World Golf Hall of Fame member Jan Stephenson diagnosed with breast cancer

Jan Stephenson has been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, according to an announcement Thursday from her Crossroads Foundation.

Stephenson, 71, a three-time major champion, winner of 41 professional events and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame (2019), will begin chemotherapy and radiation treatments in the next two weeks.

“It means so much to me for all my friends and family to lend so much support,” Stephenson said in a statement. “I have had some negative challenges in my career and managed to survive. This is just another tough hole that is uphill and against the win. See you on my next downhill and downwind hole!”

The Australian was LPGA Rookie of the Year in 1974 and won 16 total events on the tour. She had three separate three-win seasons (1981, 1983, 1987). Her biggest victory came at the 1983 U.S. Women’s Open where he held off JoAnne Carner and Patty Sheehan by one shot. Winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship (now called the Chevron Championship) was the only thing that kept her from completing the career Grand Slam.

“It’s impossible to overstate what Jan has meant to golf not only in Australia, but around the world, with all the effort she has put into developing young golfers through her charitable foundations" said Michael Vandiver, executive vice president of Jan Stephenson’s Crossroads Foundation.

The mission of Stephenson’s Crossroads Foundation is to provide disables veterans and first responders with the tools they need to move forward in life, using golf to challenge then mentally and physically.