2025 LPGA Season Odds and Ends

[bcjim]

9 hours ago, postfold said:

I do not know about megawatt, but she is extremely approachable, visible and relatable.  She connects, especially with female audiences (imo) in a way that Nelly, for example, just doesn't.  At least not in large numbers.

 

 

Yes.

 

Again, I'm not picking on Nelly, but she just isn't the needle mover that the LPGA needs to break through in terms of audience size.  And I'm not saying you have to find a female Tiger Woods, it's certainly possible to grow the game organically, but that's a loooong, slow process compared with having a player that makes your league must-see-TV.

It's true, largely. Maybe if her rivals and older guard players were better (more dramatic) foils for her?

 

But trash talk and petty beefing are just not a thing in golf.  Especially ladies golf. 

[Argonne69]

Well, on the positive side the tour didn't split the three tournaments in Europe this season across two months. Last year the Evian was held in July, and the Scottish and WO was held in August. 

 

This season they're all back in July, but they added a week between the Evian and Scottish. Are players planning to play all three going to hang around for an extra week off, or fly back stateside? A week vacationing in Europe wouldn't be bad, but could be expensive for the lower ranked players.

 

[18majors]

 

Beth Ann Nichols singled out Yealimi Noh as the player to look out for during the remainder of 2025 season:

 

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

On 7/1/2025 at 7:08 AM, postfold said:

more Awesome Kim content!

 

You might enjoy this "Players Journal" write-up by Auston Kim

 

Players' Journal: Let's End The 'Scratch Golfer vs. LPGA Pro' Debate Once and For All

(https://www.skratch.golf/news/golf-culture/players-journal-auston-kim-talks-pro-golf-life-mental-health-scratch-golfers-vs-lpga-debate)

 

 

 

Quote

 

Players' Journal: Let's End The 'Scratch Golfer vs. LPGA Pro' Debate Once and For All

skratch.golf/news/golf-culture/players-journal-auston-kim-talks-pro-golf-life-mental-health-scratch-golfers-vs-lpga-debate

 

It's a debate that has floated around for years, decades even, and yet somehow continues to permeate its way through online golf culture. I'm here to put the argument to bed.

Auston Kim

Let's set the record straight, scratch golfers can't beat LPGA pros. It's a debate that has floated around for years, decades even, and yet somehow continues to permeate its way through online golf culture. I'm here to put the argument to bed, and perhaps provide context on where I believe the myth gained its legs while also giving some insight as a second-year tour pro that can hopefully eradicate this...rather silly belief.

 

I've been around the game since I was five years old. I grew up playing with those older than me, usually men, so this is a topic that hits close to home. Though my pro career has been rather brief, I've heard the same things echoed around me for most of my golf journey.

 

Me (blue shirt) with my big sister August.

I grew up around the ideology that G.O.L.F is for Gentlemen Only and Ladies are Forbidden. It's uncomfortable and quite frankly shocking how casually some are able to poke fun at women in golf. I do my best to pay it little mind, but it can be challenging even now, as I find my footing on the LPGA. Golf in general has had a bit of a sexist air to it, especially from people the who don't really understand what golf is, or how many women play golf in general, or understand what the LPGA is and how long it has been around.

 

It's not entirely on them, you don't know what you don't know. For so many of us, we understand golf through a male-centered framework—myself included. In middle school, I was the only girl on an otherwise all boys golf team, playing from the same tees, and it wasn't until I got to high school when I began to see just how many girls participated in golf. And not just for the sake of having fun, it was mind-blowing to see how many of them had aspirations of playing in college and on the levels beyond.

 

Until you witness it ("it" being women's golf) up close, there's no way to understand it.

 

There's no blame to be placed, and there shouldn't be, but given that less eyes are on women's pro golf, that has allowed the notion that we're not as good as our male counterparts to take up space. Yes, women play shorter golf courses. PGA pros tend to play around 7,000 yards comfortably and we're playing 6,300-6,400 any given week (majors tend to play longer).

 

To me, that difference in yardage is why those who think scratch golfers can potentially beat an LPGA pro in tournament conditions exists. But what those who think that way must come to understand is that even though we're playing shorter courses, it doesn't necessarily mean that our courses are easier.

