2025 LPGA Season Odds and Ends

[Argonne69]

Happy New Year, everyone. 

 

Should be another interesting season. Will be curious to see if there are any big changes with a new commissioner coming aboard. A number of players had hot seasons, and will be looking to continue their solid play. Just as many players had meh season, and will be looking forward to getting back in the winner's circle.

 

[18majors]

36 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Happy New Year, everyone. 

 

Should be another interesting season. Will be curious to see if there are any big changes with a new commissioner coming aboard. A number of players had hot seasons, and will be looking to continue their solid play. Just as many players had meh season, and will be looking forward to getting back in the winner's circle.

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

 

The foremost question in my mind is which country will win the most tournaments, my take:

1. USA
2. Japan
3. South Korea
4. Thailand
5. Australia

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

 

@Argonne69 Is the "Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco" (mentioned below, for the KPMG Women's PGA Championship) 

= the same course that you recently played when you were in the Frisco area? 

Did you bump into JYK in Frisco?

 

 

[Argonne69]

9 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

@Argonne69 Is the "Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco" (mentioned below, for the KPMG Women's PGA Championship) 

= the same course that you recently played when you were in the Frisco area? 

Did you bump into JYK in Frisco?

 

 

 

Yes, it's the same course. The LPGA will be playing the KPMG there next year.

 

No, unfortunately I didn't run into Jin Young. The weather was pretty bad, and there were few players out on the range and practice area.

 

[18majors]

 

Lexi kept a secret from all of us:

 

"Congratulations to Lexi Thompson and her partner, who got engaged on New Year's Day in Whistler, Canada."

 

[Lobby]

It’s gonna be weird for me with all the retirements / lost playing privileges 

 

What a hard life these ladies attempt

[18majors]

Did anyone miss Rose:

 

 

[Argonne69]

5 hours ago, Lobby said:

It’s gonna be weird for me with all the retirements / lost playing privileges 

 

What a hard life these ladies attempt

 

Always plenty of young talent to step in an fill the void. 

 

We know that most players barely break even for the year, but the top players earn a decent living. Life on the road is tough, though. 

 

 

[3eagles]

Christmas is over. New years is done.

4 weeks from today they fire it up. 👍

 

Kinda interesting with social media to see the players and what they do during break.

Lexi in Whistler. Nelly in Park City. Lydia in New Zealand.

Almost like they're using the break to finally get in some travelling.  Lol  😀😅

[WorkItBothWays]

15 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

Lexi kept a secret from all of us:

 

"Congratulations to Lexi Thompson and her partner, who got engaged on New Year's Day in Whistler, Canada."

 

When I was scrolling down and hadn't seen the image I wasn't sure what to expect. Good luck to them.

[WorkItBothWays]

14 hours ago, 18majors said:

Did anyone miss Rose:

 

 

Love the swing and I'm thinking Rose will take it to another level this year.

[Rapidcat]

15 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

Lexi kept a secret from all of us:

 

"Congratulations to Lexi Thompson and her partner, who got engaged on New Year's Day in Whistler, Canada."

 

 

Should have proposed on a beach somewhere hot.

[3eagles]

LPGA has published the early tournament entries for first few months of season.

TOC, Founders, Asian Swing and West Coast.

 

30 entered so far at TOC. I think 37 would be qualified. The 2 year qualifying really saved their field this year after Nelly won 7 and 4 players claimed about half the titles in '24.

 

 

[Seamus_McDuff]

26 minutes ago, 3eagles said:

LPGA has published the early tournament entries for first few months of season.

TOC, Founders, Asian Swing and West Coast.

 

30 entered so far at TOC. I think 37 would be qualified. The 2 year qualifying really saved their field this year after Nelly won 7 and 4 players claimed about half the titles in '24.

 

 

Wish they would put out the Priority List. 
 

A few thoughts looking at Founder’s entries. 
 

Gillman finished 80th but listed 93rd. That’s 13 in cat 1 on either medical or maternity, same as last year. 
 

