Essential Golf: A passion for the Game

World Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Nominees

Finalists for the World Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Beverly Hanson (Female Competitor)

Beverly Hanson bagged three majors in her career: the 1955 LPGA Championship, the 1956 Women’s Western Open, and the 1958 Titleholders Championship. The late Hanson was the 1950 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion before recording 17 official victories as a pro.

Cristie Kerr (Female Competitor)

Cristie Kerr is the last female golfer nominee in the WGHOF Class of 2024. The star participated in a record nine Solheim Cups between 2002 and 2017. On tour, Kerr claimed 20 official victories and won two majors: the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2010 Women’s PGA Championship.

Peter Dawson (Contributor – Administrator Career)

UK golf administrator Peter Dawson has an impressive resume, having served as the Secretary of The R&A Golf Club of St Andrews and Chief Executive of The R&A for 16 years. Dawson was vocal in securing golf’s return to the Olympics, allowing women to join the R&A, among other accomplishments.

Butch Harmon (Contributor – Instructor)

Butch Harmon is among the best golf instructors, having coached elite golfers such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman, Adam Scott, and Dustin Johnson to great victories. Perhaps most notable is when he was Woods’ swing coach from 1993 to 2004, helping the golfer to secure three U.S. Amateur championships, 8 Major Championships, and 40 PGA TOUR titles.

Jay Sigel (Contributor – Amateur)

Jay Sigel is undoubtedly one of the best U.S. amateur golfers to have ever played. He is the only player to scoop the U.S. Mid-Amateur and US Amateur in the same year. Sigel won 27 amateur events and holds accolades such as the 1984 Bob Jones Award.

Seven Remaining LPGA Co-founders

In 1950, 13 female golfers formed the LPGA. Out of the 13, six are already members of the LPGA: Patty Berg (1974), Babe Zaharias (1974), Louise Suggs (1979), Betty Jameson (1998), Marilynn Smith (2006), and Marlene Bauer Hagge (2022).

The remaining seven co-founders now have a reason to smile as they are finalists for the Class of 2024. They are Alice Bauer, Bettye Danoff, Helen Detweiler, Helen Hicks, Opal Hill, Shirley Spork, and Sally Sessions.

Being considered for induction in the World Golf Hall of Fame is a big honor, even if you don’t make it to the final inductee list for that year. The above finalists are all legends in their own right, and we certainly wish them all the best in the selection process.