Comprehensive information and links about Nancy Lopez

Nancy Lopez (born January 6, 1957 in Torrance, California; raised in Roswell, New MexicoNancy Lopez is one of the most famous women in the history of the sport of golf. She starred on the LPGA tour for many years, and is enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

She is now known as Nancy Lopez-Knight, after her marriage to former Major League baseball player and 1986 World Series Most Valuable Player Ray Knight.

Accolades

4-time LPGA Player of the Year (1978-79,85,88); Rookie of Year (1977); 3-time winner of LPGA Championship; reached Hall of Fame by age 30 with 35 victories; 48 career wins.

Nancy Lopez is the first ever Latino woman to make it into the golf hall of fame. She was born in Torrance California on January 6, 1957. Her father owned an auto- repair shop and always encouraged her. She started playing golf at the age of eight, and immediately took a liking to the sport. At the age of twelve, she won her first tournament, quite a feat for someone so young. She continued to play golf, and win tournaments, throughout her education. She began college at University of Oklahoma, but left in 1977; long before getting a degree. She had decided that she wanted to play golf professionally. In her first year, she won an incredible number of five tournaments, setting the record for both men, and women rookie golfers alike. In her second year, she won 9 tournaments, one of them being a championship; this surprised many professional golfers, both because she was so new to the sport, and because she was a woman. In 1987, Nancy Lopez was inducted into the golfer’s hall of fame; the youngest person to ever be allowed in. In 1997, at the age of 40, she won her last tournament, the same tournament where she set the best score ever by a women golfer. Nancy Lopez did much to increase the popularity of women’s golf, and also proved that women could do just as well as men, in any sport. Nancy Lopez is definitely a role model for many people who have doubts in themselves. She was not only one of the first women to be successful in professional golf, but she was also in the Latino minority group. That is why I believe she represents the eagle pride word respect, very well. Not only was she well known for respecting her opponents, regardless of who were, but she also had great respect for herself, and extremely high self esteem. She had to know that she was the best, regardless of what other people may have thought. Many people would have just given up, but Nancy Lopez kept on going, and eventually proved herself as one of the best golfers of all time.