Danielle Kang using Career Top 40

 

All 11-15 on EPSON currently can get in if they want. 
 

Don’t understand some in 101-125 who didn’t bother with Final Stage to improve status but are still looking to play. 

[3eagles]

One entry I was happy to see in Founders.

Ingee Chun   🌟👍

[Titleist_PT23]

5 hours ago, Seamus_McDuff said:

Wish they would put out the Priority List. 
 

A few thoughts looking at Founder’s entries. 
 

Gillman finished 80th but listed 93rd. That’s 13 in cat 1 on either medical or maternity, same as last year. 
 

Danielle Kang using Career Top 40

 

All 11-15 on EPSON currently can get in if they want. 
 

Don’t understand some in 101-125 who didn’t bother with Final Stage to improve status but are still looking to play. 

I was also looking for the priority list today.  Following up on the next post, In Gee is playing out of the Major Winner category.  Maybe she didn't need to "exercise" this like Career Top 20/Top 40, but at least she is playing.

[JungleJimbo]

14 minutes ago, Titleist_PT23 said:

I was also looking for the priority list today.  Following up on the next post, In Gee is playing out of the Major Winner category.  Maybe she didn't need to "exercise" this like Career Top 20/Top 40, but at least she is playing.

 

The LPGA Priority List = probably published circa end-Jan (based on previous years trend)

... i went searching for it today too!

(perhaps interestingly... there was a ~Draft~ Priority List uploaded to the LPGA website previously (Dec 2023!  ... brownie points if you can find similar for 2025!)

 

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

Folks might like these "2024 Storylines and Statistics" and "2025 Tour Schedule" documents that have been uploaded to the LPGA's media website.

 

 

https://media.lpga.com/docs/librariesprovider3/2024-season-long-docs/2024-lpga-tour-storylines-and-statistics.pdf?sfvrsn=dd137646_3

 

 

https://media.lpga.com/

 

 

Edited January 4 by JungleJimbo

[18majors]

 

Gary Williams is starting his new Golf Channel program with a Bang!

 

 

[AKL Kiwi]

Despite the PIF again putting up US$5M prize money and no LPGA event clashing the LET event on 13th - 15th Feb none of the top RR players have committed yet. Perhaps the Saudi's need to up that now to attract the best LPGA players from the US to Saudi Arabia or is there some LPGA pressure on them not to support it?

 

Looking forward to seeing a couple of my favorite players back in action in the Tournament of Champions. Hopefully Nelly and Lydia are fit, healthy and getting ready for another good year.

[Rapidcat]

7 hours ago, AKL Kiwi said:

Despite the PIF again putting up US$5M prize money and no LPGA event clashing the LET event on 13th - 15th Feb none of the top RR players have committed yet. Perhaps the Saudi's need to up that now to attract the best LPGA players from the US to Saudi Arabia or is there some LPGA pressure on them not to support it?

 

Looking forward to seeing a couple of my favorite players back in action in the Tournament of Champions. Hopefully Nelly and Lydia are fit, healthy and getting ready for another good year.

 

13th - 15th Feb is a long enough way off, plenty of time for more entries.

 

Let's see in another couple of weeks, most Euro golfers are hunkered down against the cold: "it is the season to be freezin'". Even defending champ Charley isn't entered (yet). Non- Euro LPGAT golfers I see as more opportunist with the Aramco stuff.

 

In any case, very much looking forward to an interesting year of great women's golf.

 

Would like to see a Dame partnership (just for fun, Dame Laura not up to Dame Lydia's current playing standard), Lydia and Laura in some match/event/exhibition or whatever.

[18majors]

2 hours ago, Rapidcat said:

Even defending champ Charley isn't entered (yet).

 

Ladies European Tour listed Charley as the defending champion, but Patty Tavatanakit is the real champion of the $5.0 million tournament conducted in February 2024.  Patty hasn't entered the event either.

