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Mickey Wright
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Mickey Wright
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Mary Kathryn "Mickey" Wright (February 14, 1935 – February 17, 2020) was an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. She became a member of the tour in 1955 and won 82 LPGA Tour career events including 13 major championships. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Key Information

Early life and amateur career

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Wright was born on February 14, 1935, in San Diego, California,[1][2] where she attended Herbert Hoover High School. Her first important title was the 1952 U.S. Girls' Junior. She attended Stanford University and played for its golf team, but left before graduation.[3] She lost in the final of the 1954 U.S. Women's Amateur, won the 1954 World Amateur Championship, and turned professional later in 1954.[citation needed]

Professional career

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Wright in 1960

Wright joined the LPGA Tour in 1955. She won 82 events on the LPGA Tour, which puts her second on the all-time win list behind Kathy Whitworth, who won 88 times. Thirteen of her victories were in major championships, which places her second to Patty Berg, who won fifteen majors. Wright topped the LPGA money list for four consecutive seasons from 1961 to 1964 and made the top ten on the list thirteen times in total between 1956 and 1969. Wright won at least one LPGA title for 14 straight seasons, from 1956 to 1969.

At the inaugural Tall City Open in 1964, Wright shot a 62 in the third and final round. It was the lowest score in LPGA Tour history at that time,[4] at a course (Hogan Park in Midland, Texas) on which the men's record, at the time, was 66.[5] Wright's Tall City Open win is also tied for the largest final round comeback (10 shots) in LPGA history.[6] Wright was coached by Harry Pressler. Ben Hogan said her swing was the best he had ever seen.[7]

Wright retired from full-time golf at age 34 in 1969, because of problems with her feet, but did compete occasionally after that. She won 13 majors between 1958 and 1966, and she is the only player in LPGA Tour history to hold all four major titles at the same time. She lived in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and played recreational golf occasionally. She was a breast cancer survivor.[8]

Death

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Wright died on February 17, 2020, from a heart attack at the age of 85. At the time, she had been hospitalized following a fall a few weeks prior.[9][10]

Legacy

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In 2000, Wright was ranked as the ninth greatest golfer of all time, and the top woman golfer, by Golf Digest magazine.[11] In a major 2009 survey of experts, published by Golf Magazine, she was chosen as the eighth best player of all time, and the top woman player of all time.[12] She was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2017.[13]

Notable amateur wins

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Professional wins (90)

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LPGA Tour (82)

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Note: Wright won the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle (now known as the Chevron Championship) before it became a major championship.

LPGA majors are shown in bold.

Other wins (8)

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Major championships

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Wins (13)

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Year Championship Winning score Margin Runner(s)-up
1958 LPGA Championship +8 (69-69-76-74=288) 6 strokes Uruguay Fay Crocker
1958 U.S. Women's Open −2 (74-72-70-74=290) 5 strokes United States Louise Suggs
1959 U.S. Women's Open +7 (72-75-69-71=287) 2 strokes United States Louise Suggs
1960 LPGA Championship −4 (71-76-74-71=292) 3 strokes United States Louise Suggs
1961 Titleholders Championship +11 (72-75-76-76=299) 1 stroke United States Patty Berg, United States Louise Suggs
1961 U.S. Women's Open +5 (72-80-69-72=293) 6 strokes United States Betsy Rawls
1961 LPGA Championship +3 (67-77-72-71=287) 9 strokes United States Louise Suggs
1962 Titleholders Championship +7 (73-75-70-77=295) Playoff1 United States Ruth Jessen
1962 Women's Western Open +7 (69-74-76-76=295) Playoff2 United States Mary Lena Faulk
1963 Women's Western Open −4 (78-70-71-73=292) 9 strokes United States Kathy Whitworth
1963 LPGA Championship +10 (72-82-70-70=294) 2 strokes United States Mary Lena Faulk, United States Mary Mills, United States Louise Suggs
1964 U.S. Women's Open −2 (71-71-75-73=290) Playoff3 United States Ruth Jessen
1966 Women's Western Open +2 (72-78-76-76=302) 1 stroke United States Jo Ann Prentice, Australia Margie Masters

1 In an 18-hole playoff, Wright 69, Jessen 72.
2 Wright won on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff.
3 In an 18-hole playoff, Wright 70, Jessen 72.

