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1935-
Second on the alltime LPGA wins list

Wright was known for her glorious swing.  LPGA

Mary Kathryn Wright was the most dominant female golfer in America during the 1960s. During a 10-year span from 1959 to '68, she averaged nearly eight wins a season on the LPGA Tour. She finished her career with 82 victories, second on the all-time wins list behind Kathy Whitworth's 88 (no other golfer has more than 60). Wright captured 13 majors, including the U.S. Open and LPGA Championship four times apiece. In 1963, Wright won 13 of the tour's 32 events for an incredible winning percentage of .406.

A San Diego native, Wright was introduced to golf at the age of nine, joining her father at the practice range of La Jolla Country Club. She got her first set of clubs at age 11, and by 14 had won the Southern California Girls' Championship. Wright blew through the amateur ranks and, after a season at Stanford, played several LPGA tournaments. A year later she turned professional.

Wright had as technically sound a swing as any golfer, which, combined with her height (5'9"), made for booming drives the likes of which had not yet been seen in the women's game. Her play helped the LPGA gain a national audience, proving that women's golf could be a viable spectator sport. As viewership grew, so did corporate sponsorships and television coverage for the LPGA.

Wright, who stopped playing the tour regularly in1969, now lives in Port St. Lucie, Fla. She was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1964 and the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1976.

They said it: "[Wright] set a standard of shot-making that will probably never be equaled. Her swing was as flawless as a golf swing can be -- smooth, efficient, powerful, rhythmical and beautiful. Her shots were something to behold." --Betsy Rawls, LPGA Hall of Famer

--Albert Lin

Athletes were selected by Sports Illustrated For Women, Sports Illustrated and CNN/SI editors, writers and correspondents who considered the athletes' on-field performance and achievements, plus their contributions to women's sports. Because athletic achievement was a key criterion, women whose contributions were made solely in administration and coaching are not included.

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