Maria Hjorth Reacts to DQ from Kraft Nabisco for Missing Pro-Am
by Ryan Ballengee on Apr 1, 2010 12:47 AM EDT
in Pro Golf
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PrintMaria Hjorth and two other LPGA Tour players - 1993 Kraft Nabisco champion Helen Alfredsson and Shanshan Feng - were disqualified on Wednesday by the LPGA Tour for being late to their pro-am tee times.
As reported by Golfweek's Sean Martin, Feng was scheduled to be in the pro-am at noon on Tuesday. She was late to the tee, but caught up with her group and finished the round.
Hjorth and Alfredsson, though, were the first and second alternates for the Wednesday pro-am. When Amy Alcott withdrew from the event, Seon Hwa Lee replaced her in the pro-am. Then, Patty Sheehan missed her tee time. Hjorth then Alfredsson were called up to substitute for Sheehan. Both failed to answer the bell and both were disqualified.
Maria Hjorth responded to the disqualification on Twitter.
She said that she attempted to use her one-time exemption from pro-ams as allowed under LPGA Tour rules, but was denied.
"I found out too late that I was in [the pro-am]. I asked for it but they didn't allow it. Very annoying!"
Hjorth sees a triple DQ as something wrong with the LPGA's system, not the individuals penalized. "When 3 people get DQ'd for the same thing, is that not wrong"
The situation has quickly raised the twofold issue of the LPGA Tour having two pro-ams during a major championship week, and the penalty of disqualifying players from a major for missing said pro-ams.
Hjorth said plainly that in a "limited field, a fine works."
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The blonde logic doesn’t make much sense – the number of people getting DQ’d is irrelevant – but I’m with her on the ridiculousness of the rule. Punishing the people who are called in on a moment’s notice doesn’t seem right. Even more so in a major.
I realize that Pro-Am’s are a significant revenue stream for the LPGA, but the PGA Tour doesn’t have pro-ams at majors or WGC’s because they recognize the importance of these tournaments.
It would be interesting to know what is required of the replacements before they are actually put in a group. Are they required to be on site like the players who are definitely assigned to a group ? How much notice is a player required to give that they won’t be able to make it ? Why isn’t the player who pulled out in the first place DQ’d for not showing up ?
If the replacement players are required to be there with the rest of the players that are definitely in a group, I can understand a fine or some other punishment – but not a DQ, especially if the original players aren’t punished the same way. If you’re going to have a pro-am, the players have to be there – you can’t leave the people who paid big bucks hanging like that.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
A DQ is just too much for a major championship.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Apr 1, 2010 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions
it's even worse
Hjorth and Alfredsson were replacements for Patty Sheehan, who wasn’t even in the field! I ranted about it over at HDLPGA.
Ya see that
Michelle Wie isn’t the only one that get penalized. The DQ is a perfect example of that.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Jumpin...first things first
with all the flooding up East, are your relatives OK? now, as to the DQ (and folks, that doesn’t mean Dairy Queen)….What is the mechanism used to notify players that they are in the field…How much lead time is given? I don’t care what the PGA Tour does, we’re talking LPGA so lets keep it there…I think Hjorth is partially right, in that it is a limited field event…Why not a fine? Court is also partially right…you can’t leave the people who payed large sums to play hanging with no pro partner….Why were 2 alternates called on just for Sheehan’s pull out? I think until we know more of what actually took/takes place, we are just whistling in the dark…STUB
Hjorth was called on first, when she couldn’t be reached then Alfredsson was called. When she couldn’t be reached, Gulbis was called. Natalie exercised her option to beg off playing. Michele Redman filled the spot.
Either Sheehan screwed up and started this mess or the Tour/KNC officials screwed up by not informing her she was playing in the pro-am. The Tour then compounded it by applying the “no pro-am, no tournament” rule to players being forced to replace a player who wasn’t in the tournament in the first place. Ridiculous.
Hound...