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Mickey Wright

View on Grokipedia
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Mary Kathryn "Mickey" Wright (February 14, 1935 – February 17, 2020) was an American professional golfer renowned for her exceptional swing and dominance on the Tour, where she secured 82 victories, including a record-tying four titles and 13 major championships overall, establishing her as one of the greatest players in women's golf history. Born in , , Wright developed her game early, winning the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 1952 and reaching the finals of the 1954 U.S. Women’s Amateur before claiming the World Amateur Championship that year. She turned professional in 1955 after a brief stint at , joining the Tour and quickly rising to prominence with her first win at the 1956 Jacksonville Open. Her career peaked in the early 1960s, a period often called her "golden era," during which she amassed 44 victories from 1961 to 1964, including a single-season record of 13 wins in 1963. Wright achieved the unprecedented feat of holding all four major titles simultaneously from 1961 to 1962, with victories in the U.S. Women’s Open (1958, 1959, 1961, 1964), LPGA Championship (1958, 1960, 1961, 1963), Titleholders Championship (1961, 1962), and Women’s Western Open (1962, 1963, 1966). Wright's technical prowess was legendary; her swing was hailed as the finest in golf by icons like and , and she was the longest hitter of her era, once carding the 's lowest 18-hole score of 62 on two occasions. She won at least one tournament annually for 14 consecutive seasons (1956–1969), second only to Kathy Whitworth's streak, but retired from full-time competition in 1969 at age 34 due to chronic foot injuries and exhaustion, though she claimed one final victory at the 1973 Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle. Beyond her on-course success, Wright served as president for two terms, promoting the tour's growth, and later received the USGA's Bob Jones Award in 2010 for her contributions to the sport. Wright passed away from a heart attack on February 17, 2020, in , just three days after her 85th birthday. Her legacy endures through the Mickey Wright Medal awarded to champions and a dedicated exhibit at the USGA Golf Museum, where she is remembered not only for her 82 wins—second all-time on the LPGA Tour—but for elevating women's professional during a pivotal era.

Early life

Family background and childhood

Mary Kathryn "Mickey" Wright was born on February 14, 1935, in , , to Arthur Wright and Mary Kathryn Wright. Her father, Arthur, was a prominent attorney who had graduated from the in 1910 before relocating to the West Coast from . Her mother was a homemaker who provided a supportive home environment. The Wright family came from an industrious background, with Mickey's paternal grandmother recognized as the first woman in and her grandfather noted as an inventor. Arthur Wright's legal career contributed to a stable family dynamic, emphasizing discipline and achievement, though the parents later divorced. As a child in the upscale neighborhood of , Wright grew up in a middle-class household amid the economic recovery following the . The family's access to local community amenities reflected this socioeconomic stability in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Wright was described as a during her early years, preferring rough-and-tumble activities like playing football with boys over more conventional pursuits. This energetic childhood laid the groundwork for her later interest in sports, influenced by a family that valued physical vitality.

Introduction to golf and education

Mickey Wright's interest in was sparked at the age of 11 in 1946, when she watched an exhibition match featuring professionals and Leo Diegel at the Country Club. This event, attended with her family, ignited her passion for the sport, and her father, Arthur Wright, an attorney and club member, encouraged her early pursuits in athletics, including golf. Soon after, Wright began formal instruction at La Jolla Country Club, where her family held membership, receiving her initial lessons from club professional Johnny Bellante at age 11. By age 15, she sought more advanced guidance and connected with renowned instructor Harry Pressler of San Gabriel Country Club, who traveled to to deliver her foundational lessons in the family's living room, emphasizing proper clubface alignment and weight shift. Under Pressler's , Wright developed her basic swing mechanics through rigorous practice routines, including repetitive drills to instill a fluid, leg-driven motion that became the hallmark of her technique. In pursuit of higher education, Wright enrolled at in 1953, where she studied for one year while also competing in amateur events. However, her growing commitment to led her to leave Stanford after the 1953-1954 academic year to focus on the sport full-time, turning professional later in 1954.

