Kathy Whitworth's rumored husband, Bettye Odle, was saddened after the tragic death of his longtime partner. Kathy left this world the way she lived her life loving, laugh and creating memories, Odle said in a statement released by the LPGA Tour. If you love the sports of Luxury people, thengolfer Kathy Whitworthmust not be a new name to you. Whitworth, whose LPGA Tour victories spanned nearly a quarter-century and who became the first woman to earn $1 million on the LPGA, died on Christmas Eve, her longtime partner said. Kathy Whitworth will be missed and is irreplaceable. Kathy Whitworth in 1983 (left), shortly after win 84, and now. He holds a U.S. patent on The E-Club, a utility golf club. As LPGA Founder Louise Suggs said: Mickey was the greatest golfer, but Kathy was the greatest winner.. Sending condolences to Kathys family and close ones. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Child Tax Credit 2023: Will CTC Be There In Next Year? Later, she became the World Golf Hall of Famer. All told, there were 88 LPGA wins. Whitworth, whose LPGA Tour victories spanned nearly a quarter-century and who became the first woman to earn $1 million for her career on the LPGA, died on Christmas Eve, her longtime partner said. Everyone has stories about how Whitworth carried on a running dialogue with herself about how she didn't deserve to be a professional golfer. Shes put ruts in Texas 121, the straight-shot highway that takes her from her house to the Mira Vista Country Club in Fort Worth, where the Kathy Whitworth Invitational, a national junior tournament for girls, is played each March. Still, not everyone knows the real cause of her death. The LPGA is today a global tour that embraces diversity, but it hasnt always been so. With all those figures, If she would have played now. . The Whitworth familys small, wood-frame home, on South Fourth Street in one of Jals first postwar developments, is still there, but nobody named Whitworth has lived there for years. Kathy Whitworth, a legendary golfer who won an LPGA Tour record 88 times, has died, the organization and her partner announced Sunday. Kathy Whitworth is a great loss to the golf world. If there is a lesson from Whitworth's odyssey it is this: Do what you love, commit to it completely and learn from your mistakes. What happened to her? She was 83 years old. [4][6], In 1962, Whitworth won her first tournament, the Kelly Girls Open. She made $1.7 million in her LPGA career. Finally, I just couldnt take it anymore. However, the reason for the cause of her death is not disclosed yet. She was 83. Kathy Whitworth is single to date. Fellow golfer Annika Sorenstam, called Whitworth LPGA's all-time victory leader and "total class act" who will be dearly missed. Youd be hard-pressed to find any Hall of Famer (name your hall) more modest than she. That was before the event had begun. Whitworth also said she had to make some decisions to dedicate herself to professional golf. If you don't make it, just come home and we'll do something else. When they said that it kind of took the pressure off me., Whitworth won her first check at the Land of the Sky Open in Asheville, N.C. Thirty dollars, she said. [citation needed], Whitworth retired from competitive golf in 2005 after competing in the BJ's Charity Classic on the Women's Senior Golf Tour. Bettye shared a statement in which it was said, Kathy left this world the way she lived her life, loving, laughing and creating memories. Strong sources reported that Bettye didnt reveal the cause of Kathys death. Kathy Whitworth, one of the greatest golfers of all time, has passed away at the age of 83. Ochoa, Mallon inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame, Evian Champions from Alfredsson to Nordqvist, 13 LGPA Founders Who Made Their Dreams Come True, Helen Alfredsson claims U.S. Senior Womens Open championship, U.S. Senior Womens Open: Sunday showdown. Click to reveal Kathy Whitworth and Mickey Wright in 1995. And in addition to Whitworth's 88 victories, she was runner-up a staggering 93 times 181 top-two finishes. Whitworth won eight times in 1963 and 1965, and she had 11 victories in 1968. She soon was a two-time winner of the New Mexico State Amateur. Bettye Odle did not reveal Whitworth's cause of death, only that he died suddenly Saturday night while celebrating with family and friends. