Nancy Lopez

Nancy Lopez was born on January 6, 1957, in Torrance, California, and grew up in Roswell, New Mexico. She began playing golf at the age of eight under her father Domingo’s guidance. Her amateur career included winning the New Mexico Women’s Amateur at 12, two U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships (1972, 1974), and the Mexican Amateur in 1975. In 1975, she tied for second at the U.S. Women’s Open as an amateur. Attending the University of Tulsa, she was named All-American and Female Athlete of the Year in 1976, winning the AIAW National Championship. She turned professional in 1977 after her sophomore year, immediately making an impact by finishing second twice in her first two starts as an LPGA professional.

Lopez’s professional career began in earnest in 1978, her rookie year, where she won nine tournaments, including five consecutive, a record tied by Annika Sorenstam in 2005. She achieved the unprecedented feat of winning LPGA Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year, and the Vare Trophy in the same season. Throughout her career, she accumulated 48 LPGA Tour victories, including three major championships at the LPGA Championship (1978, 1985, 1989). Known for her powerful, unorthodox swing and positive demeanor on the course, she earned the moniker “Nancy with the laughing eyes” and was recognized for her significant contributions to advancing the sport’s public appeal. In 1987, she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame after securing her 35th career victory at the Sarasota Classic.

Lopez continued to be a dominant force through the 1980s, earning the Rolex Player of the Year award four times (1978, 1979, 1985, 1988) and the Vare Trophy three times (1978, 1979, 1985). She crossed the $1 million career earnings mark in 1983 and the $3 million mark in 1990. Despite never winning the U.S. Women’s Open, she finished runner-up four times, notably in 1997 when she became the first player to record four rounds in the 60s at the event but finished one stroke behind the winner. Lopez transitioned from full-time play in 2002 but remained active in golf through her company, Nancy Lopez Golf, and her charitable initiatives, including hosting the Nancy Lopez Hospice Golf Classic and working with AIM (Adventures in Movement).