On This Day

Sally Little

South African professional golfer (born 1951)

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Sally Little (born 12 October 1951) is a South African-born professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1971 and won 15 LPGA Tour events, including two major championships, during her career. In 2016, she became the first female golfer from South Africa inducted into the South African Hall of Fame.

In 1951, Little was born in Cape Town. As a girl, Gary Player encouraged her to play golf. Little later told The Plain Dealer, "Gary encouraged me when I was 13, but I didn't listen until I was 16. I broke my leg when I was 15 and could only play golf and became interested."

Little 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.

In 1971, Little joined the LPGA Tour 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. That year, in August, she also became a United States citizen.

She has won 15 times on the tour, including two major championships, the 1988 du Maurier Classic and the 1980 LPGA Championship.

In 1971, Little earned the LPGA Rookie of the Year award.

In 1989, she earned the Ben Hogan Award from the Golf Writers Association of America

In 2000, Little was recognized during the LPGA's 50th Anniversary as one of the LPGA's top-50 players and teachers.

In 2016, she was inducted into the South African Hall of Fame

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)

Espirito Santo Trophy (representing South Africa): 1970

Handa Cup (representing World team): 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 (tie)

List of golfers with most LPGA Tour wins

Sally Little at the LPGA Tour official site

Sally Little at the Legends Tour official site (also at former site)

Sally Little at golf.about.com at the Wayback Machine (archived 11 November 2007)

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