Natalie Gulbis over Sophia Popov in the CME

[Coppy]

Popov's exclusion from this week's CME LPGA major tournament has nothing to do with Gulbis' sponsor exemption.  In fact, my guess is the LPGA is keeping CME from inviting her.   I've read there are plenty of spots open due to cancellations.  It's the gutless management of the LPGA tour that's the problem.  Other tour players seem to be blocking Popov's participation probably because she is a threat to their money winnings. LPGA management needs to put their big girl panties on and take charge.  Popov's participation would be a huge benefit to the tour, one that desperately needed. 

[randywildman]

Bad look for golf, a sponsors exemption for a former player who has not been relevant since 2013 and is dead last in the field vs a current Open champion who would have earned the spot if they counted all her results.

 

Is there any reason for Gulbis to in the tournament at all ??

[justasgood]

Optics......

[Old Tom Morris]

Shouldn't have a sponsor exemption for an event where everyone is supposed to qualify.  But since you are having a a sponsor exemption, you should select Popov on merit.

 

It's almost as if they just selected the player with the better...

[Argonne69]

23 minutes ago, randywildman said:

Bad look for golf, a sponsors exemption for a former player who has not been relevant since 2013 and is dead last in the field vs a current Open champion who would have earned the spot if they counted all her results.

 

Is there any reason for Gulbis to in the tournament at all ??

 

Actually, Natalie is not a "former" player. She's played in 6 previous events this season.

 

Of course she hasn't made a cut in her last 19 tournaments, finishing 42T at the Hugel in April 2018. 

 

[golfortennis]

Someone made the argument that Gulbis could be responsible for CME being interested in sponsoring this event.  I'm not sure I buy it that one person can be that influential to get a major company to commit that much money.

 

I would almost say it is a way to get her a "sponsorship" fee (there is no cut, correct?) without going through all the other things needed to do so.

[krtgolfing]

It is a sponsor's exemption. They have the right to let whoever they like into the tournament. It is BS that Popov is not in to begin with. I think I read an article that Gulbis was friends with one of the higher ups with CME. 

[gsrjc]

And she’s dead last. 

[grm24]

8 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Actually, Natalie is not a "former" player. She's played in 6 previous events this season.

 

Of course she hasn't made a cut in her last 19 tournaments, finishing 42T at the Hugel in April 2018. 

 

After this event Gulbis will be a former player as she is retiring after this season which she announced at the start of the season.

[grm24]

7 hours ago, krtgolfing said:

It is a sponsor's exemption. They have the right to let whoever they like into the tournament. It is BS that Popov is not in to begin with. I think I read an article that Gulbis was friends with one of the higher ups with CME. 

CME brand ambassador Sarah Kemp also received a sponsor exemption for this event. Wonder why Kemp isn't being criticized? 

 

Popov should be in this event as should US Open winner A L Kim. Just expand the field two spots if need be. 

 

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2020/12/16/cme-group-tour-championship-natalie-gulbis-sponsor-invitation/

[tonyj5]

Jin Young Ko was not givin an exemption either. The second exemption went to Sarah Kemp. Ko had to finish 4th or better to get into the CME...which she did.

[elwhippy]

Was being discussed at length on SKY Tv last night. You don't get sponsors invites into East Lake. Bad move by LPGA. 

[PhilWhitUK]

I have always supported Natalie and wished for her to have more success than she had as she seems a good ambassador.  I followed her round at Sunningdale many years ago in the British when she was in a group with Annika.  After the round she spent ages signing photos for fans and talking to them.

 

In this case though I think the LPGA have made a mistake.  Surely there is more marketing value to having major winners in the field.  That is what you need when you are selling your product. Would it really have been such an issue to extend the field if they felt they could not rescind on invitations to players sponsored by the  event sponsor?

[ronnbee]

There is no cut--everybody gets a check !!!

[ChronicSlicer]

Just imagine if she won this event.....😬

[Bad9]

Who is Sarah Kemp?

[golfortennis]

3 hours ago, ronnbee said:

There is no cut--everybody gets a check !!!

 

Which is why I think it was more of a way to throw some money at her without having to get into all the contracts, etc., of sponsoring her. 

[howaboutme]

Personally I would not be blaming CME. Without sponsors, there are no tournaments. This year was a one off and they decided to provide the spots to who CME deemed loyal and best for their brand. The rules are what's the blame. Beyond that, Sophia could have played better and got in just like the # 1 player in the world. JY Ko did it the old fashion way. She played well throughout the shortened season. I don't see any controversy here beyond perhaps the rules need to be better.

[munichop]

Every time you think the LPGA is going to emerge as a real organization they do something like this.  If ever there was a year to make exceptions to their idiotic criteria this would be it. But they can’t even find a way to get the best story in golf into the last event of the year. Amateurs!

[ChronicSlicer]

1 hour ago, howaboutme said:

 JY Ko did it the old fashion way. She played well throughout the shortened season. I don't see any controversy here beyond perhaps the rules need to be better.

Jin Young only played 3 events all of 2020. All of them within the last month.

 

[howaboutme]

9 minutes ago, ChronicSlicer said:

Jin Young only played 3 events all of 2020. All of them within the last month.

 

 

Yes? Again, she played well to get in the old fashion way. My point really had nothing to do with exactly how many or when she played those tournaments.

