Dottie Pepper (born August 17, 1965) is an American professional golfer and television golf broadcaster. From 1988 to 1995 she competed as Dottie Mochrie, which was her married name before a divorce. She won two major championships and 17 LPGA Tour events in all.
| Dottie Pepper | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 17, 1965 Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Sporting nationality |  United States | ||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Career | |||||||||||||||||
| College | Furman University | ||||||||||||||||
| Turned professional | 1988 | ||||||||||||||||
| Former tour(s) | LPGA Tour (1988–2004) | ||||||||||||||||
| Professional wins | 25 | ||||||||||||||||
| Number of wins by tour | |||||||||||||||||
| LPGA Tour | 17 | ||||||||||||||||
| LPGA of Japan Tour | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Epson Tour | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| Best results in LPGA major championships (wins: 2) | |||||||||||||||||
| Chevron Championship | Won: 1992, 1999 | ||||||||||||||||
| Women's PGA C'ship | T5: 1992 | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Women's Open | 3rd/T3: 1988, 1990, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||
| du Maurier Classic | 4th: 1993 | ||||||||||||||||
| Women's British Open | T24: 2003 | ||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and awards | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Amateur career
editPepper was born in Saratoga Springs, New York. Her father, Don, was a major league baseball player, who appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a "rookie to watch", along with Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, in 1968. Her career began with big amateur victories in her home state of New York. She won the 1981 state amateur and the 1981 and 1983 New York Junior Amateur titles. She was a member of the 1981 Junior World Cup team and low amateur at the 1984 U.S. Women's Open. She attended Furman University, where she earned five collegiate victories and was named All-American three times.
Professional career
editPepper joined the LPGA Tour in 1988 and won 17 official events on the Tour, including two major championships: the 1992 and 1999 Nabisco Dinah Shore. Her 19-under-par finish in the 1999 victory still stands as the lowest score in relation to par in a major championship. She topped the money list in 1992 and finished in the top ten in ten of eleven seasons between 1991 and 2001. Pepper also played for the United States in the Solheim Cup six times.
Due to injury problems, Pepper played only one tournament in 2002. In July 2004 she announced that she would retire at the end of the season. In 2005, she began work as a golf commentator for NBC and The Golf Channel, reporting on both men's and women's events.
During the 2007 Solheim Cup, Pepper caused some stir while working as commentator for the Golf Channel. She called the American team "choking freaking dogs". She thought the network had cut to commercial when the comment was uttered, but it was actually still broadcasting live. Some players and fans were upset by this and Pepper quickly apologized for her "poor choice of words".[1]
In July 2012 Pepper was named by captain Meg Mallon as one of two assistant captains for the U.S. Team at the 2013 Solheim Cup.[2]
Pepper retired from commentating in December 2012, tired of the traveling and wanting to spend more time promoting junior golf as a PGA of America board member.[3] In May 2013, she signed a contract with ESPN to return to commentating on a limited basis, working mainly major tournaments on the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours.[4] In October 2015, Pepper was signed to a contract with CBS, replacing David Feherty who had left the network to work for NBC and to continue his Feherty series on the Golf Channel. She took up Feherty's role as on-course reporter as well as doing occasional tower announcing.[5]
