was played at Bethesda Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. This was the 39th edition of the LPGA Championship and was played from June 10-13.This championship was won by Patty Sheehan.-Final leaderboard:-External links:*... |
Mazda LPGA Championship |
| 1 stroke | Lauri Merten Lauri Merten Lauri Merten is an American golfer. She also competed under the names Lauri Peterson Lauri Merten (born July 6, 1960) is an American golfer. She also competed under the names Lauri Peterson Lauri Merten (born July 6, 1960) is an American golfer. She also competed under the names Lauri Peterson... |
| 1994 1994 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship The 1994 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship was contested from July 18 to July 21 at Indianwood Golf and Country Club, Old Course. It was the 49th edition of the U.S. Women's Open.This event was won by Patty Sheehan.-Final leaderboard:-External links:*... |
U.S. Women's Open United States Women's Open Championship (golf) The United States Women's Open Golf Championship, one of thirteen national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association , is one of the LPGA's major championships along with the LPGA Championship, the Women's British Open, and the Kraft Nabisco Championship... |
| 1 stroke | Tammie Green Tammie Green Tammie Green is an American professional golfer.-Career:Green was born in Somerset, Ohio. She attended Marshall University. She started her professional career on the Futures Tour, on which she won 11 tournaments and was Player of the Year in 1985 and 1986. She was Rookie of the Year on the LPGA... |
| 1996 1996 Nabisco Dinah Shore The 1996 Nabisco Dinah Shore was played at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. This was the 25th edition of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and the 14th edition as a major championship. It was played from March 28–31.... |
Nabisco Dinah Shore |
| 1 stroke | Meg Mallon, Kelly Robbins,  Annika SörenstamAnnika Sörenstam Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish-American professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golfer... |
1In a 18-hole playoff, Sheehan 72, Inkster 74.
See also
- Golfers with most LPGA Tour winsGolfers with most LPGA Tour winsThis table lists players with 10 or more wins on the LPGA Tour. It is based on the list on the LPGA Tour's official site, which differs slightly from the main win lists on player's personal profiles on the site...
- Golfers with most LPGA major championship winsGolfers with most LPGA major championship winsThis article lists all the women who have won the LPGA Tour's, past and present major championships by number of victories. The four current majors are shown first in the order in which they are played each season, followed by the three defunct majors in alphabetical order...