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Early Career:

 

Born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1980, she is the second Daughter to Dennis and Cheryl Stevens.  Stevens started playing golf at the age of 3 and entered her first tournament at 9.  Elder sister Rebecca Ann Stevens helped hone her skills till she was 14 when she hired putting coach Pat Echeberry.  Echeberry instilled within the young Samantha the importance of a sharp putter.  She began playing the Amateur circuit at the age of 15, winning several events against much older opponents.  The 1996 season culminated with a major victory at the U.S. Women's Amateur Open becoming, at the time the youngest player to win that event.  She would repeat that victory the following year.  1997 would see Samantha become the youngest winner of an LPGA title at the tender age of 17 years and 9 months (a record she would hold for 14 years).  In 1998, playing as an amateur, Stevens captured the jewel of women's tournament golf.  She would defeat Jenny Chuasiriporn in a 18 hole playoff to win the U.S. Women's Open becoming the youngest player to win that event and the youngest player to win an LPGA Major Championship title, having just turned 18.  That same year she entered the fall semester of the University of South Carolina leading the school to its first NCAA championship title.  A year later she would break with coach Pat Echeberry and turn professional. 

 

As a Pro:

 

Put together one of the finest rookie seasons ever by winning 50% of tournaments entered.  Stevens would become the youngest ever number one ranked player in 2000 at the age of 19 years and 8 months.  Samantha would capture her fourth major championship at the Evian Masters and complete the career grand slam in 2001.  At the age of 20 she would be the youngest in history to accomplish this feat.  In 2002 she won 12 LPGA Tour titles and became the first person in golf history to win all four major championships, completing the calendar grand slam of golf.  A year later she became the first woman to play in a men's scheduled PGA Tour event finishing outside of the cut.  2004 would see Stevens suffer serious injuries in a near fatal car crash that permanently injured her father.  Back and leg injuries did not stop her from winning the Player of the Year honors and another major.  The next few years saw Stevens gradually win and continue to climb to success amongst golf legends.  She recorded a record 6 wins at the LPGA Championship Tournament, took her sister on as caddy and started Team Samantha, a team assembled to keep her in winning shape.  In 2008 at the British Open she would surpass Patty Berg for most all time major championship wins.  That same year Stevens would be invited to play in the Men's NationWide Tour's AT&T Classic.  She would shoot a final round 61 and finish 2nd overall.  The event would become a major turning point for women's golf.  Confirming where she stood in golf history, her victory at the U.S. Open in 2010 allowed her to win her 89th LPGA title surpassing Kathy Whitworth and becoming the winningest golfer (male or female) of all time.  Samantha has competed on all levels of play.  She has been the main leader for the U.S. women's team on all of the Solheim Cups' she has played in.  Many experts and her own peers believe that Stevens is the greatest player in history. 

 

Business as Usual:

 

Started her own clothing line in 2002 with Fashion For Women.  Stevens became the official spokesperson for the Samantha Stevens Corporation that same year.  In 2008 earnings topped the 500 million dollar mark.  Products include clothing, athletic equipment, beverages, sports memorabilia and other miscellaneous products.  In addition NIKE and several other major companies have signed on as vendors for Sam Stevens Footwear and Fashion.  The company has also managed several charitable organizations worldwide. 

 

Awards:  (33) Nike Amateur Player of the Year (1996).  Nike Amateur Player of the Year (1997).  Nike Amateur Player of the Year (1998).  Rolex Rookie of the Year, Money Champion (1999).  Vare Trophy, Rolex Player of the Year, Money Champion (2001).  Vare Trophy, Rolex Player of the Year, Money Champion (2002).  Vare Trophy, Rolex Player of the Year, Money Champion (2003).  Vare Trophy, Rolex Player of the Year, Money Champion (2004).  Vare Trophy, Rolex Player of the Year, Money Champion (2005).  Vare Trophy, Rolex Player of the Year, Money Champion (2007).  Vare Trophy, Rolex Player of the Year, Money Champion (2008).  Rolex Player of the Year (2009).  Rolex Player of the Year, Money Champion, Lady Byng Golfer of the Decade (2010).  Vare Trophy, Rolex Player of the Year, Money Champion (2014).   Majors:  (25) U.S. Women’s Amateur Open (1996).  U.S. Women’s Amateur Open  (1997).  U.S. Women's Open (1998).  British Women's Open (1999).  LPGA Championship (2000).  LPGA Championship, Evian Masters (2001).  LPGA Championship, Evian Masters, British Women’s Open, U.S. Women's Open (2002).  LPGA Championship, British Women's Open (2003).  Evian Masters (2004).  LPGA Championship (2005).  LPGA Championship, British Women's Open (2007).  British Women's Open, U.S. Women's Open (2008).  Evian Masters, U.S. Women's Open (2009).  U.S. Women's Open (2010).  LPGA Championship (2013).  Evian Masters, British Women's Open (2014).

Records

Age

1.         Youngest U.S. Womens Open Winner - 18 years, 4 months 2.      Youngest winner of a major championship - 18 years, 4 months  3.         Youngest #1 ranked player - 19 years, 8 months 4.         Youngest LPGA Championship Winner - 19 years, 8 months  5.         Youngest to win career grand slam - 21 years, 1 month 6.         Youngest to win 30 LPGA Tour Titles - 22 years, 5 months 7.         Youngest to win 40 LPGA Tour Titles - 23 years, 4 months 8.         Youngest to win 50 LPGA Tour Titles - 24 years, 5 months 9.         Youngest to win 60 LPGA Tour Titles - 26 years, 2 months 10.    Youngest to be inducted into LPGA Hall of Fame - 28 years, 7 months

Scoring

Lowest 9 holes - 26  Lowest 18 holes - 59  Lowest 36 holes - 121  Lowest 54 holes - 184  Lowest 72 holes - 248  Lowest Scoring Average -  67.11 (2005)  Most Consecutive Birdies - 11  Largest Margin of Victory - 26 Shots  Most Birdies in One Round - 13  Evian Masters 72 Hole Scoring Record - 269 (2001)  U.S. Womens Open 72 Hole Scoring Record -  268 (2002)  British Womens Open 72 Hole Scoring Record - 248 (2003)

Other

Reached # 1 World Ranking faster than any female golfer (through first 16 events). Only woman to win the grand slam of golf, winning 4 majors in 2002 and continuing with a 5th consecutive major win in 2003.  All time single season money leader (5 million dollars in 2008) and career money leader (36.6 million dollars as of 2011).  First player to shoot a score of 59, doing it three times (2002, 2003 and 2005).  Holds consecutive cut streak record at 127 events.  Set record for consecutive tournaments won by winning 8 straight from September 2002 to January 2003 and May 2008 to September 2008.  Holds record for most consecutive professional match play victories (84).  Recorded rare double eagle (2008), one of only 24 in the history of the LPGA.  As of October 2011 she holds the record for most months at # 1 World Ranking (98) overtaking Nancy Lopez (60).  7 time winner of 1 event, 6 time winner of 3 events, 5 time winner of 2 events, 4 time winner of 3 events and 3 time winner of 5 events.  All time Money Champion winner (9), all time Vare Trophy winner (7) and the all time Player of the Year winner (9).  Only three time consecutive U.S. Open winner.  Only woman to win the U.S. Open 5 times.  Winner of most major championships (20).  Surpassed Kathy Whitworth in September of 2010 to become the winningest golfer of all time.