Tag: LPGA

Stanford’s Andrea Lee is fifth college player to leave early, turn pro

The most decorated golfer in Stanford history has decided to leave college early and start her professional career.

The most decorated golfer in Stanford history has decided to leave early.

Andrea Lee is now the second Stanford senior to quit before the spring season after earning her card at LPGA Q-Series, joining Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela.

Lee, who has topped both the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings and World Amateur Golf Ranking, informed her teammates of the decision on Tuesday afternoon.

“I know the program is going to be taking a pretty big hit with both of us gone,” said Lee, who was still emotional about it when she called. “Honestly, I feel really sad about it, leaving my teammates and not giving us the best chance at possibility winning the national championship.”

The Cardinal ended the fall season ranked fifth by Golfweek. They would’ve once again been on the short list for title contenders at the NCAA Championship next spring. Stanford won its first NCAA title in 2015 when the championship moved to match play. The Cardinal advanced to the semifinals for four consecutive years before coming up short to Duke in the quarterfinals in 2019.

Lee won a program record nine tournaments at Stanford, collecting her most recent in dominating fashion with a 26-stroke victory at The Molly Intercollegiate.

“I cannot put my entire amateur career into words right now,” said Lee. “I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish, not just with Stanford, but even before then in my high school days. I was pretty consistent at every level. I just feel that I’m ready to take the next step and compete at the professional level. It has been my lifelong dream since I was 5 years old.”

While Valenzuela tied for sixth at Q-Series and will get into plenty of events, Lee’s share of 30th means she’ll have to rely on sponsor exemptions and Monday-qualifying for many of the early-season starts.

Lee plans to graduate on time with a degree in Science, Technology and Society, so she’ll work her classes around the new job.

Five college players competed in Q-Series earlier this month and all five decided to turn professional rather than defer status and complete the college season. The two Stanford players are joined by Jennifer Chang of USC as well as Sierra Brooks of Florida and Florida State’s Frida Kinhult. Brooks and Kinhult will play on the Symetra Tour next year.

“It was really hard for sure,” said Lee of the decision. “I had people telling me to stay, people telling me to go. Ultimately, I chose to turn professional, knowing that it was the best decision for me and my career. Just trusting my own gut.”

[opinary poll=”should-a-player-have-to-turn-professiona” customer=”golfweek”]

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Confident Jennifer Kupcho is one of four rookies in CME Group Tour Championship

Jennifer Kupcho is loaded with confidence, and comfortable with her status that includes a 47th place in the Race to the CME Globe rankings.

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NAPES, Fla. — Jennifer Kupcho might have been considered an American golfing princess last April as she walked up the 18th hole at Augusta National Golf Club while winning the first Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

This coming after winning the 2018 NCAA individual title as a junior at Wake Forest.

After turning pro in May, the Colorado native disappeared from the leaderboard for several months. She had only one significant check, a fifth in the Marathon Classic worth $52,798.

Everything changed a few weeks later in France at her fourth major in eight starts, the Evian Championship. She shot a final-round 66, finishing two shots behind Jin Young Ko, in a three-way tie for runner-up and most importantly, a check for $290,778.

The LPGA rookie princess is loaded with confidence, and comfortable with her status that includes a 47th place in the Race to the CME Globe rankings.

CME Group Tour Championship: Round 1 tee times, TV info

“This entire year has been a learning experience, working with a good caddie and most importantly, understanding how to control my emotions,” said Kupcho, who had her third top-five finish, a tie for fourth in the TOTO Japan Classic, two weeks ago. “Stressful at the start is one way to describe the year in some respects but as I started to make more friends out here on tour it became more fun.

“The LPGA is a lot different than college golf, you’re by yourself out here and you need to build a support system because you’re on your own. I had never rented a car until I came out here and I’ll buy my first car in the next few weeks.”

Kupcho remembers the most common advice she received after turning pro was to take care of your body.

“So what did I do, paid no attention to sound advice and overworked myself, causing a lot of needless wear and tear on my body,” she said. “I’ve learned how to relax and remain more even keel.”

“There was pressure on me to perform after winning at Augusta but finally after I missed a couple of cuts on the LPGA Tour I was just like, ‘Relax, just go play and prove yourself.'”

