2024 LPGA Season Odds and Ends

[Argonne69]

Happy New Year, everyone. 

 

Should be an interesting season. We'll see if the old guard reclaims their status at the top, or if the young newcomers continue to steal the spotlight.

 

[18majors]

18 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Happy New Year, everyone. 

 

Should be an interesting season. We'll see if the old guard reclaims their status at the top, or if the young newcomers continue to steal the spotlight.

 

 

Thanks @Argonne69; unlike 2023, you woke early this year!

[Seamus_McDuff]

Priority list

 

https://www.lpga.com/-/media/files/priority-list/2024/2024-lpgastart-of-seasondraft121123.pdf

[Titleist_PT23]

Unless something has changed from the "DRAFT" version, SYR may not be playing LPGA in 2024?  She's ranked #218 under Tournament Winner (in the last 21 years).  If she wanted to play a limited schedule of selected tournaments, she could have exercised the Career Top 20 Money (currently #16).

 

 

[woahnelly]

4 hours ago, Titleist_PT23 said:

Unless something has changed from the "DRAFT" version, SYR may not be playing LPGA in 2024?  She's ranked #218 under Tournament Winner (in the last 21 years).  If she wanted to play a limited schedule of selected tournaments, she could have exercised the Career Top 20 Money (currently #16).

 

 

 

That would be a bummer , one of the first LPGA tournaments I remember watching was when she birdied 18 to force a playoff and win the US Open against 'supermodel' Hee Kyung Seo. 

 

 

 

[iBanesto]

Looks like S.Y. Ryu has been doing more videos on YT.

 

https://www.youtube.com/@ryuteacher/videos

 

Nice recent photo of her with Inbee, Ha Neul, Jeongeun5, NYC, Jiyai and Bo-mee.

 

https://www.instagram.com/1soyeonryu/?hl=en

[subrew]

Grant Horvat is a very good youtube golfer, sponsored by Taylormade.  He got to attend the TM filming event, and play with Colin, Tommy etc.  He also got to play a short round with Nelly.  Thought the group might like to see it.

 

 

 

[airawan]

Jeeno has withdrawn from the first two tournaments this month due to inflamed tendon sheath in her right hand thumb.

Her first tournament in 2024 will be the Honda LPGA in Thailand.

 

 

Edited January 10 by airawan

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

[onekday]

On 1/2/2024 at 1:34 PM, Titleist_PT23 said:

Unless something has changed from the "DRAFT" version, SYR may not be playing LPGA in 2024?  She's ranked #218 under Tournament Winner (in the last 21 years).  If she wanted to play a limited schedule of selected tournaments, she could have exercised the Career Top 20 Money (currently #16).

 

 

Is Epson tour a possibility?  A number of pros have won their cards back that way.

[JungleJimbo]

LET's social media team has some interesting variety on their twitter page e.g. golf-related exercises for folks have some downtime.  This instructor Liesbeth Pauwels = TPI-certified. 

 

 

 

 

 

[woahnelly]

3 hours ago, onekday said:

Is Epson tour a possibility?  A number of pros have won their cards back that way.

 

No chance. She is a legend. If she didn't exercise her career money list exemption maybe plans to take it easy this year, perhaps nursing injuries or interests outside golf? 

 

If she wants to play sparingly, will have no problem getting invites - especially for Se Ri LA Open, Dow, BMW 

[Titleist_PT23]

6 hours ago, woahnelly said:

 

No chance. She is a legend. If she didn't exercise her career money list exemption maybe plans to take it easy this year, perhaps nursing injuries or interests outside golf? 

 

If she wants to play sparingly, will have no problem getting invites - especially for Se Ri LA Open, Dow, BMW 

Agreed on the rationale above (career money exemption).  I could certainly be wrong, but I believe she's probably done as a full-time player on the LPGA (possibly as player at all).  Following her the last few years, she seemed to spend more time in ROK and enjoy things away from the golf course.

 

Not 100% sure, but I think she has also changed "LPGA Player" to "Golfer" on some social media accounts.

 

It will be sad if she has decided to move on (maybe play in ROK here and there?  Not sure on the eligibility, although I'm sure exemptions would be available there too).  Definitely a solid career, but also a player that didn't always get the most out of some tight situations (I know, tough standard to meet).  Unfortunately, the work-life balance or play less mindset never worked out for her.  At the highest level of many professions, this train of thought is likely the beginning of the end for most people.

 

Of course, maybe the final priority list will come out and this will be 100% wrong🤣.

[GolfMoose]

I'm not that familiar with her social media or other things she's participated in but I wonder if she would have any interest in contributing to the broadcasts in some fashion in the future. She seems to communicate pretty well and I keep thinking there is a gap re: insight, inside info, perspective, that an Asian player could help fill.

