The final selection will be announced the week of March 6, 2023
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (February 22, 2023) – The World Golf Hall of Fame has released the names of 12 finalists eligible for induction in 2024. Final selections for the 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame inductive class will be announced the week of March 6, 2023.
Before being considered, each finalist met the required qualifications in their respective category through on-course performance or significant contributions to the game of golf. 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 LPGA co-founders: Alice Bauer, Bettye Danoff, Helen Detweiler, Helen Hicks, Opal Hill, Shirley Spork and Sally Sessions.
Below is a brief biography for each finalist.
Finalists were selected by a nominating committee comprised of select Hall of Famers, media, World Golf Foundation Board organizations and a broad selection. In addition, all living Hall of Famers received ballots and had the opportunity to vote for nominees.
“The nominating committee selected finalists representing the highest caliber of participants and contributors,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of the World Golf Hall of Fame. “Congratulations to everyone who has been nominated for this special recognition.”
These 12 finalists will be considered for induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Class of 2024 by a 20-person selection committee comprised of Hall of Famers, members of the media and executives from major golf organizations. They will be tasked with reviewing each finalist’s merits and qualifications, 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 the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the village of Pinehurst, NC, coinciding with the 124th US Open Championship and the opening of the Hall of Fame Museum in the United States Golf House Pinehurst Campus of the Golf Association (“USGA”) next year. In July 2022, the World Golf Hall of Fame and the USGA announced plans to create a new Hall of Fame visitor experience in the historic golf community.
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2024 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Finalist Bios
Padraig Harrington
Country: Ireland
Born: August 31, 1971
Category: Male Competitor
Official wins: 21 (15 on European Tour)
Majors/THE PLAYERS:
- 2007 The Open Championship
- 2008 The Open Championship
- 2008 PGA Championship
Other career highlights:
- Ryder Cup: 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2020 (Captain)
Important 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 Weisskopf
Country: United States
Born: November 9, 1942
Died: August 20, 2022
Category: Male Competitor
Official wins: 18 (16 on PGA TOUR)
Majors/THE PLAYERS:
Other career highlights:
Johnny Farrell
Country: United States
Born: April 1, 1901
Died: June 14, 1988
Category: Male Competitor
Official wins: 22 (all on PGA TOUR)
Majors/THE PLAYERS:
- 1928 US Open additional
Career highlights:
- Ryder Cup: 1927, 1929, 1931
Jim Furyk
Country: United States
Born: May 12, 1970
Category: Male Competitor
Official wins: 18 (17 on PGA TOUR)
Majors/THE PLAYERS:
Other career highlights:
- 2010 FedEx Cup Champion
- Ryder Cup: 1997, 1999, 200, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018 (Captain)
- Presidential Cup: 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011
- World Championship: 2003
Important awards:
- 2010 PGA TOUR Player of the Year
- Payne Stewart Prize 2016
- 2006 Vardon Trophy
Dottie Pepper
Country: United States
Born: August 17, 1965
Category: Female Competitors
Official wins: 17
Majors:
- 1992 Kraft Nabisco Championship
- 1999 Kraft Nabisco Championship
Other career highlights:
- 1 win on JLPGA
- Solheim Cup: 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2013 (Vice Captain)
Important 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 Competitors
Official wins: 21st
Majors:
- 1972 Defending Championship
- 1975 US Women’s Open
Other career highlights:
Important 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 Competitors
Official wins: 17
Majors:
- 1955 LPGA Championship
- 1956 Ladies Western Open
- 1958 Defending Championship
Other career highlights:
- 1950 US Women’s Amateur Champion
Cristi Kerr
Country: United States
Born: October 12, 1977
Category: Female Competitors
Official wins: 20
Majors:
- 2007 US Women’s Open
- 2010 Women’s PGA Championship
Other career highlights:
- 1 win on the Ladies European Tour
- Solheim Cup: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017
- International Crown: 2014, 2016, 2018
Important awards:
Peter Dawson
Country: United Kingdom
Born: May 9, 1950
Category: Contributor – Admin Career
Highlights:
- Was Chief Executive of the R&A and Secretary of the R&A Golf Club of St Andrews for 16 years
- Opened up new markets for the game and improved the status of The Open Championship
- Served as a key figure in securing the return of golf to the Olympics as Joint Secretary of the International Golf Federation
- Led efforts to hold a vote allowing women to become members of the Royal & Ancient
More Achievements:
- Received the Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
- Winner of the PGA of America’s Distinguished Service Award
- Received the Donald Ross Award from the American Society of Golf Course Architects
butch harmony
Country: United States
Born: August 28, 1943
Category: Contributor – Instructor
Career highlights:
- Was the swing coach for Tiger Woods from 1993 to 2004, during which time Woods won 3 US amateur championships, 40 PGA TOUR titles and 8 major championships
- Coached Phil Mickelson from 2007 to 2015, during which time Mickelson won the 2010 Masters and the 2013 Open Championship
- Coached big 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 golf world rankings.
More Achievements:
- Named the #1 Instructor in every Golf Digest 50 Best Teachers in America poll since 2001
Jay Siegel
Country: United States
Born: November 13, 1943
Category: Contributor – Amateur
Career highlights:
- Won a total of 27 amateur events
- US amateur – 1982, 1983
- British amateur – 1979
- US Mid – Amateur – 1983, 1985, 1987
- Participation in 9 Walker Cups
- Only player to win US Amateur and US Mid-Amateur in same year
More Achievements:
Seven remaining co-founders of the LPGA
- Alice Bauer
- Betty Danoff
- Helen Detweiler
- Helen Hicks
- opal hill
- Shirley Spurk
- Sally sessions
The LPGA was founded in 1950 by 13 original LPGA players. Six of these founders are currently in the World Golf Hall of Fame:
- Patty Berg (Initiates from 1974)
- Marlene Bauer Hagge (conscripts 2022)
- Louise Suggs (Initiates from 1979)
- Babe Zaharias (Initiates from 1974)
- Marilynn Smith (Initiates 2006)
- Betty Jameson (1998 insiders
