Pano going pro

[leezer99]

This sounds really exciting for someone I’m sure we’ve all seen grow up before our eyes. Proud that she is realizing her dream to compete against the best. If you’re looking for the formula it has been on display for years now. 

 

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/04/12/alexa-pano-turns-professional-epson-tour/

[Jkhogbear]

55 minutes ago, leezer99 said:

This sounds really exciting for someone I’m sure we’ve all seen grow up before our eyes. Proud that she is realizing her dream to compete against the best. If you’re looking for the formula it has been on display for years now. 

 

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/04/12/alexa-pano-turns-professional-epson-tour/

It’s interesting.  I feel like she would have enjoyed the college experience.   I kinda like how Rose Zhang has done things but I can’t fault Pano.  She’s an excellent talent and admire people for choosing their own path.

[darter79]

These kids gotta know they can make more with NIL than they can on the epson tour (the old symmetric tour). Use your skill to better yourself and get an education - probably for free in her case. Hope she succeeds but being 17 and not being allowed to get a full time LPGA card not only that but the money those girls don't make. Take the college route so you have an education to fall back on. 

[capking]

18 minutes ago, darter79 said:

These kids gotta know they can make more with NIL than they can on the epson tour (the old symmetric tour). Use your skill to better yourself and get an education - probably for free in her case. Hope she succeeds but being 17 and not being allowed to get a full time LPGA card not only that but the money those girls don't make. Take the college route so you have an education to fall back on. 

Can’t she get the exact same endorsements there? I honestly wouldn’t be shocked if they do an updated one off documentary since 2 of them that I know of are prominent. I honestly felt so old knowing that I watched that doc like 10 years ago and they were playing at Augusta haha

[Tannerbug33]

I am no expert but you have to clasified as a amature to play college golf and unfortunatly the USGA has not caught up with the times. if you make money from NIL you are no longer classifled as a amature and you lose your ability to play college golf.

[mikedellgolf]

23 minutes ago, Tannerbug33 said:

I am no expert but you have to clasified as a amature to play college golf and unfortunatly the USGA has not caught up with the times. if you make money from NIL you are no longer classifled as a amature and you lose your ability to play college golf.

Isn't college golf fall under the NCAA rules?  Isn't Bryce Young (QB from University of Alabama) making close to 1M in endorsement while playing for the Crimson Tide?  How is college golf any different than college football?  Perhaps you should read this:  https://www.golfdigest.com/story/college-golf-2022-nil 

 

It stated:  Moreover, while most student-athletes only have to deal with the NCAA, golfers face an additional hurdle from golf’s governing bodies, the USGA and R&A. To their credit, the associations announced last February they were overhauling the Rules on Amateur Status starting in 2022. Under the new rules, amateurs are clear to accept endorsement money and travel expenses without restrictions. There are now just three ways amateurs can violate their status: Accepting a prize in excess of the prize limit ($1,000), accepting payment for instruction and accepting employment as a club professional.

 

i am not a lawyer but I read this as college golfers CAN make as much as much money from endorsement without restrictions, no?

 

There are now just three ways amateurs can violate their status: Accepting a prize in excess of the prize limit ($1,000), accepting payment for instruction and accepting employment as a club professional.

 

This is a stupid rule and one can easily work around the rule.  For example, a college golfer provides golf instructions to my kids, and I am going to make a money donation to his/her parents, who then in turn can give their son/daughter money.  Perfectly legal.

Edited April 13, 2022 by mikedellgolf

[wildcatden]

"Rules on Amateur Status starting in 2022. Under the new rules, amateurs are clear to accept endorsement money and travel expenses without restrictions. There are now just three ways amateurs can violate their status: Accepting a prize in excess of the prize limit ($1,000), accepting payment for instruction and accepting employment as a club professional."

 

 

Me: ***  spends tonight updating junior's long ignored Instagram account ***

 

 

[Bizzle80]

Am's can definitely take NIL deals and play in college. Rose just signed NIL deals with Beats and with Callaway in the last few weeks.

