2020 LPGA Season Odds and Ends

[18majors]

This is a great read

 

U.S. Open 2020: Behind the scenes of one of the most complicated TV deals in golf history

[Argonne69]

5 hours ago, 18majors said:

Hyun Ju Yoo is leading a KLPGA event

 

Hyun Joo Yoo

 

 

 

 

It likely won't last, but her game is moving in the right direction. She's made a few cuts this season, and has had some decent finishes.

[18majors]

Atthaya Thitikul, 17, has to wait a long time before she can crack LPGA Q-School Fall of 2021.

 

She's a LET member, but she decided to play Thai LPGA full time this year, maybe because of the Pandemic.  Thai LPGA provides a steady playing opportunities, but the purse is tiny, less than Women's All Pro Tour here in the US.

 

She's currently leading Thai LPGA with a scoring average of 69.72.

 

She's the low amateur at 2019 AIG Women's Open.

 

Edited September 25, 2020 by 18majors

[18majors]

Including Atthaya Thitikul, the pipeline to 2021 Q-School is getting longer and longer.

 

Gabriela Ruffels will be on the list for sure, she'll graduate from USC by Summer 2021.  Not sure about Rose Zhang, who'll be a freshman at Stanford University.

 

Additionally, there're Hinako Shibuno and Yuka Saso from JLPGA; and Hye Jin Choi, Ayean Cho, Hee Jeong Lim, Hyun Kyung Park and Hae Ran Ryu from KLPGA.

 

 

[18majors]

Tournament officials are holding their breath to hear from Big Names the Friday before tournament week.

 

 

[Newinup]

Quick clarification question -- does playing in the Symetra Tour allow you to add up your earnings / ranking points in the LPGA tour?  (I would suspect it's completely different and not "interchangeable"). 

 

So in reality there's no "benefit" to playing in the Symetra Tour on  a "one/two tournament" basis for some of the players other than "practice"?  Was just surprised as I saw Lauren Stephenson playing this week in the Symetra when she's got decent priority list -- maybe just practicing since it's an off week?  

 

 

[18majors]

22 minutes ago, Newinup said:

Quick clarification question -- does playing in the Symetra Tour allow you to add up your earnings / ranking points in the LPGA tour?  (I would suspect it's completely different and not "interchangeable"). 

 

So in reality there's no "benefit" to playing in the Symetra Tour on  a "one/two tournament" basis for some of the players other than "practice"?  Was just surprised as I saw Lauren Stephenson playing this week in the Symetra when she's got decent priority list -- maybe just practicing since it's an off week?  

 

 

 

 

Symetra Tour to LPGA is no different than JLPGA; they're completely independent in terms of official money or priorities.

 

We'll never know why LPGA players choose to play Symetra events, but there're extreme cases like Kim Kaufman.  Kim has played six LPGA events this year and earned $18,458; she's also played five Symetra events and earned $37,232.

[Newinup]

9 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

 

Symetra Tour to LPGA is no different than JLPGA; they're completely independent in terms of official money or priorities.

 

We'll never know why LPGA players choose to play Symetra events, but there're extreme cases like Kim Kaufman.  Kim has played six LPGA events this year and earned $18,458; she's also played five Symetra events and earned $37,232.

With Kim, I can surmise it's bec she wants to get a better priority ranking as her Symetra ranking (if top 5) will bolt her next season up the priority ranking, especially given her money list situation in both tours now.  But Lauren Stephenson, I can't understand, esp since she's playing next 2 consecutive weeks incl KPMG and ShopRite (I don't know where she lives, maybe this tournament this week is in her backyard LOL).  Dottie is another interesting case, she's playing the next 2 symetra events but again, I also don't understand since her money list in LPGA > Symetra AND she's playing 3 straight weeks (incl KPMG).  Unless you place at least in T-10 in Symetra events, the caddie fees, travel/hotel costs etc don't make up the costs right?

Edited September 26, 2020 by Newinup

[18majors]

@newinup

 

Kim Kaufman

Even if she finish #1 on Symetra Tour this year, her 2021 LPGA priority from Symetra Tour promotion will be #180-190; lower than her current priority.

 

Lauren Stephenson

She always plays Symetra events; even last year when she played pretty well.

 

Dottie Ardina

Her LPGA priority is #360.  With luck, she's earned enough from her two Australian events to keep going.  

[Newinup]

@18majors

 

got confused even more so now LOL... i thought if you finish top 10 in Symetra before this year, you automatically pretty much got a "berth" in all 144 player events in LPGA?    (For this yr, I thought if top 5 in Symetra, your priority is pretty much "guaranteed")... I guess finishing top 10 in Symetra doesn't guarantee participation in all regular events this year?  (eg but Patty seems to be in all 144 player events this year -- that's what i was working on)

 

I thought Dottie's ranking is better than #360 at the start of the year as she's top 125 in money list (or CME ranking pts) last year?  (and she's played better this year so as to be in top 80 in the money list so that'll help, for sure)... 

 

How does the "reorder" for 2022 work?  Money list? CME Ranking points?  (again, am confused btwn the two)   

Edited September 26, 2020 by Newinup

[18majors]

@Newinup

 

Normally, Top-10 from Symetra are promoted to LPGA with a priority of around #87-96, it's a good deal.

