2019 LPGA Season Odds and Ends

[18majors]

A Lucy Li special at Golf Central on her turning pro; they don't do it for other players:

 

[https://golfchannelvod-amd.akamaized.net/NBCU_Sports_Group_-_GolfChannel/317/582/728ced3637ff46b5bc3651a3a26322361573148928421_2200k.mp4](https://golfchannelvod-amd.akamaized.net/NBCU_Sports_Group_-_GolfChannel/317/582/728ced3637ff46b5bc3651a3a26322361573148928421_2200k.mp4 "https://golfchannelvod-amd.akamaized.net/NBCU_Sports_Group_-_GolfChannel/317/582/728ced3637ff46b5bc3651a3a26322361573148928421_2200k.mp4")

[AWinfortheAges]

> @OffTheDole said:

> > @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.

 

But she could have petitioned the LPGA to play in Stage 3 of QSchool and won a card last weekend right? Why not try that and avoid Symetra?

[Titleist_PT23]

> @AWinfortheAges said:

> > @OffTheDole said:

> > > @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.

>

> But she could have petitioned the LPGA to play in Stage 3 of QSchool and won a card last weekend right? Why not try that and avoid Symetra?

My guess is the tour was not going to give her an exemption. If she wanted to go that route, I'd guess they could get some indications.

 

But isn't Lydia the only person that's got an exemption? From what I've read they didn't give one to Brooke even though she was #1 ranked amateur in the world.

 

Personally, I'd say change the age limit to 16. Of course, there will also be some 15 year olds that then want to play. But it seems like the game is moving towards people not going to college (at least for the best players) and I think they should try to eliminate this odd 1 year or so period that could exist for some.

[AWinfortheAges]

> @agolf1 said:

> > @AWinfortheAges said:

> > > @OffTheDole said:

> > > > @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.

> >

> > But she could have petitioned the LPGA to play in Stage 3 of QSchool and won a card last weekend right? Why not try that and avoid Symetra?

> My guess is the tour was not going to give her an exemption. If she wanted to go that route, I'd guess they could get some indications.

>

> But isn't Lydia the only person that's got an exemption? From what I've read they didn't give one to Brooke even though she was #1 ranked amateur in the world.

>

> Personally, I'd say change the age limit to 16. Of course, there will also be some 15 year olds that then want to play. But it seems like the game is moving towards people not going to college (at least for the best players) and I think they should try to eliminate this odd 1 year or so period that could exist for some.

 

Brooke received an exemption after she won in Portland.

[Titleist_PT23]

> @AWinfortheAges said:

> > @agolf1 said:

> > > @AWinfortheAges said:

> > > > @OffTheDole said:

> > > > > @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.

> > >

> > > But she could have petitioned the LPGA to play in Stage 3 of QSchool and won a card last weekend right? Why not try that and avoid Symetra?

> > My guess is the tour was not going to give her an exemption. If she wanted to go that route, I'd guess they could get some indications.

> >

> > But isn't Lydia the only person that's got an exemption? From what I've read they didn't give one to Brooke even though she was #1 ranked amateur in the world.

> >

> > Personally, I'd say change the age limit to 16. Of course, there will also be some 15 year olds that then want to play. But it seems like the game is moving towards people not going to college (at least for the best players) and I think they should try to eliminate this odd 1 year or so period that could exist for some.

>

> Brooke received an exemption after she won in Portland.

 

That's entirely different than what Lucy would need now.

[Titleist_PT23]

> @agolf1 said:

> > @AWinfortheAges said:

> > > @agolf1 said:

> > > > @AWinfortheAges said:

> > > > > @OffTheDole said:

> > > > > > @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.

> > > >

> > > > But she could have petitioned the LPGA to play in Stage 3 of QSchool and won a card last weekend right? Why not try that and avoid Symetra?

> > > My guess is the tour was not going to give her an exemption. If she wanted to go that route, I'd guess they could get some indications.

> > >

> > > But isn't Lydia the only person that's got an exemption? From what I've read they didn't give one to Brooke even though she was #1 ranked amateur in the world.

> > >

> > > Personally, I'd say change the age limit to 16. Of course, there will also be some 15 year olds that then want to play. But it seems like the game is moving towards people not going to college (at least for the best players) and I think they should try to eliminate this odd 1 year or so period that could exist for some.

> >

> > Brooke received an exemption after she won in Portland.

>

> That's entirely different than what Lucy would need now.

Sorry, my statement that of "only Lydia" is incorrect if Brooke received one after her win.

 

If I understand correctly though, then the tour is granting exemptions if you win a tournament and would have priority via the current/prior year winner status. But it doesn't seem like they are too eager to give waiver for people to qualify through Q-Series.

