Beth Daniels Says A Silent Farewell
Beth Daniels is one of the best pro women golfers that we have seen. In her 29 years of playing she has won 33 games, a major championship, and has even made it into the World Golf Hall of Fame. On the 18th hole at St. Andrews Beth Daniels decided that it would be her last and final game as a professional golfer.
She had tried to keep the news of her retirement a secret – but news leaked out and everyone was there to watch her final stroke. Turns out that Judy Rankin, working for ABC Sports, caught wind of Daniel’s retirement and made sure a camera crew was there to capture the moment. And when Daniel studied her yardage book for her final approach, she noticed out of the corner of her eye a small gathering that brought a wave of emotions.
“I’m going across the Swilcan Bridge,” Daniel said, “and all of a sudden there’s a camera in my face.” Meg Mallon had finished an hour or so earlier and came back to watch. Juli Inkster had just finished signing her card and rushed back out to the 18th to see a longtime friend. Louise Suggs was there, too, one of the 13 founders of the LPGA Tour, who always had an eye for special moments. Daniel saw Mindy Moore, a senior vice president of the LPGA Tour, and Stephanie Louden.
“There might have been more. It was getting difficult to see through the tears. It felt good that they would walk over and watch me finish,” she said. “It made me really emotional.”
In 28 years, she never finished out of the top 90 on the money list. And in 2003, at age 46, she won the Canadian Women’s Open to become the oldest winner in LPGA history. “She’s one of the greatest players ever in women’s golf,” Rankin said. “She doesn’t love the recognition, but she should get it.”
The Women’s British Open ended on Aug. 5, and everyone remembers Ochoa finally winning that elusive major. Virtually unnoticed and unspoken was the retirement of a Hall of Famer, even though Daniel can’t bring herself to use that word. Part of the problem is that golfers never really retire. Daniel still hits balls five times a week, and she will be seen plenty on tour over the next two years as the U.S. captain for the 2009 Solheim Cup.