Ryan’s post is confusing…he said “failed to answer the bell”…but nowhere mentions that she (Hjorth) wasn’t reached as you said in your post above…do you know for a fact she wasn’t reached? Hjorth also states she attempted to use her exemption but was denied, so that kind of says she did get contacted….I agree that DQ seems a bit stiff, but there is much we don’t know about the whole situation…Until it’s cleared up, I vote we wait for details….STUB
come on Stub – RB’s an old school kind of guy – he still has a rotary phone at home with the actual bell ;-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
“Answer the bell” is a good ole boxing reference! (Which I’m sure you know.)
What I don’t know is how long a player has to get to the tee to participate in a pro-am when they are called upon as an alternate.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Apr 1, 2010 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the question about failing to “answer the bell” vs not answering the phone is the problem.
If you don’t answer your phone for whatever reason – you never got the message. BUT – if you “fail to answer the bell”, the inference is that you were there and in the game, but didn’t come out of the corner.
Dog says she didn’t answer the phone…which brings its own set of questions if you know you’re on the alternate list. Who knows ? She might have been in the shower and didn’t hear the phone…or was out of the room for a minute. (Or she was wearing a white skirt…) ;-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
You bet Ryan
I have also had my “Bell Rung” many times over the years. As I like to put it when asked by people about my boxing career, I tell them. “I taught a few lessons and learned many”
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Stubbo,, Thanks for asking.
Being from a family of “OLD SALTS” from coastal communities, most of my relatives homes were built on high ground overlooking the Atlantic. There was a lot of flooding on the coast I am told, but mostly overflowing from the Salt Marshes. Inland I am told the rivers are real bad. The club I belong to up there, www.wentworthbytheseacc.com is 60% under water at the moment. I’m flying up there tomorrow to check on my summer place. I hear it’s going to be almost 80 degrees up there this weekend.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Good to hear, and if
things got too bad, they could do like Noah, and just get on the boats hehehe…yea, 80 and already TONS OF MISQUITOES….take yur off buddy…and oh yea….don’t fall in the water this time….STUB
Hound, according
to what the caddy (Smich) said, Maria was notified by another player…Did she verify it? no way to know….Her caddy also was told the day before, but did he notify Maria.. Something isn’t right here….I cannot see the LPGA brass DQ ing players for no really good reason…As was said on another post crucifying another player just recently, “the rules are the rules” and need applying to all….STUB
From a corporate standpoint – the rule does have a good reason – Pro-Am’s are a significant revenue stream for the Tour, and you can’t just have players not show up. A fine isn’t likely to affect a player like Alfredsson or Feng – they are almost always a slap on the wrist – but a DQ can affect a player in a lot of ways.
It doesn’t seem that the penalty is so much out of line as the process – and this is the test case to get things re-worked. The players are told why these pro-ams are important and why they have to take them seriously, but penalizing a player without confirmation that they have been notified tells me that they need to change the process.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Court, your making an assumption
here…that she wasn’t notified or any confirmation was done….Nothing in the caddys version or Ryans even suggests otherwise…I don’t think we have all the evidence that’s needed to make a good judgement….sorry about that….STUB
Meanwhile
My Gal Pal , The always lovely Suzzan Pettersen, is in first place at the LPGA first womans major of the year. hmmmmmm, where could Michelle Wie be ? T-14,, sorry had to go there. :o)
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Well, hmmmmmmmmmmmm.....lets see
The last time you gloated about your “Gal Pal” she tripped and fell flat on her face…..you just put the kiss of death on her……lol lol. Boy, the fantasy game sucks. I had Casey and VJ and they both crapped out on me…….30th place after first day…….6th place overall. Why doesn’t our bench player automatically activate if a player WD’s or Drops out…..I mean, it’s not my fault these guys are falling apart physically……..lol
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
You had Casey AND VJ??!!!!
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!! Oh dear Oh Dear Oh Dear!!!!! Wiping tears of laughter – sorry, Em.
See EM..
I told ya to watch out and cover yur back…we knew about Jumpins mean streak, but now here come Wendy showing true colors….STUB
One thing I think we have all missed here...
and that is the expense of coming to play the Nabisco….If she wasn’t going to play, could have stayed home and saved the money….Can’t be that cheap to fly, an abode, eat, etc…Wendy, did you notice I said etc. and not drinks? See how my self control is increasing…gawdamighty….STUB
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