[MtlJeff]

I don't know much about this tournament specifically and that might be what is upsetting people. But sponsor's exemptions in general have always worked like this. Like it or not Natalie Gulbis is more famous than many other female golfers even if she isn't playing well or even playing

 

John Daly got sponsors exemptions for years on the PGA tour for the same reason. Steph Curry got sponsors exemptions to play in events

Edited December 18, 2020 by MtlJeff

[Abh159]

10 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

I don't know much about this tournament specifically and that might be what is upsetting people. But sponsor's exemptions in general have always worked like this. Like it or not Natalie Gulbis is more famous than many other female golfers even if she isn't playing well or even playing

 

John Daly got sponsors exemptions for years on the PGA tour for the same reason. Steph Curry got sponsors exemptions to play in events

 

Great way of saying it. A sponsor's exemption is called that because the tournament sponsor (who puts up all the money by the way and who without there wouldn't even be a tournament) can give it to anyone they want. 

 

My old home town hosts a PGA Tour event and every year when I was growing up in the 2000s they always gave the sponsor's exemption to the same guy. He was a tour player from the area who had some success in the early 90s (even made the Ryder Cup team one year), but his career fizzled out by the time the year 2000 came around. Every year he played in this one event and every year he finished close to last. Could the spot have been more beneficial to an up and coming tour player or a big time amateur? Sure, but that's not who the tournament sponsor wanted.  They wanted a local guy with name recognition that could get people out to watch. 

 

[golfortennis]

33 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

I don't know much about this tournament specifically and that might be what is upsetting people. But sponsor's exemptions in general have always worked like this. Like it or not Natalie Gulbis is more famous than many other female golfers even if she isn't playing well or even playing

 

John Daly got sponsors exemptions for years on the PGA tour for the same reason. Steph Curry got sponsors exemptions to play in events

 

The only problem with this week is the fact you had to actually qualify for this event.  It's the LPGA equivalent of the Tour Championship.  It would be like the top 30 making it to East Lake, and then Coke tosses in a couple exemptions for Anthony Kim.  Regular events the exemptions are fine, but this is different.

 

Edited December 18, 2020 by Bluefan75

[MtlJeff]

Just now, Bluefan75 said:

 

The only problem with this week is the fact you had to actually qualify for this event.  It's the LPGA equivalent of the Tour Championship.  It would be like the top 30 making it to East Lake, and then Coke tosses in a couple exemptions for Anthony Kim.

 

 

Oh OK, that makes sense than why some people are put off. I totally get it now. Thank you for clarifying

[golfortennis]

On 12/17/2020 at 8:03 AM, Coppy said:

Popov's exclusion from this week's CME LPGA major tournament has nothing to do with Gulbis' sponsor exemption.  In fact, my guess is the LPGA is keeping CME from inviting her.   I've read there are plenty of spots open due to cancellations.  It's the gutless management of the LPGA tour that's the problem.  Other tour players seem to be blocking Popov's participation probably because she is a threat to their money winnings. LPGA management needs to put their big girl panties on and take charge.  Popov's participation would be a huge benefit to the tour, one that desperately needed. 

 

There aren't "spots open."  The top 70 on the list qualified.  My understanding is 3 of those passed on the event, so it went down to 73.  Popov's exclusion comes from the fact, like or dislike, she was not a member of the tour when she won in the UK.  It does seem odd that they would not have a provision for a major championship win to get some kind of temporary status at least.  But I would say Whan did take charge of the situation. 

 

Is the reason behind it what you mention?  Perhaps.  The PGA Tour players likely didn't need too much convincing to change Q-school to not get direct entry to the tour, even though that was all about making the web.com more attractive to sponsors, and not about "learning to win."  I don't know that Popov's participation would be a big deal.  Does she deserve to be there this week?  Outside of the qualification rules, sure, but is she going to move the needle?  I highly doubt it.  Certainly not any more than any other decent player out there. 

[Oldboy]

sex politics and gender equity in sports along with the #metoo movement were all shoved down our throats all year .. and the LPGA does what? .. this move is laughable.  They have neither the British NOR the US open winners in the field!!  But they have Natalie Gulbis.  You lost me on fighting for legitimacy and relevancy when you pull this nonsense

Edited December 18, 2020 by Oldboy

[Abh159]

Considering CME Group forked over $3 million to sponsor this event in a year when most companies are holding back I think they deserve to be able to invite whoever they want. 

 

They also expanded the field from 60 to 72 players this year, but people aren't complaining about how those #61 - 70 players shouldn't have been invited. If Popov wanted in she should have played better throughout the whole season. I mean aside from her win she only has 1 other top 10 finish this year and that was a T9 in August.

 

I guess this is to be expected though now that we live in an age where everybody gets a trophy no matter what...

Edited December 18, 2020 by Abh159

[pmcuk]

43 minutes ago, Abh159 said:

If Popov wanted in she should have played better throughout the whole season.

 

"The whole season".....?

 

How could she? She wasn't a regular member of the LPGA at all until she won the Open. 

 

Her win was inspirational and a motivation for all aspiring golfers. She's been very good for the game. Doesn't that count?

 

 

.

Edited December 18, 2020 by pmcuk

[cardoustie]

So pathetic that a tour championship doesn't have spots for its major winners .. and then to make matters worse when this comes to light an exception isn't made to put them in automatically (not thru a sponsor's invite)

 

It's almost like ANGC is running this thing