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ABC Sports Commentator
Ladies golf professional Judy Rankin, one of the most accomplished players in LPGA history, joined ABC Sports' golf broadcast team as an on-course commentator in 1984 for the network's live coverage of the U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship.
In 1985 Ms. Rankin performed the same role for ABC's coverage of the Men's U.S. Open Championship. She continued as a member of the U.S. Open broadcast team, as well as appearing on the U.S. Women's Open telecasts and ABC's coverage of the PGA Championship, the McDonald's Championship LPGA Tournament and, currently, the British Open and the Nabisco Dinah Shore.
The 1976 and 1977 LPGA Player of the Year also won the Vare Trophy for low stroke average three times (1973, 1976 and 1977) and was the tour's leading money-winner for 1976 and 1977. Ms. Rankin served as the president of the LPGA in 1976 and 1977, and was a member of the LPGA board of directors in subsequent years.
Ms. Rankin made history in 1976, becoming the first woman player to win over $100,000 in a single season. In 1973 she set a tour record for top ten finishes in a calendar year -- 25 -- a mark which still stands.
A chronic back ailment plagued her in the late 1970s, and Ms. Rankin could play only sporadically in 1982 and 1983. In the fall of 1983 she was forced to stop playing for several years. Ms. Rankin had successful back surgery in 1985.
Ms. Rankin turned professional in 1962. She started playing golf at the age of six under the guidance of her father. She holds the distinction of being the youngest low amateur in a U.S. Women's Open, at the age of 15 in 1960. In 1987 she was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. In 1993 she was inducted into the All-American Hall of Fame and, in 1996 and 1998, she served as captain of the winning Solheim Cup Team. In 1999 she was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, received the William Richardson Award from the Golf Writers Association at the Masters tournament, and was named First Lady of Golf by the PGA of America. In 2000 Ms. Rankin was elected to the LPGA Hall of Fame and to the Texas Women's Hall of Fame. The United States Golf Association presented her with the Bob Jones Award in 2002
Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Ms. Rankin lives in Midland, Texas, with her husband, Yippy (cq). Her son, Tuey (cq), is a high school football and golf coach, and her daughter-in-law, Jennifer, is a teacher in Texas. Ms. Rankin has two grandchildren, Kendall, 3 years old, and Tripp, 2 years old.