Pepper served as a member of the PGA of America Board of Directors from 2012 to 2015, and the NENY PGA Board of Directors from 2009 to 2015. She was the recipient of the 2016 William D. Richardson Award, presented by the Golf Writers Association of America for her consistently outstanding contributions to golf. She is also a 2018 inductee to the New York State Golf Association Hall of Fame.[6] The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America awarded Pepper with its highest honor, the Old Tom Morris Award, in 2024, for her continuing lifetime commitment to the game of golf, and helping mold the welfare of the game in a manner and style exemplified by Old Tom Morris.[7]
Personal life
editPepper resides in Saratoga Springs, New York with her third husband, golf writer and historian David Normoyle. They were married in May 2010.[8]
Professional wins (25)
editLPGA Tour wins (17)
edit| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 29, 1989 | Oldsmobile LPGA Classic | −9 (69-74-67-69=279) | Playoff |  Beth Daniel
|
| 2 | May 13, 1990 | Crestar Classic | −16 (67-65-68=200) | 9 strokes | Chris Johnson
|
| 3 | Mar 29, 1992 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | −9 (69-71-70-69=279) | Playoff | Juli Inkster
|
| 4 | Apr 19, 1992 | Sega Women's Championship | −11 (70-69-68-70=277) | 1 stroke | Danielle Ammaccapane
|
| 5 | Aug 2, 1992 | Welch's Classic | −10 (72-67-69-70=278) | 3 strokes | Stephanie Farwig
|
| 6 | Aug 30, 1992 | Sun-Times Challenge | Even (71-72-73=216) | Playoff | Beth Daniel Judy Dickinson
|
| 7 | Oct 19, 1993 | World Championship of Women's Golf | −4 (72-71-69-72=284) | 1 stroke | Donna Andrews Meg Mallon Michelle McGann Sherri Steinhauer
|
| 8 | Mar 5, 1994 | Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of Champions | −1 (72-75-71-69=287) | 2 strokes | Nancy Lopez Lauri Merten
|
| 9 | Mar 12, 1995 | PING/Welch's Championship (Tucson) | −10 (70-68-72-68=278) | 3 strokes | Cindy Rarick Annika Sörenstam
|
| 10 | Aug 6, 1995 | McCall's LPGA Classic | −12 (69-67-68=204) | 3 strokes | Kelly Robbins
|
| 11 | Jun 23, 1996 | Rochester International | −10 (69-66-71=206) | 2 strokes | Annika Sörenstam
|
| 12 | Jun 30, 1996 | ShopRite LPGA Classic | −11 (67-66-69=202) | 4 strokes | Amy Benz
|
| 13 | Jul 21, 1996 | Friendly's Classic | −9 (68-69-73-69=279) | 1 stroke | Brandie Burton
|
| 14 | Sep 8, 1996 | Safeway LPGA Golf Championship | −14 (65-70-67=202) | 2 strokes | Chris Johnson
|
| 15 | Mar 28, 1999 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | −19 (70-66-67-66=269) | 6 strokes | Meg Mallon
|
| 16 | Aug 29, 1999 | Oldsmobile Classic | −18 (67-63-70-70=270) | 2 strokes | Kelli Kuehne
|
| 17 | Nov 19, 2000 | Arch Wireless Championship | −9 (68-71-69-71=279) | 3 strokes |  Rachel Hetherington
|
LPGA Tour playoff record (3–5)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1989 | Oldsmobile LPGA Classic | Beth Daniel
|
Won with par on fifth extra hole |
| 2 | 1992 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | Juli Inkster
|
Won with par on first extra hole |
| 3 | 1992 | Sun-Times Challenge | Beth Daniel Judy Dickinson
|
Pepper won with par on sixth extra hole Daniel eliminated by par on fourth hole |
| 4 | 1993 | PING/Welch's Championship (Massachusetts) | Missie Berteotti
|
Lost to birdie on fifth extra hole |
| 5 | 1993 | State Farm Rail Classic |  Helen Dobson
|
Lost to birdie on fifth extra hole |
| 6 | 1995 | Pinewild Women's Championship | Rosie Jones
|
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
| 7 | 1998 | Star Bank LPGA Classic | Meg Mallon
|
Lost to par on first extra hole |
| 8 | 2000 | AFLAC Champions | Karrie Webb
|
Lost to par on first extra hole |
LPGA majors are shown in bold.
