2020 LPGA Season Odds and Ends

[18majors]

Marathon Classic

"The tournament was scheduled for July 23-26, but the cancellation of the Evian Masters in France prompted a change so there wouldn't be a lull before players traveled overseas for the Scottish and British Opens."

Marathon Classic to be moved to August, according to multiple sources

 

[BB28403]

What’s the average drive on LPGA nowadays? Are they benefiting from new equipment at all?

i would love to watch some of their tourneys on TV but they seem few and far between.

[18majors]

 

Top-50 in driving distance:

2009 254.1 yards

2019 261.7 yards

[18majors]

Kristen Gillman (-14) won her first tournament as a pro; Maria Fassi (-8) came in second, her best finish as a pro

 

 

 

[North Texas]

Some interesting stats from the tournament.

Alexas Pano led the week in under par holes with 21 birdies. That's 5.25 birdies per round. Pretty damn good for a 15 year old.

Kristen Gillman and Maria Fassi both had 17 birdies and 1 eagle.

[fredogolfer]

Kristen Gillman is ranked in the top 50 of the Rolex Rankings yet on the WAPT site it says she beat LPGA star Fassi. Fassi is ranked in the 200s.

[JDee1935]

That final grouping must have been so much fun to watch final 2 days. Kristen Gillman will contend and win on tour, strong in all phases . Maris Fassi bombs it off the tee and is a character.. And Alexa Pano, if you didn't know she was 15, you'd think she was another strong LPGA tour player because she is really really good, 21 birdies insane. Hope the WAPT tour takes off.

[North Texas]

The WAPT is the official development tour for the Symetra Tour. This is it's 2nd year and it pays triple the purse that the Cactus Tour pays even though the Cactus Tour has been around longer. Someone needs to inform Beth Ann Nichols, who writes for Golfweek, of this because she completely ignores the WAPT but writes quite often about the Cactus Tour.

Gillman, Fassi, and Pano were definitely fun to watch. Gillman finished the 3rd round with 6 straight birdies and Fassi bombed one on the uphill 18th to 53 yards and holed out from there for an eagle 2. And then you have Pano, who at age 15, has played in 5 LPGA major championships already!

[18majors]

 

The future of American's women's golf is safe with Rose Zhang (born 2003), Alexa Pano (2004) and Amari Avery (2004).

Too bad Yealimi Noh's (2001) rookie season has been cut short by COVID-19; she won a WAPT event last year by 7 shots when she's 17.

Beth Ann Nichols is a big fan of Yealimi, Kristen, Maria and Alexa; she follows WAPT closely:

[18majors]

Go Bianca!

"Given the huge number of world-class players eager to land a spot in Ohio, Pagdanganan might miss the elite Marathon Classic roster but still expects to get going elsewhere.

If I don't get in, then I'll play a Symetra event in Michigan that same week,” said the Gonzaga University product, pointing to the Firekeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek, also the first event in LPGA’s farm league following the long break."

Bianca Pagdanganan wary but ready for big pro debut

 

 

 

 

[TerpFangolfer]

interesting that they identify her as a "Gonzaga University product" when she transferred to AZ and won an NCAA championship with them (and made the semi-finals the next year)

[Newinup]

yes, philippine star does NOT do its homework, unfortunately... the most "dependable"/accurate local daily is the Philippine Inquirer - which actually has a dedicated golf section (aka inquirer golf) -- either way, B is ready... :)...

[Golf Dino]

Or it could also be that the Philippine market is more basketball focused and recognize the Gonzaga name from the NCAA's March Madness ... and hence, figure it has more cachet?

[18majors]

It'll be a crack in Yealimi Noh's armor if she doesn't start to play well; especially this week at Korean Women's Open.

The competition is formidable with Jin Young Ko, So Yeon Ryu, Lucky 6, Sei Young Kim, Hyo Joo Kim and Mirim Lee in the field; plus top guns from both KLPGA and JLPGA.

 

[18majors]

LPGA, good news

"This schedule adjustment allows the LPGA Tour to add a new three-day event in the Toledo area and provide its Members with an additional playing opportunity during the shortened 2020 season. The Tour will now return to competition with a new event for the 2020 season, the LPGA Drive On Championship. The three-day, official tournament will be held July 31 to Aug. 2 at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. Televised on Golf Channel, the LPGA Drive On Championship will feature a field of 144 players competing for a $1 million purse and will take place without sponsors, pro-ams or spectators."

LPGA Tour to Return with Two Events in Northwest Ohio | LPGA | Ladies Professional Golf Association

 

[AWinfortheAges]

This is really good if Covid19 cooperates. Good job Mike Whan! and The Toledo sponsors/partners.

[Stooch]

I think bad news is coming in Canada our PM extended the shutdown of the US/Canadian border till July 21st and 1 more extension will bring close to the end of August and probably get the CP Women's Open cancelled.

[18majors]

 

Even though it's good to have a new event; but it may mean the two Scotland events will be cancelled.

The Scottish Open is scheduled August 13-16; immediately follows the rescheduled Marathon Classic August 6-9. Typically, there is an one week travel time between intercontinental events. Additionally, UK still requires two week quarantine for visitors from the US.

I hope we luck out on CP Women's Open. Without Evian and Women's British; it has become one of the most important events in 2020.

 

[AWinfortheAges]

The UK posted a high number of new cases over the weekend. But they began implementing additional tracking and tracing a week or two ago. Might be too late to save the two Scotland events.

[Golf Dino]

The CP Canadian Women's Open has always been a major event on the LPGA!! And, not just when it was the major ... which it should be. But since then, it's always had one of the larger purses and definitely always one of the biggest attendance figures on tour.

[AWinfortheAges]

I wonder if things don't work out in Scotland if the LPGA could get Jack to do them a solid and host a tournament at Muirfield for the ladies since they'll already be in Ohio.

[18majors]

A nice article

Q and A: LPGA commissioner Mike Whan talks about challenges of 2020, bright future for women’s golf

[BadgerLin]

Boy, I think the LPGA really struck gold when they got Mike Whan as commissioner! He really gets it - women’s sports, global sports, sponsor relationships. And he so obviously cares about women’s golf and golfers.

[Lobby]

"Without sponsors?" Where's the $ coming from? Only from TV?

If this financial model is sustainable, then we should be seeing more LPGA golf on TV in the coming months. Yay.

 

[18majors]

 

LPGA doesn't earn much from TV contracts.

My guess is it;s from LPGA headquarters, they've savings and this is a good time to use it.

The reasoning is simple, they're worried not too many overseas players will show up for Marathon, if it's the only event in one month before Walmart Arkansas.

Most likely, Scottish Open and AIG Women's British will be cancelled. Besides, they're a big pond away from Marathon.

 

 

[18majors]

 

 

[Argonne69]

So Yeon is pure class.

[MagicClassic407]

SYR>>>>>>>One of my faves. See you in Toledo!

[Ignatius Reilly]

I wish I could like this a million times.

Now there is a role model for you.

What a great thing to do. Some days I forget how good people can be.

[18majors]

Steve Eubanks tribute to So Yeon Rye

So Yeon Ryu Wins Korean Women’s Open, Makes Staggering Contribution | LPGA | Ladies Professional Golf Association