He is the first North American pontiff to be elected leader of the Catholic Church
Golf has been a male-dominated sport for much longer than women have been allowed to play. But over the decades, we've seen many female golfers dedicating themselves to the game, resulting in long, successful careers for many. Of course, there are only a select few who can be considered among the best golfers in history.
So, who are the best female golfers of all time? With factors like longevity, total wins, and major titles in mind, click on to discover several legends of the game.
With a professional career spanning over 25 years and counting, American golfer Juli Inkster's wins rank her second in wins among all active players on the LPGA Tour.
The first international star in women's golf, Scotland's Dorothy Campbell won four combined British and US amateur championships from 1909 to 1911. She then left the sport to focus on married life, but came back in 1924, winning another U.S. Women's Amateur championship.
Regarded as one of the best female golfers in history, Sweden's Annika Sörenstam won 90 international tournaments before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season. Of those 90, 72 are official LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) tournaments.
Australian Karrie Webb plays mainly for the US-based LPGA Tour, and the WPGA Tour of Australasia in her home country. With over 40 wins on the LPGA Tour, she has won more than any other active player.
American golfer Patty Berg was a founding member and the first president of the LPGA. Her 15 major title wins remains the all-time record for most major wins by a female golfer. In 1980, she played for her final time on the LPGA Tour.
The former professional player opened the door for Koreans in the LPGA Tour. Playing from 1998 to 2016, Pak retired with 25 wins, five majors, and a scoring title.
American golfer Mickey Wright joined the LPGA Tour in 1955 and won 82 times, including 13 major championships. She's part of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
American Kathy Whitworth won 88 LPGA Tour events—more than any other woman, and more than any man has won on the PGA Tour. Her first win was in 1962, and her last in 1985.
Currently playing on the LPGA Tour and the LPGA of Japan Tour, South Korean Inbee Park is one of the top active players in the world.
A former professional golfer, American Nancy Lopez became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won 48 of their events, including three major championships.
Arguably the greatest female athlete of all time, she played and excelled in golf, basketball, baseball, and track and field. She won two gold medals in track and field at the 1932 Summer Olympics for the US, and 10 LPGA major championships as a golfer.
With 43 victories on the LPGA Tour, the former professional American golfer was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1982.
Considered the greatest female golfer of the pre-World War II era, Wethered won the British Ladies Amateur four times and the English Ladies' Amateur Championship for five consecutive years.
The Mexican former professional golfer played on the LPGA Tour from 2003 to 2010, earning 27 wins. And while her career was brief, she was consistently ranked as one of the world's top female golfers.
America's Betsy King became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won six major championships and 34 LPGA Tour victories in total.
A member of the LPGA Tour since 1965, American golfer Caponi won four major championships and 24 LPGA Tour career events.
A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, America's Pat Bradley started playing on the LPGA Tour in 1977. She won 31 tour events, including six major championships.
Britain's most accomplished female golfer of modern times, Davies was the first non-American to finish at the top of the LPGA money list, as well as winning the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit a record seven times.
American Amy Alcott joined the LPGA Tour in 1975, and won five major championships and 29 LPGA Tour events in all. Fun fact: she was also part of the architectural team that designed the golf course for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
America's Louise Suggs was a big golfer with 58 wins and 11 major championships, plus wins at the US and British amateurs. Most of those wins came in the first decade of the LPGA's existence.
American golfer Patty Sheehan became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1980 and won six major championships and 35 LPGA Tour events in total.
One of the big names in the early days of the LPGA Tour, American Betsy Rawls finished her career with a total of 55 LPGA Tour victories, including eight majors.
A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, America's Beth Daniel has won 33 LPGA Tour events, including one major championship, since joining the tournament in 1979.
America's Meg Mallon became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1987 and won 18 LPGA Tour events, including four major championships. She's the partner of fellow golfer Beth Daniel.
A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, American golfer Judy Rankin joined the LPGA Tour in 1962 when she was only 17. She won 26 tour events.
With a career that stretched from 1976 to 2000, American golfer Hollis Stacy won four major championships and 18 LPGA Tour events.
American golfer Carol Mann won 38 times during her LPGA career, including 10 times in 1968. She was also inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
With 42 LPGA Tour wins in a career that stretched from 1961 to 1990, the American golfer earned her spot on the World Golf Hall of Fame.
American golfer Dottie Pepper won two major championships and 17 LPGA Tour events in all. From 1988 to 1995 she competed as Dottie Mochrie, which was her married name before divorcing.
American Jane Blalock joined the LPGA Tour as a professional in 1969. Her 27 wins are the most by any LPGA Tour player without a major.
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Golf has been a male-dominated sport for much longer than women have been allowed to play. But over the decades, we've seen many female golfers dedicating themselves to the game, resulting in long, successful careers for many. Of course, there are only a select few who can be considered among the best golfers in history.
So, who are the best female golfers of all time? With factors like longevity, total wins, and major titles in mind, click on to discover several legends of the game.