'83-year-old Susie Maxwell Berning, three-time winner of the U.S. Women's Open, passes away'
Susie Maxwell Berning, a three-time U.S. Women Open champion, passed away this week in the Palm Springs, California area at the age of 83, as announced by the LPGA on Wednesday.
According to the tour, Maxwell Berning battled lung cancer for two years.
Among her 11 career wins were four major titles: the U.S. Women's Open in 1968, 1972, and 1973, as well as the 1965 Women's Western Open, which was considered one of the top events on the circuit at the time. She was named LPGA Rookie of the Year in 1964 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021.
She joins an elite group of players, including Babe Zaharias, Mickey Wright, Betsy Rawls, Annika Sorenstam, and Hollis Stacy, who have won three or more U.S. Women's Opens.
"We are saddened by the loss of one of our greats," stated LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. "Susie Maxwell Berning was not only a fantastic player and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, but also a wonderful ambassador for the LPGA and women's sports as a whole.
"We will always look to her as a role model for balancing family life and career, winning major championships while also raising a family. Susie was a strong and pioneering athlete whom I personally admired, and her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of athletes."
USGA CEO Mike Whan also expressed his condolences, saying, "Susie was a true trailblazer from the moment she picked up a golf club. When I think about the incredibly short list of golfers - male or female - who have won three U.S. Open titles, along with four Major Championships, it puts into perspective just how extraordinary her accomplishments were.
"Even more inspiring is her decision to step away from competitive play to prioritize her family, a choice that resonates deeply with many of us. Her legacy will always be a source of admiration and respect."
Maxwell Berning was born in Pasadena, California in 1941 and grew up in Oklahoma City. She received a scholarship to play on the men's golf team at Oklahoma City University.
After her playing career, she became a teaching professional in Colorado and California, spending over 20 years at The Reserve Club in Indian Wells, California.
"She was a character. She was an incredible person," said Mike Kelly, general manager of The Reserve Club, to The (Palm Springs) Desert Sun. "Kind, caring, and funny."
