'One Of Our Greats' - LPGA Tour Trailblazer Dies Aged 83
Susie Maxwell Berning was a four-time Major winner who was inducted into the World Golf Hall Of Fame alongside Tiger Woods in 2022


Four-time Major winner and World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, Susie Maxwell Berning has died at the age of 83.
Berning had been diagnosed with lung cancer a couple of years prior and bravely fought her corner until passing away on Wednesday, October 2 at her home in Palm Springs, California.
In a statement on the LPGA Tour website, commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said: “We are saddened by the passing of one of our greats. Susie Maxwell Berning was not just a fantastic player and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, but also a wonderful ambassador for the LPGA and women’s sports overall.
"We will always point to her as a role model for balancing homelife and career, winning major championships while also raising a family. Susie was a strong, pioneering athlete who I have personally admired and whose legacy will continue to inspire future generations of athletes.”
The 11-time LPGA Tour winner was one of just seven women ever to claim back-to-back US Women's Open titles when triumphing in 1972 and 1973 - having already won it in 1968 - while she also held multiple other accolades across her decorated career, including the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year in 1964 and the 1965 Western Open.
Susie Maxwell Berning speaks into a mic after her 1972 US Women's Open victory
Berning ended her career as an instructor in California and Colorado, decades on from beginning her life in golf as a prodigious teenager - surname Maxwell - in Oklahoma. After winning three straight Oklahoma State High School Golf Championships, the Pasadena, California-born player was awarded the first female golf scholarship by Oklahoma City University, where she competed on the men’s team.
What made her Hall-of-Fame career even more astounding was due to the fact that Berning only averaged 13 events a season between 1968 and 1977. In 1968, she played just nine events - one of which was her US Women's Open success - after taking time off for her honeymoon with husband Dale Berning.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
A couple of years before her history-making stint in the US Women's Open, Berning gave birth to daughter Robin (1970). That season, she played only seven times. And later, in 1977, she featured just twice in the same campaign in which other daughter Cindy was born.
While the list of golfers to have won consecutive US Women's Open crowns is short, at seven, Berning belongs to an elite club of four when taking into account players who have won a Major after becoming mothers. Berning, who was first to accomplish the feat, sits alongside only Juli Inkster, Nancy Lopez, and Catriona Matthew.
Susie Maxwell Berning at the 2022 World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony
After retiring, the California-born player returned to her home state to teach at The Reserve Club in Palm Springs as well as Maroon Creek Country Club in Aspen, Colorado - ultimately spending even more time with her family.
She was later inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in the same class as Tiger Woods and acknowledged it was “quite an honor” to join greats such as Mickey Wright in the iconic group.
At the induction ceremony in 2022, Berning said: “Just to be in the same room as Mickey Wright, Kathy Whitworth, Judy Rankin and Patty Berg. To be honored alongside them is something I thought would never happen. I never even thought about it. I'm now part of their family, which makes me very proud.”
Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
-
5 Things The Biggest Hitters Do To Generate Power In Their Golf Swing (And How You Can Copy Them)
Generating more power is a great way to improve your handicap and shoot lower scores. So, we analysed the biggest hitters in golf to help you hit it further...
By Barry Plummer Published
-
Vessel Player V Pro Carbon Stand Bag Review
Mike Bailey tested the most expensive bag to ever hold his golf clubs, the Vessel Player V Pro Carbon stand bag, to see if the experience justified the price
By Mike Bailey Published
-
After Nelly Korda And Charley Hull Called Out Slow Play, The LPGA Tour Has Taken Another Step Towards Fixing The Issue With Season-Long Tracker
The LPGA is introducing a new season-long tracker for bad hole times, with players being fined depending on how many they collect
By Paul Higham Published
-
Charley Hull Makes £10,000 Bet To Give Up Smoking Habit
Posting to her Instagram story, Hull revealed that she has made a £10,000 bet to quit smoking over the next two months
By Matt Cradock Published
-
You Don't See This Very Often... Why Does This Tour Pro Have A Right Handed And Left Handed Putter In The Bag This Week?
Playing the Australian Women's Classic, it was revealed that Marianne Skarpnord had put two putters in her bag for the week, with the reason being quite simple
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Charley Hull And Georgia Hall Knocked Out Of Sunningdale Foursomes
The LPGA Tour stars fell short against Tom Shadbolt and Ben Evans in the last 16 of the prestigious contest
By Mike Hall Published
-
Charley Hull And Georgia Hall Progress As Gareth Bale Knocked Out Of Sunningdale Foursomes
The Solheim Cup stars made it through on Tuesday as five-time Champions League winner Gareth Bale lost on the final hole
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Charley Hull and Gareth Bale Among Star Names At Sunningdale Foursomes
Some big names are set to appear in the historic foursomes event for 2025, which has seen the likes of Luke Donald and Sam Torrance win previously
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Japanese Star Ties Course Record To Secure Blue Bay LPGA Title
Rio Takeda carded a closing eight-under 64 at the difficult Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course on Hainan Island, China to clinch her second LPGA Tour title
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Australian WPGA Championship Cancelled Ahead Of Gold Coast Cyclone
The Australian WPGA Championship has been cancelled due to the threat posed by Cyclone Alfred
By Mike Hall Published