Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen and former Augusta National chairman Billy Payne are two of the 15 finalists for the World Golf Hall of Fame’s class of 2019.
The finalists span four different countries and four of the hall’s induction categories: Male Competitor, Female Competitor, Lifetime Achievement and Veterans.
Goosen, the South African who captured two U.S. Open titles in 2001 and 2004, is one of four finalists from the Male Competitor group. He is joined by 1995 U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin, 1983 PGA champion Hal Sutton, and Australian Graham Marsh.
Joining Payne as finalists for the Lifetime Achievement category are former LPGA golfer Peggy Kirk Bell and instructor Dennis Walters.
The Female Competitor group features five finalists, headlined by former LPGA major champion and current CBS television analyst Dottie Pepper. The group also includes fellow LPGA major champions Beverly Hanson, Sandra Palmer, Jan Stephenson, and Susie Maxwell Berning.
Former PGA Tour golfer Calvin Peete is perhaps the most well-known finalist in the Veterans category. Joining Peete are former PGA champion Jim Ferrier and former LPGA major-winner Catherine Lacoste.
The 15 finalists were chosen by a 20-member committee that will now present them to a 16-person panel. A finalist must receive approval from 12 members, or 75 percent, for induction.
The class of 2019 will be announced on Wednesday, October 10th. The ceremony will be staged in Pebble Beach, California, in June 2019.
