LPGA Players Heading East & West for More Action

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 29, 2009 4:02 PM EST Comment 8 comments

A few months ago, Mostly Harmless was the first to tell us about the possible dual-card scenarios for a number of Asian-born LPGA Tour members who would seek cards on the KLPGA and JLPGA tours for '10.

Ultimately, the number dual card holders turned out to be pretty low, but the decision by that minority to hold cards in two places was significant. It told us that players were afraid to bet their careers on the LPGA Tour schedule alone and that they needed more places to play with a thin '10 schedule.

That also proved to be true for American and European players. A number of LPGA Tour members from those ethnicities teed it up in both the LPGA Tour and LET Q-School tournaments. Among them are Alison Walshe and Mariajo Uribe, and others.

Walshe told Jim McCabe of Golfweek, "Even with full-time status (on the LPGA tour in 2010), there won’t be a lot of playing opportunities. There’ll only be something like 13 full-field events."

In other words, the same rationale of the Asian-born players.

"I think it’s important to have (playing) options, because there are gaps in the LPGA tour schedule where you would have six weeks off," Walshe said to McCabe.

Makes sense considering the aforementioned massive gaps in the '10 LPGA schedule. If the LPGA Tour can regain a more full schedule for '11 and beyond, will the dual card idea fade or is this the wave of the future for women's golf - effectively, an informal global tour created out of necessity?

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It’s nice of McCabe to romanticize life on Tour like this – but what these women are facing is a great deal more practical than this article.

Very simply – IF they want to have monetary success as a professional golfer – which, when it is all boiled down, is the first priority to being in business for yourself – then they have to have places to play. If that requires them to get cards on two or even three tours – then the ones who need to do it and really want it will do just that.

This is not all about “competitive fire” and “love of the game” – those are luxuries for amateurs. Of course they are components of being a professional athlete – and it certainly doesn’t hurt to love what they do – but if they find that they can’t pay the bills while continent hopping – then they will soon find themselves looking for a new line of work.

Plain and simple.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 29, 2009 4:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It comes down to making money, like you said. The only way to do that is playing anywhere they can for the most they can.

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by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 29, 2009 4:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

THE NEW WAVE

Court, R.B. I hate to say I tol ya so, but for the last year, Ol Easing in the UK and I have said that an INTERNATIONAL TOUR is inevitable for any tours survival and players ability to play and make money….I think that the LPGA, ELT, JPGA,KPGA brass all better sit down, put the schedules on the table, so that there aren’t too many duplicates per week and get on with it….The Tennis people figured this out years ago, and look what their players income potential is…Hey Easing…if you read this, and you can put the new sticks down for a bit, jump right in…STUB

by thinker on Dec 30, 2009 6:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The tennis people didn’t really figure anything out. What they did was set up a bunch of lower cost events for the players outside the top 24. The money got big in the majors and what became the Mercedes events that the top players didn’t have to push themselves. They play half the year and plan their training around the majors, Mecedes, and a lucrative exhibition schedule. They also had the international appeal of Davis Cup to build interest in more local tournaments.

I do agree with you, though, on Tours growing together – but it’s not going to happen with the US PGA Tour anytime real soon. Most of the schedule is locked in through 2014 and some further than that. The problem here is always going to be TV. They are a huge part of the PGA Tour’s budget and travelling around the world on a regular basis isn’t something they’re going to want to do.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 30, 2009 6:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

but I have to disagree on the tennis side…Years back, their honchos figured out how to set schedules to generate more income to the players…I had several live in my home during that time…and when we’re talking about golf, it’s those lovely young things in short skirts, long limbed….AW…but I digress here..it’s the ladies…Gawd, I love um all…STUB

by thinker on Dec 30, 2009 7:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

you didn’t explain much of your thought…granted…you had a very distracting secondary thought kick in there. (lol)

most tennis tournaments are only 32 players – only majors and a couple of others are 124. most golf tournaments are at least 144-150. much easier to put together a tennis tournament – takes less time – less space – and less money. nobody goes home empty handed in a tennis tournament – half the field slams the trunk on Friday in a golf tournament without a dime. logistically – tennis is MUCH easier.

and if the men ever decide to take their heads out of their butts and learn how to play the whole court the way the game was played before McEnroe retired, instead of sitting at the baseline playing women’s tennis – the only thing that will draw crowds to the women’s tournaments will be those tight tops and short skirts.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 30, 2009 10:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

good lord – my typing is horrendous – only the majors and a few others have 128 players. (not 124)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 30, 2009 10:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Other factors..

On the Tennis analogy……Part of the lure of Tennis is that the “majors” are co-ed. I can catch a good Men’s match, then a good Ladies match….There are even mixed doubles…this is part of the tour’s ability to survive. There is a dedicated Men’s circuit, and a ladies, then there are these joint events. It’s a winning formula….Still it’s a tough sell in a world overflowing with Sport and Entertainment. There are only so many sponsorship dollars, and so many Television opportunities. As Golf fans, the ladies game is easy to watch, but the name recognition of the players is tough for us lazy americans. The Korean players come at us in droves, and they leave as fast as we can learn about them. Realistically, their names can be confusing, and there is a language barrier. Poor Carolyn Bivens got caught up in that one. The sex sells thing is demeaning to the hard working ladies who are professional golfers. I have nothing against a woman looking good, and, playing golf, but the pinup girl/golfer thing is off-putting. I agree ultimately, that the Woman’s game must be global, and that the tours must work together. It’s easier to have a Worlds #1 then just the LPGA’s #1. I hope that brighter times are ahead, and that some of the tournaments return over here, but this is an opportunity for Women’s golf to be united. I hope it happens.

"The game is swell when it's played well."

by Fairways and Grins on Jan 2, 2010 12:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs