Louise Suggs lives
in northern Florida
and remains a keen
observer of the
LPGA Tour that she
helped to develop,
thanks to her
pioneering efforts.
90,Proud
Suggs Still
by LISA D. MICKEY
STILL A CARETAKER OF WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL GOLF, LOUISE
SUGGS’ EIGHT- DECADE INVOLVEMENT WITH GOLF HASN’T
DIMINISHED HER ENTHUSIASM FOR THE GAME OR THE TOUR
H
Her friends say that Louise
Suggs has an opinion about
most things and that she
always means what she says.
When asked for her thoughts about today’s
LPGA T
our, the Hall of Fame member listed
things she likes and dislikes. But when it comes
time to make a point of emphasis, Suggs leans
forward in her seat and steadies her gaze.
“If they mess up the LPGA, I’ll knock
the hell out of them,” says Suggs, who
recorded 61 wins on the LPGA Tour in her
professional career, the fourth most victories
of any women’s player. “It means a lot to me,
you know. It’s my baby.”
22
Indeed, Suggs is one of the tour’s
13 founding members. These days, the
nonagenarian, once known for her fluid,
classic golf swing, is full of life.
Suggs lives in a retirement community at
the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla.,
and was severely injured in a face-first fall
three years ago, in which she lost her right
eye. The Georgia native now moves slowly
and spends most of her time indoors with
“Damit,” her 10-year-old miniature poodle.
GROWTH FROM MODEST BEGINNINGS
But the office in Suggs’ home has a current
library of national golf magazines, and
she keeps up with the game by television.
She attends the LPGA’s Founders Cup
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of Her LPGA ‘Baby’
tournament each spring in Arizona, and
greets the young professionals from the 18th
green alongside other living founders.
She traveled to Ireland for the 2011 Solheim
Cup and watched from the first tee. Suggs
might be 90, but she still pays close attention
to the tour she helped launch 63 years ago.
“The players at the Solheim Cup all came
up and shook our hands and thanked us for
starting the tour,” says LPGA co-founder
Shirley Spork. “I think Louise appreciates
the respect that has been shown, and some
of her fears have been eased when she gets
to meet the players.”
Spork says she and the other LPGA
founders have marveled at the explosion of
women’s golf around the world. Today, there
are eight or more women’s tours worldwide.
Earlier this year, the LPGA announced
a points’ race with $1 million awarded
to the winner at season’s end. When the
founders launched the LPGA Tour in
1950, there were 13 women professionals.
Amateurs were invited to compete to fill out
tournament fields.
“It wasn’t easy