Kupcho has a noted tendency to blackout while playing, sometimes caused by migraine headaches. She blacked out while making the final putt at the Evian and does not totally remember the scene.

“I was so focused and nervous, knowing making the putt was vital because of the money involved but I was miserable with the headache,” she said.

Kupcho knows she belongs on tour and can compete for titles.

“I’ve established myself, now I’ll work on goals for 2020,” she said.

And people at tournaments continue to remind her of the Augusta win.

“Just this week here at Tiburón people come up asking me to sign Augusta flags,” she said.

She is one of four rookies in the CME field this week.

Naples’ Tamulis in different role

Naples High graduate Kris Tamulis is playing a different role this week at the CME Group Tour Championship, playing in Tuesday’s pro-am but not the actual tournament starting Thursday.

“This is the first year I played in the pro-am but not the tournament so I hope I’ll be in the 60-player field next year,” said Tamulis, who plays out of Grey Oaks Country Club and has been in the CME field previously. “I played good today but I’m still disappointed about not playing in the tournament. This is the last competitive golf I’ll play until early next year.”

Only 60 LPGA Tour players qualified for the CME this year (down from 72), and the LPGA needed several members to fill out the pro-am fields.

Henderson trying to feel at home

Brooke Henderson, the Canadian who comes in at No. 2 on the Race to the CME Globe standings, said she isn’t surprised that Lexi Thompson and sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda have played well at Tiburón, considering they all grew up putting on Bermuda grass greens in Florida.

But Henderson is trying to close the gap. She bought a part-time residence at Miromar Lakes in 2017 after staying in the area in 2016.

“It’s really nice in the offseason to spend time where it’s warm and sunny,” Henderson said. “We love this area and we actually have made a lot of friends. They’re excited to come out and watch me this week. Hopefully I can capture some of that adrenaline of the hometown crowd and fuel off it the next few days.

Ko idolizes Faxon

Jin Young Ko, who already has wrapped up Player of the Year and comes in as the No. 1 player, credits putting guru and tour player Brad Faxon for helping her putting.

Ko was asked when she was growing up if she had a favorite golfer who was not Korean, and she answered Faxon.

“He’s good, great putting, yeah,” she said. “And then I met him at the U.S. Open last year, and then I did — I had handshake with Brad Faxon before the round.”

Ko then one-putted the first three holes and told her caddie that she didn’t want to wash her hands.

Ko, 24, said she had studied Faxon’s putting videos on YouTube for years.

CME Group Tour Championship

When: Thursday-Sunday

Where: Tiburón Golf Club at Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort

Info: cmegrouptourchampionship.com

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LPGA CME Group Tour Championship: Round 1 tee times, how to watch

The CME Group Tour Championship is the final event on the LPGA schedule. It features a 60-player field and a $1.5 million first-place prize.

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The CME Group Tour Championship is the final event on the 2019 LPGA schedule, and features a limited 60-player field. Most interesting is the carrot that dangles over the week at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.

On Sunday, the winner will receive an unprecedented payday of $1.5 million, a sum that could be life-changing for the woman who wins it. Unlike in previous years, anyone in the field can claim the big prize. The total purse for the week is $5 million.

Lexi Thompson is the defending champion.

First-round tee times and TV/streaming information listed below.

All times listed in Eastern Standard Time.

1st tee

Tee time Players
7:30 a.m. Katherine Kirk, Anna Nordqvist, Stacy Lewis
7:42 a.m. Jaye Marie Green, Ashleigh Buhai, Cheyenne Knight
7:54 a.m. Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Wei-Ling Hsu, Amy Olson
8:06 a.m. Nicole Broch Larsen, Georgia Hall, Charley Hull
8:18 a.m. Alena Sharp, Jennifer Kupcho, Annie Park
8:30 a.m. Jasmine Suwannapura, Mirim Lee, Jenny Shin
8:42 a.m. Chella Choi, Jing Yan, Ally McDonald
8:54 a.m. Marina Alex, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Morgan Pressel
9:06 a.m. Megan Khang, Kristen Gillman, Lydia Ko
9:18 a.m. Mi Hyang Lee, Angel Yin, So Yeon Ryu
9:30 a.m. Caroline Masson, Su Oh, Gaby Lopez
9:42 a.m. Lizette Salas, Celine Boutier, Jessica Korda
9:54 a.m. Moriya Jutanugarn, Inbee Park, Bronte Law
10:06 a.m. Hannah Green, Eun-Hee Ji, Azahara Munoz
10:18 a.m. Brittany Altomare, Shanshan Feng, Yu Liu
10:30 a.m. Amy Yang, Nasa Hataoka, Carlota Ciganda
10:42 a.m. Hyo Joo Kim, Ariya Jutanugarn, Mi Jung Hur
10:54 a.m. Sei Young Kim, Danielle Kang, Lexi Thompson
11:06 a.m. Jeongeun Lee6, Nelly Korda, Sung Hyun Park
11:18 a.m. Jin Young Ko, Brooke Henderson, Minjee Lee

