2019 LPGA Season Odds and Ends

[18majors]

It isn't everyday that Washington Post writes a story about a women's golfer

 


Column: Tavatanakit takes fast track to LPGA Tour

[https://washingtonpost.com/sports/golf/column-tavatanakit-takes-fast-track-to-lpga-tour/2019/10/22/5e415cee-f4d5-11e9-b2d2-1f37c9d82dbb_story.html](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/golf/column-tavatanakit-takes-fast-track-to-lpga-tour/2019/10/22/5e415cee-f4d5-11e9-b2d2-1f37c9d82dbb_story.html "https://washingtonpost.com/sports/golf/column-tavatanakit-takes-fast-track-to-lpga-tour/2019/10/22/5e415cee-f4d5-11e9-b2d2-1f37c9d82dbb_story.html")

[18majors]

Pleasant to see that the standout amateur Rose Zhang 張斯洋 will be in the field in Taiwan.

The Taiwan stop offers the biggest purse, $2.2 million, of the fall Asian Swing.

 

[sslpgataiwan.com/players](http://www.sslpgataiwan.com/players "sslpgataiwan.com/players")

[18majors]

Gary McCord and Peter Kostis won't be returning to CBS golf team

 

[https://golfweek.com/2019/10/26/gary-mccord-peter-kostis-wont-return-cbs-golf-team/](https://golfweek.com/2019/10/26/gary-mccord-peter-kostis-wont-return-cbs-golf-team/ "https://golfweek.com/2019/10/26/gary-mccord-peter-kostis-wont-return-cbs-golf-team/")

[18majors]

With a win and a second; Danielle jumped to #7 in Rolex ranking; she's in virtual tie with Lexi and Brooke for #5 spot.

Danielle isn't playing this week but she'll replace Lexi as American #1 next week; unless Nelly Korda finishes solo fourth or better.

 

[fredogolfer]

Anybody know what happened to Tony Jesselli and his tonyslpgareport.com website? It has been out of commission for the last couple of weeks.

[18majors]

This is interesting; Mike Whan announced sometime ago that PGA Tour would negotiate new TV contract for both PGA Tour and LPGA; recently, PGA Tour official website added a new tab for LPGA.

[https://pgatour.com/](https://www.pgatour.com/ "https://pgatour.com/")

 

Is PGA Tour in the process of acquiring LPGA?

[Golf Dino]

> @18majors said:

> This is interesting; Mike Whan announced sometime ago that PGA Tour would negotiate new TV contract for both PGA Tour and LPGA; recently, PGA Tour official website added a new tab for LPGA.

> [https://pgatour.com/](https://www.pgatour.com/ "https://pgatour.com/")

>

> Is PGA Tour in the process of acquiring LPGA?

 

______________

 

Actually, it's been there all year. I suspect that it's part of the cooperation between the tours rather than a foreshadowing of a merger or acquisition.

[AWinfortheAges]

> @"Golf Dino" said:

> > @18majors said:

> > This is interesting; Mike Whan announced sometime ago that PGA Tour would negotiate new TV contract for both PGA Tour and LPGA; recently, PGA Tour official website added a new tab for LPGA.

> > [https://pgatour.com/](https://www.pgatour.com/ "https://pgatour.com/")

> >

> > Is PGA Tour in the process of acquiring LPGA?

>

> ______________

>

> Actually, it's been there all year. I suspect that it's part of the cooperation between the tours rather than a foreshadowing of a merger or acquisition.

 

I think it's been there even longer than that.

[ChronicSlicer]

> @18majors said:

> With a win and a second; Danielle jumped to #7 in Rolex ranking; she's in virtual tie with Lexi and Brooke for #5 spot.

> Danielle isn't playing this week but she'll replace Lexi as American #1 next week; unless Nelly Korda finishes solo fourth or better.

>

 

Man, when was the last time 3 Americans were in the top 10? 2015? Stacy, Michelle and Bambam maybe?

[Argonne69]

> @ChronicSlicer said:

> > @18majors said:

> > With a win and a second; Danielle jumped to #7 in Rolex ranking; she's in virtual tie with Lexi and Brooke for #5 spot.

> > Danielle isn't playing this week but she'll replace Lexi as American #1 next week; unless Nelly Korda finishes solo fourth or better.

> >

>

> Man, when was the last time 3 Americans were in the top 10? 2015? Stacy, Michelle and Bambam maybe?