[woahnelly]

43 minutes ago, Titleist_PT23 said:

Agreed on the rationale above (career money exemption).  I could certainly be wrong, but I believe she's probably done as a full-time player on the LPGA (possibly as player at all).  Following her the last few years, she seemed to spend more time in ROK and enjoy things away from the golf course.

 

Not 100% sure, but I think she has also changed "LPGA Player" to "Golfer" on some social media accounts.

 

It will be sad if she has decided to move on (maybe play in ROK here and there?  Not sure on the eligibility, although I'm sure exemptions would be available there too).  Definitely a solid career, but also a player that didn't always get the most out of some tight situations (I know, tough standard to meet).  Unfortunately, the work-life balance or play less mindset never worked out for her.  At the highest level of many professions, this train of thought is likely the beginning of the end for most people.

 

Of course, maybe the final priority list will come out and this will be 100% wrong🤣.

 

Yes you may be right. Maybe she wanted to retire quietly without any fanfare. Last year she was gifted an exemption to the US Open, maybe they knew something we didn't. She is also not listed on the Mediheal roster for sponsored players for 2024. Not alarming since she would have 0 problem finding a new sponsor, but perhaps another sign her days are numbered 😭

 

Some of her peers have retired recently like Bo Me Lee and Ha Neul Kim, Inbee may be retiring soon too as a new mommy and nothing else to prove in the game. 

[woahnelly]

12 minutes ago, GolfMoose said:

I'm not that familiar with her social media or other things she's participated in but I wonder if she would have any interest in contributing to the broadcasts in some fashion in the future. She seems to communicate pretty well and I keep thinking there is a gap re: insight, inside info, perspective, that an Asian player could help fill.

 

Maybe on the KLPGA more likely, Christina Kim does a good job as a commentator and her days are likely over soon too. 

[JungleJimbo]

3 hours ago, woahnelly said:

 

Maybe on the KLPGA more likely, Christina Kim does a good job as a commentator and her days are likely over soon too. 

Any insights wrt what Grace Park is doing nowadays? From that cohort, I might’ve guessed her English proficiency could’ve led to a post-retirement career in media... but she has remained Low-profile after her playing days? Perhaps she grew tired of the travelling that even a Media career would’ve needed?

 

4 hours ago, GolfMoose said:

I'm not that familiar with her social media or other things she's participated in but I wonder if she would have any interest in contributing to the broadcasts in some fashion in the future. She seems to communicate pretty well and I keep thinking there is a gap re: insight, inside info, perspective, that an Asian player could help fill.

 

[iBanesto]

Lesson from J.Y. Ko.

 

[Titleist_PT23]

10 hours ago, woahnelly said:

 

Yes you may be right. Maybe she wanted to retire quietly without any fanfare. Last year she was gifted an exemption to the US Open, maybe they knew something we didn't. She is also not listed on the Mediheal roster for sponsored players for 2024. Not alarming since she would have 0 problem finding a new sponsor, but perhaps another sign her days are numbered 😭

 

Some of her peers have retired recently like Bo Me Lee and Ha Neul Kim, Inbee may be retiring soon too as a new mommy and nothing else to prove in the game. 

Her exemptions from the 2011 win and the 2017 ANA/Chevron ran out in 2021.  She had a decent season that year and was exempt for 2022.  However, the game really fell off in 2022 and 2023 (absent a handful of weeks, like the 2022 Evian).

 

With regard to the Special Exemptions, the USGA gave exemptions to Creamer and Kerr in 2021.  This was a year after Creamer's 10-year exemption expired and (I believe) the first year Kerr failed to otherwise qualify.  In this context, SYR's invitation in 2023 probably looks more like standard operating procedure?

 

I guess NYC retired at the end of 2022 (last year of 10-year USWO exemption) and didn't play at Pebble in 2023.  She didn't want to or wasn't asked?  Who knows.  She was also less competitive than these other three in the years that proceeded their Special Exemptions.

 

Of course, Annika also received an invite in 2023 after playing in 2022 (via winning the 2021 USSWO).  From an accomplishment standpoint, I guess this one is OK.

 

Next up are Inbee, Wie, In Gee, Brittany Lang, and SHP.  Not sure if the first two will even want to play (guess would be no)?  Not sure where In Gee's game / interests will be in another three years.  The other two are unlikely to otherwise qualify and are probably lower down the "deserve it" list than the last four Special Exemptions mentioned (I know SHP has more wins than SYR, but she is looking at along stretch of erratic play and is probably less recognized by the US fans).

 

Anyways, I guess we'll see how it goes...

