2023 LPGA Season Odds and Ends

[Argonne69]

Happy (belated) New Year. I guess I was asleep at the wheel. Lol.

 

'Should be another interesting year. The new class of rookies looks good again. More record purses. We should have another rough battle for the #1 spot with a number of players in the hunt. 

 

 

[18majors]

9 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

I guess I was asleep at the wheel. Lol.

 

 

I's worried that you might be at the bottom of Devil's Slide at Highway 1 in California!

 

Now, all is well!  😄

 

 

[Lobby]

Happy new year, everyone.  I wish health for all of you

[JungleJimbo]

3 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

 

I's worried that you might be at the bottom of Devil's Slide at Highway 1 in California!

 

Now, all is well!  😄

 

 

IIRC ... @Argonne69 is traversing Texas currently?

 

Isn't there a cluster of LPGA stars who've made their home base in Texas?

(e.g. SeiYoung, SoYeon Ryu, Jin Young Ko, etc). 

 

Might @Argonne69 be able to get some inside-scoops on these LPGA stars' training during their off-season?

 

...But!! Can folks suggest some incognito disguises for @Argonne69 ... in case those pesky security officers still have that "security binder" with pix of @Argonne69 wearing dumbo ears!) 

 

Quote

 

"Annie Park is one of a growing group of LPGA stars who in recent years have made the move to Big D. Entering the 2022 LPGA Tour season, seven of the last 14 majors were won by players who claim a Dallas residence.

 

You can count among them the 2021 LPGA player of the year, Jin Young Ko (2019 ANA Inspiration and Evian Championship), Jeongeun Lee6 (2019 U.S. Women's Open) and A Lim Kim (2020 U.S. Women's Open), who all made their base there last year. Prior to that Sei Young Kim (2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship), Minjee Lee (2021 Evian Masters) and Mirim Lee (2020 ANA Inspiration) made Dallas their U.S. residence.

 

Extending out to nearby Fort Worth, it’s eight of the last 15 major championships won by LPGA players in the area, adding Texas native Angela Stanford (2018 Evian Championship) to the list."

Quote

 

"Seven players (clockwise)—Angela Stanford, Jin Young Ko, A Lim Kim, Jeongeun Lee6, Mirim Lee, Sei Young Kim and Minjee Lee—who have won eight of the last 15 LPGA majors call the Dallas area home.

 

The depth of talent in the metroplex extends beyond the tour’s recent major champions. LPGA winners Celine Boutier, Mi Jung Hur, Brittany Lang, Cheyenne Knight, Mi Hyang Lee and In Gee Chun also put down U.S. roots in Dallas. In addition, four-year LPGA veteran Lindsey Weaver lives in the area, and U.S. Solheim Cup rookie Yealimi Noh moved to Dallas last summer.

 

So what gives? Why has the area become home to a growing community of top women’s golfers? To begin with, like Florida, Texas is one of nine states that has no state income tax, making it appealing from a simple financial standpoint.

 

Another motivating factor can be spelled out in three simple letters: DFW. As in the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the 17,183 acre complex that offers players a unique flexibility that can’t be found in other locales.

 

“DFW airport is in the middle of the USA,” Lee6 said in an email. “There are a lot of direct flights to tournament sites. It makes it so convenient.”

 

The longest domestic flights any player has to take to an LPGA tournaments from DFW is around four hours (it’s 4:15 to go west to Portland for the Cambia Portland Classic and 3:15 when heading east to New Jersey for the Shoprite LPGA Classic and Cognizant Founders Cup)."

 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2023 by JungleJimbo

[18majors]

 

Top-300 Rolex registration at Saudi Ladies International have grown to fifteen; including A Lim Kim, Maria Fassi and Xiaowen Yin.

[woahnelly]

4 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

Top-300 Rolex registration at Saudi Ladies International have grown to fifteen; including A Lim Kim, Maria Fassi and Xiaowen Yin.

 

Looks like hee jeong lim from klpga has entered too along with lpga rookie grace kim.  many will remember Lim from losing a playoff to peak Jin young at the BMW 2 years ago. She was recently voted "most popular" player on the KLPGA in 2022. 