Amateur career

Development and coaching

Mickey Wright's development as an golfer was profoundly shaped by her early exposure to structured coaching, beginning at age 12 when her family introduced her to the sport. With her father's membership at La Jolla Country Club in , she received her first lessons from club professional Johnny Bellante, who emphasized fundamental swing mechanics using unconventional tools like a branch to promote smoothness and speed. This initial guidance, supported by her parents' encouragement, laid the groundwork for her technical proficiency during her formative years. During her teenage years, Wright's swing underwent significant refinement under the tutelage of Harry Pressler, the longtime professional at San Gabriel Country Club, whom she credited as her most influential coach. Pressler advocated for a standardized, repeatable swing based on precise positions—such as keeping the clubface square on the backswing and positioning the right hand under the shaft at the top—to ensure consistency and longevity, physically guiding Wright into these postures to ingrain . She described his method as transformative, noting how it mirrored elements of Ben 's technique, including a wall-mounted photograph of Hogan practicing with a belt that inspired Pressler's teachings. Additional insights came from observing professionals like Hogan, whose precision she emulated indirectly through Pressler's lessons, enhancing her overall approach without formal direct coaching from him. Wright's training regimen centered on disciplined practice at La Jolla Country Club, where she honed her skills through regular sessions focused on building consistency in ball-striking and course navigation. These efforts involved weekly trips for intensive 30-minute lessons with Pressler, emphasizing repetition to master a reliable swing plane and weight transfer, which she later described as key to her progression. This methodical development propelled Wright from a promising junior golfer to a national contender, marked by her participation in the U.S. Junior Girls' Championship starting in 1951, where she advanced to the semifinals before claiming the title in 1952. Her steady evolution during this period, combining rigorous practice with elite-level competition, positioned her as a standout amateur ready for broader challenges.

Notable amateur wins

Mickey Wright emerged as a dominant force in junior and collegiate golf during the early 1950s, showcasing exceptional talent that foreshadowed her professional dominance. At age 17, she captured her first major national title in the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship held at in , in 1952, where she was co-medalist in qualifying before advancing through to defeat Barbara McIntyre 1-up in the 36-hole final, demonstrating her composure under pressure in a tightly contested match. After enrolling at in 1953, Wright continued her ascent, balancing academics with competitive play. In 1954, while still a collegian, she reached the final of the U.S. Women's Amateur at Allegheny Country Club, where she exhibited strong match-play prowess by winning her earlier rounds convincingly before falling to Barbara Romack 4-and-2 in the championship match. Later that year, she claimed the prestigious World Amateur Championship. Wright's amateur career peaked with her performance as low amateur in the 1954 U.S. Women's Open at Salem Country Club, where she tied for fourth place overall with a score of 305 (17-over par), outperforming many professionals and underscoring her readiness for elite competition despite her youth. These achievements, marked by low scoring in stroke play and resilience in match play, established her as one of the top amateur players of her era before turning professional later that year.

Professional career

LPGA debut and early successes

After a distinguished amateur career that included victories in the 1952 U.S. Girls' Junior and the 1954 World Amateur Championship, Mickey Wright turned professional in 1954 at age 19 and joined the Tour the following year, shortly after the organization's founding in 1950. At 20 years old, she entered a fledgling professional circuit still establishing itself, where players often traveled by car across the to compete in events, facing grueling schedules that tested physical and mental endurance. Wright quickly adapted to the demands of tour life, though early years brought challenges such as inconsistent finishes and the physical toll of constant travel, which she later described as exhausting in the pre-jet era. Wright's breakthrough came in 1956 when she secured her first LPGA Tour victory at the Jacksonville Open, defeating a strong field and earning $1,800, which marked the start of her rapid ascent. She followed with additional wins, including the 1957 Sea Island Open, building momentum amid the tour's competitive landscape dominated by pioneers like Patty Berg and . By 1958, Wright captured her first major championship at the Championship held at Churchill Valley Country Club, winning by six strokes over Fay Crocker with a total score of 288, a performance that solidified her as a rising force. That year, she also won the U.S. Women's Open, becoming the first player to claim both titles in the same season. Over the period from 1955 to 1959, Wright amassed 10 victories, finishing 12th on the money list in her rookie season of 1955 before entering the top 10 the next year and placing second in 1959 behind . These early successes, despite occasional setbacks like minor injuries and the rigors of adapting to professional pressures, established her as an emerging star, setting the stage for greater dominance in the decade ahead.

