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LPGA Tour

LPGA Tour Announces Change to Q-Series

LPGA Tour Q Series criterias will be changed beginning in 2022 (Foto: Getty)

The LPGA announced today that beginning in 2022, players must compete as professionals in Q-Series, the final stage of qualifying for the LPGA Tour. If an amateur player advances to or is exempt into Q-Series, she must turn professional to compete for the opportunity to earn LPGA Tour Membership.

All players who qualify for Q-Series through Stage II of Q School receive Epson Tour status. Amateur players can continue to compete as an amateur, which is permitted on the Epson Tour, or may elect to turn professional and compete for an opportunity to advance directly to the LPGA Tour.

The Epson Tour, the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour, has a mission to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful competitive career. Since its inception in 1999, more than 600 Epson Tour alumnae have earned LPGA Tour Membership, including major champions Nelly Korda, Lorena Ochoa and Inbee Park.

This decision, which came following feedback from the LPGA Tour Membership and the college coaching community, will provide the most fair and consistent pathways to the LPGA Tour. Requiring professional status for Q-Series competitors will set an equal playing field for those committed to competing full time on the LPGA Tour.

No Amateur Status allowed in Q-Series

“LPGA Q-Series is the final stage to competing on the LPGA Tour, which is a fully professional tour that requires that its Membership competes as professional athletes,” said Ricki Lasky, Chief Tour Business and Operations Officer for the LPGA. “Ensuring all competitors have made the same choice to be a professional player elevates the Q-Series competition and creates the most appropriate options for athletes at different stages of their careers. Providing Epson Tour status to those athletes who advance through Q School but choose to retain their college eligibility provides an appropriate pathway for those players to complete their college season or career and then immediately compete on the Epson Tour.”

In 2018, the LPGA began permitting amateurs who earned LPGA Tour status at Q-Series to defer their Membership until July 1 of the following year. This change gave the amateur athlete the option to finish her college season and/or career before turning professional. Of the 16 amateur players who earned LPGA Tour Membership in 2018, 2019 and 2021 (Q-Series was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic), Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi (both in 2018) are the only players who elected to defer. The remaining 14 amateurs all immediately accepted LPGA Tour Membership, with numerous other players turning professional and competing immediately on the Epson Tour.

The LPGA is committed to working with the Women’s Golf Coaches Association and its membership and will create a working group for further discussion on ways of providing the best opportunities for aspiring professionals to live their dreams. “I am very appreciative of the college coaches who have shared their thoughts on this process. These coaches are developing the future stars of the women’s game, and we want to make sure that they are providing the best opportunities to their players, just as we do at the LPGA Tour,” said Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana, the LPGA’s senior vice president of Tour Operations.

2022 LPGA Q-Series, held over eight rounds in consecutive weeks, will be held Dec. 1-4 at Magnolia Grove (Crossings and Falls Courses) in Mobile, Ala. The second week will be held Dec. 8-11 at Highland Oaks (Highlands and Marshwood Courses) in Dothan, Ala.

Players finishing inside the top 45 and ties following the conclusion of the cumulative eight rounds of Q-Series will receive LPGA Tour status for the following season. All players finishing outside the top 20 and ties will also receive Epson Tour status.

Stage I of 2022 LPGA Q School will be held Aug. 18-21 at Mission Hills Country Club (Dinah Shore and Palmer Courses) in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert, Calif. Stage II will be held Oct. 18-21 at Plantation Golf and Country Club (Bobcat and Panther Courses) in Venice, Fla.

(Text: LPGA Tour)

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Panorama

Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic to fundraise for Ukrainian refugees

Palheiro Golf at Madeira, Spain.
Palheiro Golf at Madeira, Spain.

Players and dignitaries are being encouraged to donate as much as possible towards the worthy cause when the event takes place at Palheiro Golf on Saturday, May 7.

Ukrainians have fled in increasing numbers to Madeira in the last two months since the outbreak of hostilities in their homeland, with around 300 people already having taken refuge in the Portuguese archipelago.

Jonathan Fletcher, president of Palheiro Nature Estate, said: “The Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic is an important event on our golfing calendar, and we wanted to support a charity that reflected its importance.

“At this time, there is no bigger cause in the world than the plight of the Ukrainian refugees and we’re delighted to do whatever we can to help ease the suffering of these poor people in their time of need.”

Madeira awaits their golf fans

Taking place on the idyllic island destination of Madeira for the second time this year, the 2022 Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic forms the centrepiece of a wider five-day event which will be staged from May 5-9. As well as providing the opportunity to enjoy world-class golf, guests will also experience a slice of the archipelago’s famous culture and history – including Madeira’s globally acclaimed annual ‘Festa da Flor’ Flower Festival.

And golfers have added incentive to take part in this year’s Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic with anyone taking up the chance to buy a Madeira Golf Passport over the weekend of May 6-8 automatically being entitled to a place in the 18-hole Stableford competition.

Providing holders with an unrivalled golf experience, the Madeira Golf Passport features three golf courses – Clube de Golf Santo da Serra, Palheiro Golf and Porto Santo Golf – is available to both individuals and groups and can be booked on a three or five-round basis.

Costing €225 per person for three rounds and €360 for a five-round package, the standard passport – which is valid for a two-week period – includes golf at Clube de Golf Santo da Serra and Palheiro Golf and free golf course transfers to and from your hotel.

There is also the opportunity to book tee times directly with the clubs prior to travel, while, for an additional fee from €91.50 per person, golfers can upgrade to Madeira’s premium golf passport, which includes return ferry travel to Porto Santo, transfers and 18 holes on the island’s acclaimed golf course.

Located approximately 1,000km from the European mainland – and just 500km from the African continent – Madeira enjoys an amazingly mild climate, ranging from 25°c in the summer to 17°c in the winter, with very mild average temperatures and moderate humidity, making it the perfect year-round destination for a golf break.

For more details and to buy a Madeira Golf Passport, please visit https://madeiragolfpassport.com/ and to view a video of the inaugural Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic, go to https://youtu.be/n-tmdZ7E2PM . The ‘2022 Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic’ will take place on May 7, 2022, and for more details and to book, please email [email protected], phone +351 291 790 120 or visit www.palheironatureestate.com/  

(Text written by Pete Simm – The Azalea Group)

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Panorama

Speechless: Nobody expected this answer from Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko at the 2022 Palos Verdes Championship. (Photo: Getty)
Lydia Ko at the 2022 Palos Verdes Championship. (Photo: Getty)

Lydia Ko finished the Palos Verdes Championship in California on the shared third place. On the fourth and final day, it was noticeable that she had to be treated by her physiotherapist during the round. Her problem area: her back. Jerry Foltz of the news portal Golf Channel asked the 25-year-old after her round about the cause of this treatment.

Lydia Ko: “Honesty it is”

For Lydia Ko, there was a very simple answer to this question. However, she completely upset her interview partner with her honest explanation. He lost concentration and had no choice but to end the interview with a simple “thank you.” The South Korean woman’s words, “It’s that time of the month. I know the ladies watching are probably like, yeah, I got you. So, when that happens, my back gets really tight, and I’m all twisted. It’s not the first time that Chris has seen me twisted, but it felt a lot better after he came. So, yeah, there you go.” When Foltz didn’t know a response to Ko’s statement, she followed up with a laugh, “I know you’re at a loss for words Jerry. Honesty it is.”

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Live

Video: Lydia Ko’s highlights in the final of the Palos Verdes Championship

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Lydia Ko finished the Palos Verdes Championship in third place. She played a round of 1-under-par on the final day to raise her total score to 8-under-par. Watch the highlights from Lydia Ko’s final round in the video.

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Categories
Live

Palos Verdes Championship 2022: Highlights of the final round of the winner Marina Alex

After four competitive days in the California sun, Marina Alex gets to take the crown at the end of the Palos Verdes Championship 2022. With a one-stroke lead over South Korean Jin Young Ko, the American secured only her second title on the LPGA Tour. Megan Khang (USA) and Lydia Ko (Australia) share third place.