 

It is cool to see Pano going pro, and it does make me feel old since I first was introduced to her when my now 9yo was a baby. In terms of her path being the 'formula' I think its less to do with any specific formula as it has to do with an individuals desire. Even at 8yo in the Short Game she was out there grinding on her own, because she loved golf. That's the formula to success in golf or any profession. You have to love it and work your a** off. We are fortunate to be friends with a bunch of pro's and they basically all say they were self motivated and driven to compete and play. I don't think one of them has told me that they got dragged out and forced to play by their parents...introduced to the game for sure. Forced to play, never.

 

I watch all these parents at junior events pushing and prodding their kids and I know those kids are taking a hard out on golf as soon as they have a choice. Alexa Pano had it in her...and was given the opportunity and tools to succeed in what she clearly loves to do. 

 

To me the only real formula is hopefully getting your kid to love the game and then let them drive themselves to wherever they can take it. We just pay for the coaches and equipment...

[Jkhogbear]

7 hours ago, Bizzle80 said:

To me the only real formula is hopefully getting your kid to love the game and then let them drive themselves to wherever they can take it. We just pay for the coaches and equipment...

This is 100 percent true. 👏 

[heavy_hitter]

Mistake!!

[leezer99]

56 minutes ago, heavy_hitter said:

Mistake!!

She’s getting 16 Epson starts and one LPGA. Why is it a mistake?  It would be a mistake if her history wasn’t filled with high profile wins and always being in contention. 

[heavy_hitter]

24 minutes ago, leezer99 said:

She’s getting 16 Epson starts and one LPGA. Why is it a mistake?  It would be a mistake if her history wasn’t filled with high profile wins and always being in contention. 

 

Competing as a junior/amateur and a professional are apples and oranges.  While she is competitive in events, she hasn't won a junior event in forever.  Going pro she has absolutely nothing to fall back on if she doesn't make it.  Basically, would end up being a golf industry rep.  The money in the Epson tour simply isn't there.  Maybe she is just dumb as a stump and couldn't get into the college she wanted to,  So she is going to professional golf in hopes to make it.  If not the case, would have served her well to get away from her dad and play collegiality for little to no costs.  When you look at women's professional golf, I would guess that less than half on tour actually turn a profit.  All her eggs are now in one basket with no options.

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

I have to agree with @heavy_hitter.  Being a junior and making up your own schedule is one thing.

 

She has been completing against women she is suppose to be better than and not winning.  I would liked to have also seen her in college for a few years.

 

She would be playing against ladies 3-4 years older than her.  She would need qualify to compete while balancing the demands of college life.

 

She could go out this year and that would be it.  What does she fall back on. 

 

 

[mikedellgolf]

2 minutes ago, TripleBogeysrbetter said:

I have to agree with @heavy_hitter.  Being a junior and making up your own schedule is one thing.

 

She has been completing against women she is suppose to be better than and not winning.  I would liked to have also seen her in college for a few years.

 

She would be playing against ladies 3-4 years older than her.  She would need qualify to compete while balancing the demands of college life.

 

She could go out this year and that would be it.  What does she fall back on. 

 

 

While I agree with everything you said above but I think every situation is different and there are more to the story than what you read in the announcement.  

 

Two years ago, the company I am working for now, gave a golf amateur a 600K grant, 150k/year, for the next four years, to help that young lady succeed in the EPSON tour.  The company decided to give the money because the CEO is a big golf fan and his wife is a big fan of this young lady and in light of the metoo and timeup movement.  The CEO compensation is 5M+/year for the past six years.  In other words, this young lady will be able to play golf without having to worry about the financial burden for the next four years.  If things do not work out for her in golf, the company will have a high paying job waiting for her, like 250k/year salary.  What does the company get in return?  Lot of publicity that it is helping women and diversity.  They have her profile and how she does on the company intranet website just about every week.

 

Therefore, I can't say anything about the young lady Pano because I don't know the whole situation.  She might have a big supporter like the young lady that the company I am working for now sponsors.   

[MB19]

I've got super-mixed feelings on Pano turning pro. 

 

At first blush, it seems like her lack of recent wins and track record vs other pros leaves her entering professional golf a little light in momentum.  At 30,000 ft, this seems like a natural decision for a homeschooled girl who was always going to turn pro and hadn't ever committed to college in spite of her high ranking.