 

I guess I don't understand why a 17 year old can play professionally on Symetra but not LPGA. And it seems like there is a good parental age restriction in place unless money dictates otherwise. Which is fine but then just get rid of it.

 

In my view, the current system is setup for abuse of power and favors for friends. Either have a hard age limit with no exemptions for anyone or take it down to some level that is less likely to be breached. I guess I'd be fine with 16 (both age of player and what is reasonably likely for someone to be able to compete on tour), it just seems like 18 is causing undue restriction in players' progression.

[18majors]

Yuka Saso squeezed by, with not a single stroke to spare; she's +1 and T18.

Yuka Yasuda was -5 and T4; Shin Ae Ahn -1 and T15.

 


Yuka Yasuda


 

[Argonne69]

Yeah, amateur stats are hard to come by. I tried checking out Lucy's entries on the LPGA's leaderboard for the 2018 U.S. Women's Open and ANA, but they either don't keep track of driving distance/accuracy stats for amateurs and professional non-members, or delete them after the event.

 

Didn't Lexi also receive an exemption after winning the Navistar in 2011 when she was 16?

[Stooch]

> @Argonne69 said:

> Yeah, amateur stats are hard to come by. I tried checking out Lucy's entries on the LPGA's leaderboard for the 2018 U.S. Women's Open and ANA, but they either don't keep track of driving distance/accuracy stats for amateurs and professional non-members, or delete them after the event.

>

> Didn't Lexi also receive an exemption after winning the Navistar in 2011 when she was 16?

 

Yeah Lexi did, it's my biggest grip about the BS stance that you had to win to become an LPGA member before you are 18. Sure Lexi won to set the precedent followed by Lydia and later Brooke but another precedent was being set before Lexi won the Navistar, just google who won the first stage of LPGA Q-school the week before the Navistar. The win gave them cover to give Lexi her LPGA tour status but they were paving the way for Lexi to get on tour as quickly as possible, the win just changed the rules. Brooke at 17 and the #1 amateur in the world was refused entry into Q-school even just to become a member of the symetra tour. The next year Nelly at 17 was allowed to go to Q-school and get her symetra status.

 

It would seem to me rules apply less to age and ability and more to do with geographic location (anything to get that American star) and it bugs me, cause rules and standards should apply equally to all player regardless of where you were born.

 

Rant over lol

[18majors]

I've been wondering what's happened to Jaclyn Lee; finally a small insight:

 

In Canadian women’s golf, it’s getting lonelier at the top

 

Lee has a shorter (and more certain) recovery target. She shut down her rookie season in the summer with a wrist injury but has resumed practising lightly and is expected to play in 2020. As with Marchand, she’s destined next year for the Symetra Tour, although she will be able to make five LPGA starts on a medical exemption.

[https://theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-in-canadian-womens-golf-its-getting-lonelier-at-the-top/](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-in-canadian-womens-golf-its-getting-lonelier-at-the-top/ "https://theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-in-canadian-womens-golf-its-getting-lonelier-at-the-top/")

 

 

[TerpFangolfer]

Is the full 2020 schedule not out yet? Does it take the LPGA so long to confirm tourneys?

 

I'm planning to be in SoCal/Pslm Springs late March. At least I see the ANA is confirmed for 4/2-5. But was quite surprised to see, no public access to Mon & Tues practice rounds? I'd that normal? So have to stick until Wed to see any golf?

 

And the week before will be the Kia @ Aviara, right?

[18majors]

For fans of Cheyenne Woods:

 

letgolf Verified @cheyenne_woods is set to tee it up in the season ending @kenyaladiesopen tournament staged @vipingo.ridge Dec 5-8


 

 

[Argonne69]

I thought practice rounds were always open to the public.

[18majors]

It's a dismal season for In Gee Chun; but it didn't stop her from helping her friend to win a KLPGA event for the first time in 237 tournaments:

 


[golfhankook.hankooki.com/01_news/NewsView.php?category=7&gsno=10234902](http://golfhankook.hankooki.com/01_news/NewsView.php?category=7&gsno=10234902 "golfhankook.hankooki.com/01_news/NewsView.php?category=7&gsno=10234902")

 

 

[TerpFangolfer]

> @Argonne69 said:

> I thought practice rounds were always open to the public.

 

Me too! That's why I was asking...am I reading this wrong?