Long wait for Marina Alex

The American had to tremble for a few minutes before her victory, because she returned to the clubhouse ahead of many of her opponents thanks to a brilliant comeback. The 31-year-old started the final day on five under par: At that point, she was three shots behind the leader, Hannah Green. In the final round, she increased her score to 10-under-par while Green flopped, securing victory. Watch the highlights of Marina Alex’s final round in the video.

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European Tour

European Tour: Adri Arnaus wins on the 6th playoff hole

Adri Arnaus European Tour Catalunya Championship
Adri Arnaus wins first title of his career on the DP World Tour (Foto: Getty)

The Catalunya Championship has come to an end. Adri Arnaus is the more than happy winner of the tournament, which was held for the first time. In a playoff he prevailed against the South African Oliver Bekker. After six playoff holes Arnaus secured his first title on the DP World Tour, formerly European Tour. Best German-speaking player is Bernd Wiesberger on the sole eighth place. The two best Germans of the week are Marcel Schneider and Nicolai von Dellingshausen. Both are tied for 13th place at the end of the tournament.

Adri Arnaus with longer breath in the playoff

Already in the regular playing time Adri Arnaus was the better player on the course than Oliver Bekker. Bekker only managed an even par 72, but Adri Arnaus made a spirited recovery and played an outstanding seven under par round on the difficult PGA Catalunya Stadium Course. He remained bogey-free, making five birdies and an outstanding eagle on the second nine to close the gap to the South African by seven strokes.
In the playoff, things got tough. Both players were visibly nervous and the difficult 18th hole did not help either. The two opponents went to the 18th hole five times, each time sharing a par. Although sometimes one and sometimes the other had good starting chances after the tee shots, neither could profit from them. Important was a chip by Arnaus on the fourth extra hole. He mastered the difficult situation confidently, otherwise he stayed relatively cool on the greens in the playoff. But both of them did not manage to play out good birdie chances for the victory.

In the end, the change to the 17th hole of the course helped. The sixth playoff hole should then also bring the decision. Oliver Bekker pulled his driver and missed the fairway right in the rough. Arnaus took his driving iron and hit the ball cleanly down the fairway. His starting position was a dream, and so was his shot into the green. From 180 meters he played the iron with a slight left-right curve into the green, the ball comes up five meters before the flag and rolls towards the hole. Although it just missed the hole, it stopped just behind it at about two meters. Bekker had to deliver and didn’t, his second shot landed left in the rough next to the green. From there he saved himself cica 1.5 meters from the hole a chance at par.
Arnaus had a chance to win, but, how could it be otherwise, he missed. Now it was up to Bekker again: His par putt also lipped out and Arnaus again saw himself in the position to finally decide the tournament for himself. This time he took advantage of the situation, what followed was an understandable outburst of joy and relief. After two hours of playoff, there was finally a winner, Arnaus taking home his first DP World Tour title.

Categories
Highlights Tours

Tiger Woods fuels hopes for participation in the 2022 PGA Championship

Tiger Woods together with the head pro of the Southern Hills Country Club on a practice round before the PGA Championship 2022. (Photo: Twitter/@PGAChampionship & @okgolf2)
Tiger Woods together with the head pro of the Southern Hills Country Club on a practice round before the PGA Championship 2022. (Photo: Twitter/@PGAChampionship & @okgolf2)

It’s reminiscent of the scenes that sent the golf world into hysterics a couple of weeks ago: a plane being tracked and a practice round that raised hopes of a appearance in a major. Only this time the surprise is not quite so great, given the feat Tiger Woods had achieved at the US Masters in 2022. Now the superstar was out on a practice round at Southern Hills Country Club to gauge the strain for the 2022 PGA Championship.

Tiger Woods on a practice round at Southern Hills Country Club

On Thursday, the 15-time major winner’s private jet touched down at the airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after which Tiger Woods played a practice round at Southern Hills, where the second major of the year will be played in about three weeks. Woods completed the 18 holes alongside Cary Cozby, the golf club’s head pro, reports the Golf Channel, and was spotted by numerous cameras; his putting drills were even filmed from a helicopter. According to a “Golf Channel” reporter, Cozby said that “Tiger had great speed with swing and was engaged regarding the lines to take with shots and the differences in green complexes since winning there in 2007.”