 

Let's face it, her father didn't tailor their lives to meet the demands of tour golf the past few years just so Alexa could be put back in a classroom (after not being in one in forever), given less time to practice and play against worse competition than she had been playing against.  For better or worse, she followed her chosen path after a decade of hard work in trying to get there.

 

It's anyone's guess how she will do going forward.  Will another Short Game (series, though) alum from South Florida follow her path and turn pro in a couple of years instead of picking the college powerhouse she wants to attend?  To me, this is a more interesting question and I think what happens to Pano could be a factor in that decision.

[heavy_hitter]

50 minutes ago, MB19 said:

 

 

It's anyone's guess how she will do going forward.  Will another Short Game (series, though) alum from South Florida follow her path and turn pro in a couple of years instead of picking the college powerhouse she wants to attend?  To me, this is a more interesting question and I think what happens to Pano could be a factor in that decision.

Blew her knee out.  That setback could derail the plans.  She had started to play in Junior events again before that blow out.

[Bizzle80]

I don't think the benchmark has to be winning, but competing and earning some money is a start. Pano qualified for Epson which means she should be able to make some cuts and earn a few dollars. Im all about going to college, but that was clearly never her path so why do it? Just because its 'safer?'

 

Her dad has money, she has some fallback, and she now has the opportunity to follow her chosen path. Plus I would bet she gets some LPGA sponsor exemptions and will continue to learn and get better as a full time pro. Worst case really is after a decade of grinding, she ends up as a club pro in Florida making a decent living in the game she chose.

[heavy_hitter]

1 minute ago, Bizzle80 said:

 

 

Her dad has money, 

Unless something has changed, I am not so sure of that.  There are stories in Florida of several instructors getting stuck by him.

[Bizzle80]

1 minute ago, heavy_hitter said:

Unless something has changed, I am not so sure of that.  There are stories in Florida of several instructors getting stuck by him.

 

True, you never really know someones financial situation. Regardless, whether a successful tour pro or ending up as a teaching instructor or club pro, she will have a future in the and around the game of golf. She wasn't about to head off to med school...

[ncalgolf]

After reading this I feel like my parents are lecturing me all over again.  I say good for you girl do your own thing, make your own path - if she was raised right she will be fine in life with or without golf.  The worst you thing you can do is not try **peace**

[MB19]

9 hours ago, heavy_hitter said:

Blew her knee out.  That setback could derail the plans.  She had started to play in Junior events again before that blow out.

Still young, but yeah knees are tricky.

[JDee1935]

On 4/12/2022 at 8:12 PM, leezer99 said:

This sounds really exciting for someone I’m sure we’ve all seen grow up before our eyes. Proud that she is realizing her dream to compete against the best. If you’re looking for the formula it has been on display for years now. 

 

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/04/12/alexa-pano-turns-professional-epson-tour/

 I spoke with Alexa and her Dad right after  she finished her round at ANWA. While she didn't mention anything about turning pro, she did speak about competing on Epson full time, looking forward to it. From what I gathered, she will take 6 months or so off to work just on golf, then attend college, is great student. 

 

She chose to make many changes in her game in 2021, basically throwing year away competition in hopes her later years would benefit and judging by the way she [ and Linblad] struck the ball at ANWA, I'd say she did correct thing. They were both 1 bad swing and 3-4 putts spinning out of holes to shoot very low.

 

I think I know her fairly well. Her decision is all for golf reasons, as she is driven. She gave me impression that her current instructors and team could benefit her much more than a college coach could. There may be something to that, as for every Rose Zhang, there are 25 players whose level of play drops, and many other strong players fight to adjust after college, players like a Mahaffey type fall .

 

As far as endorsements to pro's vs. NIL's to college, no comparison at all . NIL's are much much lower. So, she is a kid who , it's obvious, loves to play and compete. I respect her decision and root for her.

[BloctonGolf11]

Just my two cents, and most of you know my opinion on college vs pro, but to me when making long term decisions like this you need to always keep worst case scenario in mind and how you would adapt to that worst case scenario. Without a college degree if she is not competitive she will be forgotten about within a year if not sooner. The NIL's will be gone and she will be forced to try to find a way to support herself for the rest of her life with very few options. Go get the college degree, have something to fall back on. Chasing dreams is a lovely story but reality hits a lot harder. I hope she succeeds but it is a gamble to say the least. 