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. She once told Jack Nicklaus, No offense to you, but Mickey Wright was the best I ever saw. Mickey won 82 LPGA events, between 1956 and 1973. Kathy was a champion in the truest sense of the word, both on the golf course and off. Who was Kathy Whitworths Partner at the time of her death? Kathy Whitworth, who won more than anyone on the LPGA or PGA tours, died Saturday. Whitworth died suddenly Saturday night while. She lives with her partner, their two rescue dogs and a. Theres a whole world in these little scenes Kathy chose to share. "Kathy left this world the way she lived her life, loving, laughing and creating memories," said Bettye Odle, long-time partner of Whitworth, in an LPGA release. Whitworth died Saturday at 83, her longtime partner announced.AP/File She was 83. Kathy Whitworth follows through after a shot in the $32,000 Ladies World Series of Golf in Springfield, Ohio, on Sept. 2, 1967. It boiled down to Mickey and I the last nine holes, and Mickey was playing behind me, Whitworth said. Players traveled by car, stayed in cheap hotels or with local families and did all the bookkeeping, scheduling and promotion for the Tour themselves. An explanation of the cause of death of the former mayor of EL Cerrito, California, Gut-wrenching: Rep. Quentin Williams, a rising political star, killed in wrong-way accident. Whitworth was also a runner-up 93 times, giving her 181 top-two finishes. Your IP: . He has written a variety of books about golf and other subjects, the most recent of which is The Second Life of Tiger Woods. At the start of their relationship, Kathy would teach Odle how to play golf, but they had to face some challenges at the beginning. [3] She was Named "Golfer of the Decade" by Golf Magazine for the years 1968 to 1977 during the 1988 Centennial of Golf in America celebration. Kathy at the young age of 15 started playing golf and at 19 became a professional player by her joining the LPGA in December 1958. Kathy Whitworth is an American professional golfer, probably one of the best golf players born to date. J.C.s uncle is Sam, and over the years Kathy had barrels of fun with The Slammer at various clinics and receptions. Her mother is always Mother. I can't tell you how much I loved it. Kathy passed suddenly Saturday night celebrating Christmas Eve with family and friends. Mickey Kathryn Wright, is second in the list of series wins among woman. And that's what drove her.. She was 83. Provided by Golf Channel "It is with a heart full of love that we let everyone know of. Your email address will not be published. She was born as the youngest child born to Morris and Dama Robinson Whitworth. She was the winningest golfer in history. Kathy talked about her father in the driveway, her mother at the motel, the car in need of parts. Ai Miyazato has had the same impact on Japanese girls and Shanshan Fengs influence is felt throughout China. She was. 'I hate them': Not every player seems to like the PGA Tour's designated event changes, What Rory McIlroy may be lacking, according to Jack Nicklaus, Tour Confidential: PGA Tour power brokers, LIV Golf goals, mixed events, PGA Tour, LPGA partnering in mixed-team event starting in 2023, Tour Confidential: LIV Golfs TV deal, LPGA drama, Jon Rahm domination, Danielle Kang's brilliant reason for aiming away from the pin, He's full of s---: Nelly Korda calls 'BS' on brother Sebastian's claim he's worst athlete in family, TaylorMade signs Brooke Henderson to bolster LPGA tour staff, 6 bold predictions for the 2023 LPGA season, Kathy Whitworth's greatness was rooted in much more than just winning, All-time LPGA wins leader Kathy Whitworth dies at 83. And they played as teammates although they werent paired in their subsequent (2002, 2003, 2005) Solheim Cup appearances. So fitting. She was born as the youngest child born to Morris and Dama Robinson Whitworth. JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro, CME Group Cares Challenge - Score 1 for St. Jude, Ko Leads, Korda Lurks with 18 to Play at the HSBC Womens World Championship, Young Sponsor Invitees Embrace Opportunity to Start 2023 Season on Epson Tour, Sentosa Golf Club becomes worlds first carbon neutral golf club, Caddy of the Year David Eller with the coveted white bib. Whitworth was born in Monahans, a small West Texas town, and learned to play golf in New Mexico. I'm glad when I look back on it that I didn't succeed right away, Whitworth said. