19th Hole
LPGA star Jin Young Ko is on a greens-in-regulation streak that defies belief
Two weeks ago, we highlighted how the race to the LPGA titles, both the Rolex rankings winner plus Player Of The Year were too close to call with Jin Young Ko and Nelly Korda clear at the top but with the width of a hair between them.
Things got even tighter as the 23-year-old Floridian won a play-off for the Pelican Women’s Championship, meaning the two had split eight LPGA tournaments between them, and it was all down to the final event, the CME Group Tour Championship.
After three rounds, the pair could not be split and, whilst nothing is taken away from the other joint-leaders Celine Boutier and Nasa Hataoka, this is what LPGA fans were hoping to see – the Big Two fighting down the stretch.
There was only one winner, and she did so in record-breaking style.
Despite not being able to practise pre-tournament due to a wrist issue, the 26-year-old South Korean posted some impressive stats throughout her final 63 holes.
24 birdies since the 10th on Thursday – one-shot runner-up Hataoka also posted 24, whilst Korda hit 18 and an eagle – the undisputed world number one achieved this off a remarkable 63 consecutive greens-in-regulation (!?), a record that has never been close to that and may never do so again, or at least for a very long time.
Put into context, Justin Ray tweeted that Tiger Woods best-recorded figure was 29 greens and that the longest in PGA history was Mike Heinen with 50+ back in 1995.
The embrace by Korda was surely tinged with disappointment, but if you are going to come undisputed second, do it to a player that in her last ten starts has five wins, a second. two six-place finishes and a ninth.
More from the 19th Hole
- How Danielle Kang instantly added 20-30 yards of distance off the tee with one change
- Symetra pro opens up on the harsh financial realities of life on Tour
- Why Nelly Korda has hired a new swing coach despite season of dominance
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19th Hole
LET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
On Friday morning, Ladies European Tour player, Hannah Gregg, took to social media to share her weekly expenses playing on the LET.
Expenses of my first week on Ladies European Tour:
Flights: $2600
Work Visa: $350
Food: $377
Caddie: $0 because I have an amazing Fiancé
Hotel: $0 because @GregChalmersPGA sorted me host housing for the week! ?
Rental Car: +0 because the Tour Tee guys GAVE me their car ??…— Hannah Gregg (@hannahbggg) April 26, 2024
“Expenses of my first week on Ladies European Tour: Flights: $2600 Work Visa: $350
- Food: $377
- Caddie: $0 because I have an amazing Fiancé
- Hotel: $0 because @GregChalmersPGA sorted me host housing for the week!
- Rental Car: +0 because the Tour Tee guys GAVE me their car
- Gas: $165
- Entry Fee: $130
- Lounge Pass for caddie: $50
- Gym: $0
- Yardage book: $0
- Total expenses: $3672
Made cut, finished 54th, total earned: $1244 Factor in 35% tax on earnings. To break even, needed to finish 24th. To make money, 21st. Guess we have our goals laid out for next event!”
When factoring in Gregg’s free housing, free caddie and free rental car, it’s evident that most LET players would have to finish well inside of the top-20 to make any money.
With ridiculous amounts of money being thrown around in professional golf these days, it’s important to remember the other side of the coin as well. There are countless professionals out there who struggle to get by on their golf salary.
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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19th Hole
54-hole golf tour deemed eligible for OWGR points…but it’s not LIV
After a seventeen-month application process, a 54-hole golf tour was deemed eligible for OWGR points.
Unfortunately, for LIV Golf and their fans, it was the Clutch Pro Tour.
After the decision, which is effective immediately, OWGR chairman Peter Dawson issued a statement.
“This is a significant milestone for golf, and OWGR is deeply encouraged by the achievement and the continued efforts in developing the sport of golf in the United Kingdom.”
“We look forward to watching the progress of the Clutch Pro Tour as it continues to play a key role in the development of players from the region,” Dawson added.
OWGR Announcement
Read more here – https://t.co/7J4bFpawqv#OWGR#OfficialWorldGolfRanking pic.twitter.com/ZfBJWCFAm8— OWGR (@OWGRltd) April 25, 2024
The Clutch Pro Tour operates in the United Kingdom and features a 36-hole cut. It also has an open qualifying school.
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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19th Hole
Charlie Woods attempting to qualify for spot at 2024 U.S. Open
As first reported by Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated, Charlie Woods will be attempting to qualify for this year’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
The first stage of qualifying for this year’s tournament will be an 18-hole local event on Thursday, April 25th, in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
There will be 84 players in the field, five of which will reach the 36-hole qualifier that will take place in June.
Earlier this season, Charlie attempted to qualify for the Cognizant Classic, and struggled, shooting an 86.
If the younger Woods is able to qualify, he will tee it up in the same field as his father in a few months at one of the more historic U.S. Open venues.
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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