19th Hole
LPGA blasted over ‘outright offensive’ provisions at Q-School event despite scorching heat
On Thursday, over 300 players started their arduous run through the first stage of the 2022 LPGA and Epson Tour Q-school.
It’s an incredible number, and whilst spread across three courses – Dinah Shore and Palmer at Mission Hills, and Shadow Ridge at Palm Desert – rounds are sure to take longer than usual, and be boiling hot!
The hopefuls will initially look to complete 54 holes without a score of 88 or higher, all gaining an Epson card, with the top 100 gaining access to Stage II in October.
The enormous field contains seven Epson Tour players that will now have played for six weeks in a row, many admitting that the balance between rest and competition is vital, yet taking no time off to prepare for the desert heat. As Ryan French might say, “That’s grinding.”
The pressure to succeed here is as high as it is for any event, with the reward of a full main tour card in the dreams of many. Therefore, as a player, you would expect the best of treatment from the organizers.
Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols revealed on Twitter on Wednesday that they may not be the case!
Beth Ann let her followers know that at Mission Hills this week the temperature is well over 100 degrees, and whilst the players can use carts to get around, there is very little water available on the course.
Stage I of LPGA Q-School is this week at Mission Hills, where it's currently 104 degrees. There are 300+ players in the field.
The good news: Players get to take carts.
The bad news: Hearing there's no water on the course. No snacks.
It's BYOC! Bring your own cooler. Oh my.
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) August 17, 2022
Originally saying there was ‘no water…no snacks’, she agreed with one respondent that there was some water on the opening holes of each half at both of the Mission Hills courses, although commented:
“If I’m paying $2,500 for a tournament, I don’t think it’s too much to ask for water on the course in coolers like a standard event. Especially when it’s outrageously hot.”
Tweeters were very much in support of the exasperated Nichols, an outspoken and fervent supporter of the women’s game, with one pointing out the affluent area in which the event is set: “Wow that is kind of sad that those that run the event and collect all the entry fee $$ can’t provide drinks. Especially in Rancho Mirage.”
One thought was that Mission Hills may have been responding to the way it lost the Chevron Championship after a 51-year run, backed-up by another stating, “Why doesn’t the LPGA get it? Mission Hills doesn’t want you there!”
The LPGA amended its rules after many years of allowing amateur players to play all stages of Q-school, this year insisting that those that advance to the final, grueling, eight-round stage turn professional.
They will clearly need stamina from the very get-go and Beth’s followers were quick to back her up.
That is unacceptable and embarrassing. Actually it’s outright offensive. $2500 and trying to play in a tournament that can make your career…but, bring your own refreshments. Asinine.
— Diablo Sandwich (@sandwich_diablo) August 18, 2022
Of course, the weather is as hard to read as the outcome of any golf tournament and, yes; the courses have held the event for many years beforehand, but it is hard to believe that the organizers could not have made conditions at least a tad more comfortable.
Thankfully, on day two things were put right.
LPGA Q-School water update: Players had water on the carts today. And a few coolers were added to the course.
Good to hear.
Also, Anais Meyssonnier shot ? 63 ? to take the first-round lead.
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) August 19, 2022
More from the 19th Hole
- ‘Your tee times at Augusta are numbered’ – Wife of Masters legend lashes out at Bryson DeChambeau
- Why Phil Mickelson’s Open playing partner told Lefty that he’s hated him for 11 years
- YouTube sensation ejected by Brooks Koepka at Open Championship party
- LIKE73
- LEGIT15
- WOW12
- LOL13
- IDHT3
- FLOP2
- OB2
- SHANK32
19th Hole
Brandel Chamblee has a surprising new take on the PGA Tour-LIV stand-off
One of the more outspoken analysts throughout the LIV Golf vs. PGA Tour saga has been Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee.
This week, Chamblee reversed course, saying he believes the PGA Tour should strike a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Private Investment Fund (PIF).
Golf Channel Brandel Chamblee in his biggest about-face since the Framework Agreement on June 6, now says that making a deal with the PIF "is the better end of the bargain."
He says:
"The PGA Tour is in this pickle like it or not, but, do you want to compete with someone (LIV… pic.twitter.com/XDZaC1I6B8
— JCAGOLFReport (@JCAGOLFReport) May 10, 2024
“The PGA Tour is in this pickle like it or not, but, do you want to compete with someone who’s not going to go away, who can outspend you”.
“Every move they make that makes their tour better deletes your tour and causes more division within the tour. So the time is now, to Rory’s point about making a deal, I wouldn’t have said that a year ago… but it is the better end of the bargain.”
