Marilynn Smith (1929–2019): American professional golfer and LPGA founder

Early life and beginnings

Smith was born in Topeka, Kansas, and rose to prominence in mid-20th century American golf at a time when opportunities for women in the sport were rapidly evolving. Her playing career took place alongside the formative decades of the LPGA, and she was widely regarded for her consistency and competitive spirit.

Career highlights

Across a long professional career Smith recorded 21 LPGA Tour victories. Her most notable successes were consecutive wins in the Titleholders Championship in 1963 and 1964, tournaments that were recognized as majors of the era. In recognition of her achievements on the course and her role in building the game for women, she was later inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

• LPGA co-founder (one of 13 founders in 1950)
• 21 LPGA Tour victories
• Titleholders Championship winner, 1963 and 1964
• World Golf Hall of Fame inductee

Contributions and legacy

Beyond tournament results, Smith is remembered for helping to create and sustain a professional circuit that allowed generations of women to compete and earn a living in golf. Her role as a founder placed her among a small, influential group whose organizational work was as important as their on-course records.

Later life and death

Smith remained a respected figure in golf circles into her later years. She died on April 9, 2019, in Goodyear, Arizona, just days before what would have been her 90th birthday. Her contributions to the LPGA and to women's sport endure in histories of golf and in the opportunities available to female players today.

For more on the LPGA founders and the early tour, see resources linked through the LPGA historical pages and related biographies.

Founders and early history | Career overview | Birthplace | Regional context | Obituary and later life