Fort Worth’s Sandra Haynie talks LPGA, Hall of Fame induction

Fort Worth native Sandra Haynie was very successful on the LPGA Tour.

She joined when she was 18 years old in 1961, won her first event in 1962, and won 42 LPGA tournaments, including four majors.

A graduate of Austin High School, Haynie was the 1970 LPGA Player of the Year, and was inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1977 and the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 1984.

Fast forward to 2016; Haynie received a letter two months ago saying that she will be inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame at French Lick Resort.

The induction will take place Friday at the resort in French Lick, Ind., and will be in conjunction with the Legends Championship, which is Thursday through Sunday. The Legends Tour is the official senior tour of the LPGA.

Haynie will be inducted along with former LPGA tour winner Elaine Crosby.

When and where were you when you received the call that you were going to be inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame?

“They sent me a very nice letter two months ago, it was a surprise and nice to receive. The Legends Tour is pretty good at getting things out quickly, so I didn’t have to tell people, they did it for me. I appreciate, not just for myself, but French Lick taking on the Legends Tour and Hall of Fame. It’s very important for all our players that are coming along after this, the opportunity to get into another Hall of Fame and to be recognized.”

Is there anything that you have regrets about that happened in your career?

“Don’t really think so. Golf has been really good to me, in so many ways and the opportunities it’s given me — opportunities in business, working with professionals (Ilhee Lee, Alejandra Llaneza). I have no regrets.”

Are you still active in golf?

“I still play a little bit. I’m leaving next week and will play in French Lick, and a couple more events the rest of the year. I’m kind of recovering from wrist surgery, but I’ll give it my best. I don’t teach a lot, just two professionals and I have a few teenagers that I work with occasionally.”

The LPGA Shootout has been coming through the Metroplex the past few years. Did you get to attend and is there anyone on the tour that reminds you of yourself?

“No one that comes to mind. It’s been wonderful to watch the tour grow and all the different personalities and the way they approach the game. Everybody is competitive and that’s something I was. Everybody brings the best, but no comparisons.”

Golf returned to the Olympics this year. Do you have any thoughts on that?

“I think any time we can put golf in the forefront and grow in any way is wonderful. I felt from the beginning and I know Alejandra is excited to go rep her country (Mexico), but I wonder if it would’ve been more meaningful if an amateur went instead of the pros. The pros have a platform to play all the time, but going for your country would be very awesome, and Alejandra is excited to play. But anything that gives the world awareness of golf is good for the game.”

Do you stay in contact with any of your former competitors and do any of them live in the area?

“Gloria Ehret, Kathy Whitworth, and she just passed away but Mary Lou Crocker — I stay in touch with a lot of players, one because of the Legends tournament, play some of events here and there. We get to see each other several times a year and it’s great fun.”

You’ve played in many events and tournaments. Can you pick a favorite moment?

“A favorite for me, something I bring up is at Palm Springs.We knew it as Dinah, Colgate, Nabisco, now it’s the ANA, but that event was special to me. I never won it, got second several times, but it was a special tournament. In 1974, I won the USA open, the LPGA within a couple months, which stands out too.”

What is a typical day for you today?

“Right now I’m doing my usual stretching that I’ve done forever for myself, doing a little bit of rehab to get it back to play a little bit next week. Spending a lot of time working on my short game because I’ll have to lean on that, I always have.”

Who is the best golfer in the world today?

“I think Inbee Park. Some of the younger players are playing some amazing golf, a lot of the Asian players are bringing their A-game. The men too, Jordan Spieth is from the area, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, and I think all of them are just taking the opportunity to make each other better.”

Have you met Jordan Spieth?

“I have not had the pleasure. I know his trainer, who works with my pros, Alejandra and Ilhee, but I would welcome that. He’s what you see is what you get, just a nice young man and an extreme talent.”

This story was originally published August 16, 2016 at 5:44 PM with the headline "Fort Worth’s Sandra Haynie talks LPGA, Hall of Fame induction."