2025 LPGA Season Odds and Ends

[Rapidcat]

The Women's Irish Open prizemoney is meager but remember it was only resurrected in 2022 (thank Leona, her force of will and effort) after last being held in 2012 and Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

Was voted the best tournament on the LET last season, not too shabby for the third year and smallish purse.

 

Decent crowds, atmosphere and venue.

 

Onwards and upwards.

[GolfMoose]

Just looking at a few tournaments and noticing that ticket availability is Wed-Sun.  Am I incorrect in thinking that back not that many years ago that (some/many) tournaments would sell tickets to the Tuesday? Was there anything ever said perhaps about increased effort not being worth the low attendance or maybe it was something that the ladies pushed back against, impacting quality of practice?  (Just checked the 3M PGA event, they are selling Tuesday entry).

Edited July 7 by GolfMoose

[18majors]

 

Jeeno is the favorite to become World's No. 1:

 

 

[QueenJIN]

Speaking of odds. First quick glance shows the Queen of women’s golf a 50-1.  Not sure the last time she’s been that big but I suspect kinyears ago.

 

outshocked by Vu though . 300-1 !!

 

Terrible form and poor course record but wow what a decline from someone who used to go off under 10s on the reg 

Edited July 7 by QueenJIN

[JungleJimbo]

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

more Awesome Kim content!

 

Auston Kim is everywhere, at the moment?

 

 

[iBanesto]

[iBanesto]

17 hours ago, Jonnyuk74 said:

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) 

 

Equal pay in tennis only happens in the grand slams but also women's tennis is more popular.

[GolfMoose]

23 hours ago, QueenJIN said:

Speaking of odds. First quick glance shows the Queen of women’s golf a 50-1.  Not sure the last time she’s been that big but I suspect kinyears ago.

 

outshocked by Vu though . 300-1 !!

As I've said, the odds on ladies continue to puzzle. Players like Ariya, Sei Young, Brooke, arguably even JYK go through relative dry spells that are fairly long lasting but don't drop hugely in odds. Meanwhile...Lilia. Or Yuka, 300-1 or higher within a year of winning a major.  Moriya, a winner within the last year, north of 700-1.  And she's had top 25ish results three of the last four years so doesn't seem to be a horses for courses thing.  I wonder to what degree it's pure algorithm and how much manual/human tinkering happens...guessing much less than the PGA given the relative importance and volume of the wagering.

Edited July 8 by GolfMoose

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

On 7/8/2025 at 11:19 AM, JungleJimbo said:

 

Auston Kim is everywhere, at the moment?

 

 

 

On 6/27/2025 at 12:58 AM, postfold said:

Awesome Kim content!

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

Perhaps ... proof that @postfold(Auston Kim's NUMBER ONE FAN) has infiltrated the LPGA.

 

Linn Grant Fans (looking at you @Jonnyuk74) wondering "Where is the Love for Linn?"

 

 

 

Edited July 11 by JungleJimbo

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 11 by JungleJimbo

[Jonnyuk74]

12 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

Perhaps ... proof that @postfold(Auston Kim's NUMBER ONE FAN) has infiltrated the LPGA.

 

Linn Grant Fans (looking at you @Jonnyuk74) wondering "Where is the Love for Linn?"

 

 

 

Yeah totally agree!  She needs it more then ever right about now. 😲

[postfold]

18 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

Perhaps ... proof that @postfold(Auston Kim's NUMBER ONE FAN) has infiltrated the LPGA.

 

 

All I know is that I'm not in the Binder.

 

Yet.

[iBanesto]

+7 handicap.

 

 

 

[iBanesto]

https://www.lpga.com/news/2025/lottie-woad-becomes-eligible-for-lpga-membership-through-the-lpga-elite-amateur-pathway

 

 

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (July 13, 2025)

 – After finishing tied for third at the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship, Lottie Woad has reached the 20 points necessary to be eligible for LPGA Membership through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP). She is the first player to become eligible through this new pathway.

 

[JungleJimbo]

2 hours ago, iBanesto said:

https://www.lpga.com/news/2025/lottie-woad-becomes-eligible-for-lpga-membership-through-the-lpga-elite-amateur-pathway

 

 

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (July 13, 2025)

 – After finishing tied for third at the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship, Lottie Woad has reached the 20 points necessary to be eligible for LPGA Membership through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP). She is the first player to become eligible through this new pathway.

 

 

 

Top amateur Lottie Woad turns pro, set to debut next week in Scotland

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMIVIzLtC3t/

 

 

Edited July 15 by JungleJimbo

[WorkItBothWays]

1 hour ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

 

Top amateur Lottie Woad turns pro, set to debut next week in Scotland

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMIVIzLtC3t/

 

 

I believe Nordqvist said during guest comms in Ireland the she expects Woad to play in the Solheim. The team will need some fresh talent.

 

Didn't like her swing at first but it's growing on me. Awesome putter.

 

I think its a good decision and looks like she has the game (mental game) to win early on LPGA.

[18majors]

2 hours ago, WorkItBothWays said:

I believe Nordqvist said during guest comms in Ireland the she expects Woad to play in the Solheim. The team will need some fresh talent.

