Legendary Golfer Nancy Lopez To Make 2002 Her Final Full Season After 25 Years On LPGA Tour

'I'm not walking away from golfŠbut beginning a brand new chapter in my golf career,' Lopez says

Contact Sherry Whay
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or Neal Reid
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PHOENIX (March 13, 2002) -- Nancy Lopez, one of the most influential women in sports and culture over the past quarter century, announced today that 2002 -- her 25th LPGA Tour season -- will be her final full season on the Tour. The remainder of the year will be the "Nancy Lopez Farewell Tour," the Hall of Fame golfer said, so she can see her favorite people at Tour stops throughout the year.

"This will be my last year committed to the LPGA as a full-time touring professional, but I am not walking away from golf," Lopez announced at a press conference this morning in advance of playing in this week's PING Banner Health tournament in Phoenix. "I am at the beginning of a brand new chapter in my golf career. You will see me because I will be participating in corporate golf events, television, golf course design and working with Women's Golf Unlimited to develop new ideas for my namesake club line."

Lopez expects to make a series of announcements about her future plans in the coming months. Right now, her focus is on the 2002 season.

Lopez added, "I still have the fire, so I plan to compete in some events during the years after the 2002 season. Although this change in my career makes me sad, I know that it is time to make my commitments to new projects, my wonderful sponsors, AIM for the Handicapped, and my family."

A 48-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Lopez's landmark career began in 1977. In 1978, she won nine tournaments, including a record-setting five in a row. She is the recipient of virtually every award in golf and sports, and in 1985, at the Henredon Classic, she recorded a 20-under-par tournament total of 268, including 25 birdies that week. This marked the first time an LPGA player posted a broke the 20-under-par barrier. She was the youngest-ever inductee in the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame, joining in 1987 at the age of 30.

Lopez is a four-time Rolex Player of the Year winner, a three-time Vare Trophy winner for lowest scoring average and also won the 1978 LPGA Rookie of the Year award. She is the only player in LPGA history to win Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Vare Trophy in the same season after doing so in 1978.

Over the years, her fans showed their appreciation and anointed her the women's tour's answer to Arnold Palmer by dubbing themselves "Nancy's Navy." Her lively charm and gifted game helped turn each stop on the LPGA Tour into a must-see sporting event, and helped popularize women's golf.

Lopez credits her parents for getting her started in golf at age eight. She turned professional after her sophomore year at the University of Tulsa. She and husband Ray Knight married in 1982, and she has three daughters and a step-son. The family lives in Albany, Ga.

After this week's PING Banner Health, Lopez plans to next play at the Welch's/Circle K Championship (March 21-24), Kraft Nabisco Championship (March 28-31) and the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez (May 3-5).

 

Nancy Lopez's proposed 2002 LPGA Tour schedule
PING Banner Health	March 14-17
Welch's/Circle K Championship	March 21-24
Kraft Nabisco Championship	March 28-31
Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez	May 3-5
Aerus Electrolux USA Championship hosted by Vince Gill and Amy Grant	May 9-12
Kellogg-Keebler Classic	May 31-June 2
McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by AIG	June 6-9
Wegmans Rochester LPGA	June 20-23
Jamie Farr Kroger Classic Presented by ALLTEL	July 11-14
Giant Eagle LPGA Classic	July 19-21
State Farm Classic	Aug. 29-Sept. 1
Williams Championship	Sept. 6-8
Safeway Classic	Sept. 13-15