Table of Biography
Nancy Lopez is a retired professional golfer. Nancy Lopez is considered one of the greatest female golfers of all time. She had a highly successful career during the 1970s and 1980s and is known for her impressive achievements on the LPGA Tour.
Early Life
Nancy Lopez was born in Torrance, California, United States, on January 6, 1957. According to the astrological chart, she has a birth sign of Capricorn and is currently 67 years old as of 2024.
Her full name is Nancy Marie Lopez and she holds US nationality. In addition, she belongs to the Hispanic ethnicity while she practices the Christian religion.
Caption: Nancy Lopez with her parents (Source: Golfweek – USA Today)
She was born to American parents Domingo Lopez and Marina Lopez. By profession, her father was an owner of an auto repair business and her mother was a housewife.
In addition, she was raised with her one sibling named Roswell Lopez. She was born and raised in Torrance. When she was 13 years old, she won her first amateur golf competition. Furthermore, she has been playing golf since she was a child, with her father as her guide.
Nancy Lopez – Education
In terms of her academics, she went to Goddard High School in Roswell. She later enrolled at the University of Tulsa.
In 1976, as a college freshman, she was named All-American and Female Athlete of the Year for her play at the University of Tulsa. She left college after her sophomore year and became a pro in 1977, and she was also the runner-up in the U.S. Women’s Open.
Professional Career
Nancy Lopez won nine events in her first full season on the LPGA Tour in 1978, including five consecutive wins. In July, she was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Moreover, she also won the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average, LPGA Rookie of the Year, LPGA Player of the Year, and Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.
She won eight more times in 1979 and several times in each year from 1980 to 1984. However, she only played half-seasons in 1983 and 1984 due to the birth of her first child.
In 1985, she achieved five wins, five seconds, and five-thirds while competing full-time. He also won the money and scoring titles. After having her second daughter in 1986, she only competed in four competitions. However, she won three times in 1988 and 1989.
Moreover, her workload was once again reduced in the early 1990s, when her third daughter was born. In 1992, she won twice. She played an average schedule of 11-18 tournaments till 2002, then reduced to a half dozen or fewer events per year in 2003.
Continued her successful career
From the late 1970s to the 1980s, she was considered to be one of the greats of women’s golf, and she was the game’s best player. She won three majors, all at the LPGA Championship, on the same course, in 1978, 1985, and 1989.
Moreover, she has never won the U.S. Women’s Open, but she has finished second four times, the last time in 1997, when she became the first player in the event’s history to score under 70 in all four rounds but lost to Alison Nicholas. She won the Colgate-Dinah Shore in 1981, two years before it became a major, and finished second three times at the du Maurier Classic in Canada.
Caption: Nancy Lopez playing the golf (Source: Women’s Sports Foundation)
She joined the United States Solheim Cup squad in 1990 and served as captain in 2005. Moreover, she withdrew from regular tournament participation in 2002 but sought to return in 2007 and 2008. In the following season, she competed in six events, missing the cut in all of them and breaking 80 in only three of the twelve rounds. In 2008, she competed in three events with a low score of 76 and was never cut.
Her company, Nancy Lopez Golf, produces an extensive line of women’s golf clubs and accessories. She also provides occasional TV commentary.
Awards
Lopez has received numerous awards and honours for her contributions to golf, including being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1987.
In addition, she is the only woman to win LPGA Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year, and the Vare Trophy in the same season (1978). Additionally, there are awards named after her or inspired by her achievements, such as collegiate golf awards or local honours.
Net Worth 2024
This retired golfer has an estimated net worth of $10 million as of 2024 while she has an estimated salary of $42,000. Through her successful golf career, she earned good fortune.
Relationship Status
Till now, this retired golfer married twice in her life and is currently single. Firstly, she married to long-term boyfriend Tim Melton who is a Houston sportscaster in the year 1979.
However, the couple divorced in the year 1982. Later she started dating retired Major League Baseball corner infielder Ray Knight. In October 1982, they married and separated in 2009. With the marriage, the couple has three daughters named Torri Heather, Ashley Maries, and Torri Heather.
Caption: Nancy Lopez with her daughters (Source: Villages-News)
Lopez has denied reports of being a lesbian. Despite this, she has yet to be embroiled in a controversy.
Body Measurements
Caption: Nancy Lopez with her golf stick (Source: Self Regional Healthcare)
The retired golfer is 5 feet 5 inches tall (1.65 m) and weighs around 61 kg. Moreover, she has a pair of brown eyes with blonde hair colour.
Nancy Lopez – Social Media
Lopez is not present on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.