On Mon & Tues..."Grounds closed to public"

 

https://www.anainspiration.com/schedule-of-events

 

I'll be in PS over the weekend...was going to hang around til Mon to see some practice...apparently not

[Stooch]

It's getting rough for Canadian ladies in pro golf, only 2 will be on the tour next season. Positive for Brooke and Alena, this locks up their Olympic spots with chasers only collecting lower tour points. Sad part for Brooke, she will most likely have inspired the next generation that will make up the team that will eventually play in the Int'l Crown event but by the time they get here, they will most likely have passed in talent and ability and she won't make the team lol

[Newinup]

> @Stooch said:

> It's getting rough for Canadian ladies in pro golf, only 2 will be on the tour next season. Positive for Brooke and Alena, this locks up their Olympic spots with chasers only collecting lower tour points. Sad part for Brooke, she will most likely have inspired the next generation that will make up the team that will eventually play in the Int'l Crown event but by the time they get here, they will most likely have passed in talent and ability and she won't make the team lol

 

To what do you think is the reason for golf not really being more successful in Canada relative to other sports (eg swimming, hockey, rowing, etc)? Weather? Funding? I can't say Talent (though with a smallish population relative to the world, maybe)... Heading to -15 to -20C tomorrow with wind chill in Toronto early morning, I am attributing this to weather LOL

[Stooch]

> @Newinup said:

> > @Stooch said:

> > It's getting rough for Canadian ladies in pro golf, only 2 will be on the tour next season. Positive for Brooke and Alena, this locks up their Olympic spots with chasers only collecting lower tour points. Sad part for Brooke, she will most likely have inspired the next generation that will make up the team that will eventually play in the Int'l Crown event but by the time they get here, they will most likely have passed in talent and ability and she won't make the team lol

>

> To what do you think is the reason for golf not really being more successful in Canada relative to other sports (eg swimming, hockey, rowing, etc)? Weather? Funding? I can't say Talent (though with a smallish population relative to the world, maybe)... Heading to -15 to -20C tomorrow with wind chill in Toronto early morning, I am attributing this to weather LOL

 

I think weather is a factor but more with the development of some younger players. Outside the city in more rural area you don't have the indoor range to allow you to hit balls during the winter. This would hurt late bloomers or those who start off later in age most IMO. Canada has a great National junior program but it's really for about 20 of the top male and females, but they get everything, even flown to Florida 1 week every month in the winter to play golf. I think the bigger impact is other sports, Girls hockey in Canada is really big kind of the equivalent of young boys playing Football in the Southern US and I think many of our best female athlete go that route. Brooke story could help change that though, she also played hockey at a very high level at 13 or 14 she was the goalie for her team that won the Ontario Provincial title. Very tough trophy to win. But at 14 she quit hockey and joined the National Golf team.

 

I won't blame it on our population, in Tennis we had some success rebuilding our National program like we did with Golf and now we are churning young talent on both the men and women side making big impacts with plenty of talent in the juniors.

[18majors]

BROOKS, LI TURN ATTENTION TO LIFE AS A PRO

 


[https://symetratour.com/news/2019-brooks-li-turn-attention-to-life-as-a-pro](https://www.symetratour.com/news/2019-brooks-li-turn-attention-to-life-as-a-pro "https://symetratour.com/news/2019-brooks-li-turn-attention-to-life-as-a-pro")

[Newinup]

> @Stooch said:

> > @Newinup said:

> > > @Stooch said:

> > > It's getting rough for Canadian ladies in pro golf, only 2 will be on the tour next season. Positive for Brooke and Alena, this locks up their Olympic spots with chasers only collecting lower tour points. Sad part for Brooke, she will most likely have inspired the next generation that will make up the team that will eventually play in the Int'l Crown event but by the time they get here, they will most likely have passed in talent and ability and she won't make the team lol

> >

> > To what do you think is the reason for golf not really being more successful in Canada relative to other sports (eg swimming, hockey, rowing, etc)? Weather? Funding? I can't say Talent (though with a smallish population relative to the world, maybe)... Heading to -15 to -20C tomorrow with wind chill in Toronto early morning, I am attributing this to weather LOL

>

> I think weather is a factor but more with the development of some younger players. Outside the city in more rural area you don't have the indoor range to allow you to hit balls during the winter. This would hurt late bloomers or those who start off later in age most IMO. Canada has a great National junior program but it's really for about 20 of the top male and females, but they get everything, even flown to Florida 1 week every month in the winter to play golf. I think the bigger impact is other sports, Girls hockey in Canada is really big kind of the equivalent of young boys playing Football in the Southern US and I think many of our best female athlete go that route. Brooke story could help change that though, she also played hockey at a very high level at 13 or 14 she was the goalie for her team that won the Ontario Provincial title. Very tough trophy to win. But at 14 she quit hockey and joined the National Golf team.

>

> I won't blame it on our population, in Tennis we had some success rebuilding our National program like we did with Golf and now we are churning young talent on both the men and women side making big impacts with plenty of talent in the juniors.