Peak achievements in the 1960s

The represented the zenith of Mickey Wright's professional career, a period of unparalleled dominance on the LPGA Tour where she amassed 68 victories, more than any other player in that decade. Building on her early momentum, Wright captured 10 of her 13 major championships during this era, including a remarkable sweep that saw her hold all four contemporary majors simultaneously from to —the only woman to achieve this feat. Her precision and consistency elevated the sport's visibility, drawing larger crowds and sponsorships to the fledgling . Wright's supremacy was underscored by her status as the LPGA's leading money winner for four straight seasons from 1961 to 1964, earning over $29,000 in 1961 alone and topping the list each year through a combination of tournament wins and high finishes. She also secured the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average five consecutive times from 1960 to 1964, culminating in a record 72.81 strokes per round in 1963 that remains a benchmark for efficiency. These accolades highlighted her technical mastery, as she won at least 10 events annually from 1961 to 1964, including a tour-record 13 victories in 1963. A pivotal moment came in 1961 at the U.S. Women's Open, where Wright claimed victory by six strokes over at the , securing the second of her four Open titles and contributing to her career total of 13 majors. This win was part of a dominant year that included three majors overall, solidifying her as the tour's preeminent player. Her record-setting prowess peaked in 1964 at the inaugural Tall City Open, where she fired a third-round 62—the lowest single-round score in history at the time—en route to a five-stroke triumph, a mark she matched once more later in the decade. As president from 1963 to 1964, Wright played a key role in tour dynamics, advocating for improved conditions and fostering camaraderie among players like and amid growing professionalization and rivalries that boosted attendance. Her leadership and on-course partnerships in exhibition events helped stabilize and promote the tour during its expansion.

Later years and retirement

Following a series of injuries that began affecting her performance in the late 1960s, Wright's career began to wind down. Persistent foot pain and a chronic , including a in her left wrist, forced her to adapt her equipment, such as wearing instead of spiked shoes during tournaments to alleviate discomfort. These issues limited her ability to compete regularly after 1968, leading to a sharp decline in her tournament participation. Despite the setbacks, Wright achieved one final triumph on the Tour in 1973, securing her 82nd career victory at the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle with a two-stroke margin after a final-round 68. This win marked the end of her tournament successes, as she increasingly scaled back her commitments amid ongoing health challenges and a growing aversion to the demands of travel and public scrutiny. In the , Wright adopted a reduced schedule, appearing only sporadically on the tour and focusing on select events rather than the full slate she had dominated earlier in her career. Her last official appearance came in 1980, after which she stepped away from competitive play. Wright retired from full-time competition in 1969 at age 34 due to health concerns and a desire for a more private life.