 

 

[woahnelly]

5 hours ago, Titleist_PT23 said:

Her exemptions from the 2011 win and the 2017 ANA/Chevron ran out in 2021.  She had a decent season that year and was exempt for 2022.  However, the game really fell off in 2022 and 2023 (absent a handful of weeks, like the 2022 Evian).

 

With regard to the Special Exemptions, the USGA gave exemptions to Creamer and Kerr in 2021.  This was a year after Creamer's 10-year exemption expired and (I believe) the first year Kerr failed to otherwise qualify.  In this context, SYR's invitation in 2023 probably looks more like standard operating procedure?

 

I guess NYC retired at the end of 2022 (last year of 10-year USWO exemption) and didn't play at Pebble in 2023.  She didn't want to or wasn't asked?  Who knows.  She was also less competitive than these other three in the years that proceeded their Special Exemptions.

 

Of course, Annika also received an invite in 2023 after playing in 2022 (via winning the 2021 USSWO).  From an accomplishment standpoint, I guess this one is OK.

 

Next up are Inbee, Wie, In Gee, Brittany Lang, and SHP.  Not sure if the first two will even want to play (guess would be no)?  Not sure where In Gee's game / interests will be in another three years.  The other two are unlikely to otherwise qualify and are probably lower down the "deserve it" list than the last four Special Exemptions mentioned (I know SHP has more wins than SYR, but she is looking at along stretch of erratic play and is probably less recognized by the US fans).

 

Anyways, I guess we'll see how it goes...

 

 

 

Yeah they may just give the exemptions to those they like or upon request. Eun Hee Ji had to win the Match Play event in 2022 the week prior to the US Open to gain entry despite winning 10+ years ago. In Gee is exempt for all majors for 5 years from her 2022 PGA win. Michelle at US Open last year was the final event of her career.  SH Park is probably finished, will go back to Korea once her current major winner exemption expires, but can still use career money one if she wishes when this one dries up. 

[woahnelly]

12 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

Any insights wrt what Grace Park is doing nowadays? From that cohort, I might’ve guessed her English proficiency could’ve led to a post-retirement career in media... but she has remained Low-profile after her playing days? Perhaps she grew tired of the travelling that even a Media career would’ve needed?

 

 

 

According to her IG, Grace appears to be laying low, raising her daughter. 

[woahnelly]

 

 

Nelly, Brooke, and Charley hanging out with Tiger 

[jimecherry]

27 minutes ago, woahnelly said:

 

 

Nelly, Brooke, and Charley hanging out with Tiger 

i cant be the only one wondering why you misspelled tiger's son's first name ;}

 

ps i know you meant charley hull just my brain misfired for a solid minute before i figured it out.

[iBanesto]

3 hours ago, jimecherry said:

i cant be the only one wondering why you misspelled tiger's son's first name ;}

 

ps i know you meant charley hull just my brain misfired for a solid minute before i figured it out.

 

Hull on his mind.

 

[Titleist_PT23]

On 1/15/2024 at 2:02 AM, woahnelly said:

 

Yeah they may just give the exemptions to those they like or upon request. Eun Hee Ji had to win the Match Play event in 2022 the week prior to the US Open to gain entry despite winning 10+ years ago. In Gee is exempt for all majors for 5 years from her 2022 PGA win. Michelle at US Open last year was the final event of her career.  SH Park is probably finished, will go back to Korea once her current major winner exemption expires, but can still use career money one if she wishes when this one dries up. 

Somehow I forgot about In Gee's KPMG in this equation.

 

I guess SYR can still play the Chevron.  Maybe she will (try to) play a few times after the tour returns to the states before the Chevron?  I'm just not sure she would want to travel back and forth multiple times per year to play an odd week or two here and there.  Wonder if she still has a residence in the US?

[Lobby]

I remember wondering many years ago what 2024 would bring.  As you can guess, it's a milestone year for me.

Let's see. 

[Seamus_McDuff]

EPSON schedule

 

https://www.epsontour.com/news/2024/epson-tour-continues-breaking-barriers-with-2024-schedule

 

Edited January 16 by Seamus_McDuff

[18majors]

31 minutes ago, Seamus_McDuff said:

EPSON schedule

 

https://www.epsontour.com/news/2024/epson-tour-continues-breaking-barriers-with-2024-schedule

 

 

 

The 2024 schedule and total purse is quite a disappointment; total purse only increased by $0.1 million from 2023 to $5.0 million while total tournaments decreased from 22 to 20.

 

This is the first disappointment in schedule and purse since Mollie took over as the commissioner in 2021.

 

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

[kmbean]

Anyone know what Alison Lee’s tattoos say?  She has a couple on her arms, I’ve never been able to make out what they are.