After cancer surgery, Zaharias won the U.S. Women’s Open by a record margin of 12 strokes.
On July 18, 1953, Babe Didrikson Zaharias achieved one of the most awe-inspiring victories in golf history by winning the U.S. Women’s Open at Salem Country Club in Massachusetts by a record margin of 12 strokes. Her triumph came post her surgery for colon cancer, showcasing a heroic comeback in the face of overwhelming physical challenges. This victory is celebrated as one of the greatest comebacks in sports, demonstrating Zaharias’s extraordinary resilience, determination, and talent, while also raising awareness about the possibilities of recovery and competition after serious health battles.