Sally Little: South African icon
The Journey of a Golf Legend
Sally Little is a celebrated professional golfer whose career spans several decades. She burst onto the international scene in the 1970s, quickly making a name for herself with her exceptional skill and tenacity. Over the years, Sally has amassed numerous victories on the LPGA Tour, including major championships, and has become a role model for aspiring golfers worldwide. Her journey from a young girl with a dream to a golfing icon is a testament to her perseverance and love for the game.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Early years
Sally was born in Cape Town, October 12, 1951. As a youngster, Sally would tag along with her father, Percy, while he played, but only because he promised to pay her pocket money if she would pull the caddy cart! At 12 years old, she began to play the game in earnest.
Amateur Career
Her game matured quickly. By the age of 17, Sally had claimed more than a dozen regional and national amateur titles. In 1971, not only was she the low individual in the World Amateur, she also won the South African Match Play and Stroke Play titles, all in one week.
As an amateur, she finished fifth in her first professional event in the U.S., the Lady Carling Open.
Professional Career
In 1971, Sally turned professional, marking the beginning of her illustrious career in the world of golf.
At age 19, after qualifying to play on the LPGA tour, playing in only 7 out of 25 events, Sally was named the LPGA Rookie of the Year.
Sally’s first victory on the LPGA tour was in 1979, at the Women’s International at Moss Creek. In a spectacular finish, Sally holed a 75ft bunker shot on the 72nd hole, to edge out Jan Stephenson by one shot.
Between 1979 and 1982, Sally won 12 titles including her first major win, the LPGA Championship, in 1980. For the next 10 years, she was consistently ranked in the top five in the world. Sally won two Major Championships, the last being the Du Maurier, the Canadian Women’s Championship, in 1988.
The Legends Tour
In 2000, Sally joined a group of her peers in founding The Legend’s Tour, the Women’s Senior division of the LPGA Tour. The Legends Tour showcases the talents of some of the greatest women golfers of all time. Sally has competed in as many events as her schedule has allowed, highlighted by her being named Captain of the World Team vs. the U.S. in the 2014, 2015 Handa Cup competition. The complete Legends Tour Schedule, as well as real time scoring can be found on the Legends Tour website.
Sally Little Golf Trust
After being back in South Africa for a number of years, Sally saw a need and felt a great desire to give back. In 2015, Sally formed the Little Golf Trust, dedicated to educating and empowering the previously disadvantaged through the game of golf. Sally is hands-on with her learners, whom she trains at the Mayor’s Peninsula Golf Driving Range known as the Sally Little Centre for Excellence.
