Profile of Golfer Kris Tschetter
Kris Tschetter was a solid LPGA pro over a 15-year career, but became better known after retiring for the book she wrote about Ben Hogan.
Full name: Kris Tschetter (sounds like "cheddar")
Date and place of birth: Dec. 30, 1964, in Detroit, Michigan
Significant Wins
1991 JCPenney Classic-x
1992 LPGA Tour Northgate Computer Classic
(x-The JCPenney Classic was an unofficial tournament in which LPGA and PGA Tour pros partnered one another. In Tschetter's victory, her PGA Tour partner was Billy Andrade.)
In the Majors
Kris Tschetter didn't win any of the LPGA majors, but she did come close twice: She finished second at the 1996 U.S. Women's Open and at the 1997 Kraft Nabisco Championship. She had two other Top 10 finishes in majors.
Notable Notes: Kris Tschetter won only once in her LPGA Tour career, but was a solid player from the late 1980s into the late 1990s, when injuries curtailed her career. She continued playing into the 2000s, however. ... In 2001 she was voted recipient of the LPGA's Heather Farr Award.
Tschetter is probably best-known today for her relationship with Ben Hogan. Tschetter played college golf at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, where the members of the golf team received junior memberships at Shady Oaks Country Club, Hogan's club. Tschetter and Hogan became friendly, and Hogan began serving as something of an instructor for her, and definitely as a mentor to her.
When the 1996 U.S. Women's Open was played at Colonial Country Club, Hogan showed up midway through the final round and followed Tschetter, offering support. She finished second to Annika Sorenstam. Their friendship continued until Hogan's death in 1997.
Tschetter wrote a book about her days with Hogan called Mr. Hogan, The Man I Knew (Amazon link), that offers sometimes surprising anecdotes about their relationship and is a very interesting read.
Today, Tschetter continues to play tournament golf on the Legends Tour, the senior tour for top professional women. She also works as a golf instructor.