 

Sounds about right. In April 2015 Stacy (3), Brittany (6), Michelle (9), and Lexi (10). Cristie was 11th. In May 2015 Stacy, Brittany, Cristie, and Michelle were in the Top 10. Lexi was 11th.

[18majors]

This is a good development:

 

BREAKING: NCAA will allow athletes to be compensated for their names, images and likenesses in a major shift for the organization

[https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/1189238376798543873](https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/1189238376798543873 "https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/1189238376798543873")

[Golf Dino]

> @18majors said:

> This is a good development:

>

> BREAKING: NCAA will allow athletes to be compensated for their names, images and likenesses in a major shift for the organization

> [https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/1189238376798543873](https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/1189238376798543873 "https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/1189238376798543873")

 

________________________

 

It's really only "good news" if the players themselves wish to exercise that option ... if they do, it will potentially bring them into a semi-professional status that is contrary to the USGA rules on amateur status.

 

I believe that what really needs to happen is that the USGA and by extension, the R&A and RCGA, need to modernize the rules on Amateur status. The archaic rules on amateur status is what contributed to the demise of the amateur in golf ... at least among the uber elite level.

[fredogolfer]

> @18majors said:

> This is a good development:

>

> BREAKING: NCAA will allow athletes to be compensated for their names, images and likenesses in a major shift for the organization

> [https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/1189238376798543873](https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/1189238376798543873 "https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/1189238376798543873")

 

 

For amateur golf and for a few golfers but for legislators and politicians on both sudes of the aisle who are just licking their chops to reform higher education, it gives them more ammunition to cut more funding for colleges and universities. So many of the players currently in q-school have openly talked about how they were recruited with the coach knowing they weren’t planning on 4 years of college.essentially the tax payers of what ever state just funded the launch of the career of a pro athlete. A law maker will look at this and think the core mission of the school is to prepare students for the workforce and graduate. We could very well see the demise of college sports.

 

[18majors]

@Newinup

 

Yuka Saso is in the field of 2019 Stage III Protest at JLPGA starting Tuesday, November 5.

One hundred players are in the field; Top-20 and ties will advance to Q-School Stage I scheduled for November 26-29.

Yuka Yasuda, 18, is also in the field.

 

[https://lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/pairing/1/](https://www.lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/pairing/1/ "https://lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/pairing/1/")

[18majors]

Yuka Saso is in trouble at JLPGA Protest Final Stage; she shot +2 and T53 in R1. Top-20 and ties advance to Q-School.

Princess Superal of the Philippines is leading at -4, Yuka Yasuda and Shin Ae Ahn are -2 and T8.

 

[https://lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/leaderboard/1/en](https://www.lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/leaderboard/1/en "https://lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/leaderboard/1/en")

 

[18majors]

I've always considered Yuka Saso, Yealimi Noh, Erica Shepherd and Yuka Yasuda to be the class of 2001 babies; among them, Saso and Yealimi have the power advantage.

But in golf, players need to be both lucky and good.

Earlier this year, Yealimi played terribly after she turned professional; she righted her self so both she and Saso were playing terrifically in the summer. But somehow Saso was never the same player since she lost her heartbreaker semifinal match at US Girls' Junior.

Hope Saso recovers in time to get her JLPGA card in December.

[Newinup]

> @18majors said:

> I've always considered Yuka Saso, Yealimi Noh, Erica Shepherd and Yuka Yasuda to be the class of 2001 babies; among them, Saso and Yealimi have the power advantage.

> But in golf, players need to be both lucky and good.

> Earlier this year, Yealimi played terribly after she turned professional; she righted her self so both she and Saso were playing terrifically in the summer. But somehow Saso was never the same player since she lost her heartbreaker semifinal match at US Junior Girl's.

> Hope Saso recovers in time to get her JLPGA card in December.

 

Yuka seems overwhelmed with so many things going on (from being a Georgia Bulldog initially, to LPGA Q school to Korea/Japan tournaments to JLPGA Protest)... -- personally, I think she might be stretching herself too "thin"... My fear is that the folks are the ones driving the "car" so to speak... maybe she has to drive her own "car" -- I don't know her at all, but that is my view with what is going on right now... Again, personal view, spiced up by "what I heard from sources which may be 50/50 right/wrong"... Unlike LPGA where you can do Symetra, JLPGA is all or nothing, right? (correct me if I'm wrong)

 

PS I'm impressed you know Princess Superal from the Philippines :)

[18majors]

> @Newinup said:

> > @18majors said:

> > I've always considered Yuka Saso, Yealimi Noh, Erica Shepherd and Yuka Yasuda to be the class of 2001 babies; among them, Saso and Yealimi have the power advantage.

