Mary Mills

The retired American female golfer, Mary Mills, has been a member of the LPGA Tour beginning 1962. That same year when the Rookie of the Year Award was launched, she was the very first professional player who received it. She won nine LPGA tour championship titles, 3 of which were major championships.

Born on January 19, 1940 in Laurel, Mississipi, Mills may not be a dominant figure in the competitions but she does have exemplary performance every time she popped in any event.

She began playing when she was 11 years old and was coached by Johnny Revolta, who was a PGA Tour winner and champion, himself, for more than 15 times. At the start of 1954, Mills took home eight successive wins in the State Amateur Events in Mississippi. Interestingly, she was the Number One female golf player on a men’s team for four years. In 1962, she became professional and started to join the LPGA Tour.

In 1963, she won the U.S. Women’s Open. In 1964 and in 1973 she earned the LPGA Championship titles. On top of the major titles, she also won the 1964 Eugene Open, 1965 St. Loius Invitational, 1965 Pacific Classic, 1970 Lem Immke Buick Open, and the 1973 Lady Tara Classic. She had the highest finish in 1973, and before that was in the top 10 at least five times.

In the 1980’s, she actively played in LPGA Tours while continuing her education. She joined the Millsaps University to complete her major in philosophy. In early 1990’s, she went to Florida International University to earn herself a master’s degree in landscape architecture. Today, she put the degree in good use designing golf courses. She is also one of the known and respected golf instructors of her time.