World Golf Hall Of Fame Inducts Five New Members

We talked after the Ryder Cup about how the World Golf Hall of Fame had narrowed down a list of finalists for the 2019 class and that they would be naming the class within a week. Well, the committee did just that today, adding five new members for the class of 2019.

As a reminder, the committee picks the class by voting on the finalists that are set out. Any finalist that receives 75% or more of the committee vote is inducted into the class.

For 2019, the class will include Retief Goosen, Peggy Kirk Bell, Jan Stephenson, Billy Payne, and Dennis Walters. All members will be inducted June 10th at Pebble Beach and will all be in attendance except for Peggy Kirk Bell who passed away in 2016.

It goes without saying that all five are worthy inductees. Goosen won 33 combined worldwide tournaments including two victories at the U.S. Open. Peggy Kirk Bell was one of the first members of the LPGA Tour and the brain behind the Pine Needles Lodge, which has hosted three U.S. Women’s Opens. Stephenson won 20 worldwide events and 3 LPGA majors. Payne was the chairman of Augusta National and The Masters for years. And Walters became a renowned golf instructor after becoming paralyzed at the age of 24.

Augusta National Golf Club chairman Billy Payne at podium during…

Augusta National Golf Club chairman Billy Payne at podium during green jacket ceremony after Sunday play at Augusta National. Robert Beck TK5 ) Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Goosen described the moment when he got the call. “I was standing on the putting green hitting a few putts and then this number rings, which I didn’t recognize, but thought maybe I’d pick it up, and it was Gary Player on the phone,” he said. “It’s always great hearing Gary’s voice, but he sounded extremely excited, and when he told me, yeah, I sounded very excited. So it was a great moment, and I felt shaky after that. Missed a lot of putts, but it was very exciting.”

Of the finalists that didn’t make the cut this time around, the most notable would be Dottie Pepper. The popular broadcaster has won 28 times internationally and that includes two major championships. It’s a little surprising to see Stephenson get in over her but I have no doubt that her time will come in the near future.

Congratulations to all of the inductees and we can’t wait to honor them before the U.S. Open next year.

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