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images). From her maiden victory to her last, the 1985 United Virginia Bank Classic, Whitworth was relentless. Discussing a long-ago shot a knock-down cut 2-iron from 160 yards into a howling wind over water to a back right pin to beat Hollis Stacyher eyes sparkled as if seeing the ball in flight. The legendary golfer takes her retirement from competitive golf in 2005. Has Tension risen Between President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris? The best I could be, and marriage and golf didnt mix., However, her sacrifice was not about giving up on her family. Her 88 victories are the most by any player on a single professional tour. She briefly attended college in Odessa, Texas, before turning pro in 1958. She switched to Harvey Penick as her coach when she was 19 and went pro, joining the LPGA in December 1958. After the veteran golfer Angela Stanford won the Dallas event (the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic) late last year, Kathy could cite to you, chapter and verse, the various swing changes Stanford had made with her instructor, Todd Kolb, in recent years. Whitworth, whose LPGA Tour victories spanned nearly a quarter-century and who became the first woman to earn $1 million on the LPGA, died on Christmas Eve, her longtime partner said. For a third time in 61. Hed say, You swing from the ground up. You dont hear instructors saying that anymore.. What started as a plan concocted around her family's kitchen table in Jal, New Mexico, a company town tucked so far in the southeast corner of the state that it is almost in Texas, ended up being a blueprint for greatness, albeit one that needed years to pencil in all the lines. We never thought wed see her on tour because she was just so unpolished, Rawls said. Three days of golf. Miss Whitworth turned the clock back 29 years to unearth it, to 1992, when she was the captain of the U.S. Solheim Cup team, held near Edinburgh. Now, the question is- how was that related to her having any romantic interest? Age-wise, she was 83. Kathy Whitworth in 1983 (left), shortly after win 84, and in 2021. [14] She is also a member of the New Mexico Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Texas Golf Hall of Fame, and the Women's Sports Foundation Hall of Fame. Whitworth continued playing in senior events after her LPGA Tour career ended, and also became a highly respected teacher of the game. We will update you soon as soon as we get any further details of the cause of her death. Tied for last-place money, but you would have thought I won the tournament.. Whitworth's parents owned and operated a hardware store there until 1981. Four hundred miles home. Drove there from Dallas, of course. We all mourn with Bettye, her family and the entire golf world.. Who Was Kathy Whitworth Partner? Whitworth, whose LPGA Tour victories spanned nearly a quarter century and who became the first woman to earn $1 million on the LPGA, died on Christmas Eve, her longtime partner said. Because of her junior tournament and her involvement with the annual LPGA event in Dallas, Kathy Whit, to anybody who has ever played even nine holes with her knows a host of female golfers who are half her age, a third her age, one-fifth her age. As of now, Kathy is teaching golf as a top instructor, leading US Solheim Cup teams, providing amateurs a venue to excel in the Kathy Whitworth Invitational and showing up when asked. Whitworth's long-time partner, said in a release provided by the LPGA. Whitworth finished in the top two 181 times, including 93 times as a runner-up. When we discuss her achievements, Kathy made it to the Womens PGA Championship thrice. His magazine work has been featured in multiple editions of The Best American Sports Writing. Can you imagine any losing Ryder Cup captain saying something similar? Copyright LPGA 2023. 2019 U.S. Womens Open: Without Charleston, no storms at Augusta, Marilynn Smith, 1929-2019: Have Clubs, Will Travel. [1] . Everyone who knew Kathy Whitworth and her prominence in the golf field started sharing their heartfelt messages on the internet. Bettye Odle did not disclose a cause of death, saying only that Whitworth died suddenly Saturday night while celebrating with family and friends. All these years later, the LPGA Tour total prize fund for 2023 will top $100 million. LPGA prize money was never gaudy in her era and out of necessity the schedule had geographic logic built into it. Fans are mourning Kathys loss, hoping her soul rests in peace. Kathy passed suddenly Saturday night celebrating Christmas Eve with family and friends.. She won six majors during her career and broke Mickey Wrights record of 82 career wins when Whitworth captured the Lady Michelob in the summer of 1982. [4][9] She was the first LPGA player to earn $1million, in 1981. I said, Im going to put your hands on this club. In Augusta, Ga. LPGA capitals to Kathy Whitworth. A quote from Whitworth read, I loaded Bettye up But alas, it wasnt going too well. While teaching him, she couldnt take it anymore and said, Im going to put your hands on this club. Details About Democratic US Senator Raphael Warnocks Children And His Win in Georgia Run-off