Background
Judith Torluemke Rankin was born on February 18, 1945, in St. Louis, to Paul W. and Waneta (Clifton) Torluemke.
55-955 Pga Blvd, La Quinta, CA 92253, United States
Judy Rankin provides course commentary for ABC-TV at the 45th Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Pro Am at PGA West Country Club January 24, 2004.
Rankin during tournament play, circa 1977
Judy Rankin during the 1978 WUI Classic
Judith Rankin
Judith Rankin
Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL 32830, United States
ABC Sports reporter Judy Rankin works during the final round of the Funai Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort on October 22, 2006 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
155 Golf Ave, Pittsford, NY 14534, United States
Jusy Rankin (L) and Terry Gannon of Golf Channel report the play during the third round of the Wegmans LPGA Championship at Monroe Golf Club on August 16, 2014 in Pittsford, New York.
Little Brickhill, Milton Keynes MK17 9LJ, United Kingdom
Judy Rankin of the United States (l) and Rich Lerner of the United States (r) working as announcers for the Golf Channel from the United States during the second round of the Ricoh Women's British Open at Woburn Golf Club on July 29, 2016 in Woburn, England.
Little Brickhill, Milton Keynes MK17 9LJ, United Kingdom
Judy Rankin of the United States the announcer for the Golf Channel from the United States during the second round of the Ricoh Women's British Open at Woburn Golf Club on July 29, 2016 in Woburn, England.
34600 Mission Hills Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, United States
Judy Rankin the Golf Channel Analyst and Mike Tirico the Golf Channel Host on set during the second round of the 2017 ANA Inspiration held on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at the Mission Hills Country Club on March 31, 2017 in Rancho Mirage, California.
Links Gate, Lytham St Annes, Lytham Saint Annes FY8 3LQ, United Kingdom
Judy Rankin of the United States (L) and Rich Lerner of the United States (R) working as announcers in the main broadcast booth by the 18th green for the Golf Channel's television coverage during the final round of the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club on August 5, 2018 in Lytham St Annes, England.
Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL 32830, United States
ABC Sports reporter Judy Rankin works during the final round of the Funai Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort on October 22, 2006 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
2575 Alston Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30317, United States
Judy Rankin speaks during the Payne Stewart Award ceremony at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia on November 2, 2005.
Judy Rankin at 2003 Payne Stewart awards.
2575 Alston Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30317, United States
Gary Player, left, and Judy Rankin, right, at the 2006 Payne Stewart Award at East Lake Golf Club during THE TOUR Championship held in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 1, 2006.
2330 Granart Rd, Sugar Grove, IL 60554, United States
Past Solheim Cup team captains (L-R) Patty Sheehan, Pat Bradley, Pia Nilsson, Alice Miller, Joanne Carner, Kathy Whitworth, Dale Reid, Betsy King, Judy Rankin and Mickey Walker pose for a photo at a past Solheim Cup Captain's fan session prior to the start of the 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms on August 19, 2009 in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
1 Lake Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, United States
Terry Gannon, Dottie Pepper, Judy Rankin, and Annika Sorenstam of The Golf Channel look on during a taping after a practice round for the 2011 U.S. Womens Open at The Broadmoor on July 6, 2011 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Route du Golf, 74500 Évian-les-Bains, France
Judy Rankin of the USA accepts the media award during the Evian Championship awards after the second round of The Evian Championship at the Evian Resort Golf Club on September 14, 2013 in Evian-les-Bains, France.
155 Golf Ave, Pittsford, NY 14534, United States
Jusy Rankin (L) and Terry Gannon of Golf Channel report the play during the third round of the Wegmans LPGA Championship at Monroe Golf Club on August 16, 2014 in Pittsford, New York.
The attending past champions (l-r) Amy Alcott, Judy Rankin, Kathy Whitworth, Stacy Lewis, Annika Sorenstam, Donna Caponi-Byrnes, Karrie Webb, Patty Sheehan, Brittany Lincicome, Nancy Lopez, Sandra Palmer, Lexi Thompson, Morgan Pressel, Jo Ann Prentice, Juli Inkster, Nancy Bowen, Alice Miller, Betsy King, Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, Pat Hurst, Sun Young Yoo, and Pat Bradley pose for a group photograph at the ANA Inspiration Champions Dinner hosted by Rolex.
Kathy Whitworth, Karrie Webb, Amy Alcott, Sandra Palmer, Pat Hurst, Sun Young Yoo, and Judy Rankin at the ANA Inspiration Champions Dinner hosted by Rolex
452 East Warner Road, Akron, OH 44319, United States
Judy Rankin, recipient of the 2015 Ambassador of Golf award and PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem unveil her painting at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club on August 5, 2015 in Akron, Ohio.
452 East Warner Road, Akron, OH 44319, United States
Terry Gannon, NBC/Golf Channel announcer and Judy Rankin, honoree of the 2015 Ambassador of Golf award pose with her painting at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club on August 5, 2015 in Akron, Ohio.
452 East Warner Road, Akron, OH 44319, United States
Judy Rankin, recipient of the 2015 Ambassador of Golf award and emceeTerry Gannon with NBC/ Golf Channel laugh on stage during the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club on August 5, 2015 in Akron, Ohio.
452 East Warner Road, Akron, OH 44319, United States
Judy Rankin, recipient of the 2015 Ambassador of Golf award is introduce by PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club on August 5, 2015 in Akron, Ohio.