Playing style

Swing technique and innovations

Mickey Wright's golf swing was renowned for its fluid balance and mechanical precision, earning high praise from golf legends. , often regarded as one of the game's greatest ball-strikers, declared it the finest he had ever seen, stating, "Mickey Wright: Greatest I ever saw. Boy, what a swing!" This assessment was echoed by and others, who admired its elegance and power. The swing's timeless quality stemmed from its rotary efficiency, minimal lateral slide, and athletic extension, allowing Wright to generate exceptional clubhead speed without apparent effort. Key elements of Wright's technique included a wide stance with bent knees and space between them, promoting stability and leg-driven power. Her setup featured high hands and a centered head position slightly behind the ball, facilitating a smooth tempo and full release through impact. She gripped the club using the last two fingers of her left hand to initiate the transition, creating a subtle bow that enhanced leverage and control. This combination enabled precise ball-striking with remarkable distance control, particularly on long irons, where she achieved high trajectories and unmatched carry in her era through exceptional lag—keeping the clubhead behind her hands—and body clearance to allow arm extension. Wright's innovations extended to practice drills that emphasized fundamentals, influencing contemporary instructional methods. One such drill involved placing a tee approximately 12 inches behind the ball along the target line and knocking it away during the takeaway to widen the arc, ensure low and wide hand movement, and promote full weight transfer to the trail side, preventing steep downswings and slices. Another focused on balance by positioning a under the outside edge of the right foot to maintain posture during the backswing and initiate a grounded downswing. These exercises, detailed in her book Play Golf the Wright Way and taught by her coach Harry Pressler, underscored leg action for power and have been adopted in modern teaching for their simplicity and effectiveness in building a rotary, balanced motion. Photographic and video analyses from the 1950s and 1960s, such as those comparing her downswing to Hogan's, highlight her pronounced lag, knee flexion for force generation, and centered impact position with the body behind the ball. Instructional footage from her era reveals a consistent grip pressure and setup that minimized variables, allowing for repeatable precision, as noted in swing-sequence studies by instructors like .

Mental approach and rivalries

Mickey Wright's mental approach to emphasized intense concentration and visualization as core elements of her success. She described her peak performance state as feeling detached, "standing back watching the in orbit with a golf club in my hands," which allowed her to block out external distractions and focus solely on the shot at hand. She actively avoided media and sponsor demands that could disrupt her focus, often feeling overwhelmed by the need to "do it all" and preferring to limit interactions to preserve her mental energy. In major championships, Wright demonstrated exceptional poise in high-stakes situations, including comebacks and playoffs that tested her resilience. Her confidence in her swing mechanics served as a psychological anchor, enabling her to execute under pressure without second-guessing. For instance, in the 1962 Women's Western Open, she won by seven strokes to complete her career Grand Slam, demonstrating composure throughout the tournament. Similarly, at the 1958 , she held off by five strokes after leading wire-to-wire, showcasing her ability to sustain focus amid mounting expectations. Wright's post-round routines prioritized recovery and mental reset over socializing, reflecting her disciplined lifestyle. She avoided dwelling on mistakes or scores, instead immediately shifting attention to the next shot or tournament, which prevented regret from lingering. Preferring , she limited social engagements and visitors, opting for structured rest with fixed meal times and private reflection to recharge, a habit that extended into her later years. Wright's career featured notable rivalries that sharpened her competitive edge, particularly with contemporaries who challenged her dominance. Her head-to-head battles with highlighted an intergenerational clash, as Suggs finished runner-up to Wright in the 1958 . Against , Wright engaged in one of women's golf's most storied rivalries from 1958 to 1973, during which one of them led the in victories 13 times; together, they amassed 170 wins, outpacing the next five players combined. Judy Kimball also posed a significant threat, notably defeating the two-time defending champion Wright by nine strokes to win the 1962 LPGA Championship.

Competitive record

LPGA Tour wins

Mickey Wright secured 82 victories on the Tour over her career from 1956 to 1973, a total that ranks second all-time behind Kathy Whitworth's 88. Her success was marked by extraordinary consistency, including at least one win in each of 14 consecutive seasons from 1956 to 1969, second only to Kathy Whitworth's record of 17 consecutive seasons. This dominance was especially pronounced in the , during which she claimed 68 of her total wins, averaging nearly seven per year in that decade. Wright's peak performance occurred in the early , where she achieved double-digit victories for four straight years, a feat unmatched in annals. In , she won 10 tournaments; she repeated that mark in before setting the single-season record with 13 wins in 1963, capturing 40.6% of the events played that year. She followed with 11 victories in 1964, capping a four-year span of 44 wins that underscored her unparalleled command of the tour. Among her notable achievements were impressive winning streaks, including four consecutive Tour events in —the first such streak in tour history—which highlighted her ability to sustain peak form across back-to-back competitions. Wright's triumphs were predominantly in stroke-play formats, which formed the core of the schedule and suited her precise, controlled style of play, allowing her to build leads through consistent scoring rather than the head-to-head nature of rarer match-play events. These patterns of sustained excellence and high-volume success established Wright as the preeminent figure in women's professional golf during her era.