How to watch

All times listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Thursday
Golf Channel, 4-7 p.m.

Friday
Golf Channel, 4-7 p.m.

Saturday
Golf Channel, 4-7 p.m.

Sunday
NBC, 1-4 p.m.

Coverage will also be streamed live on the Golf Channel and NBC Sports apps 1-4 p.m. ET Thursday through Sunday.

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Na Yeon Choi finds community, support while adapting to LPGA

South Korean golfer Na Yeon Choi faced new challenges when she joined the LPGA, but her newfound community helped her adapt.

Na Yeon Choi still remembers the taste of the first meal she ever cooked in her hotel room. It was horrible.

And yet, it was the taste of freedom.

She’d go out to big-box stores like Wal-mart, Target and Home Depot after practice and test out her English on the store employees, taking advantage of the perfunctory, “How can I help you?”

She didn’t think about golf after she left the course. After a good night’s rest, she’d head back out the next day refreshed.

That independence came only after a painful decision.

After a top-10 finish in her second year on tour, Choi found herself crying in the bathroom because her parents were unhappy with the result. They meant well, of course. Quizzing her after rounds about strategy and forcing her to practice in the hotel room.

Na Yeon Choi poses for photographs at Brickyard Crossing. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

But Choi wanted control of her own life, and 10 years ago bravely asked her parents to move back to South Korea.

“My dad was like, ‘How dare you?’ I sacrificed my life for you, and you’re playing the LPGA,” recalled Choi. “I want to see you win.”

A few months later, Choi did win, and then cried about the fact that they weren’t there to see it. A few weeks after that, she won her second LPGA title in South Korea, and everyone was on hand for the celebration.

In the first half of Choi’s career, when she won nine times, including the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open, she found it difficult to open up with friends on tour. What can someone in the winner’s circle possibly have to complain about?

“I think that’s why maybe after I won the tournament or had a good result,” said Choi, “I felt a little empty feeling when I came home.”

Even when she hired a support team to travel with her, it still felt lonely. After all, they’d never been on tour before or played golf as a professional.

“My main sponsor, SK Telecom, is a cell phone company,” said Choi. “I don’t have to pay my phone bill for the last 14 years. I talk a lot to my Korea friends.”

Three years ago, a back injury coupled with the driver yips led Choi to seek the wisdom of a couple of World Golf Hall of Famers in Beth Daniel and Meg Mallon. She spent five days over the Thanksgiving holiday opening up about everything.

Daniel had suffered from the putting yips three times in her career.

“One of the first things we tell a person who is struggling with the yips is that they have to remove the emotions from it,” said Mallon. “They cry every night. They get to the golf course and they’re emotionally drained before they even get started.”

Mallon and Daniel helped Choi get back to focusing on the right things, including smaller targets.

Last year they called Choi to check in.

“They asked me how I am doing and I said ‘I’m good.’ And they said ‘You are a liar,’ ” Choi recalled. “I broke down crying hard and said I need a break.”

Not just for her back, but for her mind and spirit.

“She’s actually one of the only players who really listened to us,” said Mallon, who believes far too many players don’t take the proper amount of time to recover from injuries.

Choi took a medical exemption last year and embarked on a solo trip around Europe, sending back photos of her adventures to Daniel and Mallon

Na Yeon Choi poses for photographs at Brickyard Crossing. (Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports)

“I thought golf is my life and everything and I couldn’t go away from golf,” said Choi, “but actually I could do it.”

