Events Calendar
 |
September 2010 |
 |
|
Enjoy a 90 Day Trial Membership in our Tradition Membership Plan
|
|
The Babes Bio |
 |
 |
 |
Born Mildred Ella Didrikson, she was nicknamed Babe after hitting five home runs in one baseball game. She married pro wrestler George Zaharias in 1938. Zaharias began concentrating on golf in 1935 at the suggestion of sportswriter Grantland Rice. She played her first tournament a year after taking up the game and won her second event the 1935 Texas Women's Invitational. In 1946 and 1947, she won 17 amateur tournaments in a row including the 1946 U.S. Womens Amateur and the 1947 British Amateur.
Zaharias was the first American to capture the British title since it was first played in 1893. |
Zaharias is a founding member of the LPGA and one of the first four inductees into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1951. She led the LPGA in money earnings for four consecutive years from 1948 through 1951. Zaharias was awarded the Vare Trophy in 1954 and the USGA Bobby Jones Award in 1957.
Perhaps the greatest all-around athlete of all-time, Babe Zaharias was voted the Woman Athlete of the First Half of the 20th Century in a poll conducted by the Associated Press and was named the Woman Athlete of the Year by Associated Press in 1931, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950 and 1954.
She knew little golf growing up in Beaumont, Texas, she had gained world fame in track and field and All-American status in basketball. She also mastered tennis, played organized baseball and softball and was an expert diver, roller-skater and bowler. She won two gold medals and one silver medal, for track and field, in 1932 Olympics. Zaharias died of cancer at the age of 42 on September 27, 1956.
Background
Joined LPGA: Founder
Birthday: June 26, 1911 Birthplace: Port Arthur, Texas
Major Victories
1954: U.S. Women's Open
1952: Titleholders Championship
1950: U.S. Women's Open, Titleholders Championship
1948: U.S. Women's Open
Other Professional Victories
1955: Tampa Open, Peach Blossom Classic
1954: All American Open, Sarasota Open, Serbin Open, National Capital Open
1953: Sarasota Open, Babe Zaharias Open
1951: All American Open, World Championships, Ponte Verde Open, Tampa Open, Fresno Open, Texas Open, Miami Weathervane
1950: All American Open, World Championship, Miami Weathervane, Western Open
1949: World Championship, Eastern Open
1948: All American Open, World Championship
|
|