On his round, the 46-year-old was spotted wearing shorts that exposed a view of his damaged right leg, which is encased in a compression sleeve. On his feet, Woods is wearing the Footjoy shoes that first made his participation in the prestigious major at hilly Augusta National possible.

Immediately after the tournament, the five-time Masters winner announced that he would participate in the second Major of the year if possible and set his sights on the 150th Open Championship. Hall-of-Famer sources now say that after his practice round, Woods intends to play the 2022 PGA Championship in May, provided there are no further setbacks. This is reported by Golf Digest, which goes on to say that they will wait to see the body’s reactions to the increasing strain in the coming weeks before making a final decision on participation.

PGA Championship 2022 in Oklahoma

The PGA Championship 2022 will be held at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa from 19 to 22 May. Originally, the second major of the year was to be held at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, but after the riots at the beginning of 2021 with the storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters, the former US president’s club was stripped of its hosting status.

Tiger Woods has already played two major tournaments at Southern Hills; in 2007 he won the PGA Championship there for the fourth and for the moment last time. In 2019, however, the course was thoroughly renovated and therefore presents a new challenge this year. It was only recently announced that the golf legend is on the list of participants for the most important tournament of the PGA of America, as is defending champion Phil Mickelson. With the practice round, participation becomes more and more likely.

Categories
Panorama

How far do amateur golfers hit their ball?

Handicap Driver Distances
How far do amateurs hit their drives compared to pros (foto: getty)

For years there has been discussion on the men’s professional tours about whether pros can hit the ball too far, and what effect that has on amateurs and on golf courses. A small study by a golf portal together with ShotScope show how far the amateur can hit his drive in all handicap classes, the comparison to the pros is enormous.

90 meters between professional and 25 handicap

The statistics show the average drive length for various handicap ranges. The scratch golfers among the amateurs hit the ball the farthest. They manage a solid 234 meters on average. The higher the handicap, the shorter the drives among amateurs. A handicap of 10 brings the ball into play at around 206 meters, but from handicaps of 15 and above, the distance of the tee shot drops well below 200 meters.

If you compare a player with a handicap of 25 with a tour pro, the difference is really serious: While the amateur hits the ball 172 meters with the driver, the average player on the PGA Tour drives 267 meters down the fairway. That’s more than 90 meters, and in our sport, of course, it’s worlds apart.

Even the comparison between scratch golfer and tour player is huge at this level. When the tour player hits 30 meters further than the scratch golfer the advantage is so great that once again you have to raise the question of whether the normal amateur can even grasp how the tour pro plays. Golf courses also face this problem. Many of the old courses, for example the Old Course at St. Andrews, are now actually too short for the pros. On the other hand, many of the newer courses are built to the length of the pros. The result is courses that are too long for the average golfer.

How to decrease the distances?

The fact is that many people are thrilled when Rory McIlroy or Bryson DeChambeau send the ball more than 300 meters down the fairway. But there is, firstly, an ever-growing faction that is not so happy about the whole thing. In addition, the R&A and USGA have to ask themselves how far they can and want to go with this game. The tours hit the ball further in each new decade than in the previous one, but this trend does not exist with the amateurs.

The first concepts on this subject are already being discussed. One idea, for example, is a flight-reduced ball for the pros. But even if one is convinced of the idea at the first moment, even such a simple solution brings with it a huge rat’s tail of problems. How does this ball behave? When will the amateur who wants to become a professional switch to this ball so as not to be at a disadvantage compared to those who have played with it for years in the future? To what extent do such ideas change the buying behavior of the broader golf community?