 

Pajaree is listed as alt #2 from the LET side but I suspect if she wanted to play she could get in via this exemption as well. 

Edited January 4, 2023 by woahnelly

[AKL Kiwi]

My question is do we start 2023 with RR#1 Lydia Chung or Lydia Ko? 🤔 We might know when the official entries are listed for the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Strange the LPGA has not yet made any mention on their website or social media of her marriage.....not newsworthy just another player on the LPGA 🙄 

Edited January 4, 2023 by AKL Kiwi

[Seamus_McDuff]

https://www.lpga.com/news/2023/lpga-elects-stephen-c-mills-to-lpga-board-of-directors-for-2023
 

 

[JungleJimbo]

11 hours ago, AKL Kiwi said:

My question is do we start 2023 with RR#1 Lydia Chung or Lydia Ko? 🤔 We might know when the official entries are listed for the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Strange the LPGA has not yet made any mention on their website or social media of her marriage.....not newsworthy just another player on the LPGA 🙄 

@AKL Kiwi 
My guess = she'll remain "Lydia Ko" for golfing-related matters?

 

Saw this recent video of the wedding, that highlighted the various golfing personalities who attended.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Oh Hi Carl]

Best wishes to Lydia and her husband.  

[18majors]

 

Thirty out of thirty-nine qualified players, including Jin Young Ko, Nelly Korda, Brooke Henderson and Danielle Kang, have confirmed to play 2023 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions January 19-22.  Players who haven't confirmed include In Gee Chun and Atthaya Thitikul.

 

Entries List

[18majors]

 

Jeeno is now a member of Team Rolex:

 

"It is such an amazing feeling and honor to be part of the Rolex family. Mind blowing moment for Jeeno and our team to have this opportunity. 🙏❤️😊"
 

Edited January 5, 2023 by 18majors

[Oh Hi Carl]

Yes, it would be mind blowing for me to own a Rolex, much less when I was a teenager.  

[Lobby]

It looks like a white gold President.  $50k watch?

[AKL Kiwi]

5 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

Thirty out of thirty-nine qualified players, including Jin Young Ko, Nelly Korda, Brooke Henderson and Danielle Kang, have confirmed to play 2023 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions January 19-22.  Players who haven't confirmed include In Gee Chun and Atthaya Thitikul.

With Lydia being in Bali on her honeymoon and Atthaya probably currently in Thailand maybe they both just start 2023 in the Honda LPGA Thailand the week after this tournament 🤔

[18majors]

33 minutes ago, AKL Kiwi said:

With Lydia being in Bali on her honeymoon

 

 

 

This is well deserved, she's earned it.  Lydia has been a consummate professional since she's 10-11 years old, she probably has never had a real vacation until now.

 

I honestly don't know when will Lydia tee off; it'd be great if we see her in Thailand!

 

 

Edited January 5, 2023 by 18majors

[18majors]

 

Moving in the right direction:

Epson Tour announces another record-breaking season in 2023 with $4.9 million in prize money

 

"The 2023 season will be another record-breaker for the Epson Tour. In 2013, players competed for $1.6 million in purses across 15 events. This season, they’ll play for $4.915 million in 22 tournaments, the tour announced on Thursday.

Two events will boast the largest prize fund in Epson Tour history as both the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic and the French Lick Charity Classic moved to $335,000. That’s more than double what the highest purse was a decade ago."

 

[18majors]

 

@AKL Kiwi

 

What a coup for Saudi Ladies International; Lydia Ko and Patty Tavatanakit have signed up to play!

 

Entries

Edited January 6, 2023 by 18majors

[JungleJimbo]

On 1/4/2023 at 10:28 PM, 18majors said:

 

Top-300 Rolex registration at Saudi Ladies International have grown to fifteen; including A Lim Kim, Maria Fassi and Xiaowen Yin.

 

2 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

@AKL Kiwi

 

What a coup for Saudi Ladies International; Lydia Ko and Patty Tavatanakit have signed up to play!

 

@18majors  thanks for sharing ... is there a Link you can share, for the "live" Saudi Ladies International entry list?

