Quick Facts
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Biography
Sally Little (born 12 October 1951) is a professional golfer. She originally had South African nationality, but became a United States citizen in August 1982. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1971 and won 15 LPGA Tour events, including two major championship, during her career. In 2016, she became the first female golfer from South Africa inducted into the South African Hall of Fame.
Amateur career
Little was born in Cape Town, South Africa. She was the low individual at the 1970 World Amateur Team Championship and won the South African Match Play and Stroke Play titles that same year. As an amateur, she tied for fifth at the 1971 Lady Carling Open.
Professional career
Little joined the LPGA Tour in 1971 and was named LPGA Rookie of the Year. Her first professional win was at the 1976 Women's International. Little holed a shot from a greenside bunker on the 72nd hole to edge Jan Stephenson by one shot.
Little's best season was 1982, when she finished third on the money list. She has won 15 times on the tour, including two major championships, the 1988 du Maurier Classic and the 1980 LPGA Championship. She was awarded the 1989 Ben Hogan Award from the Golf Writers Association of America and was recognised during the LPGA's 50th Anniversary in 2000 as one of the LPGA's top-50 players and teachers.
Professional wins
LPGA Tour (15)
| Legend |
| LPGA Tour major championships (2) |
| Other LPGA Tour (13) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 May 1976 | Women's International | −7 (71-69-71-70=281) | 1 stroke | Jan Stephenson |
| 2 | 19 Mar 1978 | Kathryn Crosby/Honda Civic Classic | −6 (77-70-70-65=282) | Playoff | Nancy Lopez |
| 3 | 4 Mar 1979 | Bent Tree Classic | −10 (72-67-72-67=278) | 2 strokes | Nancy Lopez |
| 4 | 20 Aug 1979 | Barth Classic | −8 (68-69-71=208) | 1 stroke | Pat Bradley |
| 5 | 9 Sep 1979 | Columbia Savings Classic | −7 (66-71-72=209) | 2 strokes | Beth Daniel Judy Rankin |
| 6 | 8 Jun 1980 | LPGA Championship | −3 (69-70-73-73=285) | 3 strokes | Jane Blalock |
| 7 | 27 Jul 1980 | WUI Classic | −4 (69-71-69-75=284) | 4 strokes | Amy Alcott Beth Daniel |
| 8 | 8 Feb 1981 | Elizabeth Arden Classic | −5 (71-72-72-68=283) | Playoff | JoAnne Carner Judy Rankin |
| 9 | 2 Mar 1981 | Olympia Gold Classic | −4 (71-71=142) | 1 stroke | Lori Garbacz Kathy Whitworth |
| 10 | 3 May 1981 | CPC Women's International | −1 (73-71-73-70=287) | Playoff | Hollis Stacy Kathy Whitworth |
| 11 | 15 Mar 1982 | Olympia Gold Classic | −4 (75-74-69-70=288) | 2 strokes | Donna White |
| 12 | 4 Apr 1982 | Nabisco Dinah Shore Invitational | −10 (76-67-71-64=278) | 3 strokes | Sandra Haynie Hollis Stacy |
| 13 | 9 May 1982 | United Virginia Bank Classic | −11 (72-69-67=208) | Playoff | Kathy Whitworth |
| 14 | 18 Jul 1982 | Mayflower Classic | −13 (71-66-70-68=275) | 5 strokes | Beth Daniel |
| 15 | 3 Jul 1988 | du Maurier Classic | −9 (74-65-69-71=279) | 1 stroke | Laura Davies |
Note: Little won the Nabisco Dinah Shore Invitational (now known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship) before it became a major championship.
LPGA Tour playoff record (4–2)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1978 | Kathryn Crosby/Honda Civic Classic | Nancy Lopez | Won with par on first extra hole |
| 2 | 1981 | Elizabeth Arden Classic | JoAnne Carner Judy Rankin | Won with par on third extra hole Carner eliminated with par on second hole |
| 3 | 1981 | CPC Women's International | Hollis Stacy Kathy Whitworth | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 4 | 1982 | Arizona Copper Classic | Ayako Okamoto | Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
| 5 | 1982 | United Virginia Bank Classic | Kathy Whitworth | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 6 | 1986 | U.S. Women's Open | Jane Geddes | Lost 18-hole playoff (Geddes:71, Little:73) |
Major championships
Wins (2)
| Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | LPGA Championship | −3 (69-70-73-73=285) | 3 strokes | Jane Blalock |
| 1988 | du Maurier Classic | −9 (74-65-69-71=279) | 1 stroke | Laura Davies |
Team appearances
Amateur
- Espirito Santo Trophy (representing South Africa): 1970
Professional
- Handa Cup (representing World team): 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 (tie)