 

I've spoken to a handful of amateurs who are curious about pro life and want to pick my brain. And what I always want them to walk away with is the understanding of the amount of dedication, practice, knowledge and application it takes in order to succeed at such an elite level.

Many fail to realize the amount of practice that us professionals have to put in. The amount of effort, like the things that we do that are non-golf related, the amount of knowledge and brain power that it takes to play an 18 hole round and play your best is unmatched.

 

And there's no rulebook on how to excel at really anything, especially golf. Not only is this sport physically demanding, but it's mentally taxing and the progressions you go through working your way through each level is unlike anything else.

 

The jumps from high school and junior golf, to collegiate golf, to the development tours, to the LPGA are all learning curves that you're expected to execute, and at the highest level. Success in this game is fleeting, every moment, every shot counts—there's no wasting time.

 

What separates scratch golfers from the pros is not rooted in physical or technical skill, but rather exceptional mental strength and an elite level of golf IQ.

 

Sure, a scratch golfer can do their best replicate the training conditions of a pro, utilizing the same equipment and training aids, but myself and my peers on tour just understand the game differently. It's a skill that can absolutely be learned, but that ultimately lies in experience.

 

For instance, I've played rounds with amateurs in the past and they hit a putt that blows by the hole. Often times they'll think out loud and give a reason for why they believed it didn't go in. And more times than not, the comment that they make after the miss has no correlation to why they actually missed the putt. I know exactly why they missed it, and unless they explicitly ask for my advice I won't offer up critique—we're here for a good time, no need for a playing lesson.

 

But the point remains, as a pro, my understanding of the game, the mechanics, is just elevated. Our technique is just different. We work each and every day to optimize the smallest details of our swings, and it's not for the faint of heart.

 

 

Mechanics and technique aside, perhaps the most challenging part of golf and the true differentiator of scratch golfers vs. the pros is the mental toughness you must have to compete.

It's like that meme, "___ would shock a small Victorian child", well hey, in this instance amateurs are the Victorian children, and pro golf will certainly shock you. Because it shocked me, and each day I'm finding ways to pivot.

And I'm not talking about swing yips and what goes on inside the ropes, but it's battling the internal demons that plague your mind in the quiet moments.

 

In the past, golfers have talked about how professional golf is very lonely, to which I agree but I think that loneliness looks different for everyone.

 

For some people, they need big groups of friends or they need their team around them at all times. Some players are more social, and need that debrief to pull themselves out of their own heads. I definitely need that social time even though I'm a bit more introverted, but for me, that loneliness never really subsides. Like I said, it's different for everyone, but for me that loneliness looks like a player sitting in their hotel room at night, probably around 8 or 9:00 p.m. You have an 8:30 a.m. tee time the next morning and you're sitting in your bed right before falling asleep and you're thinking, "I don't know how I'm going to play tomorrow and I feel very nervous."

 

And when I struggled mentally, those were the moments that were the most difficult.

 

The reality is, is that unless you play at the highest level, you can't begin to understand how tough it is mentally to go to sleep the night before, wake up in the morning of competition having to convince yourself and talk to yourself in a way that's so positive, despite the self-doubt that wants to creep in, the negativity that wants to creep in, and how being able to combat that negativity is a learned skill, a skill that you have to develop over time.

 

People are well aware that there's pressure involved in sport. But I don't think the general public or people who play golf recreationally or a majority of amateurs understand the level of pressure that's involved with elite sport and how much work that it takes to maintain an internal environment that is suited for high performance.

 

Golf is so uniquely nuanced and in order to understand one aspect of our game, you need to figure out two or three other components. It's frustrating beyond belief, and yet, we still love it. It is the best sport out there. Beautiful, mind numbingly difficult, and incredibly human—there's nothing else like it.

—with Addie Parker

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Edited July 2 by JungleJimbo

[JungleJimbo]

Posh Uni ... St Andrews = alma mater of Prince William 

• List of alumni of the University of St Andrews - Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

 

[iBanesto]

On 6/28/2025 at 2:08 PM, JungleJimbo said:

 

Fabulous ... the same (or similar) chatter starts up ... again!  \

Could a 4-handicap/ scratch amateur male golfer beat an LPGA Tour Pro? 