Little Brickhill, Milton Keynes MK17 9LJ, United Kingdom
Judy Rankin of the United States (l) and Rich Lerner of the United States (r) working as announcers for the Golf Channel from the United States during the second round of the Ricoh Women's British Open at Woburn Golf Club on July 29, 2016 in Woburn, England.
Little Brickhill, Milton Keynes MK17 9LJ, United Kingdom
Judy Rankin of the United States the announcer for the Golf Channel from the United States during the second round of the Ricoh Women's British Open at Woburn Golf Club on July 29, 2016 in Woburn, England.
34600 Mission Hills Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, United States
Judy Rankin the Golf Channel Analyst and Mike Tirico the Golf Channel Host on set during the second round of the 2017 ANA Inspiration held on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at the Mission Hills Country Club on March 31, 2017 in Rancho Mirage, California.
Links Gate, Lytham St Annes, Lytham Saint Annes FY8 3LQ, United Kingdom
Judy Rankin of the United States (L) and Rich Lerner of the United States (R) working as announcers in the main broadcast booth by the 18th green for the Golf Channel's television coverage during the final round of the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club on August 5, 2018 in Lytham St Annes, England.
Rankin was named LPGA Player of the Year in 1976 and 1977.
Judy Rankin
Rankin during tournament play, circa 1977
Judy Rankin during the 1978 WUI Classic
Judith Rankin
Judith Rankin
https://www.amazon.com/natural-way-golf-power/dp/0060135174/?tag=2022091-20
1976
(Provides advice for women golfers about how to avoid bein...)
Provides advice for women golfers about how to avoid being intimidated by the game and tips on grips, posture, the swing, putting, and other aspects of the sport, and discusses the professional game, golf on television, strategy, and lessons.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0809234068/?tag=2022091-20
1995
Judith Torluemke Rankin was born on February 18, 1945, in St. Louis, to Paul W. and Waneta (Clifton) Torluemke.
Judy attended public schools in Eureka, Missouri.
Rankin started golfing at the age of six. By 1960, she'd already won the Missouri Amateur and finished as low amateur at the U.S. Women's Open. Then she nearly gave up the game.
When she was 16, Rankin lost in the second round of the British Ladies Amateur. She was fed up with golf and decided to quit. Two weeks later, an editor at Sports Illustrated called to ask if she'd be playing the coming U.S. Women's Open. The editor explained the magazine wanted to put a photo of Rankin on its cover, but only if she planned to play the Open. Rankin decided to start playing again and never looked back.
She was only 17 years old in 1962 when she joined the LPGA Tour. Her first victory didn't come until 1968, but from then through 1979 Rankin won 26 times. As a young up-and-comer, she wasn't well-received on Tour at the start. But by the time her career was over, Rankin was a beloved figure among her fellow pros, someone who epitomized sportsmanship and class.
Rankin kept winning through 1979, but her play deteriorated due to the effects of back trouble that was severe and plagued her throughout her best seasons. Her last full year on the LPGA Tour was 1983 when she was 38 years old, and back surgery ended her Tour days in 1985.
When her playing days ended, Rankin embarked on a highly successful career as a golf broadcaster, which included being the first woman to work full-time on broadcasts of men's events. She joined ABC Sports in 1984 and worked primarily as an on-course reporter for ABC and ESPN on PGA Tour telecasts. On the Golf Channel, Rankin serves as the lead, in-booth analyst on LPGA Tour broadcasts.
Rankin also made two instructional VHS tapes: Judy Rankin's Break 90 in 21 Days, released in 1989; and World of Golf: Judy Rankin's Practice Tee, released in 1992. She was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer in 2006, but within several months was back at work as a broadcaster.
Rankin is the author of two books on playing golf. Her 1995 volume A Woman’s Guide to Better Golf incorporates thirty line drawings and 175 photos to illustrate its instructional text. The book covers such topics as warm-up exercises, course strategy, swing basics, and how to improve one's game by watching golf on television.
Throughout the seventies Judith Torluemke Rankin was considered one of the leading women golfers in the world, winning numerous tournaments and being the first woman to earn over a hundred thousand dollars from the sport in a single year.
She captured her first LPGA Tour victory in 1968 at the Corpus Christi Open and went on to win 25 more times between 1968 and 1979. Her most successful season was 1976, when she won six tournaments and set an LPGA season earnings record of $150,724 on her way to becoming the first LPGA player ever to exceed $100,000 in season earnings. She was the LPGA’s Rolex Player of the Year in 1976 and ’77 and won the Vare Trophy for low scoring average in 1973, 1976 and 1977. In 1977, she set an LPGA record of 25 top-10 finishes in a season, a record that still stands.
Rankin is the first LPGA player voted into the Hall of Fame via the Veterans Category, which was created in February 1999. For all of her personal accomplishments, the highlight of her golf career occurred in a non-playing capacity when she captained the United States Solheim Cup team to victory in 1996 and 1998.
(Provides advice for women golfers about how to avoid bein...)
1995
Quotations:
"If it weren't for golf I'd be waiting on this table instead of sitting at it."
"I played all of my best years with severe back trouble. I would play a month and be a cripple a month. My goal was to stay on my feet."
Judy was a member of the Ladies Professional Golfers Association.
Quotes from others about the person
“I think she’s the epitome of golf. She does so much for the LPGA. She’s one of the best commentators out there-male or female. I think this is what the Hall of Fame should be-recognizing really deserving people.” - Juli Inkster
On June 12, 1967, Judy married Walter Rankin. Judy has a son, Walter.