Chamblee’s new stance seems to be in line with that of Rory McIlroy, who reportedly wanted to rejoin the PGA Tour board with hopes of pushing a deal with the PIF closer to the finish line.
Chamblee will be in the booth for next week’s PGA Championship which has 16 LIV players in the field.
More from the 19th Hole
- Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game “on a much more global basis”
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
New here?
- LIKE18
- LEGIT5
- WOW3
- LOL0
- IDHT1
- FLOP3
- OB0
- SHANK25
19th Hole
Xander Schauffele explains free drop ruling during round one of Wells Fargo Championship
During Thursday’s opening round of the Wells Fargo Championship, Xander Schauffele blasted his tee shot in the woods to the right of the fairway on the par-4 8th hole.
The ball was almost not found, but Xander’s group managed to track it down just before the three-minute time limit was reached.
When the ball was found, it was just beyond the penalty area close to a fence. In the moment, it seemed incredibly unlikely that Schauffele would be able to hit the ball through the trees towards the green.
However, through the woods and above the fairway, there was a hanging wire from a ShotLink tower that Xander claimed was in his way. He was then granted relief, and two club lengths from the spot positioned him all the way out of trouble. He played his ball onto the front of the green and two-putted for par.
Here is the full video of the interaction between Schauffele and the rules official.
??? #WATCH — The full video of the Xander Schauffele #DropGate situation ?
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) May 9, 2024
After the round, Xander said he “got really lucky.”
“Got really lucky multiple times, on 1 with Wyndham finding it, 2, being able to move the rocks, and 3, the ShotLink tower being in like my only shot line possible. To walk out there with sort of a no breeze 4 with what I thought was almost out was a really good break.”
“Yeah, I hit it in the trees. My ball was probably like a foot, two feet from the fence. If I — ball was here, fence was kind of here, hitting back this direction.
“If I went towards the green, the fence kind of worked this way so I had what I could hit, a 4-iron or something low and just kind of run it through. If it gets stuck, I’ll just kind of hit my next one out. But I brought the rules official in there with me because I was like, you’ve got to be OK with this because this is literally the only shot I can hit.”
“So Austin [Kaiser] and I moved two massive rocks that weren’t embedded and then I got relief out of the junk and then hit a pretty good shot on the green from there. What was a very stressful moment turned into a pretty stressless par.”
Schauffele finished the round at seven under, which gives him a three-shot lead going into Friday’s second round.
More from the 19th Hole
- Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game “on a much more global basis”
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
New here?
- LIKE7
- LEGIT4
- WOW3
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB1
- SHANK11
19th Hole
Report: Tiger Woods voted against Rory McIlroy returning to policy board; Will be the only player negotiating directly with Saudis
According to a report from The Telegraph, the relationship between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy has soured.
Last week, reports surfaced that McIlroy, who was a member of the PGA Tour policy board during most of the past few years, was looking to rejoin the board, presumably taking Webb Simpson’s seat.
However, on Wednesday, McIlroy revealed that he will not be rejoining the policy board, due to people on the board being “uncomfortable” with that “for some reason.”
Here's Rory McIlroy talking about the PGA Tour policy board and the "subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason." pic.twitter.com/0skNOwtWxz
— Patrick McDonald (@pmcdonaldCBS) May 8, 2024
The Telegraph has reported that Tiger Woods was among the players who voted against McIlroy returning to the policy board.
The divide is apparently due to McIlroy pushing for the game of golf to unify, whereas Woods, reportedly, believes the PGA Tour is in a fine position where it currently stands.
The Associated Press added another wrinkle to the situation, reporting that Woods is the only player who will be negotiating directly with the Saudis.
The other members of the committee are PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, board chairman Joe Gorder, John W. Henry of Fenway Sports Group, and Joe Ogilvie, who was a former PGA Tour player.
- LIKE28
- LEGIT6
- WOW12
- LOL6
- IDHT1
- FLOP3
- OB2
- SHANK30
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
LET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
-
19th Hole3 days ago
Report: LIV star turns down PGA Championship invite due to ‘personal commitments’
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Gary Player claims this is what ‘completely ruined’ Tiger Woods’ career
-
Whats in the Bag2 weeks ago
Team McIlowry (Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry) winning WITBs: 2024 Zurich Classic
-
Equipment1 week ago
Golf fans left surprised by LIV’s choice of course for its 2024 individual championship event
-
19th Hole1 week ago
LIV star splits with swing coach after working together for 14 years