But 2020 is a shortened season and is treated differently.  This year, Top-5 will be promoted with priority in #180 range.

 

Dottie was outside of #125 in 2019 money list, that's why her priority is #360.  By the way, she's no longer inside Top-80 money list; otherwise she'd have qualified for ShopRite.

 

LPGA priority is only determined by official money list; it doesn't have anything to do with Race to CME Globe points.

Edited September 26, 2020 by 18majors

[Newinup]

4 minutes ago, 18majors said:

@Newinup

 

Normally, Top-10 from Symetra are promoted to LPGA with a priority of around #87-96, it's a good deal.

But 2020 is a shortened season and is treated differently.  This year, Top-5 will be promoted with priority in #180 range.

 

Dottie was outside of #125 in 2019 money list, that's why her priority is #360.  By the way, she's no longer inside Top-80 money list. otherwise she'd have qualified for ShopRite.

 

LPGA priority is only determined by official money list; it doesn't have anything to do with Race to CME Globe points.

That is why I just post here and ask you  (rather than searching high and low and downloading PDF files for updated prioritiy lists, reading all these scenario 1-15's etc etc etc :P)....  easier, faster and you're the most updated (in getting the answer)...  Thanks... 

[18majors]

Women's Golf Enjoys Major Growth in 75 Years of Women's Open

 

 

The history of the U.S. Women’s Open breaks neatly in half. While only two of the first 37 winners were from outside the United States, 20 of the last 37 titles have been won by players from Thailand (1), England (2), Australia (3), Sweden (4) and Korea (10).

“The U.S. Women’s Open has so much history,” said Sorenstam, the first two-time winner from outside the U.S. “It tests every phase of your game both physically and mentally.”

That test is the constant of the championship. While the women’s game has grown globally, the U.S. Women’s Open remains what it was when first played 75 years ago – the sternest test in women’s golf. The game has changed but the challenge remains the same.

 

Ron Sirak is a Massachusetts-based writer whose work appears regularly on USGA digital channels.

[18majors]

Hyun Ju Yoo fizzled out

 

-6→+1→+4..Hyunjoo Yoo who couldn't save her chance in the last day

 

 

[18majors]

Kelly Tan did the homework at Aronimink Golf Club

 

Kelly Tan at Aronimink

 

 

 

[18majors]

You won't know, but this's Kelly Tan's day

 

ON THE ROAD WITH KELLY TAN

 

[18majors]

Good move, Lexi!

 

 

[fredogolfer]

Looks like the LET is heading to Saudi Arabia for the $1,000,000 Announced event and a new $500,000 team event. This could be a good opportunity for some players to earn some decent money. I could see some of the Europeans heading over especially since LPGA events are slim in November. If I were Laura Davies or Catriona Matthew I would be signing up immediately.

https://ladieseuropeantour.com/blog/saudi-arabia-announces-double-header-of-landmark-let-events-for-november/

[18majors]

This is going the wrong way.

 

 

 

 

 

[Golf Dino]

43 minutes ago, 18majors said:

This is going the wrong way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is your rationale for this "going the wrong way"?  

[18majors]

Just now, Golf Dino said:

 

What is your rationale for this "going the wrong way"?  

 

 

Smaller purse and more players.

[Golf Dino]

1 minute ago, 18majors said:

 

 

Smaller purse and more players.

 

 

True ... can an allowance be made though for the extraordinary year that 2020 has wrought upon us?

I would just be concerned that this does not become the "new normal" which would see women's professional golf recede.

[18majors]

13 minutes ago, Golf Dino said:

 

 

True ... can an allowance be made though for the extraordinary year that 2020 has wrought upon us?

I would just be concerned that this does not become the "new normal" which would see women's professional golf recede.

 

 

Mike Whan said 2021 will be the best year ever, we just wait and see.

[fredogolfer]

2 hours ago, Golf Dino said:

 

 

True ... can an allowance be made though for the extraordinary year that 2020 has wrought upon us?

I would just be concerned that this does not become the "new normal" which would see women's professional golf recede.

I wonder if they reduced the purse to create another Drive On event.

[Newinup]

whan did say that, albeit indirectly, in the no laying up podcast eg split up some $ to other tournaments

[18majors]

3 minutes ago, Newinup said:

whan did say that, albeit indirectly, in the no laying up podcast eg split up some $ to other tournaments

 

 

Volunteer of America Classic probably will drop from $1.75 million to $1.3 million.

 

CME Group Tour Championship is a different story.  They funded last year's $5.0 million purse all by themselves; they decided to downsize this year due to the Pandemic.

[18majors]

Yuka Saso cooled down from her earlier back to back wins

 

Yuka Saso nine strokes off pace after first round of Japan Women's Open

 

Edited October 1, 2020 by 18majors

[18majors]

Another upstart

 

AJGA standout Cindy Kou keeps rising in junior golf by balancing the grind

 

[18majors]

All good!  Please don't waste four years at Stanford University.

 

 

[18majors]

Is this 2013 USWO at Sebonack?