LPGA Hall of Fame: Introducing the toughest Hall of Fame in all of sports

LPGA Tour player Lydia Ko is on the verge of achieving one of the highest honors in women’s professional golf: induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame. It is so difficult that only 25 players have achieved it since its inception more than 70 years ago.

Lydia Ko opened the 2024 LPGA Tour season by winning the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. This not only marked her return to the winner’s circle, which she had missed since 2022, but also earned her the 26th point in her way to the LPGA Hall of Fame.

The institution operates much differently than the vast majority of its peers. Rather than being “elected,” players accumulate accomplishments throughout their careers. Those accomplishments earn them eligibility points, and the goal is 27. Any memeber of the American based tour who accumulates 27 points earns her spot in the super exclusive list.

It is not that simple. This is how points are awarded for the LPGA Hall of Fame:

• Must have won/been awarded at least one of the following: An LPGA Major championship, the Vare Trophy or Rolex Player of the Year honors.
• Must have accumulated a total of 27 points, which are awarded as follows: one point for each LPGA official tournament win, two points for each LPGA Major tournament win, one point for each Vare Trophy or Rolex Player of the Year honor earned, and one point for an Olympic gold medal.

Lydia Ko has won two majors, the Vare Trophy twice, and the Player of the Year Award twice. In addition to her two majors, she has won 18 other LPGA Tour tournaments for a total of 26 points. It is even more remarkable that Ko is only 26 years old.

LPGA Hall of Fame impressive list of members

Only 25 players have earned the merit of a spot in the Hall of Fame. However, the institution has inducted nine other honorary members. Among them are eight players from the inaugural stages of the LPGA Tour, as well as singer and actress Dinah Shore, a well-known promoter of women’s golf and one of the founders of the now-major Chevron Championship.

This is the list of members of the LPGA Hall of Fame:

Regular members:

1. Lorena Ochoa (2022)
2. Inbee Park (2016)
3. Se Ri Pak (2007)
4. Karrie Webb (2005)
5. Annika Sorenstam (2003)
6. Marlene Bauer Hagge (2002)
7. Donna Caponi (2001)
8. Judy Rankin (2000)
9. Juli Inkster (1999)
10. Beth Daniel (1999)
11. Amy Alcott (1999)
12. Betsy King (1995)
13. Patty Sheehan (1993)
14. Pat Bradley (1991)
15. Nancy Lopez (1987)
16. JoAnne Carner (1982)
17. Carol Mann (1977)
18. Sandra Haynie (1977)
19. Kathy Whitworth (1975)
20. Mickey Wright (1964)
21. Betsy Rawls (1960)
22. Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1951)
23. Louise Suggs (1951)
24. Betty Jameson (1951)
25. Patty Berg (1951)

Honorary members:

1. Alice Bauer (2022)
2. Bettye Danoff (2022)
3. Helen Dettweiler (2022)
4. Helen Hicks (2022)
5. Opal Hill (2022)
6. Sally Sessions (2022)
7. Marilynn Smith (2022)
8. Shirley Spork (2022)
9. Dinah Shore (1987)