Lanny Wadkins, who won the PGA Championship at Pebble Beach in 1977 and played on a record-tying eight Ryder Cup teams, was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame.
“It’s a huge honor,” Wadkins said Thursday. “Even starting out on tour, I never envisioned this day happening. I came out playing not to win money, but to win golf tournaments.”
Wadkins was elected on the PGA Tour ballot, receiving 61 percent of the vote.
Although he won 21 times on the PGA Tour, Wadkins was best known for his spirited play in the Ryder Cup. He compiled a 20-11-3 record, and one of those ties came in 1983 when he hit a wedge to inside a foot on the final hole that gave the Americans an outright victory.
Wadkins, who will be inducted Nov. 2 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., was the only player elected from the PGA Tour ballot, which requires 65 percent of the vote from Hall of Famers, media and golf executives. Wadkins got in under a provision that if no one receives the minimum vote, the player with the highest percentage (provided it is over 50 percent) gets elected.
Golfweek reported Jose Maria Olazabal has been elected on the international ballot, although that announcement has not been made.
Wi leads Zurich Classic
AVONDALE, La. — South Korea’s Charlie Wi took advantage of soft early-morning conditions to shoot a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 and take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Zurich Classic.
Jay Williamson, Nathan Green, Parker McLachlin, Charles Warren, John Merrick and Eric Axley opened at 67.
Wie stroke off Ochoa’s lead
MORELIA, Mexico — Defending champion Lorena Ochoa shot a bogey-free 8-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Michelle Wie and Na Yeon Choi after the first round of the LPGA Tour’s Corona Championship.
The Associated Press