Six months ago, Choi moved to Las Vegas and said she feels settled in her new surroundings. She has learned how to cook, and enjoys serving up Korean favorites on the road with friends. During the dark times, Choi discovered a community of support.

“Since I got more friends and share true feelings, sometimes I cry in front of friends,” said Choi, “and after that I feel a lot better. I feel relief.”

Choi’s mother comes over during the offseason and helps her with everyday life while she practices. These days Choi can share her deepest thoughts in English with no problem. The ability to communicate fully and be uplifted by veterans like Mallon and Daniel, even Karrie Webb at the airport earlier this year, has helped to feed her soul. Choi plans to stay in America even after she retires.

“I feel full,” she said, “not empty anymore.”

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When it comes to college players, LPGA qualifying system still needs work

Time and time again, top college lose their best players after LPGA qualifying. The whole process needs another look.

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Albane Valenzuela apologized for the background noise. She was riding through campus on her bike (helmet on) as we discussed her decision to quit college golf with one semester remaining.

One day prior, the Stanford star stood before her teammates and told them something similar. Only there among friends, especially the seniors, Valenzuela bawled.

Walking out of that room, second thoughts poured in. Was she doing the right thing?

“I thought about that in my head,” she said, “but in my heart I think I knew it was time to turn pro.”

For those who don’t follow college golf regularly, this is a scene that plays out annually at top programs across the country. Elite players who want to position themselves for the next step sign up for LPGA qualifying and, in many cases, feel they can’t afford to put aside tour membership to finish out the spring semester. (It’s like the top five players in basketball getting drafted before March Madness.)

Along with Valenzuela, USC’s Jennifer Chang accepted her LPGA card and will turn pro for the start of the 2020 season. Florida’s Sierra Brooks and Frida Kinhult of Florida State will play a full season on the Symetra Tour in hopes of making their way to the LPGA.

The timing of Q-Series is awful for college programs. Stanford’s top-ranked player, Andrea Lee, has yet to announce if she will return for her final semester. It’s obviously impossible to replace two top-five players in the middle of the year.

Regardless of what Lee decides, the system still needs work.

The dates of Q-Series aren’t moving. So what else can be done?

Last year the LPGA allowed players to defer their tour status until after the spring semester. Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi were the first ones to try that route. Both enjoyed outstanding springs (Kupcho won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, and Fassi won the NCAAs) and went on to keep their tour cards despite playing only half a season.

On one hand, the deferral system could be viewed as a rousing success. But it’s also possible that no one with a top-20 finish at Q-Series defers again.

Why? Because it’s a huge risk. Missing the first five months of the season presents a massive mountain to climb for a rookie. Kupcho killed it this year. She’s currently 38th on the money list with $502,123. Fassi, however, finished 98th on the money list and made only 11 starts. The difference between Fassi kicking back in November and heading to Q-Series was a mere $6,117.

Arkansas coach Shauna Estes-Taylor knows that hosting NCAAs last May played a massive role in Fassi’s decision to return to campus.

“If the situation had been different,” said Estes-Taylor, “I don’t know what her answer would’ve been.”

Similarly, the 2020 Olympics played a major role in Valenzuela’s decision to turn professional. She represented Switzerland in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro before coming to Stanford and places a return to that stage as her highest priority.

Even so, she’d like to see the LPGA work with college coaches to make it easier for players like her to finish out the spring semester.

Alabama coach Mic Potter believes a wrap-around money list might be a possible answer. Allow earnings to accumulate from June 1 to May 31 of the following year.

Here’s another idea: Rather than have the top players in college golf get a pass to the second stage of Q-School, where players only have to complete four rounds to earn Symetra Tour status, Estes-Taylor would like to see those players instead get exemptions straight onto the Symetra Tour after the spring season.

This would also keep players from needlessly missing college events in the fall and perhaps keep a few who aren’t ready for Q-Series from putting themselves in the position to advance by being forced to tee it up (and pay) for Stage II.

The LPGA is all about protecting its own. Well, here’s the truth: College players have a distinct advantage over professionals in the qualifying process.

Q-Series is an eight-day grind. There’s nothing easy about it. But college players certainly have the best shot at getting through because unlike professionals, they have a cushy backup plan.

“It’s not really fair,” said Estes-Taylor. “One group is playing to put food on the table, and the other group is testing the waters.”