 

Thanks for the insight Stooch. I definitely see Tennis getting a lot of attention and needless to say Hockey and basketball too (both men's and women's). Just found that golf is a tad behind, especially women's golf and wondered why it was such...

[18majors]

Her legend continues to grow:

 

Will 2018 #WAAPGolf Champion Atthaya Thitikul win in her home country? ?

Read more about the 2020 Championship here ?http://po.st/WAAP2020

 

[https://twitter.com/i/status/1194202032527294465](https://twitter.com/i/status/1194202032527294465 "https://twitter.com/i/status/1194202032527294465")

[18majors]

Hye Jin Choi is still uncertain about jumping to LPGA:

 


[weekly.hankooki.com/lpage/sports/201911/wk20191112134531147150.htm](http://weekly.hankooki.com/lpage/sports/201911/wk20191112134531147150.htm "weekly.hankooki.com/lpage/sports/201911/wk20191112134531147150.htm")

[18majors]

I like this tournament already:

 

gainbridgelpga

We are getting closer to the Inaugural Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio! Don’t forget to mark your calendars: January 20-26, 2020! Find more information at gainbridgelpga.com (link in bio)!


[https://instagram.com/p/B4xQSSvls9h/](https://www.instagram.com/p/B4xQSSvls9h/ "https://instagram.com/p/B4xQSSvls9h/")

[fredogolfer]

> @TerpFangolfer said:

> > @Argonne69 said:

> > I thought practice rounds were always open to the public.

>

> Me too! That's why I was asking...am I reading this wrong?

> On Mon & Tues..."Grounds closed to public"

>

> https://www.anainspiration.com/schedule-of-events

>

> I'll be in PS over the weekend...was going to hang around til Mon to see some practice...apparently not

 

I would imagine the schedule is released next week during the CME Championships. They usually do a “State of the Tour” address where they talk about the schedule. One year, maybe last year the commissioner said it wouldn’t be released because they didn’t want to take away from CME and their tournament so they were likely still finishing up some things.

 

To answer your question, yes it can take this long to confirm events for the LPGA. The tour has canceled events mid-season, confirmed details mid-season for a variety of reason so it may be a while longer before we see the full calendar. It may even be released with a TBA or 2.

[18majors]

@Argonne69

More information on Hye Jin Choi: 4 crown Choi Hye-jin "Will one day be the world's No. 1 and Olympic gold medal"

 

Choi Hye-jin said, "I will not rule out the LPGA Tour Qualifying School Examination in the fall of next year."


[https://sports.v.daum.net/v/20191114152318145](https://sports.v.daum.net/v/20191114152318145 "https://sports.v.daum.net/v/20191114152318145")

 

 

[18majors]

Too bad, such a lovely lady!

 

Xu Xiang loses 3 over par on first day of KLPGA Seed Standings


[https://sports.v.daum.net/v/20191115091729779](https://sports.v.daum.net/v/20191115091729779 "https://sports.v.daum.net/v/20191115091729779")

[18majors]

The dynamic duo: Yae Eun Hong and Yealimi Noh

Yae Eun, 17, finished -10 and T4 at 2019 LPGA Q-School Stage II. It appears she'll be signed up by Hana Financial Group.

 


 

 

 

[18majors]

Life isn't all wine and roses for LPGA's journey women:

 

Mina Harigae, a former amateur star from a golf Mecca, isn't giving up on her LPGA dreams

[https://golfdigest.com/story/mina-harigae-a-former-amateur-star-from-a-golf-mecca-has-struggled-professionally-but-sees-better-days-ahead?mbid=social_twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_social-type=owned&utm_brand=gd](https://www.golfdigest.com/story/mina-harigae-a-former-amateur-star-from-a-golf-mecca-has-struggled-professionally-but-sees-better-days-ahead?mbid=social_twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_social-type=owned&utm_brand=gd "https://golfdigest.com/story/mina-harigae-a-former-amateur-star-from-a-golf-mecca-has-struggled-professionally-but-sees-better-days-ahead?mbid=social_twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_social-type=owned&utm_brand=gd")

[18majors]

In Japan, not every player can be a Pro; only the ones that pass the Pro Test can be professional.

 

[https://golfdigest-minna.jp/_ct/17318356](https://www.golfdigest-minna.jp/_ct/17318356 "https://golfdigest-minna.jp/_ct/17318356")

[18majors]

This is a long article, the author gave it a good try:

 

[https://golf.com/news/features/2019/11/16/9-ways-womens-tour-get-more-attention/](https://www.golf.com/news/features/2019/11/16/9-ways-womens-tour-get-more-attention/ "https://golf.com/news/features/2019/11/16/9-ways-womens-tour-get-more-attention/")