Donna Caponi - Part 1 (The Early Years and 1969 U.S. Women's Open)

World Golf Hall of Fame member Donna Caponi grew up in Southern California and learned the game from her father, a club professional at DeBell Golf Club where Donna received her first set of new clubs at age 8. She developed her game quickly and knew, by age 15, that she wanted to be a professional golfer. With no high school team to compete on and no plan to attend college, Donna turned pro at age 19 in 1965. She reminisces with Bruce about life on the road back in the 60's running with the likes of Marlene Hagge, Susie Berning and her early tour roommate, Judy Rankin. We conclude this episode with Donna recounting her first win on the LPGA Tour, the 1969 U.S. Women's Open, and her memories of Kathy Whitworth. Donna Caponi begins her life story, "FORE the Good of the Game."

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About

"FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.”

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Caponi, Donna

Golf Professional and Broadcaster

As a child, Donna Caponi dreamed of making the winning putt on the final hole to capture the U.S. Women’s Open, but she never imagined the scenario to win her first-ever LPGA tournament in golf’s biggest event.

Facing a four-foot putt on the 72nd hole to win the 1969 U.S. Open, Caponi lined up the crucial putt when she overheard the legendary Byron Nelson commentating on television say, “Donna Caponi has this putt to win the U.S. Women’s Open.” Caponi recalls struggling to breathe and to make matters worse she couldn’t believe Nelson when he reported, “I’ve been watching this putt all day and it’s almost dead straight. It might move slightly to her right.”

“A lot of people know my first win was the U.S. Open. That was a thrill. But winning the second U.S. Open was the biggest deal. I knew a lot more the second time around.”
“I thought,” said Caponi, “how can Byron Nelson see this putt break left to right. It’s right to left.” Flustered, she backed off the putt to regain her composure. She had already weathered a 15-minute delay after hitting her tee shot on 18 when an electrical storm passed through. Now was the moment for which she had waited a lifetime and she questioned her read. Like a true champion she decided to trust the line and proceeded to coolly sink the right-to-left putt.

“Thank goodness I went with my own instincts,” she said.

At the press conference, she learned that Nelson was right after all. It turns out his monitor was showing a camera angle from the opposite direction!

That victory launched a Hall of Fame ca… Read More

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