LPGA Tour pioneer Bettye Danoff dies

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The LPGA Tour announced Thursday that Bettye Danoff, one of the founding members of the circuit, has died in Texas. She was 88.

"Because of her courage and the vision of many others that followed our founders, we all get to participate in a fantastic business and game," LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said.

Danoff -- one of 13 players who created the LPGA Tour -- took up the game at the age of 6 when her parents opened a driving range. Among her achievements was a 1-up victory over Babe Zaharias in the finals of the Texas Women's Open, a triumph that ended Zaharias' 17-tournament winning streak.

Danoff became the first member of the LPGA Tour to play tournament golf as a grandmother.