It took Daniela Iacobelli 14 hours to compete her application for Florida’s unemployment insurance program. She joked that the state needed to call Netflix for advice on upgrading the server.
As frustrating as the process turned out to be, it does bring added security for golfers like Iacobelli, who won’t get back to work until June at the earliest. The federal government’s COVID-19 relief package, known as the CARES Act, now includes benefits for independent contractors. Individuals can receive an additional $600 per week as part of the pandemic relief.
In addition, the LPGA is offering a $2,000 loan program to Symetra Tour players and $5,000 to LPGA members. The money will come out of players’ future checks, 25 percent each time, until its paid back through 2021.
Iacobelli, a three-time winner on the Symetra Tour, said she appreciated the LPGA’s loan offer but had no plans inquire about it. She doesn’t want the added pressure at tournaments down the road.
LPGA Chief Tour Operations Officer Heather Daly-Donofrio said the tour plans to soon offer a webinar with financial experts to give players and caddies an opportunity to ask questions. Several players on both the LPGA and Symetra Tour, she said, have already taken them up on the cash advance.
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“That’s the most important thing with our athletes,” said Daly-Donofrio, “keeping it so they can manage their bills and pay their rent so they can train.”
The PGA Tour shared with players details of its cash advance program several days ahead of the LPGA. The program, as reported by Golf Digest, allows players ranked 1-150 in the FedEx Cup standings the ability to take up to 50 percent of their projected FedEx Cup bonus, up to $100,000.
“I would say if (LPGA players) read about the PGA Tour cash advance,” said LPGA commissioner Mike Whan, “I would just say to all of my members, I’m sorry. I wish I was on the PGA Tour cash advance program, but I’m not, either. But listen, we don’t sit on the same savings account, and I know I’m not going to solve players’ full financial problem, but at least it’s something.”
Earlier this week, the PGA of America unveiled its Golf Emergency Fund. Members of developmental tours, including Symetra, are included among those eligible to apply for a grant.
Iacobelli finished second in the only event the Symetra Tour held this year before the season was postponed due to coronavirus, earning $11,771 at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic. She’s doubtful that the tour will resume in June, though she is still able to practice on a regular basis at Suntree Country Club in Melbourne, Florida.
Iacobelli calls Suntree her little bubble. She drives to most places, including her parents’ nearby house, in her golf cart. The 32-year-old purchased her home two years ago after a ninth-place finish at the LPGA stop in Hawaii.
“Biggest check I’ve ever made in my life,” she recalled, “and now I own a house.”
Iacobelli didn’t go to Q-Series last fall. Didn’t plan to go to two Symtra Tour events scheduled in California either. She’s never had financial backing or sponsors and thought it made the most sense financially to sit those two out.
“By the time you get a hotel and a caddie and food, I rounded up to $6,000,” she said. “I would rather live in my house for three more months.”
When the PGA Tour canceled the Players Championship in March after one round and split the $15 million purse evenly throughout the field, it worked out to about $52,000 each in unofficial earnings.
“It’s tough to make that in a year doing what I do,” said Iacobelli, who won on the Symetra Tour last year and finished 16th on the money list with $60,912.
During tough times, the financial chasm between the men’s and women’s tours feels even greater.
Lori Beth Adams spent the early part of the pandemic working in the shop at her local course, Indian Valley, in Burlington, North Carolina. After tearing a tendon in her shoulder in the winter of 2018, Adams felt like she came out of this year’s offseason ready to make some noise.
Or at least make enough money to move out of her parents’ house.
It has been a tough road of late for the Adams family, long before the global pandemic. Last April as Adams was driving to the Symetra event in Arkansas, her mom called to let her know that her father had fallen 12 feet and broken both of his heels.
A diabetic since the age of 4, 65-year-old Steve lost his job and, as a result, Lori Beth lost a good portion of her financial backing. Surgery is not an option for Steve, and he can’t stay on his feet long.
“If they even cut a two-inch incision,” said Lori Beth, “he’ll lose his feet.”
Ryan French, the man behind twitter’s popular “Monday Q Info” account, helped her set up a GoFundMe page. So far she has raised $860.
Lori Beth also filed for unemployment in North Carolina. She can still get out and practice in Burlington and recently started helping a family friend flip a house.
Symetra Tour officials called last week to check in in Adams.
“We’re all in this together,” she said.