Other professional wins

Mickey Wright secured eight professional victories outside the official Tour, demonstrating her prowess in unofficial events, mixed-team competitions, and invitational formats. These triumphs highlighted her adaptability beyond the standard tour circuit, often involving partnerships or exhibition-style play. Among her early non-tour successes was the 1959 Hoosier Celebrity, an unofficial tournament held at in Leesburg, , where she claimed the title in a field featuring top professionals. This win underscored her rising dominance shortly after her debut. Wright excelled in mixed professional-amateur and pro-pro team events, particularly the Haig & Haig Scotch , a late-season invitational pairing male and female pros. Partnering with Dave Ragan, she won in 1961 at Pinecrest Lakes Country Club with a 15-under-par total, and repeated the victory in 1963 at Carefree Inn and Country Club in , where their final-round 64 secured a one-stroke margin over the field. The duo added titles in 1964 and 1965, contributing to Wright's reputation for precision in collaborative play. In 1962, Wright teamed with fellow LPGA star Marilynn Smith to win the Naples Pro-Am in , edging out Patty Berg by a narrow margin in the team format. This event emphasized her skill in pro-am settings, blending competitive with celebrity pairings. Later highlights included the 1964 Palm Beach County Open, an invitational where she prevailed in a strong regional field, and the inaugural 1966 Ladies World Series of at Northridge Country Club in . There, Wright fired a final-round 67 to finish at 8-under-par 136, four strokes ahead of runners-up Carol Mann and Mickey McCart, and collected a record $10,000 first prize—the largest payout in women's professional history at the time. She also participated in exhibitions in 1963 and 1966, defeating international competitors like Brigitte Varangot in televised matches that showcased her global appeal.

Major championships

Mickey Wright amassed 13 major championship victories during her career, tying for the second-most in history behind Berg's 15. These triumphs spanned four different events that were recognized as majors in her era: the Championship, , Titleholders Championship, and Women's Western Open, including four Championships and four s, as well as two Titleholders Championships and three Women's Western Opens. Her major wins were concentrated in the late and , with 10 coming in the alone, setting a record for the most majors won in a single decade. The following table lists Wright's 13 major victories, including years, venues, and scores where documented in historical records:
YearEventVenueScore
1958Churchill Valley , Pittsburgh, PA288
1958Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY290 (-2)
1959Wee Burn Club, Darien, CT287 (+7)
1960Sheraton Hotel , Bristol, PA292 (-4)
1961Titleholders Augusta , Augusta, GAWon by 1 stroke
1961Stardust , Las Vegas, NV287 (+3), won by 9 strokes
1961Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course), Springfield, NJ293 (+5), won by 6 strokes
1962Titleholders Augusta , Augusta, GA295 (+7), playoff win
1962Women's Western OpenMontgomery , Montgomery, AL295 (+7), playoff win
1963Stardust , Las Vegas, NV294 (+6)
1963Women's Western OpenMaple Bluff , Madison, WI292 (-4)
1964San Diego , Chula Vista, CA290 (-2), playoff win
1966Women's Western OpenRainbow Springs , Mukwonago, WI302 (+14)
Wright's 1961 season marked a pinnacle, as she captured three majors—the Titleholders, Championship, and —establishing her as a transformative figure in women's golf. She followed this by winning the first two majors of 1962, the Titleholders and , becoming the only player to hold all four contemporary major titles simultaneously. This "Grand Slam" run not only highlighted her technical mastery but also boosted attendance and media interest in events. During Wright's prime, the 's major structure reflected the tour's early growth, with the Titleholders and serving as prestigious invitational-style championships alongside the and Championship. Wright's repeated successes, including wire-to-wire victories like her 1958 where she led every round by margins up to five strokes, helped professionalize and elevate these events' status. Her performances drew comparisons to male legends like , contributing to increased sponsorship and recognition for women's golf, which had struggled for visibility in the post-World War II era. By the mid-1960s, as the tour expanded, Wright's legacy in these majors solidified the 's foundation for future generations.