No way.

 

• x-ref from Sept 2023: Charley Hull challenges man behind ‘sexist’ DM to round of golf, trash talk begins early | GolfDigest.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenny Shin the girl who couldn't tell her driver was 4 swingweight out... 😅

 

[18majors]

4 hours ago, RickM71 said:

I see this post got moved to the LPGA forum, but I'm wondering if someone can identify the putter Nelly is using. It looks different from the Spider ZT to me, and I don't recall seeing a center shaft Spider in any other models other than their long putter. 

 

 

This is it, good move Nelly!  I won't be surprised if she wins again starting next week!

[JungleJimbo]

 

This puzzled me, at first glance

(as i thought the LPGA already had a top-college-player-gets-an-LPGA-Tour-Card process 

 

... but then realised that already exists ("LEAP" -vs- "LCAP" announced today)

• LPGA Announces the LPGA Collegiate Advancement Pathway (LCAP) | News | LPGA | Ladies Professional Golf Association

 

...p/s: Noticed the gratuitous Auston Kim photo in the post?

perhaps @postfold has taken over the LPGA social media intern's position for awhile

 

 

Edited July 3 by JungleJimbo

[DuenPhen]

I did not know that Jeeno's Kris has been coaching Mirabel Ting this past year. The number one college player is now turning pro.

 

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/lpga/2025/07/02/college-golf-no-1-player-mirabel-ting-make-pro-debut-at-evian/84451172007/

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

3 hours ago, DuenPhen said:

I did not know that Jeeno's Kris has been coaching Mirabel Ting this past year. The number one college player is now turning pro.

 

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/lpga/2025/07/02/college-golf-no-1-player-mirabel-ting-make-pro-debut-at-evian/84451172007/

 

 

 

 

 

[MagicClassic407]

LET CEO Alexandra Armas is 'stepping down' effective in October. No indication on who will succeed her. What does this mean? Is a merger vote in the works again? Is the NEW Commish for the LPGA taking over in Europe also? Pretty sure the Saudis figure in this somewhere, and quite dominantly. I think Alexandra had a very positive record with the LET over her tenure of several years.

 

[JungleJimbo]

PSA .. .the LET Livestream has just started.

 

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

[MagicClassic407]

6 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

 

Yep, just hand Lottie the trophy!! Up by 7...........it's a race for 2nd place.

 

Edited July 5 by MagicClassic407
correction

[18majors]

 

Nelly flew out today to start her one month European Trip; she's scheduled to play Amundi Evian, Scottish and AIG.  I'm eager to find out whether her center shaft putter will make a difference; she just needs to make one more 4-8' putt per round.

 

Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

 

Edited July 5 by 18majors

[Titleist_PT23]

What is the Grand Slam these days?  Still four out of the five majors?

 

For a while, there were a bunch of people stuck at two majors.  Now, Anna Nordqvist, In Gee, Lydia and Minjee all have three (granted, Evian is one of the three for all four of them).

 

It's too bad Karrie Webb didn't win the 2014 Evian (lost by one to HJK).  That would have been six different majors.

 

I wonder if we will see someone with four different majors?  Maybe Lydia or Nelly can get the Golden Super Slam (Olympic Gold, 5x different majors).

[JungleJimbo]

43 minutes ago, Titleist_PT23 said:

What is the Grand Slam these days?  Still four out of the five majors?

 

For a while, there were a bunch of people stuck at two majors.  Now, Anna Nordqvist, In Gee, Lydia and Minjee all have three (granted, Evian is one of the three for all four of them).

 

It's too bad Karrie Webb didn't win the 2014 Evian (lost by one to HJK).  That would have been six different majors.

 

I wonder if we will see someone with four different majors?  Maybe Lydia or Nelly can get the Golden Super Slam (Olympic Gold, 5x different majors).

 

today i learnt that the du Maurier Classic (now CPKC Open) was once considered a Major! 

 

Yes @Titleist_PT23 i believe it's still "any 4 of the 5 Majors" = Grand Slam.