Edited April 14, 2022 by BloctonGolf11

[leezer99]

46 minutes ago, BloctonGolf11 said:

Just my two cents, and most of you know my opinion on college vs pro, but to me when making long term decisions like this you need to always keep worst case scenario in mind and how you would adapt to that worst case scenario. Without a college degree if she is not competitive she will be forgotten about within a year if not sooner. The NIL's will be gone and she will be forced to try to find a way to support herself for the rest of her life with very few options. Go get the college degree, have something to fall back on. Chasing dreams is a lovely story but reality hits a lot harder. I hope she succeeds but it is a gamble to say the least. 

While I agree that getting an education should be a priority, her passion is golf. I’m doubtful she’ll find any passion outside of that to pursue while in school. And even if she did it would only take away from time spent on her dream. 

[wildcatden]

Sounds like she is taking her shot. Good for her. 

 

She can likely go into the PGA Professional area or even just go to college after that. A road less traveled, but her path is her path.

 

 

 

[BloctonGolf11]

21 minutes ago, leezer99 said:

While I agree that getting an education should be a priority, her passion is golf. I’m doubtful she’ll find any passion outside of that to pursue while in school. And even if she did it would only take away from time spent on her dream. 

I am a pragmatist and cynical, dreams don't put food on the table and delaying her dream for 3-4 years to ensure she has a lot of options outside of golf does not seem like an undue burden. I think a lot of the discussions are acting like this was an either or decision. She could of gone to college and still gone pro but you can't go pro and then magically go back to college with the same benefits she would have had from financial and most likely acceptance aspects. Also, I think people are looking at this from a male perspective, this is not a situation where she can make enough in endorsements to be in great shape the rest of her life, the financial realities of female touring professions are much more difficult.

Edited April 14, 2022 by BloctonGolf11

[MB19]

On 4/14/2022 at 3:24 PM, BloctonGolf11 said:

I am a pragmatist and cynical, dreams don't put food on the table and delaying her dream for 3-4 years to ensure she has a lot of options outside of golf does not seem like an undue burden. I think a lot of the discussions are acting like this was an either or decision. She could of gone to college and still gone pro but you can't go pro and then magically go back to college with the same benefits she would have had from financial and most likely acceptance aspects. Also, I think people are looking at this from a male perspective, this is not a situation where she can make enough in endorsements to be in great shape the rest of her life, the financial realities of female touring professions are much more difficult.

It's funny, my wife's cousin skipped college to play on the LPGA tour over three decades ago and she says similar things.  To skip college when you're the belle of the ball in the golf world is definitely unorthodox, and not without its drawbacks.

 

To be sure, she had a nice career--especially the first 5-7 years--but eventually her time passed and her performance faded.  During this time, she racked up really nice endorsement deals, traveled the world, started a non-profit that helps lots of people, met and played golf with more famous and powerful people than I can rattle off effectively on this thread, and became something of a pillar in her community.  She waited to get married, but married very well, and has had some success on the senior circuit.  She is a success by most every metric.  

 

To this day, there are people within the family who say she should have gone to college or done this or that differently.  But these same people have also never been on a poster, either.  For some people who are blessed with uncommon abilities, experiencing life without the yoke of attending college classes is a natural fit.  For others, it is unfathomable.

 

Pertaining to Pano, specifically, she's doing what she has been preparing to do for a decade.  She also hasn't seen the inside of a classroom in a long time.  It seems the genie has been out of the bottle for years, and putting that genie back in for conformity's sake is quite possibly the inferior option.  She's got opportunities now she may not have after college--you never know in this life.  College definitely isn't for everyone, and not every athlete who is good at putting a ball into a hole--golf included--is meant for college.

[mikedellgolf]

How is Alexa's game stacking up against Asian female golfers?  Does she have what it takes to dethrone them?

[MB19]

3 hours ago, mikedellgolf said:

How is Alexa's game stacking up against Asian female golfers?  Does she have what it takes to dethrone them?

(Insert Rick Plano’s secret strategy to defeat Asian female golfers)

[Mustard_Tiger]

I think this is bad idea but I wish her good luck.