American golfer and entrepreneur, a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Hall of Fame member and a world class athlete, the winner of countless championships.
Raised in Roswell, NM and taught golf at age eight by her dad, Domingo, she won her first tournament the following year and the New Mexico Women’s Amateur Championship at 12. She won the USGA Junior Girls Championship in 1972 and 1974. In 1975, as an entrant in the U.S. Women’s Open as an amateur, she finished in a tie for second. While attending the University of Tulsa she was a member of the U.S. Curtis Cup and World Amateur teams. Lopez turned professional after her sophomore year of college in 1977.
She won her first tournament as a pro in Sarasota, FL. Changing the face of women’s golf in 1978 she had a record nine rookie Tour victories including an unmatched streak of five in a row. Lopez won five events in 1985, including the LPGA Championship, with 21 top ten finishes in 25 starts. An LPGA Player of the Year four times, 1978-79, 1985 and 1988, she entered the Hall of Fame in 1987, as the youngest player ever after just ten years on Tour. She has won the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average three times in 1978, 1979 and 1985. She appeared on Kellogg’s Product 19 golf star series boxes in 1997.
In 1998 she was the recipient of the U.S. Golf Association’s Bob Jones Award which recognizes distinguished sportsmanship in the game of golf. As of the beginning of 1999 she had 48 Tour titles. She is 5’5″ with brown hair, brown eyes and the attitude of a champion, extroverted personality and a cool temperament, playing a devastatingly accurate short game. Her good health and strength have helped her earn over $5 million. Founder and principal of the Nancy Lopez Golf Company, she is a commercial representative of Sara Lee. She has four lines of golf clubs specifically designed for women and girls. Lopez has a video on the market, “Nancy Lopez: Golf Made Easy.”
Marrying former baseball great, Ray Knight, on 10/29/82, they now live in Albany, GA. They have three daughters, Ashley Marie 11/07/83, Erinn Shea 5/26/86 and Torri Heather 10/30/91. They enjoy hunting, fishing and golf; they don’t drink, smoke or party.
Link to Wikipedia biography