 

Saw this from Beth Ann, w.r.t. the LET 2023 schedule.

 

 https://golfdigestme.com/ladies-european-tour-announces-record-breaking-schedule-for-2023-61752-2/ (<== Link to a comprehensive list of the LET 2023 events schedule details).

 

 

 

[18majors]

54 minutes ago, JungleJimbo said:

is there a Link you can share, for the "live" Saudi Ladies International entry list?

 

Yes, it's in my post, entries.

[18majors]

 

The preliminary "Entries List" for Thailand and Singapore are out and they're very different than 2022.  Heavy hitters like Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, Atthaya Thitikul, Jin Young Ko and Brooke Henderson have all signed up to play.

 

Out of that group, Lydia is the only one that's signed up for Saudi Ladies International thus far.  But, it wouldn't be a surprise if we see all of them there eventually.

[18majors]

The entries list are based on 2023 priority list which hasn't been published yet.  Some notable facts are:

 

1.    Emily Kristine Pedersen finished #80 on 2022 CME Ranking, but is #89 on 2023 priority; that means 9 players have returned from either medical or maternity leaves.
2.    Q-School #21-45 are ahead of players who finished #101-125 on 2022 CME Ranking.  

[Seamus_McDuff]

1 hour ago, 18majors said:

The entries list are based on 2023 priority list which hasn't been published yet.  Some notable facts are:

 

1.    Emily Kristine Pedersen finished #80 on 2022 CME Ranking, but is #89 on 2023 priority; that means 9 players have returned from either medical or maternity leaves.
2.    Q-School #21-45 are ahead of players who finished #101-125 on 2022 CME Ranking.  

 

I think these are 8 of the 9

 

Ernst

Szokol

Olson

Popov

Delacour

Reid

Green

Lincicome

 

[AKL Kiwi]

6 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

@AKL Kiwi

 

What a coup for Saudi Ladies International; Lydia Ko and Patty Tavatanakit have signed up to play!

 

Entries

@18majors yes but bad news for the European players hoping to pick up some of the major prize money 😉 

[18majors]

12 minutes ago, AKL Kiwi said:

@18majors yes but bad news for the European players hoping to pick up some of the major prize money 😉 

 

 

 

The purse is $5.0 million for a reason, the Saudi fully anticipated and intended to attract Top Rolex players.  It would be fun to see how Linn Grant and Chiara Noja stack up against Lydia, Nelly, Jeeno and Brooke!

Edited January 6, 2023 by 18majors

[AKL Kiwi]

9 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

 

It would be fun to see how Linn Grant and Chiara Noja stack up against Lydia, Nelly, Jeeno and Brooke!

Yes it's shaping up to be an interesting tournament and don't forget Lexi is in there...but the more top non LET members entered it makes the job that little bit more harder. No chance they all have an off week or you can slip in one poor round and get away with it. I hope we get some decent live TV coverage here now Lydia is entered. 

[woahnelly]

12 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

Yes, it's in my post, entries.

 

Looks like Pajaree and now EKP entered via the Rolex exemption vs being on the waiting list .. muni he and gabby ruffells have been added..Annie must be pondering her invite..

[iBanesto]

On 1/5/2023 at 8:25 AM, AKL Kiwi said:

My question is do we start 2023 with RR#1 Lydia Chung or Lydia Ko? 🤔 We might know when the official entries are listed for the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Strange the LPGA has not yet made any mention on their website or social media of her marriage.....not newsworthy just another player on the LPGA 🙄 

 

Lydia Ko-Chung?

 

😅

 

[JungleJimbo]

2 hours ago, iBanesto said:

 

Lydia Ko-Chung?

 

😅

 

"Ko-Chung" = sounds like "Ka-ching!" 💰💰

 

Edited January 7, 2023 by JungleJimbo

[18majors]

13 hours ago, woahnelly said:

Annie must be pondering her invite

 

 

 

 

 

Annie is pragmatic, she doesn't waste time dreaming.  She signed up Blue Bay and Arizona to start the season.

 

The way players have been signing up Saudi Ladies International; it probably will take Rolex #80 or better to get in.