Personal life

Marriages and residences

Mickey Wright never married during her lifetime. She maintained a close personal relationship with Peggy Wilson, a fellow Tour player, who became her ; the two shared a home and traveled together extensively after Wright's retirement from competitive . Wright had no children and kept a relatively private family life. During the peak of her career in the and , Wright's residences were largely transient, dictated by the tour schedule that required constant travel across the , which she later reflected shaped her independent lifestyle. In 1974, following her effective retirement from full-time competition, Wright relocated to , where she resided for the remainder of her life in a modest home alongside Wilson.

Health issues and philanthropy

In the late , Mickey Wright began experiencing chronic foot that significantly impacted her professional career, ultimately contributing to her retirement from full-time competition in 1969 at age 34. To manage the discomfort, she often played in rather than traditional , allowing her to continue competing sporadically for several years afterward. The persistent issues required multiple surgeries in her later years, including procedures in 2016, though she recovered well enough to maintain an active lifestyle. Wright faced another major health challenge in 2006 when she was diagnosed with and underwent successful to treat it. Her treatment was effective, and by 2015, she reported being in good health following the procedure, crediting her surgeon for the positive outcome. While she did not publicly engage in extensive advocacy efforts, her experience highlighted the importance of early detection within the community. Post-retirement, Wright demonstrated her commitment to the sport through significant philanthropic contributions, particularly to the (USGA). She donated over 200 personal items, including trophies, clubs, and photographs, to establish the Mickey Wright Room at the USGA Museum in 2011, preserving her legacy for future generations. In a profound act of giving, Wright bequeathed her entire estate to the USGA upon her death in 2020, enabling the organization to further its mission of advancing and supporting related initiatives. Her later charitable focus centered on national preservation efforts from her residence.

Death and legacy

Final years and passing

In her later years, Mickey Wright maintained a low-profile life in , where she had resided since 1974, largely avoiding media attention and public appearances due to health concerns including foot problems, sensitivity to sunlight, and an aversion to flying. She occasionally practiced by hitting shots off a in her yard, enjoying the swing for its own sake rather than competitive purposes. Wright died on February 17, 2020, three days after her 85th birthday, from a heart attack at a in Port St. Lucie, following a recent hospitalization for a fall that exacerbated her longstanding health issues. Details of her were kept private, in keeping with her reclusive lifestyle, and she was cremated with no public burial site disclosed; her family requested privacy following the announcement of her death by her attorney.

Awards, honors, and lasting impact

Mickey Wright's exceptional career earned her numerous accolades, cementing her status as one of the greatest in history. She was inducted into the in 1976, recognizing her dominance on the Tour. In 2017, she became one of the inaugural women enshrined in the PGA of America Hall of Fame, alongside Renee Powell and . Additionally, Wright was among the six original inductees into the Hall of Fame in 1967. She received the USGA's Bob Jones Award in 2010, the highest honor in for exemplary sportsmanship. Her record of 13 major championship victories, including four U.S. Women's Opens and four Championships, stands as a benchmark in women's . In retrospective rankings, Wright has been consistently hailed as the top female golfer. named her the ninth greatest golfer of all time—and the highest-ranked woman—in its 2000 list of the top 50 players. She also received the Female Golfer of the Century award in 1999. These honors underscore her unparalleled precision and power, with legends like praising her swing as the finest he had ever seen. Wright's lasting impact extends far beyond her trophies, inspiring generations of athletes during the era and beyond. Her graceful, rhythmic swing became a model for golf instructors worldwide, influencing teaching methodologies and player development in women's . By dominating the Tour with 82 victories, Wright elevated the tour's visibility and legitimacy, drawing crowds and media attention that helped professionalize and popularize the sport for women. In 2020, the USGA renamed the U.S. Women's Open champion's medal the Mickey Wright Medal in her honor, featuring an image of her iconic swing and awarded annually to champions. Cultural tributes include her instructional book Play Golf the Wright Way (1969), which detailed her technique, and a dedicated Mickey Wright Room at the USGA Golf Museum, displaying her personal artifacts and preserving her swing evolution through archival materials.

