LPGA's New Celebrity Pro-Am Ready to Go

by Mulligan Stu on Dec 18, 2007 5:07 PM EST Comment 7 comments

You may recall a Waggle Room post from about a month ago detailing a lawsuit filed against the Fairmont Turnberry Isle in Aventura, Fla., for an alleged contract breach relating to a religious retreat April 24-27, 2008, at the resort.

That weekend coincided with the "TBA" dates on the LPGA's 2008 schedule, and that was the problem: the resort and the LPGA wanted to hold a tournament that weekend.

Well, all's well that ends well. The retreat group and the resort worked out a deal a couple weeks ago, and now the LPGA has announced the latest addition to its schedule: the Stanford International Pro-Am, April 24-27. A 72-hole pro-am tournament with a $2 million purse and $300,000 first prize.

While the LPGA release doesn't make mention of celebrities, this tournament will be a celebrity pro-am in the mold of Pebble Beach.

LPGA players and their celebrity or amateur partners will play 36 holes before the cut, with the Top 70 players and Top 20 pro-am teams moving on to the third round.

The team champions are crowned following the third round, then the LPGA players move on to the final round.

As I've mentioned before, I'm not a fan of celebrity pro-ams on the PGA Tour. I see enough bad golf when I play it; why would I want to see more on TV? Show me the good shots.

But I love the idea for the LPGA, assuming the tour can draw a good crop of celebrities. The LPGA needs all the help it can get in drawing attention to its players and its tours, and this event has the potential to draw more interest than a typical LPGA, non-major event.

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Celebrity Pro-Ams

Seems to me that the celebrity part of these tournaments is for the patrons to get a little "up close" time with some of their favorites.

There is one thing I have enjoyed the last couple of years. The high speed, high def cameras used to show swings and club-ball contact are fascinating. Showing the pros making dead solid center contact isn't nearly as much fun as watching how the clubs react to the off center hits of the amateurs. We get to see some of what happens when we do the same things during our rounds.

The other thing that makes the AT&T worth watching is the venue itself. The three courses are some of the most beautiful and challenging anywhere in the world.

The LPGA will be playing at a Florida resort course. Flat and bland. I'm just not seeing the attraction of a celebrity pro-am with the women. A good amateur will not be as consitent as his/her partner, but a good male amateur may out drive his LPGA partner - and the number of Koreans with limited English skills will hamper the interaction between the pro and her partner.

You would assume that the LPGA will approach women celebrities to play, but I have a feeling that will be pretty embarrassing to have on television. Catherine Zeta-Jones is pretty decent (and ALWAYS fun to look at), but I haven't seen or heard of any other good woman celeb golfers.

Maybe the Golf Chick can help with the list ?

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 18, 2007 8:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Celebrity Pro-Ams

I'll watch and wouldn't it be fun to see 4 or 8 'at large' players? Folks like you and me with an opportunity to humiliate ourselves! Only with fees that we could afford without having to take second (or maybe third) mortgates?

Keep it in the short grass

by Acemakr on Dec 18, 2007 8:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

whatever it takes (grits teeth)

if this brings more American eyes to the LPGA, all the better. 'nuff said.

by The Constructivist on Dec 18, 2007 11:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

hmmm

"whatever it takes" ?? last time that phrase was used in connection with the LPGA, it was to defend Natalie Gulbis' calendars and modelling career - which turned into discussions of mini-skirts on tour and body molded clothes.

Personally, I'd rather see the ladies get some recognition for being great golfers. I hope you're right about the pro-am getting a little more attention.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 19, 2007 11:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs