LPGA’s Hall of Fame Finally Opens Door to Alcott, Daniel

Amy Alcott and Beth Daniel, legends on the women’s professional golf tour, finally made it to the LPGA Hall of Fame after players voted overwhelmingly to ease the criteria for membership.

Alcott and Daniel, both 42, received their passes into the hall when 98% of the LPGA players voted for a new points system to identify its best players for enshrinement. The results of the vote were announced at a news conference Tuesday at Universal City.

“It now lets the world know we have a respectable Hall of Fame,” said Patty Sheehan, a member herself.

Jim Ritts, the outgoing LPGA commissioner, said the previous criteria made entry into the Hall of Fame virtually unattainable.

Under the old setup, players needed 30 victories and two major titles to get in. Only 14 had made it since the hall was begun in 1950. Alcott had won five majors, but with 29 victories, she was one short. She last won in 1991, taking her third Nabisco Dinah Shore title.

“It’s been a long road,” she said. “I’m just beside myself. This is a monumental day in my life. I had big dreams. . . . This is an amazing dream fulfilled.”

Daniel and Alcott easily qualified under the new system, which requires at least 27 points for entry. A major championship victory is worth two points, a regular tour victory one point, a Vare Trophy one point and a player-of-the-year award one point.

Under the new system, Daniel has 39 points and Alcott 35.

“It’s just an unbelievable honor,” Daniel said. “It’s still a very difficult criteria, but now it’s more attainable.”

The LPGA Hall of Fame committee also established a veterans committee to nominate players retired for five years.

Alcott, of Santa Monica, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony March 22 at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla. Seve Ballesteros and the late Lloyd Mangrum also will be inducted. Daniel, who lives in Florida, said she will wait until next year’s induction ceremony.