Election, Check Who Is Hakeem Jeffries Wife And Know His Net Worth, Inflation Relief Checks Michigan: Grasp More Crisp Details, Stimulus Check-In January 2023: Find Out More Updates, Will SSI Get A Fourth Stimulus Check? The American still holds the record for most titles. When Whitworth was 17 Loudermilk introduced her to Penick. Explore More In Detail. Kathys golf stories are seldom about how she won this event or that one. Performance & security by Cloudflare. She had also been the captain of the inaugural team, in 1990, when the Americans won handily in Florida. Olson was one shot back through 54 holes and played the final round through the grief wrought by the unexpected death of her father-in-law on the tournaments Saturday night. Meg Mallon, (R) and Beth Daniel during the 2005 Solheim Cup at Crooked Stick Golf Club on September 10, 2005 in Carmel, Indiana. Before that, he spent nearly 23 years as senior writer for Sports Illustrated. 15 years later, Karrie Webb became the first woman to accomplish that feat in one year, and she did so with four victories and 12 top-five finishes. Kathy at 83 said her final goodbye leaving in shock everyone. Kathy would have become a Billionaire. Employees from Northrop Grumman found dead What happened at Northrop Grumman? Kathy Whitworth, who won more than anyone on the LPGA or PGA tours, died Saturday. Whitworth, whose LPGA Tour victories spanned nearly a quarter-century and who became the first woman to earn $1 million on the LPGA, died on Christmas Eve, her longtime partner said. Her strength, insightfulness and vibrancy were obvious from the minute you met her! Kathy Whitworth in 1962, rocking a courtesy Oldsmobile Starfire. Writing has always been my hobby. Last year, when the Open was the final major of a dismal year, Kathy found herself rooting for Amy Olson down the stretch. Kathy Whitworth for the whole of her life is unmarried. She does know that Mickey Wright won her first U.S. Open the year Kathy played in her first pro tournament, in 1958. Kathy Whitworth, the legendary golfer who today holds the record for most professional tournament wins on a single tour, has died at the age of 83. 13 Reasons Why Actors Love Interest, Kathy Whitworths Partner At The Time Of Death, Who Is Mike Whites Partner? Kathy Whitworth, who has died aged 83, won more US Professional Golf Association events than any golfer, a total of 88 between 1962 and 1985. . Golf just grabbed me by the throat. I did it because I wanted to win, not to set a record or a goal that no one else could surpass. Whitworth won 88 LPGA Tour titles total, six more than the second-place golfer on the all-time LPGA wins list, Mickey Wright. Kathy Whitworths original name was Kathrynne Ann Whitworth was born to parents Morris Whitworth and Dama Robinson Whitworth. When she first got on tour in 1958, at age 18 and after one year at Odessa College, she drove the family car, a green, four-door, manual-transmission Plymouth from the early 1950s. If you are looking for who was Kathy Whitworths Partner, here is what we know. Kathy Whitworth was introduced intoWorld Golf Hall of Famein 1975. Kathy Whitworth at the 1967 LPGA Midwest Open in Columbus, Ohio. Whitworth was a sturdy 5 feet 9 inches . Her parents and her two siblings, Carlynne and Evelynne, are dead. I dont think about the legacy of 88 tournaments, she once said. Whitworth's domination crossed generations as she won at least once a record 17 consecutive years. In an interview, she once shared that doing the same would make her lose her identity as a golf player. Kathy Whitworth hoisting the Solheim Cup in 1990. Kathy Whitworth, the winningest player in professional golf history, died suddenly on Christmas Eve with family and friends. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Kathy Whitworth in 1967. In 1986, Kathy lost the entire retirement fund of$388,000when Technical Equities Corporation declares bankruptcy. When Im asked how I would like to be remembered, I feel that if people remember me at all, it will be good enough., AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. I had lost some playoffs. Golfers know. Kathy left this world the way she lived her life, loving, laughing and creating memories." - Bettye Odle,. With her winning, she became the first LPGA golfer to earn $ 1 million in her career. She lives with her partner, their two rescue dogs and a handful of trophies from her ridiculously long and wildly underappreciated career. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Kathy Whitworth was born asKathrynne Ann Whitworthon September 27, 1939, in Monahans, Texas. An athletic life, a social life, a teaching life. Theyre about how she and her contemporaries got on tour in the first place, and what they did there once they did. No PGA Tour player ever won more than Whitworth, either. