Why do we love Nancy?

Before the PGA had Tiger Woods, the LPGA had Nancy Lopez. The daughter of a Mexican immigrant father, who taught her to play golf at age 8, Nancy won her first amateur title at the age of twelve. Nancy left the University of Tulsa after two years and numerous collegiate titles, including All-American and female athlete of the year honors in 1976. As a rookie in 1978, Nancy took the LPGA tour by storm, capturing Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year and the Vare Trophy, a feat yet to be duplicated.

As the youngest qualifier for the LPGA Hall of Fame, Nancy had to wait for induction because she was six months shy of the 10-year tour requirement. Even her fellow players were in awe of her accomplishments, leading Hall of Famer, JoAnne Carner to once quip "We're all trying to steal Nancy's birth-control pills, but so far we've been unsuccessful."

As she closes in on 50 tour victories, Nancy remains one of the tour's most popular players. Her easy manner, poise, precision putting and dogged competitiveness are often credited for bringing the LPGA to the attention of the sports media and fans across the world.

Biography:

Born - January 6, 1957
Torrance, California

Achievements:

• 48 LPGA tour victories including:
  
  
  • 3 - LPGA titles (1978, 1985, 1989)
  • 1 - Colgate Dinah Shore (1981)
  • 1 - Chick-fil-A Charity Championship (1997)

• Recognized during the LPGA's 50th Anniversary in 2000 as one of the LPGA's top 50 players and teachers
• Recieved the USGA's 1998 Bob Jones Award recognizing distinguished sportsmanship in the game of golf
• Founding member of the Women's Senior Golf Tour - 1997
• 1992 Flo Hyman Award recipient given by the Women's Sports Foundation
• Member of the victorious Team USA in the inaugural Solheim Cup team - 1990
• Inducted into the PGA World Golf Hall of Fame in November 1989
• Youngest player (at 30) inducted into the LPGA's Hall of Fame in 1987
• Named "Golfer of the Decade" by GOLF Magazine for the years 1978-87
• Founder and principal of the Nancy Lopez Golf Company
• Rookie of the Year (1978)
• Four time Rolex Player of the Year (1978, 1979, 1985, 1988)
• Vare Trophy (1978, 1979, 1985)
• William and Mousie Powell Award (1987)
• USGA Junior Girls Championship twice (1972, 1974)