Amy Alcott


Amy Alcott is an American professional golfer and golf course designer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1975, and won five major championships and 29 LPGA Tour events in all. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. She was a part of the architectural team that designed the golf course for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Professional career

Alcott was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and is Jewish. She won the U.S. Girls' Junior in 1973, She turned pro in 1975 at age 18, directly upon graduating from Palisades High School in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. Her first victory came in just her third start as a professional at the Orange Blossom Classic on the LPGA Tour. She went on to be named LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year. Alcott won four tournaments in a year three times, in 1979, 1980, and 1984. Her best year came in 1980, when in addition to those four victories she also won the LPGA Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average, finished second five times and was in the Top 10 in 21 out of 28 tournaments played.
Alcott's first major championship victory came at the 1979 Peter Jackson Classic. She went on to win the U.S. Women's Open in 1980 and the Nabisco Dinah Shore in three times, in 1983, 1988, and 1991. The 1991 Nabisco Dinah Shore was her final victory on the LPGA Tour. After her win at the 1988 Dinah Shore, Alcott initiated what is now a tradition of the winner leaping into Poppie's Pond to celebrate.
That win was the 29th of her career. At the time, the LPGA Hall of Fame required at least 30 career wins for entry. Alcott chased for the 30th win in vain over the next several years. In 1999, the LPGA switched to a points-based criteria under which Alcott gained admission and she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
From 2001 to 2004, the Office Depot Championship Hosted by Amy Alcott was a part of the LPGA Tour. Following the end of her touring days, Alcott started working in golf course design and also hosted a satellite radio program. She has written an instructional book and taped an instructional video. Alcott, who is Jewish, is also a member of the National Jewish Museum Sports Hall of Fame, and the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. In July 2007, Alcott accepted the position as girls' golf coach at Harvard-Westlake School in North Hollywood, California.

Professional wins (33)

LPGA Tour wins (29)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
1Feb 23, 1975Orange Blossom Classic−9 1 stroke Sandra Post
2May 23, 1976'76 LPGA Classic−4 1 stroke Jane Blalock
3Nov 27, 1976Colgate Far East Open−5 1 stroke Donna Caponi
4Oct 9, 1977Houston Exchange Clubs Classic−8 5 strokes Carol Mann
Kathy Postlewait
Donna White
5Apr 23, 1978American Defender Classic−10 Playoff Hollis Stacy
6Feb 18, 1979Elizabeth Arden Classic−3 Playoff Sandra Post
7Jul 29, 1979Peter Jackson Classic−7 3 strokes Nancy Lopez
8Oct 14, 1979United Virginia Bank Classic−2 1 stroke Susie McAllister
9Nov 3, 1979Mizuno Japan Classic1−11 1 stroke Sandra Post
10Apr 13, 1980American Defender/WRAL Classic−10 4 strokes Donna Caponi
11Jul 6, 1980Mayflower Classic−13 3 strokes JoAnne Carner
Sally Little
12Jul 13, 1980U.S. Women's Open−5 9 strokes Hollis Stacy
13Oct 12, 1980Inamori Golf Classic−12 4 strokes Beth Daniel
Patty Hayes
14Feb 22, 1981Bent Tree Ladies Classic−12 1 stroke JoAnne Carner
15May 10, 1981Lady Michelob−7 1 stroke Sally Little
16Mar 28, 1982Women's Kemper Open−6 1 stroke JoAnne Carner
17Apr 3, 1983Nabisco Dinah Shore−6 2 strokes Beth Daniel
Kathy Whitworth
18May 13, 1984United Virginia Bank Classic−6 2 strokes Cathy Marino
19Jul 1, 1984Lady Keystone Open−8 1 stroke Juli Inkster
Martha Nause
20Sep 9, 1984Portland Ping Championship−4 3 strokes Kathy Guadagnino
21Sep 23, 1984San Jose Classic−8 2 strokes Betsy King
Beverly Klass
Pat Meyers
Kathy Whitworth
22Feb 24, 1985Circle K Tucson Open−9 1 stroke Betsy King
23May 5, 1985Moss Creek Women's Invitational−4 4 strokes Juli Inkster
Nancy Lopez
Kathy Postlewait
Patty Sheehan
24Aug 18, 1985Nestle World Championship of Women's Golf−14 Playoff Patty Sheehan
25Jul 6, 1986Mazda Hall of Fame Championship−4 Playoff Lauren Howe
26Aug 3, 1986LPGA National Pro-Am−5 1 stroke Pat Bradley
Christa Johnson
27Apr 3, 1988Nabisco Dinah Shore−14 2 strokes Colleen Walker
28Jul 23, 1989Boston Five Classic−16 3 strokes Cathy Marino
29Mar 31, 1991Nabisco Dinah Shore−15 8 strokes Dottie Mochrie

1Co-sanctioned by the LPGA of Japan Tour
LPGA Tour playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11975Charity Golf Classic Sandra Haynie
Judy Rankin
Haynie won with par on fourth extra hole
Rankin eliminated with par on first hole
21978American Defender Classic Hollis StacyWon with birdie on first extra hole
31979Elizabeth Arden Classic Sandra PostWon with eagle on third extra hole
41980CPC Women's International Hollis StacyLost to birdie on first extra hole
51981Inamori Classic Donna Caponi
Hollis Stacy
Jan Stephenson
Stacy won with birdie on first extra hole
61985Nestle World Championship of Women's Golf Patty SheehanWon with birdie on second extra hole
71985LPGA National Pro-Am Pat BradleyLost to birdie on second extra hole
81986Mazda Hall of Fame Championship Lauren HoweWon with birdie on first extra hole
91986Konica San Jose Classic Betsy King
Ayako Okamoto
Patty Sheehan
Sheehan won with birdie on first extra hole

LPGA of Japan Tour wins (3)

1Co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour

Other wins (2)

Wins (5)

Results timeline

Results not in chronological order before 2015.
^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.
^^ The Evian Championship was added as a major in 2013.
CUT = missed the half-way cut.
WD = withdrew
"T" = tied

Summary

Professional