 

(and TIL, that "any 5 of the 6 Majors (at that time)" = a "Super Career Grand Slam")

 

• "On This Date: Karrie Webb Completes Career Grand Slam at the 2001 McDonald's LPGA Championship" | LPGA [2025-June-24]
• Meet the LPGA Tour’s Seven Career Grand Slammers – And One Super Career Grand Slammer | LPGA  [2025-March-11]

 

 

Edited July 6 by JungleJimbo

[iBanesto]

19 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

 

 

 

 

[iBanesto]

Surprisingly very little footage of Woad on YouTube in general. There was an LPGA short recap but not much more of her playing.

 

[JungleJimbo]

Just now, iBanesto said:

Surprisingly very little footage of Woad on YouTube in general. There was an LPGA short recap but not much more of her playing.

 

the ANWA / Masters youtube channel has a few Lottie Woad videos @iBanesto

[iBanesto]

1 minute ago, JungleJimbo said:

the ANWA / Masters youtube channel has a few Lottie Woad videos @iBanesto

 

Quite short though hey?

[JungleJimbo]

31 minutes ago, iBanesto said:

 

Quite short though hey?

 

Patience, "young grasshopper"

... if Lottie Woad emerges as a dominant force on Tour ... then there will be plenty more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 6 by JungleJimbo

[iBanesto]

1 hour ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

Patience, "young grasshopper"

... if Lottie Woad emerges as a dominant force on Tour ... then there will be plenty more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah I've seen those but as I said not much of her playing.

 

Those are segments with talk and her hitting some shots.

[Tom Kelly]

As far as the pros are concerned, Lottie isn't even there. 

Edited July 6 by Tom Kelly
Felt a bit mean

[JungleJimbo]

Time to Rev up to Lottie Woad hype machine?

 

ladieseuropeantour.com/blog/amateur-woad-wins-in-emphatic-fashion-at-2025-kpmg-womens-irish-open

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jonnyuk74]

To early to say about Lottie, but that was seriously impressive...and against a pretty decent field all in all.  The no pay day the one draw back, having said that I was slightly shocked at only the 58k first prize? For one or the more marque events on the LET tour that's still quite poor.  Lottie will get more than that in sponsorship and endorsements I'm sure! 

[JungleJimbo]

17 minutes ago, Jonnyuk74 said:

To early to say about Lottie, but that was seriously impressive...and against a pretty decent field all in all.  The no pay day the one draw back, having said that I was slightly shocked at only the 58k first prize? For one or the more marque events on the LET tour that's still quite poor.  Lottie will get more than that in sponsorship and endorsements I'm sure! 

 

Someone other than Mimi Rhodes won on the LET this week!

(Mimi had a solid R1 (T3 at 5-under), but faded towards the "business end" of the tournament... finished T31 and hopefully the 4K euros prize money covered the week's expenses)

 

 

[iBanesto]

9 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

Time to Rev up to Lottie Woad hype machine?

 

ladieseuropeantour.com/blog/amateur-woad-wins-in-emphatic-fashion-at-2025-kpmg-womens-irish-open

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How is her distance off the tee?

 

An important component these days.

Edited July 7 by iBanesto

[TT_Golfer]

Lottie's distance off the tee is good enough. She was often outdriving those she was playing with.

 

Sky in the UK showed a good deal of her rounds and her short game was near impeccable. I'm sure that made all the difference. She also said she was confident she had half the field beaten just by looking at the weather forecast as many could not handle the wind. She is very able at flighting the ball.

 

I too was shocked how little first prize was. When you consider the total purse was 450k euro and the upcoming men's Irish open coming up has a purse of $6 million it is quite a contrast. 

[Jonnyuk74]

1 hour ago, TT_Golfer said:

Lottie's distance off the tee is good enough. She was often outdriving those she was playing with.

 

Sky in the UK showed a good deal of her rounds and her short game was near impeccable. I'm sure that made all the difference. She also said she was confident she had half the field beaten just by looking at the weather forecast as many could not handle the wind. She is very able at flighting the ball.

 

I too was shocked how little first prize was. When you consider the total purse was 450k euro and the upcoming men's Irish open coming up has a purse of $6 million it is quite a contrast. 

That is a shocking stat isn't it. With other sports such as tennis fight and getting equal pay it shows how far golf has to come... Plus the women actually play the same amount! (4 rounds)