> > But in golf, players need to be both lucky and good.

> > Earlier this year, Yealimi played terribly after she turned professional; she righted her self so both she and Saso were playing terrifically in the summer. But somehow Saso was never the same player since she lost her heartbreaker semifinal match at US Junior Girl's.

> > Hope Saso recovers in time to get her JLPGA card in December.

>

> Yuka seems overwhelmed with so many things going on (from being a Georgia Bulldog initially, to LPGA Q school to Korea/Japan tournaments to JLPGA Protest)... -- personally, I think she might be stretching herself too "thin"... My fear is that the folks are the ones driving the "car" so to speak... maybe she has to drive her own "car" -- I don't know her at all, but that is my view with what is going on right now... Again, personal view, spiced up by "what I heard from sources which may be 50/50 right/wrong"... Unlike LPGA where you can do Symetra, JLPGA is all or nothing, right? (correct me if I'm wrong)

>

> PS I'm impressed you know Princess Superal from the Philippines :)

 

How can you forget a princess; especially one who won 2014 US Girls' Junior.

Yes, there's a JLPGA Step Up Tour, just like Symetra Tour.

[Newinup]

> @18majors said:

> > @Newinup said:

> > > @18majors said:

> > > I've always considered Yuka Saso, Yealimi Noh, Erica Shepherd and Yuka Yasuda to be the class of 2001 babies; among them, Saso and Yealimi have the power advantage.

> > > But in golf, players need to be both lucky and good.

> > > Earlier this year, Yealimi played terribly after she turned professional; she righted her self so both she and Saso were playing terrifically in the summer. But somehow Saso was never the same player since she lost her heartbreaker semifinal match at US Junior Girl's.

> > > Hope Saso recovers in time to get her JLPGA card in December.

> >

> > Yuka seems overwhelmed with so many things going on (from being a Georgia Bulldog initially, to LPGA Q school to Korea/Japan tournaments to JLPGA Protest)... -- personally, I think she might be stretching herself too "thin"... My fear is that the folks are the ones driving the "car" so to speak... maybe she has to drive her own "car" -- I don't know her at all, but that is my view with what is going on right now... Again, personal view, spiced up by "what I heard from sources which may be 50/50 right/wrong"... Unlike LPGA where you can do Symetra, JLPGA is all or nothing, right? (correct me if I'm wrong)

> >

> > PS I'm impressed you know Princess Superal from the Philippines :)

>

> How can you forget a princess; especially one who won 2014 US Girls' Junior.

> Yes, there's a JLPGA Step Up Tour, just like Symetra Tour.

 

Haha yes, I am just surprised since there's not a lot of "well known" golfers in North America that are from the Philippines originally that I thought people would recognize other than Jennifer and Dorothy... true story, Princess participated in an international games (forget what it was, whether Asian games or Southeast Asian)-- one of the organizers was scrambling how to address her since they really thought she was a Princess eg royalty...

 

Oh that's right, Step Up tour, I keep getting "lost in translation" -- Shibuno did participate in those after failing the "Pro-Test" in one year --it's just when I read these translations, I get all mucked up (and I know how to read basic Kanji and Hiragana/Katakana but still need translation for these golf articles more often than not)

 

Thanks for your strong memory!

[18majors]

Yuka Saso improved to +2 and T31 after R2; Shin Ae Ahn co-leads at -6, Yuka Yasuda is -5 and T3.

 

[https://lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/leaderboard/2/en](https://www.lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/leaderboard/2/en "https://lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/leaderboard/2/en")

[Newinup]

> @18majors said:

> Yuka Saso improved to +2 and T31 after R2; Shin Ae Ahn co-leads at -6, Yuka Yasuda is -5 and T3.

>

> [https://lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/leaderboard/2/en](https://www.lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/leaderboard/2/en "https://lpga.or.jp/qualify/pt/2019/9000/leaderboard/2/en")

 

2 strokes to make up in 2 rounds for Yuka to reach top 20 based on current round 2 results... very doable - tonight/tomorrow will be key for her whether she digs a hole or lifts herself out of it....