 

Didn't like her swing at first but it's growing on me. Awesome putter.

 

I think its a good decision and looks like she has the game (mental game) to win early on LPGA.

 

 

There is a big difference between playing LPGA as a pro or as an amateur; we'll find out more about Lotti next week in Scotland.

[NailedIt]

46 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

 

There is a big difference between playing LPGA as a pro or as an amateur; we'll find out more about Lotti next week in Scotland.

My feelings too. Nothing too lose as an amateur and everything as a pro. Kinda getting the Rose vibe. Superb amateur career and so so as a pro.(As of now) Hopefully Lotti has a long, successful career, but not crowning her the next Sorenstam just yet.

[iBanesto]

17 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

 

There is a big difference between playing LPGA as a pro or as an amateur; we'll find out more about Lotti next week in Scotland.

 

Exactly. Many people expected Rose Zhang to be lighting up the LPGA Tour. She has done well but no where near the expectations of some people.

 

[JungleJimbo]

 

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/lpga/2025/07/16/gina-kim-three-epson-tour-wins-not-promoted-lpga/85238640007/

 

 

Quote

 

Gina Kim has three Epson Tour wins but won't promoted to the LPGA

golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/lpga/2025/07/16/gina-kim-three-epson-tour-wins-not-promoted-lpga/85238640007

 Beth Ann Nichols

 

 

On the same day amateur Lottie Woad made her leap onto the LPGA, Gina Kim won for a third time on the Epson Tour this season.

 

In the past, that would've garnered Kim a midseason LPGA card. But the Epson Tour's so-called "battlefield promotion" went away after the 2018 season. Because players weren’t getting many LPGA starts through the promotion, the tour felt it was somewhat of a false promise.

 

Woad, who officially accepted her card earlier this week, slides into the Category 13 spot on the LPGA Priority List, behind players who finished Nos. 81 to 100 on the previous season CME points list and ahead of those who have reshuffled in 2025.

 

The Englishwoman, who finished in a share of third at Evian, earned a spot in next week's ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open by virtue of her recent win on the LET in Ireland. She's in the AIG Women's British Open field based on her top-10 finish last year at St. Andrews.

 

Woad's LEAP card then gets her into the next five LPGA events – starting in Portland – where she'll have a chance to play her way into the limited-field Asian swing.

Why can't three-time Epson Tour winners have that same opportunity? There might even be an argument for those players moving to a higher category than 13.

Three-time winners aren't unusual on the development circuit. Since the rule changed, five players have won three times in a single season.

 

Dating back to 2010, 11 players have done it. That list includes Cindy LaCrosse, Marissa Steen, Annie Park, Madelene Sagstrom, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Hannah Green, Ruixin Liu, Patty Tavatanakit, Lilia Vu and Gabriela Ruffels.

 

The PGA Tour offers what it calls a three-victory promotion through the Korn Ferry Tour. Only 13 players have accomplished the feat since 1997, with Matt McCarty being the latest in 2024.

 

Kim, a 25 year-old Duke grad, won wire-to-wire at the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship to move into the No. 1 spot in the Race for the Card ranking. There are eight events left on the Epson Tour schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

[Lobby]

I dunno folks. Winning an LPGA tournament as an amateur is a big deal. 
 

I wish great things for her

[MagicClassic407]

YANI TSENG is entered in this week's Epson Tour event in NY. 👀

[18majors]

13 hours ago, Lobby said:

I dunno folks. Winning an LPGA tournament as an amateur is a big deal. 
 

I wish great things for her

 

Have you been dreaming; when did Lotti win a LPGA event?  

[Lobby]

LET.  
 

I blame autocorrect 

[AKL Kiwi]

On 7/18/2025 at 3:19 AM, 18majors said:

Have you been dreaming; when did Lotti win a LPGA event?  

I'll get excited to watch a player when they get close to breaking our Lyd's age related records. Lotti is already 21. Look at what Lyd's had achieved before she was 21 that makes these players look pretty average...

[Argonne69]

21 minutes ago, AKL Kiwi said:

I'll get excited to watch a player when they get close to breaking our Lyd's age related records. Lotti is already 21. Look at what Lyd's had achieved before she was 21 that makes these players look pretty average...

 

Dame Lydia was a generational talent. Going to be a while until we see another teen winning tournaments in back to back years as an amateur, and beating her record for the youngest major winner. I mean, when you're winning tournaments as a snaggletooth 15 year old, it's hard to top. 

 

Unfortunately we've seen more than a few next great players come out of college and fail to light it up. Doesn't mean that it's not possible. The golf media doesn't help when it pumps up the next great thing that doesn't materialize. Lottie looks like she has an solid game, but then again, so did Maria Fassi when she won the 2019 NCAA Championship. 

 

[AKL Kiwi]

3 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Going to be a while until we see another teen winning tournaments in back to back years as an amateur, and beating her record for the youngest major winner. I mean, when you're winning tournaments as a snaggletooth 15 year old, it's hard to top. 

Most sporting records get beaten sooner or later. Lyd's has just set a new standard others now have to achieve to be worthy of being called anything other than an above average player....