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images). Eventually, Harvey gave me the magic move. From 100 yards in she wasn't trying to get it close, she was trying to hole it, said Greg Sheridan, who caddied for Whitworth late in her career. Copyright 2023 by Vizaca. It took Whitworth four years to get her first LPGA win (1962 Kelly Girl Open), but once it came, Whitworth's career exploded. But eventually one event did come to mind. The next year she won eight times. You have to learn how to win. Kathy Whitworth, touted as the winningest golfer in history, has died. ' It was a breakthrough, for teacher and student. Four hundred miles there, U.S. 87 all the way. Copyright 2023 by Vizaca. Kathy played Golf for more than five decades, making her one of the longest golf players in the history of Golf. Whitworth, whose LPGA Tour victories spanned nearly a quarter-century and who became the first woman to earn $1 million. The following week the U.S. Womens Open was played at Champions Golf Club in Houston, a club cofounded by Jackie Burke, now 97. Meg Mallon the US team captain with assistant captain Beth Daniel during the 2013 Solheim Cup at The Colorado Golf Club on August 13, 2013 in Parker, Colorado. She was the U.S. team captain at the inaugural Solheim Cup match in 1990. It was on 24 December 2022 Kathy Whitworth passed away. Do not change this grip.. Kathy Whitworth was born in Mohans, Texas. A lot like Mickey Wright and Louise Suggs. Talking about Kathy Whitworths personal life, the golfer sacrificed quite a lot for the success she earned in her lifetime. . In the short time I spent with Kathy, I was truly blown away by her and her approach to the game and to life. Its a big country. Curiously, one of the biggest checks of her career came in 2000, when Kathy was 61 and playing with J.C. Snead in a glorified exhibition. Wright won 82 times on the LPGA Tour, while Sorenstam had 72 wins when she retired after the 2006 season at age 36. Focus On Sport Two years after taking up the game at age 15, Whitworth won the 1957 New Mexico Women's Amateur, a success she repeated the next year. Whitworths 88 wins on the LPGA tour including six major championships was more than the record held by Sam Snead and Tiger Woods for the mens game. She achieved her first victory in July 1962 in Ellicott City in the . Whitworth started in an era of 35-player fields competing for $7,500. The NFL Players Love Interest, What Happened To Art Garfunkel? But we can change the things we think need changing., Then, after a brief pause: You should like yourself.. Bettye Odle said that she died suddenly on Saturday night while she was celebrating Christmas Eve with her family and friends. Whitworth started playing tennis and picked up golf at the age of 14. You gotta let those arms go. Not all couples successfully combine on-course and off-course partnerships. I think Mickey had the best swing, and was probably the greatest golfer, Betsy Rawls once told Golf Digest. Hardy thought I needed to see Harvey. Kathy Whitworth lines up a putt, circa 1990. Whitworth notched six more runner-up finishes before she got her second win at the Phoenix Thunderbird Open later that year. Shes been most of the places she ever wanted to see. She inspired me as a young girl and now as the commissioner and I know she did the same for so many others. Required fields are marked *. A five-day trip. Bettye and Whitworth were longtime partners, and they had been fond of each other for the last 20 years. Kathys long-time partner made a very relatable yet tearful statement that said, Kathy this world the way she lived her life loving, laughing, and making memories. Even the LPGA paid her a tribute on its official Twitter page. She was 83. We had a pro at our nine-hole course in Jal, Hardy Loudermilk, she said. Kathy was a very intelligent person. Csean Skerritt arrested in Mattapan murder of Norwoods 13 year old teen Tyler Lawrence. She doesnt know many people in Jal anymore. Its been a few days since Kathy Whitworth died. (She and Kathy speak every day.) The standards she set were unreasonable to everyone except her. Was Kathy suffering from any illness? Your email address will not be published. For years, Kathy Whitworth would drive five hours to Houston for a golf dinner like you bop down to your 7-Eleven for a pint of Ben & Jerrys. [5][4] She died in Flower Mound on December 24, 2022, at age 83, after collapsing while attending a neighbor's Christmas party.