Susie Maxwell Berning, a three-time U.S. Women’s Open champion and World Golf Hall of Fame inductee who recorded 11 LPGA Tour victories during her 33-year professional career, died Oct. 2 at age 83. Berning, one of six players to win three or more US Women’s Open titles, winning the championship in 1968, 1972 and 1973. She is also one of six golfers to successfully defend it. Berning also won the Women’s Western Open in 1965, was considered a major in the women’s professional game at the time, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021.

“Susie was a true pioneer from the moment she picked up a golf club,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan. “When I think about the incredibly short list of golfers – male and female – who have won three US Open titles in addition to four major titles.” Championships illustrate how exceptional their achievements were. Even more inspiring is the decision she made to step away from competition to prioritize her family, a decision that will resonate deeply with so many of us and be a source of admiration and respect.”

Born on July 22, 1941, in Pasadena, California, Maxwell Berning spent most of her teenage years in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she discovered the game thanks to a runaway horse and a kind PGA professional.

Maxwell Berning’s family rented a house across the street from Lincoln Park, a 36-hole municipal golf course with horse trails along the edge. Berning initially inquired if she could caddie with her two older brothers at Lincoln Park, but the head professor, UC Ferguson, politely informed their wives that they would do no such thing.

When her father was asked by a colleague to look after a pair of horses, Maxwell Berning took on the task of looking after them. One day as we were walking with a young stallion, a train whistled past and startled the animal. The colt broke free and galloped onto the golf course, damaging some of the greens.

This led to a meeting with Ferguson, albeit under different circumstances. At first he thought Maxwell Berning was doing it out of revenge for being denied the chance to caddy. A scared and tearful 13-year-old said that wasn’t the case. When Ferguson saw that Maxwell Berning was good with horses, he asked her if she could teach his young children to ride.

Ferguson inquired about Maxwell Berning’s interest in golf, but she scoffed at the idea of ​​playing “this silly game.”