Golf’s elites must ask themselves these questions, and at some point there must be an answer to these questions. After all, courses can’t continue to grow in all directions, and the discrepancy between amateur and professional will eventually be so great that perhaps a broad mass will feel disconnected from professional golf. And nobody really wants that. The first regulations on drivers have already been issued by the organizations, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

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Panorama

Dog walk on the golf course becomes a nightmare

Shooting at Delray Beach golf course in the US state of Florida (Photo: Getty).
Shooting at Delray Beach golf course in the US state of Florida (Photo: Getty).

Last Sunday, an unbelievable scene occurred on the Delray Beach Golf Course in Florida. A 74-year-old pensioner attacked a man ten years younger than him because he was walking his dog across the golf course. According to police, the golfer even pulled out a gun and fired several shots at the pedestrian.

Verbal fight on the golf course ends in shooting

It was just before sunset on Sunday evening at Delray Beach Golf Course when 74-year-old Robert Levine stood on the 15th hole of the course. At the same time Herbert Merritt, who is ten years younger, was walking his dog, according to his own statement, next to the golf course. As local television channel WPBF News reported, Levine then made his way to the walker and started a loud discussion because he was on the golf course with his dog without permission. Shortly thereafter, Levine pulled out a gun and shot his opponent. In doing so, he struck the 64-year-old’s left ankle. Merritt took flight and seeked shelter behind a tree. According to witnesses, a total of five shots were fired.

Levine goes to jail – Merritt to hospital

As if the shooting wasn’t bad enough, Levine allegedly used physical force as well. As local television channel WPBF News reports, witnesses saw Levine kick Merritt in the head, go back to his cart and get a club and begin beating Merrit with the club while holding the gun in his left hand. Deputies said they found shell casings on the ground and two golf clubs with what appeared to be blood on them.

Merritt was immediately taken to the hospital after the attack. Luckily, he did not suffer any life-threatening injuries. Levine, on the other hand, is under arrest for attempted first-degree murder.

An absurd story, which probably comes unsurprisingly from the US state of Florida. Because even if it is of course not allowed to walk your dog on a golf course, there are numerous other ways to solve such a situation. Herbert Merritt will probably not forget this nightmare walk and possibly choose a different route for the next round with his four-legged friend.

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Training

Two weeks after surgery: Bryson DeChambeau trains one-handed

Bryson DeChambeau continues to play one-handed. (Photo: Twitter/@JoshScobee10)
Bryson DeChambeau continues to play one-handed. (Photo: Twitter/@JoshScobee10)

Two weeks ago, Bryson DeChambeau underwent surgery on his left hand, and now he’s back on the golf course. But even “The Hulk” has not made a miraculous recovery after this short time, but uses an unusual technique to hit a few balls despite his handicap. On the video platform TikTok, he presents his attempts at a one-armed golf swing – with success, mind you. As unusual as it may seem at first, the exercise makes perfect sense.

“DeChambeau out-hits our group one-handed”

First, DeChambeau posted a video from the driving range on Monday. You can see (of course) a drive of the longhitter, including the spin of the club after the shot.

@brysondechambeau

maybe one-handed is the move… ? #fyp #foryou #golftok

♬ original sound – Bryson DeChambeau

But that was not the end of the story for DeChambeau. Together with former NFL kicker Josh Scobee, they went out for a round of golf and there, too, DeChambeau showed that you can also make up a few yards with just your right hand. His teammate’s comment: “No big deal, just Bryson DeChambeau hitting the ball one-handed past our group.”

Playing with one hand as a useful training method

Regardless of whether it is forced or voluntary, it makes sense to play one-handed strokes from time to time. Due to the lack of support from the second hand, the muscle groups are used more during the stroke and the swing movement occurs more consciously. In addition, the stability in the core of the body is strengthened and due to the higher strain on the muscles, the strength training for more length is also included. To train on the range with this technique you don’t need any special equipment, just a golf club and a few balls.
To start, it should be a short iron. With this iron, you first make a few practice swings with the right hand and focus especially on the movement of the shoulders, hips and back. A little tip: For more control over the club, you can grip a little lower than usual. Then follow up with a few strokes with the ball, keeping the unused hand on the hip or back. Repeat with the left hand before hitting a few balls with both hands and the normal golf grip.