Following his nomination for the World Golf Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 some weeks back, it was confirmed on Wednesday evening that Padraig Harrington would be inducted at the ceremony at Pinehurst in June, joining golf’s most exclusive club where he’ll take up residence alongside fellow Irishmen Joe Carr and Christy O’Connor Snr., along with other legends of the sport such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Old Tom Morris and Seve Ballesteros.
Sandra Palmer along with the late Johnny Farrell, Beverly Hanson, Tom Weiskopf and the 13 LPGA Founders will also be inducted alongside Harrington. Final selections were determined today by the World Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee and the elite group will become members of the World Golf Hall of Fame at the 2024 Induction Ceremony to be held on Monday, June 10, 2024 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. coinciding with the 124th U.S. Open Championship.
“Congratulations to all of our 12 World Golf Hall of Fame finalists, as each has truly made an indelible mark on the sport and led remarkable careers,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of World Golf Hall of Fame. “We look forward to welcoming the new class into the World Golf Hall of Fame as our Inductees next June and shining a light on their achievements.”
“This is very exciting, obviously a huge honor,” said Harrington. “It’s somewhat humbling. At this stage of my life, it gives me some validation to what I’ve done in golf. Brings back a flood of memories. This is a deep-down satisfaction, and I’m very proud to be included with the players before me. Seeing your name beside the names that I’ve looked up to as a boy and young golfer, it’s very nice. Everybody on the ballot deserves to be there. It’s unfortunate that everyone can’t be in, but it’s great to be included in the Class of 2024.”
“I’m overcome with emotion and very grateful,” said Sandra Palmer. “It gives me an opportunity to thank the people that have helped me along the way. I just couldn’t believe it when I got the call, this is my sixth time to be nominated. What an incredible group of women that I played with over the years. I’m definitely going to have some champagne. It’s one of those times that you sit down and your whole career comes before you. I think about the people along the way that I’d like to thank.”
The LPGA was founded in 1950 by 13 original LPGA players. Alice Bauer, Bettye Danoff, Helen Dettweiler, Helen Hicks, Opal Hill, Sally Sessions and Shirley Spork will join Patty Berg (1974 Inductee), Marlene Bauer Hagge (2022 Inductee), Louise Suggs (1979 Inductee), Babe Zaharias (1974 Inductee), Marilynn Smith (2006 Inductee), Betty Jameson (1998 Inductee) who are currently in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
“We owe the LPGA’s long and illustrious history to the dedicated efforts and incredible commitment of our 13 Founders. Their leadership created the most successful women’s sports organizations in the world, and they made it possible for women to pursue golf as a passion and as a career,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “Inducting all of our Founders into the World Golf Hall of Fame is a fitting recognition of the group’s vision, resilience and pioneering work that changed not only Women’s opportunities in golf, but also elevated women in sport and in society more broadly.”
The 12 finalists were Peter Dawson, Johnny Farrell, Jim Furyk, Beverly Hanson, Butch Harmon, Padraig Harrington, Cristie Kerr, Sandra Palmer, Dottie Pepper, Jay Sigel, Tom Weiskopf and the LPGA Founder.
The Class of 2024 is elected by the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee, who discussed the merits of the finalists. The Selection Committee is a 20-member panel that includes Hall of Fame Members Beth Daniel, Colin Montgomerie, Mark O’Meara and Annika Sorenstam, as well as media representatives and leaders of the major golf organizations.
The finalists were nominated by the Hall of Fame’s Nominating Committee, which vetted candidates that met the qualifications.
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