The fix for that is an obvious one: Make Q-Series for professionals only.

“You go there as an amateur,” said Stacy Lewis, “you’ve got nothing to lose.”

(Lewis, by the way, was medalist at the 2008 Q-School after graduating from Arkansas.)

It’s not a bad thing to make these players face a decision that has consequences. The thought process for going to Q-Series and taking that next step without a safety net looks completely different to the current landscape.

Amateurs haven’t always been allowed to participate in Q-School.

Why not go back to that?

It’s up to the LPGA to make some changes that will benefit all of women’s golf. Deferral was a good idea in theory, but there won’t be many Kupchos and Fassis who follow.

College golf isn’t the tour’s responsibility, but it is the main feeder system for the LPGA and Symetra Tour, and the lifeblood of American women’s golf.

Once again, there’s got to be a better way.

[opinary poll=”should-a-player-have-to-turn-professiona” customer=”golfweek”]

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Catriona Matthew tapped for second European Solheim Cup captaincy

After leading the Europeans to a thrilling victory at Gleneagles, Catriona Matthew was reappointed as captain, and to no one’s surprise.

Catriona Matthew will attempt to pull off something two years from now that no European Solheim Cup captain has ever done: She’ll try to become the first captain to successfully defend the cup on U.S. soil.

Indeed, the 50-year-old Scot will try to become Europe’s first multiple Solheim Cup-winning captain.

Matthew will once again lead the European team when she takes the trophy to Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio in 2021. She led Europe to a dramatic 14 ½ – 13 ½ victory at Gleneagles this year.

Matthew, who counts three victories in her nine appearances as a player, was on the only Solheim Cup team to win the match in the United States. That was in 2013 when Liselotte Neumann captained the European team. The 2009 Women’s British Open winner fully understands the enormity of the task at hand.

“Winning the Solheim Cup in Scotland was a dream come true but backing that up with a win in America would be even better,” Matthew said.

“It’s always harder to win on U.S. soil, but I’m honored to be tasked with the mission. I was lucky enough to be part of the first European team to win on U.S. soil at Colorado Golf Club in 2013 and so know what’s possible.”

Suzann Pettersen holed Europe’s winning putt at Gleneagles and then announced her retirement from competitive golf. She would have been in the frame to lead Europe in Toledo, but will probably have to wait until the 2023 match.

The Norwegian was originally meant to take the role of vice-captain at Gleneagles along with Laura Davies and Kathryn Imrie, but swapped places with an out-of-form Mel Reid. Matthew announced that Pettersen, Davies and Imrie will return as vice captains.

“I’m thrilled that Catriona is returning as captain,” Pettersen said. “She’s a class act and obviously inspires all the players and team members around her. She’s not only a Solheim Cup legend, but she’s also a great leader, friend and mother. She had the faith in me to choose me as a wildcard pick, for which I will forever be grateful and she deserves all the credit.”

Said Davis, “Catriona was such a great captain that she deserves the chance to go and get the trophy back again.”

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Albane Valenzuela opts to leave Stanford golf to live out LPGA dream

Stanford senior Albane Valenzuela will head straight to the LPGA rather than finish out the spring with the Cardinal.

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Albane Valenzuela dreams of returning to the Olympics in 2020. It’s her ultimate goal, and therefore a major reason why she decided to forgo her final semester at Stanford to give herself the best chance of getting to Tokyo.

The qualification period for the Olympics ends June 29, 2020. Valenzuela hopes her new LPGA status helps her make the field of 60 players. She represented Switzerland in Rio de Janeiro before starting at Stanford in 2016 and tied for 21st.

“I think it would complete a great circle,” said Valenzuela of the possibility of returning to the Olympics on the heels of graduating from Stanford with a degree in political science.

Valenzuela told her coaches and teammates earlier this week of her decision to quit college golf. She was one of two Stanford seniors to earn LPGA status for the 2020 season at the recent Q-Series. While Valenzuela tied for sixth, teammate Andrea Lee took a share of 30th. Lee, who was recently the top-ranked amateur in the world, has yet to announce her decision.

Stanford is currently ranked fifth by Golfweek.

A two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur finalist, Valenzuela is currently No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. She has made the cut in numerous LPGA majors, recently earning low-amateur honors at the Evian Championship.

