| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 25–29, 1963 |
| Location | Augusta, Georgia |
| Course(s) | Augusta Country Club |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play – 72 holes |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72[1][2][3] |
| Length | 6,300 yards (5,760 m)[1] |
| Field | 38[1] |
| Prize fund | $7,500 |
| Winner's share | $1,300 |
| Champion | |
 Marilynn Smith | |
| 292 (+4), playoff | |
The 1963 Titleholders Championship was the 24th Titleholders Championship, held April 25–29 at Augusta Country Club in Augusta, Georgia. Two-time defending champion Mickey Wright came from three strokes back on Sunday to tie Marilynn Smith and force the second consecutive playoff at the event.[4][5][6]
Tied after nine holes in the 18-hole playoff on Monday, Smith fell three strokes behind, then Wright double-bogeyed the par-3 14th and Smith birdied the 16th to tie. All even on the 18th green, Wright missed a 12-foot (3.7 m) par putt while Smith sank hers from 8 feet (2.4 m) to take her first major title.[7][8][9][10] It was the first of two consecutive wins in the championship for Smith, age 34, which were her only two major titles.
Wright was the 36-hole leader at 146 (+2), a stroke ahead of Smith.[2]
Final leaderboard
Sunday, April 28, 1963
| Place | Player | Score | To par | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Marilynn Smith | 72-75-69-76=292 | +4 | Playoff |
| Mickey Wright | 74-72-73-73=292 | |||
| 3 | Betsy Rawls | 74-76-70-78=298 | +10 | 800 |
| 4 | Jo Ann Prentice | 71-77-75-79=302 | +14 | 675 |
| 5 | Kathy Whitworth | 74-76-77-76=303 | +15 | 575 |
| T6 | Clifford Ann Creed | 75-73-78-78=304 | +16 | 456 |
| Carol Mann | 76-72-73-83=304 | |||
| Sherry Wheeler | 80-73-77-74=304 | |||
| T9 | Shirley Englehorn | 74-75-76-80=305 | +17 | 300 |
| Judy Kimball | 76-73-78-78=305 | |||
| Sybil Griffin | 75-75-75-80=305 |
Playoff
Monday, April 29, 1963
| Place | Player | Score | To par | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marilynn Smith | 35-37=72 | E | 1,300 |
| 2 | Mickey Wright | 35-38=73 | +1 | 1,000 |
References
- 1 2 3 "Prentice is ahead by 1". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. April 26, 1963. p. 3C.
- 1 2 "Wright is Augusta leader". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. April 27, 1963. p. 2C.
- ↑ "Smith leads Titleholders". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. April 28, 1963. p. 2B.
- 1 2 "Smith, Wright tie in Titleholders golf". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. April 29, 1963. p. 3C.
- 1 2 "Wright knots up Augusta tournament". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. Associated Press. April 29, 1963. p. 15.
- ↑ "Mickey vs. Marilyn in Augusta playoff". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. April 29, 1963. p. 27.
- 1 2 "Smith slips Wright a Mickey". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. April 29, 1963. p. 1C.
- 1 2 "Marilyn tops Mickey by stroke in playoff". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. Associated Press. April 30, 1963. p. 6.
- 1 2 "Smith wins title by 1 in play-off". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. April 30, 1963. p. 2, part 2.
- ↑ "Smith wins golf playoff". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. April 30, 1963. p. 3B.