 

2 hours ago, Rapidcat said:

In any case, very much looking forward to an interesting year of great women's golf.

 

 

LPGA Tour has gained a bigger profile during the war between PGA Tour and LIV, but it isn't big enough to substantially change either the tournament attendance or the TV coverage.  Hopefully, we'll start to see positive impacts in 2025!

[Rapidcat]

7 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

Ladies European Tour listed Charley as the defending champion, but Patty Tavatanakit is the real champion of the $5.0 million tournament conducted in February 2024.  Patty hasn't entered the event either.

 

 

LPGA Tour has gained a bigger profile during the war between PGA Tour and LIV, but it isn't big enough to substantially change either the tournament attendance or the TV coverage.  Hopefully, we'll start to see positive impacts in 2025!

 

Plus the LPGAT is close to rudderless at present with Mollie's impending departure and the new appointment (3 - 6 month minimum).

[18majors]

36 minutes ago, Rapidcat said:

Plus the LPGAT is close to rudderless at present with Mollie's impending departure and the new appointment (3 - 6 month minimum).

 

 

Mollie's gone, today is her last day on the job; this is an unfortunate turn of event.  However, the impact of a Commissioner is never as big as star players.  

 

We need Dr. Maguire to step up and wins her first ten 2025 tournaments.

 

 

 

 

[AKL Kiwi]

6 hours ago, Rapidcat said:

13th - 15th Feb is a long enough way off, plenty of time for more entries.

Yes entries have not closed but for the elite players I doubt if they and their teams haven't already worked out a firm itinerary for the next 4-6 weeks and tentatively the full season. Some have already nominated to events into March and beyond. Caddies and their team all would want to know well in advance their players tournament schedule. Are you seriously saying Nelly, Lydia, Jeeno and other top ten RR players are still undecided on nominating for that LET tournament just 5 weeks away with the air travel and accommodation involved?  I seriously doubt it.

[3eagles]

Could be this years LPGA schedule has a little to do with fewer LPGA players entered in Saudi. Past years have had a month open between Florida and Thailand. This year only has one week open. If they play Florida and the Asian swing that's a lot of events in a row.

 

Nelly isn't entered in any Asia events, maybe staying home until West Coast play begins?

 

Lexi could play. Probably still command a large appearance fee.

 

Lydia will be in New Zealand the week of Feb 18. She is also skipping Thailand that week but will be in Singapore.

 

Mystery to me is that Jeeno is entered in Singapore but not Thailand??

 

Anyway . . its early, things can change.

[JungleJimbo]

On 1/6/2025 at 8:45 AM, 3eagles said:

Mystery to me is that Jeeno is entered in Singapore but not Thailand

 

@3eagles ... good spot... but Jeeno will (99.9% sure) play Honda LPGA Thailand, if only to appease her sponsors who are mostly Thai conglomerates such as SCB/SCG/CP ... and other Thai companies eg that luxury mattress company "Omazz"?

Edited January 7 by JungleJimbo

[AKL Kiwi]

1 hour ago, 3eagles said:

Nelly isn't entered in any Asia events, maybe staying home until West Coast play begins?

It's a pretty smart move on Nelly and her teams part to only play in the US apart from the Majors. It worked very well for her last year. Traveling internationally is more exhausting, the RR points are lower, it's tougher to beat the locals on their courses, nowhere near the same crowd/family support and there are now enough local tournaments anyway.

[iBanesto]

J.Y. Ko!

 

[JungleJimbo]

41 minutes ago, iBanesto said:

J.Y. Ko!

 

 

JYK's engagement ring?

She's looking happy (the girlish squeals as she was doing "zombie movie" interval training = can't be faked ... timestamp ~8mins) 

...albeit the spartan life of a champion (or wannabe champion) = looks like extreme dedication

... hopefully she budgets some time for non-golf-related fun, so she doesn't suffer burn-out?

 

 

Edited January 6 by JungleJimbo