[18majors]

A nice Golf Channel video on Nelly Korda:

 

[https://golfchannelvod-amd.akamaized.net/NBCU_Sports_Group_-_GolfChannel/590/607/8pbLv_gAZv5H_S2jXpgLWphDBoGrkxsk_1573048590810.mp4](https://golfchannelvod-amd.akamaized.net/NBCU_Sports_Group_-_GolfChannel/590/607/8pbLv_gAZv5H_S2jXpgLWphDBoGrkxsk_1573048590810.mp4 "https://golfchannelvod-amd.akamaized.net/NBCU_Sports_Group_-_GolfChannel/590/607/8pbLv_gAZv5H_S2jXpgLWphDBoGrkxsk_1573048590810.mp4")

[18majors]

Good for her!

 

Report: 17-year-old Lucy Li turns professional

 


[https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/](https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/ "https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/")

[AWinfortheAges]

> @18majors said:

> Good for her!

>

> Report: 17-year-old Lucy Li turns professional

>

> 

> [https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/](https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/ "https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/")

 

She's already popular, but why not wait until April? Why not take a shot at ANWA and go on all the press-junkets Fassi did and improve your Q-score.

[18majors]

Top-80 and ties at +8 made the cut to play 4th round.

Yuka Saso shot -2 in R3 to move to Even and T20; Yuka Yasuda is -6 and 4th, Shin Ae Ahn ballooned to -1 and T17.

 

[Tasals]

> @AWinfortheAges said:

> > @18majors said:

> > Good for her!

> >

> > Report: 17-year-old Lucy Li turns professional

> >

> > 

> > [https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/](https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/ "https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/")

>

> She's already popular, but why not wait until April? Why not take a shot at ANWA and go on all the press-junkets Fassi did and improve your Q-score.

 

Doesnt want to leave money on the table.

[OffTheDole]

> @Tasals said:

> > @AWinfortheAges said:

> > > @18majors said:

> > > Good for her!

> > >

> > > Report: 17-year-old Lucy Li turns professional

> > >

> > > 

> > > [https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/](https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/ "https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/")

> >

> > She's already popular, but why not wait until April? Why not take a shot at ANWA and go on all the press-junkets Fassi did and improve your Q-score.

>

> Doesnt want to leave money on the table.

 

Also likely that she wants that battlefield promotion when she wins a third time.

[Golf Dino]

> @18majors said:

> Good for her!

>

> Report: 17-year-old Lucy Li turns professional

>

> 

> [https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/](https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/ "https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/")

 

___________________________

 

@Argonne69 @18majors ... does anyone know where we can find some stats for Lucy? In particular, driving, GIR, putts per average, putts per round?

 

I recall there was some comments a while back that suggested that Lucy was a little "light" with her distance off of the tee. I am not sure how well rooted in facts that comment is, so some statistical or empirical evidence would be helpful.

 

She has definitely caught the eyes of many golfers that follow women's golf...but I'm unsure if there is any real picture emerging about her game ... like significant wins in competition, etc.

 

If she is indeed a little light with her distance off of the tee, then it will put her in tough spots professionally ... even on the Symetra Tour. And if that is the case, she may ha e done better to play the ANWA event before turning professional. Or perhaps taking a better run at Q-Series in 2020.

[18majors]

Sierra Brooks will turn professional immediately:

 

[https://twitter.com/sierrabrooks64/status/1192492632624304128](https://twitter.com/sierrabrooks64/status/1192492632624304128 "https://twitter.com/sierrabrooks64/status/1192492632624304128")

[18majors]

> @"Golf Dino" said:

> > @18majors said:

> > Good for her!

> >

> > Report: 17-year-old Lucy Li turns professional

> >

> > 

> > [https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/](https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/ "https://golfweek.com/2019/11/06/report-17-year-old-lucy-li-turns-professional/")

>

> ___________________________

>

> @Argonne69 @18majors ... does anyone know where we can find some stats for Lucy? In particular, driving, GIR, putts per average, putts per round?

>

> I recall there was some comments a while back that suggested that Lucy was a little "light" with her distance off of the tee. I am not sure how well rooted in facts that comment is, so some statistical or empirical evidence would be helpful.

>

> She has definitely caught the eyes of many golfers that follow women's golf...but I'm unsure if there is any real picture emerging about her game ... like significant wins in competition, etc.

>

> If she is indeed a little light with her distance off of the tee, then it will put her in tough spots professionally ... even on the Symetra Tour. And if that is the case, she may ha e done better to play the ANWA event before turning professional. Or perhaps taking a better run at Q-Series in 2020.

 

Sorry, I couldn't find any stats for amateur players.

My impression was that she's surprisingly long at 2019 US Women's Amateur.

She'll face tremendous challenges, if she's less than 260 yards.