References

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  7. https://vault.si.com/vault/2000/07/31/the-queen-of-swing-after-dominating-golf-like-no-one-else-mickey-wright-took-her-leave-though-she-wont-let-you-visit-shes-happy-to-tell-you-why
  8. https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/wright-mickey
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  12. https://www.lpga.com/news/2020/2020-what-made-mickey-wrights-swing-special
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/17/obituaries/mickey-wright-dies.html
  14. https://golf.com/news/mickey-wright-dies-of-heart-attack-85/
  15. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/we-finally-got-mickey-wright
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  17. https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/championships/2014/history-21474862341.html
  18. https://www.globalgolfpost.com/featured/mickey-wright-1935-2020/
  19. https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2020/02/legendary-champion-mickey-wright-dies.html
  20. https://www.lpga.com/athletes/mickey-wright/82316/bio
  21. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mickey-Wright
  22. https://www.lpga.com/lpga-hall-of-fame/mickey-wright
  23. https://www.lpga.com/news/2025/on-this-date-mickey-wright-collects-first-of-82-titles-on-lpga-tour
  24. https://www.foremagazine.com/profiles/getting-it-wright-50-years-after-the-finest-four-year-stretch-professional-golf-has-ever-seen-a-look-back-at-the-career-of-mickey-wright/
  25. https://www.lpga.com/news/2020/lpga-tour-star-power-of-the-1960s
  26. https://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/16/archives/miss-wright-wins-coast-golf-by-two-strokes-68-on-last-round-is.html
  27. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/to-avid-students-mickey-wright-owned-the-best-swing-ever-heres-why
  28. https://golf.com/instruction/driving/mickey-wright-golf-swing-video-tip/
  29. https://danhansengolf.com/2013/07/03/mickey-wrights-get-on-the-ball-drill/
  30. http://grandtimes.com/mental.html
  31. https://www.lpga.com/news/2025/on-this-date-mickey-wright-completes-the-career-grand-slam-at-womens-western-open
  32. https://www.usga.org/articles/2013/06/looking-back-wright-wins-first-womens-open-21474857068.html
  33. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1692077-ranking-ten-greatest-rivalries-in-golf-history
  34. https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/tour/lpga/winners-of-the-womens-pga-championship/
  35. https://fore.scga.org/profiles/getting-it-wright-50-years-after-the-finest-four-year-stretch-professional-golf-has-ever-seen-a-look-back-at-the-career-of-mickey-wright
  36. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/609577-most-lpga-tour-wins-in-a-year
  37. https://www.golfcompendium.com/2022/06/longest-win-streak-lpga.html
  38. https://www.where2golf.com/whos-who/mickey-wright/
  39. https://www.lpga.com/news/2017/2017-indy-women-in-tech-top-storylines
  40. https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/09/archives/ragan-team-wins-golf-by-a-stroke-miss-wright-helps-post-64-for-273.html
  41. https://vault.si.com/vault/1961/12/25/boys-and-girls-together
  42. https://www.socalgolfhof.com/members/view/mickey-wright-2007
  43. https://www.nytimes.com/1966/09/03/archives/miss-wrights-136-wins-by-4-strokes.html
  44. https://vault.si.com/vault/1966/09/12/money-is-a-girls-best-friend
  45. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2020/10/21/mickey-wright-untold-story-usga-museum/76533323007/
  46. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/mickey-wright-obituary-kkwf67qzc
  47. https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/28724400/hall-fame-golfer-mickey-wright-dies-85
  48. https://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/12310951/as-mickey-wright-turns-80-legend-glows-bright
  49. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/sports/golf/19lpga.html
  50. https://www.usga.org/articles/2011/11/usga-welcomes-mickey-wright-collection-21474843851.html
  51. https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2020/10/mickey-wright-artifacts-donation-usga-museum-new-jersey.html
  52. https://www.pga.com/story/mickey-wright-lpga-legend-dies-at-85
  53. https://www.usga.org/articles/2011/11/usga-to-celebrate-golfer-for-the-ages-21474843852.html
  54. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207187181/mickey-wright
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