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GWAA honors Olazabal and Lopez
Posted: Tuesday January 04, 2000 03:25 PM
HOUSTON (Reuters) -- Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal and LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez were named winners of a pair of awards given on Tuesday by the Golf Writers Association of America. The 33-year-old Olazabal won the Ben Hogan Award, given annually to an individual who has continued to thrive in golf despite a physical handicap or serious illness. The Spaniard, who once wondered if he would walk again, came back from a debilitating nerve problem in his lower back to win his second Masters last April in Augusta. Lopez, who turns 43 this week, was the recipient of the GWAA's William D. Richardson Award, given to an individual who has consistently made an outstanding contribution to golf. Lopez edged former USGA President Judy Bell and Charles Yates, longtime secretary of Augusta National and chairman of the Masters press committee, in the Richardson balloting. Olazabal was a runaway winner in the Hogan voting, easily beating Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. Lopez and Olazabal will be honored at the annual GWAA Awards dinner April 5 in Augusta, Georgia. Lopez has won just about every honor in golf since turning pro in 1977. She won a record nine tournaments, including a record five in a row, during an incomparable 1978 season when she won Rookie and Player of the Year honors and the Vare Trophy. She played her way into the Hall of Fame six months before completing the requisite 10 years on the LPGA Tour and has 48 career wins. She is the founder of Nancy Lopez Golf and has been involved with fund-raising for many charities and been an advocate for the game and for women's health issues. Olazabal spent nearly 18 months away from the game with foot problems, wondering if he would ever walk again. The pain was finally traced to a pinched nerve in his lower back and after undergoing rehabilitation and trying a new shoe design, he came back to beat Greg Norman and Davis Love III to win another Masters. In addition to Lopez and Olazabal, the 865-member GWAA will also honor their Players of Year -- Tiger Woods, Juli Inkster and Bruce Fleisher -- at the Augusta dinner.
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