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
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According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, a man has been charged in Chicago with stealing millions of dollars’ worth of memorabilia from Augusta National.
The man, Robert Globensky, was charged with transporting the memorabilia across state lines.
The report states that between 2009 and 2022, Globensky allegedly transported “millions of dollars’ worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and historical memorabilia” from Augusta National “and transported to Tampa, Florida, knowing the same had been stolen, converted and taken by fraud.”
The document was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Per the court records there is no mention that Globensky worked for the golf club.
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Over the past few weeks, two of LIV Golf’s biggest stars, Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson, have both expressed that they believe LIV could go to 72 holes.
While speaking to BBC Sport, Rahm said he “wouldn’t mind” going to 72 holes.
“If there ever was a way where LIV could go to 72 holes I think it would help all of this argument a lot.”
“The closer I think we can get LIV Golf to some other things the better. I think it would be for some kind of unification to feed into a world tour or something like that.
“I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I definitely wouldn’t mind going back to 72 holes.”
Phil Mickelson, while speaking after his final round at The Masters, also said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if LIV went to 72 holes.
“I don’t think it makes a difference either way. We’ve got mini-tours playing 54, Champions Tour playing 54. I wouldn’t be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72. I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I enjoy the competition.”
Another one of LIV’s top players, Talor Gooch, expressed on Wednesday that he feels quite differently.
“It’s just funny to me, this arbitrary number of 72.”
“Why is it not 90? “Why is it not 108? We just decided to make that number the number, for what reason?”
“Everyone’s talked about world ranking points and all this stuff, but no one’s talked about what do the fans enjoy more?”
“People want something that’s going to be more exciting. And I personally think that the 54 holes is more exciting for the fans.”
After Gooch’s comments, I decided to get some fan feedback for myself, making a poll on X. With about 4,500 votes in at the time of writing this, roughly 84% of voters in the poll indicated they’d prefer 72 holes to just 16% saying they’d prefer 54.
Rahm prefers 72 holes
Gooch prefers 54 holesWhere do the fans stand?
— Matt Vincenzi (@MattVincenziPGA) April 17, 2024
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Earlier this week, rumors began to fly that Rory McIlroy could be making a shock switch to LIV Golf which caused quite the stir on social media.
However, on Tuesday, McIlroy emphatically shut down those rumors, telling Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town:
“I honestly don’t know how these things get started. I’ve never been offered a number from LIV and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. Again I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me.
It’s unfortunate that we have to deal with it and this is the state that our game’s in. I’m obviously here today and I’m playing this PGA Tour event next week and I will play the PGA Tour for the rest of my career.”
Golf Channel analyst and longtime LIV critic, Brandel Chamblee, took to social media before McIlroy’s statement to point the finger at “Saudis/LIV,” who he believes started the rumor:
I have no doubt that this rumor was started by Saudis/LIV… to benefit Saudis/LIV after such a poor showing, as a group, at The Masters.
I’d be very surprised if this turns out to be true. https://t.co/SWNgjHtWSM
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 16, 2024
When one user pushed back on Chamblee’s claim that LIV golfers had a poor showing at the Masters, Brandel went further into why he believes the opening major of the year was a failure for the breakaway tour.
You think they paid 3 billion for a few top tens and to be +82 as a group at major? A senior citizen beat some of their “stars” and almost all the game’s of LIV players have deteriorated since they sold their souls to the Saudis who only bought a moment in time… nothing else. https://t.co/xERkYsztIJ
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 16, 2024
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