Futures Tour wins (1)
edit- 1985 Albany-Colonie Chamber Open (as an amateur)
LPGA of Japan Tour wins (1)
editOther wins (6)
edit- 1992 JCPenney Classic (with Dan Forsman)
- 1995 JCPenney/LPGA Skins Game
- 1996 Diners Club Matches (with Juli Inkster)
- 1997 Diners Club Matches (with Juli Inkster)
- 1999 Diners Club Matches (with Juli Inkster)
- 2000 Hyundai Team Matches (with Juli Inkster)
Major championships
editWins (2)
edit| Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | −9 (69-71-70-69=279) | Playoff 1 | Juli Inkster
|
| 1999 | Nabisco Dinah Shore | −19 (70-66-67-66=269) | 6 strokes | Meg Mallon
|
1 Defeated Inkster with par on first extra hole.
Results timeline
edit| Tournament | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft Nabisco Championship | T7 | T66 | ||||
| LPGA Championship | T45 | T39 | ||||
| U.S. Women's Open | T22 | T55 | 78 | T12 | T3 | T5 |
| du Maurier Classic | T35 | T18 |
| Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft Nabisco Championship | T11 | 2 | 1 | T30 | T19 | T11 | T23 | T11 | T9 | 1 | 2 |
| LPGA Championship | T53 | T22 | T5 | T30 | T11 | T6 | T26 | T37 | CUT | T19 | T23 |
| U.S. Women's Open | T3 | T5 | T6 | T17 | T12 | T13 | CUT | T14 | T11 | T14 | WD |
| du Maurier Classic | T27 | T6 | T20 | 4 | T14 | T12 | T27 | T14 | T34 |
| Tournament | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft Nabisco Championship | T2 | T51 | T24 | |
| LPGA Championship | T17 | T67 | T70 | |
| U.S. Women's Open | 3 | WD | WD | |
| Women's British Open ^ | CUT | T24 |
^ The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
"T" = tied
Summary
edit- Starts – 65
- Wins – 2
- 2nd-place finishes – 3
- 3rd-place finishes – 3
- Top 3 finishes – 8
- Top 5 finishes – 12
- Top 10 finishes – 17
- Top 25 finishes – 42
- Missed cuts – 6
- Most consecutive cuts made – 38
- Longest streak of top-10s – 5
Team appearances
editAmateur
- Curtis Cup (representing the United States): 1986
Professional
- Solheim Cup (representing the United States): 1990 (winners), 1992, 1994 (winners), 1996 (winners), 1998 (winners), 2000
Solheim Cup record
edit| Year | Total matches |
Total W-L-H |
Points won |
Points % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 20 | 13–5–2 | 14 | 70% |
| 1990 | 3 | 2–1–0 | 2 | 67% |
| 1992 | 3 | 0–2–1 | 0.5 | 17% |
| 1994 | 3 | 3–0–0 | 3 | 100% |
| 1996 | 4 | 3–1–0 | 3 | 75% |
| 1998 | 4 | 4–0–0 | 4 | 100% |
| 2000 | 3 | 1–1–1 | 1.5 | 50% |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Pells, Eddie. "Pepper Adds Spice to Solheim Cup". newsvine. Associated Press. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ DiMeglio, Steve (July 4, 2012). "Dottie Pepper named assistant captain for Solheim Cup". USA Today. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ "Dottie Pepper moves on from TV golf". USA Today. Associated Press. December 18, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
- ^ "Dottie Pepper returns to TV on ESPN". ESPN. May 15, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
- ^ Porter, Kyle (October 14, 2015). "Dottie Pepper hired to cover golf for CBS in 2016". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ "About Dottie Pepper". www.dottiepepper.net. 2018.
- ^ "Dottie Pepper to receive GCSAA's Old Tom Morris Award". www.gcsaa.org. November 14, 2023.
- ^ Dougherty, Pete (June 30, 2010). "Pepper back home in Saratoga". The Albany Times Union. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
External links
edit- Official website
- Dottie Pepper at the LPGA Tour official site
- Dottie Pepper at golf.about.com at the Wayback Machine (archived November 24, 2007)