Wednesday, February 22, 2023

World Golf Hall of Fame Announces Finalists for 2024 Induction Class

The World Golf Hall of Fame released the names of 12 finalists who will be considered for induction in 2024. Final selections for the 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Class will be announced the week of March 6, 2023.

Before gaining consideration, each finalist met the necessary qualifications in his or her respective category by way of on-course accomplishments or significant contributions to the game of golf. The finalists include Padraig Harrington, Tom Weiskopf, Johnny Farrell, Jim Furyk, Dottie Pepper, Sandra Palmer, Beverly Hanson, Cristie Kerr, Peter Dawson, Butch Harmon, Jay Sigel and the seven remaining co-founders of the LPGA: Alice Bauer, Bettye Danoff, Helen Detweiler, Helen Hicks, Opal Hill, Shirley Spork and Sally Sessions.

Below is a brief bio for each finalist.

The finalists were selected by a Nominating Committee comprised of select Hall of Fame members, media, World Golf Foundation Board organizations, and at-large selections. Additionally, all living Hall of Fame members were sent ballots and had the opportunity to vote for nominees.

“The Nominating Committee has selected finalists who represent the highest caliber of competitors and contributors,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of World Golf Hall of Fame. “Congratulations to all who have been nominated for this special recognition.”

These 12 finalists will be considered for admission into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Class of 2024 by a 20-member Selection Committee, comprised of Hall of Fame members, media representatives and leaders of the major golf organizations. They will be tasked with reviewing the merits and qualifications of each finalist and ultimately selecting the Class of 2024.

The 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on Monday, June 10, 2024 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. coinciding with the 124th U.S. Open Championship and the Hall of Fame Museum’s opening on the United States Golf Association’s (“USGA”) Golf House Pinehurst campus next year. In July 2022, the World Golf Hall of Fame and USGA announced plans to create a new visitor experience for the Hall of Fame in the historic golf community.

2024 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Finalist Bios

Padraig Harrington

Country: Ireland

Born: August 31, 1971

Category: Male Competitor

Official Victories: 21 (15 on European Tour)

Majors/THE PLAYERS:

2007 The Open Championship

2008 The Open Championship

2008 PGA Championship

Additional Career Highlights:

Ryder Cup: 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2020 (Captain)

Major Awards:

European Tour Order of Merit: 2006

European Tour Golfer of the Year: 2007, 2008

PGA Player of the Year: 2008

PGA TOUR Player of the Year: 2008

Tom Weiskopf

Country: United States

Born: November 9, 1942

Died: August 20, 2022

Category: Male Competitor

Official Victories: 18 (16 on PGA TOUR)

Majors/THE PLAYERS:

1973 Open Championship

Additional Career Highlights:

Ryder Cup: 1973, 1975

Johnny Farrell

Country: United States

Born: April 1, 1901

Died: June 14, 1988

Category: Male Competitor

Official Victories: 22 (all on PGA TOUR)

Majors/THE PLAYERS:

1928 U.S. Open 

Additional Career Highlights:

Ryder Cup: 1927, 1929, 1931 

Jim Furyk

Country: United States

Born: May 12, 1970

Category: Male Competitor

Official Victories: 18 (17 on PGA TOUR)

Majors/THE PLAYERS:

2003 U.S. Open

Additional Career Highlights:

2010 FedEx Cup Champion

Ryder Cup: 1997, 1999, 200, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018 (Captain)

Presidents Cup: 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011

World Cup: 2003

Major Awards:

2010 PGA TOUR Player of the Year

2016 Payne Stewart Award

2006 Vardon Trophy

Dottie Pepper

Country: United States

Born: August 17, 1965

Category: Female Competitor

Official Victories: 17

Majors:

1992 Kraft Nabisco Championship

1999 Kraft Nabisco Championship

Additional Career Highlights:

1 Victory on JLPGA

Solheim Cup: 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2013 (Vice-Captain)

Major Awards:

1992 LPGA Player of the Year

1992 LPGA Vare Trophy

1992 Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year

Sandra Palmer

Country: United States

Born: March 10, 1943

Category: Female Competitor

Official Victories: 21

Majors:

1972 Titleholders Championship

1975 U.S. Women’s Open

Additional Career Highlights:

2 Victories on JLPGA

Major Awards:

1975 LPGA Player of the Year

1975 Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year

Beverly Hanson

Country: United States

Born: December 5, 1924

Died: April 12, 2014

Category: Female Competitor

Official Victories: 17

Majors:

1955 LPGA Championship

1956 Women’s Western Open

1958 Titleholders Championship

Additional Career Highlights:

1950 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion

Cristie Kerr

Country: United States

Born: October 12, 1977

Category: Female Competitor

Official Victories: 20

Majors:

2007 US Women’s Open

2010 Women’s PGA Championship

Additional Career Highlights:

1 Victory on Ladies European Tour

Solheim Cup: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017

International Crown: 2014, 2016, 2018

Major Awards:

2006 LPGA Komen Award

Peter Dawson

Country: United Kingdom

Born: May 9, 1950

Category: Contributor – Administrator Career

Highlights:

Served as Chief Executive of The R&A and Secretary of The R&A Golf Club of St Andrews for 16 years

Credited with opening new markets for the game and enhancing the status of The Open Championship

Served as a key figure in securing golf ’s return to the Olympics as Joint Secretary of International Golf Federation

Led efforts to conduct vote allowing women to become members of the Royal & Ancient

Other Accomplishments:

Received the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s Old Tom Morris Award

Awarded the PGA of America’s Distinguished Service Award

Received Donald Ross Award from the American Society of Golf Course Architects

Butch Harmon

Country: United States

Born: August 28, 1943

Category: Contributor – Instructor

Career Highlights:

Served as swing coach to Tiger Woods from 1993 to 2004, during which time Woods won three U.S. Amateur championships, 40 PGA TOUR titles, and 8 Major Championships

Coached Phil Mickelson from 2007 to 2015 during which time Mickelson captured the 2010 Masters and 2013 Open Championship

Coached Major Winners Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Steve Elkington, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Fred Couples, Darren Clarke, Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard, Jimmy Walker, Gary Woodland, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, and Danielle Kang.

Brought Greg Norman (331 weeks), Tiger Woods (683) and Dustin Johnson (139) to number one in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Other Accomplishments:

Named the No. 1 instructor in every Golf Digest 50 Best Teachers in America survey since 2001

Jay Sigel

Country: United States

Born: November 13, 1943

Category: Contributor – Amateur

Career Highlights:

Won 27 total amateur events

US Amateur – 1982, 1983

British Amateur – 1979

US Mid – Amateur – 1983, 1985, 1987

Participated in 9 Walker Cups

Only player to win the US Amateur and US Mid-Amateur in the same year

Other Accomplishments:

1984 Bob Jones Award

Seven Remaining Co-Founders of the LPGA

Alice Bauer

Bettye Danoff

Helen Detweiler

Helen Hicks

Opal Hill

Shirley Spork

Sally Sessions

The LPGA was founded in 1950 by 13 original LPGA players. Six of those founders are currently in the World Golf Hall of Fame:

Patty Berg (1974 Inductee)

Marlene Bauer Hagge (2022 Inductee)

Louise Suggs (1979 Inductee)

Babe Zaharias (1974 Inductee)

Marilynn Smith (2006 Inductee)

Betty Jameson (1998 Inductee)

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