[4][11][5]. Kathy Whitworth was born as Kathrynne Ann Whitworth on September 27, 1939, in Monahans, Texas. At the time she retired, and for decades after, that was more than any other golfer on any of the world's major golf tours, with the exception of Jumbo Ozaki's 94 wins on the Japan Golf Tour. She was 83 . All that was missing from her career was the U.S. Womens Open, the biggest of the womens majors. He said in his tribute, It is with a heart full of love that we let everyone know of the passing of the winningest golf professional ever, Kathy Whitworth. [1] In 1981, she became the first woman to reach career earnings of $1 million on the LPGA Tour. She was 83. She followed with particular interest the golfing exploits of the Korda sisters at that Open, as well as Morgan Pressel and Brittany Lang, among other KWI alumnae. Her 88 victories are the most by any player on a single professional tour. She said her family and marriage were among some of those sacrifices. But Kathy was the best player of the game that I have ever seen.. Harvey talked about taking dead aim. Kathy is living a lavish and happy lifestyle all on her own in Los Angeles. Over the past 20 years, now and again, Kathy has tried to teach her partner, Bettye Odle, something about playing golf. Kathrynne Whitworth gets along fine, too. A 45-year-old Exeter man has been identified as the victim who died over the weekend after being stabbed. Kathrynne Ann Whitworth (September 27, 1939 - December 24, 2022) was an American professional golfer. Whitworth was all about grinding, and about winning. The strong and viable presence of Asian players on the Tour is the direct result of these three womens athletic accomplishments. Dec. 25, 2022, night, her longtime partner said . Lakeland, Florida, police report 11 wounded in a drive-by shooting. Kathy Whitworth lives in a ranch house on a big property (five acres), near a big lake (Grapevine), on the outskirts of Big D (Dallas). A lot of Kathy Whitworth stories start or end in Jal, a city of 2,100 people and half that number in the 1940s, in the straight-lined southeastern corner of New Mexico, just over the Texas border. They can go hit balls, but they don't have the chance to just drag the bag along and learn how to play.". Is Andrew Tate in a Relationship? Check Out Here, Will You Get Another Stimulus Payment in 2023? Kathrynne Ann Whitworth (September 27, 1939 December 24, 2022) was an American professional golfer. ", "Golf, more than most games, has a number of cliches, often successfully disguised as 'tips.' Id always wanted one, she said. Updated: Dec 25, 2022 / 03:31 PM PST. Shes in good health. Thus became a member of the New Mexico Hall of Fame, Texas Golf Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame and World Golf Hall of Fame. "A lot of young players today don't have that chance, she said. It was her opinion, though. Paul Simons Partner Sparks Death Rumors. Whitworth continued to conduct junior clinics and stay active in the game. Whitworth was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1982. She did her graduation from Odessa College, Texas. Kathy Whitworth has logged a lot of weeks in Rochester, N.Y. During her playing career she won 88 LPGA Tour tournaments, more than anyone else on the LPGA or PGA Tours. It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that LPGA Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth has died at the age of 83. Whitworth has won tournaments in three different decades. I was just fortunate to be so successful. The NFL Players Love Interest. The only thing she was dedicated to was her golf career which eventually earned her the success that she was meant for. Watch out! In 2007, with Jay Golden, she published Kathy Whitworth's Little Book of Golf Wisdom. She drove it for a decade. On average, PGA earnings are a bit less than $1 million per annum, while LPGA, Euro, and other tours pay a bit less. Kathy has unfortunately met her demise. On this note, she once said, I wanted to be a golfer. [2][3][4] She attended Odessa College. It was no small matter for Mallon to publicly acknowledge and thank Beth Daniel during her acceptance speech. Gamsa-haeyo! Two years after taking up the game at age 15, Whitworth won the 1957 New Mexico Women's Amateur, a success she repeated the next year. That Whitworth fashioned such a career after a rookie season in 1959 in which she had a stroke average of 80.30, won only $1,217, coming within a hairsbreadth of quitting, is testimony of the grittiness that defined her. On the mentioned day, she was having a fun time at her neighbors Christmas party. Kathy Whitworth died on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2022, according to her longtime partner Bettye Odle.