By the grace of golf

It is good that her playing record, including seven USGA championships and a place in the World Golf Hall of Fame, figuratively speaks volumes, because Carol Semple Thompson would never say a word.
“She’s so gracious,” said longtime friend Marlene Streit. “The most gracious person you have ever met. You’d never know she’s won anything.”
Streit, a fellow World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, is joined by 2004 U.S. Senior Amateur champion Carolyn Creekmore in reflecting on Thompson’s reticence.

Thompson lost to Fitzgerald in the semifinals that year after Streit, the eventual winner, defeated Creekmore in the quarterfinals, so everyone was enjoying the Texas Hill Country life for an extra day or two.
“She’s just the same all the time,” Creekmore said. “That is an incredible trait. She’s accomplished everything. She’s done everything. She has reason to not be humble.”
In fact, at the 2003 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur with Streit playing in the final against Nancy Fitzgerald at Barton Creek in Austin, Texas, Semple Thompson caddied for Streit...