Amy Alcott - Professional Career

Professional Career

Alcott was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She won the U.S. Girls' Junior in 1973, but by 1975, at age 18, she was ready to turn pro. Her first victory came in just her third start, at the Orange Blossom Classic. She went on to be named LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year. Three times Alcott would win four tournaments in a year: 1979, 1980, and 1984. Her best year came in 1980, when in addition to those four victories she also won the LPGA Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average, finished second five times and was in the Top 10 in 21 out of 28 tournaments played.

Alcott's first major championship victory came at the 1979 Peter Jackson Classic (later renamed the du Maurier Classic). She went on to win the U.S. Women's Open in 1980 and the Nabisco Dinah Shore in three times, in 1983, 1988, and 1991. In fact, the 1991 Nabisco Dinah Shore was her final victory on the LPGA Tour. After her win at the 1988 Dinah Shore, Alcott initiated what is now a tradition of the winner leaping into the greenside lake to celebrate.

That win was the 29th of her career. At the time, the LPGA Hall of Fame required at least 30 career wins for entry, and Alcott chased for the 30th win in vain over the next several years. In 1999, the LPGA switched to a points-based criteria under which Alcott gained admission and she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

From 2001 to 2004, the Office Depot Championship Hosted by Amy Alcott was a part of the LPGA Tour. Following the end of her touring days, Alcott started getting into course design and also hosted a satellite radio program. She has written an instructional book and taped an instructional video. Alcott, who is Jewish, is also a member of the National Jewish Museum Sports Hall of Fame. In July 2007, Alcott accepted the position as girls' golf coach at Harvard-Westlake School in North Hollywood, California.