“My decision does not come from a place that I wanted to stop college golf,” said Valenzuela. “It was more about me and my aspirations as a professional golfer. My dream of going back to the Olympics.”

As a junior, Valenzuela was named the Pac-12 Women’s Golfer of the Year, the first in program history.

Of the five college players who teed it up at Q-Series, Valenzuela is the fourth to turn professional. She joins USC’s Jennifer Chang, Frida Kinhult of Florida State and Florida’s Sierra Brooks.

Last year the LPGA introduced the option to defer LPGA status to June so that players could participate in the postseason and still keep their cards. Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi were the first to choose that route. So far, no one has followed suit.

[opinary poll=”how-much-should-professional-golfers-kno” customer=”golfweek”]

 

2 up, 2 down: Eddie Pepperell runs out of balls, falls down the list

Golfweek’s experts dish on the two players who are up and down on the PGA, LPGA and European Tours.

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Golfweek takes a look at who’s up and who’s down each week on the three major golf tours. Here are the latest rankings for men and women.

Since the PGA Tour held no event last week, we look at LPGA and Euro Tour rankings.

The Golfweek/Sagarin ranking for each player is in parentheses.

LPGA

Up

Jennifer Kupcho (103)

Only 18 events into her LPGA career, Kupcho crossed the $500,000 mark in official earnings. Not bad for someone who didn’t turn professional until midway through the season. The Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion played her way into the Asian swing and season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. A share of fourth in Japan was the former NCAA champ’s third top-five finish of the season.

Hyo Joo Kim (2)

Somewhat quietly putting together a strong season. Birdied the last three holes in Japan to vault into solo second with a closing 66. Leads the tour in putting and ranks second to Jin Young Ko in scoring. Hasn’t won on the LPGA since 2016 but certainly trending toward ending that drought.

Down

Lexi Thompson (25)

What kind of shape is Thompson in going into the CME Group Tour Championship, where she won in 2018? Hard to say. She competed for the first time since September last week in Japan and finished T-24. Took over 30 putts in each round but said she’s now hitting fewer errant shots off the tee. Thompson said she’s trying to tame down the jump in her swing to gain consistency. Said she’s happy with the progress.

So Yeon Ryu (38)

Hasn’t contended since the U.S. Women’s Open in late May. Hasn’t notched a top-10 since June. Hasn’t won on the LPGA since the summer of 2018. Typically near the top of the tour in greens in regulation (top 5), Ryu is currently 54th. Her driving accuracy has dipped to 129th.

Euro Tour

Up

Tyrrell Hatton (46)

The Englishman earned his first win since the 2017 Italian Open by surviving a six-man playoff to in the $7 million Turkish Airlines Open. Hatton was the last man standing after finally seeing off Matthias Schwab after four holes in darkness. Only floodlights on the back nine of the Maxx Royal course allowed Hatton to prevail. He triumphed thanks to good iron play. Hatton was second in strokes gained in approach shots to France’s Victor Perez, picking up an average of +2.62 per round. The 28-year-old leads the tour in that category, averaging +1.48 strokes per round. He moves to sixth on the Race to Dubai with a realistic chance to finish the season as European number one.

Matthias Schwab (82)

The former Vanderbilt player will rue the fact he did not win his first European Tour by missing out in a playoff for the $7 million Turkish Airlines Open. The Austrian had a great chance to birdie the par-5 18th hole in the final round but could only manage a par and then lost out to Hatton. It was Schwab’s 10th top 10 of a fantastic season and moved him to 14th on the Race to Dubai. The 24-year-old finished 72nd last year in his rookie season. He’s averaging 29.62 putts per round this season compared to 30.24 last year, and his stroke average is under 70. He’s averaging half a shot better per round with a 69.94 stoke average in 2019 against 70.58 last year. That’s roughly two shots better per tournament.

Down

Ross Fisher (233)

The Englishman was in good position for a high finish in Turkey only to falter when it mattered most. The 38-year-old got to 18-under par through 12 holes of his second round and in contention to win. However, he dropped three shots in his final six holes to finish T-10. It was costly since it ended his season. Fisher could have moved into the top 60 on the Race to Dubai and into this week’s Nedbank Challenge with a higher finish. Instead, he ended up 84th. Fisher is a five-time European Tour winner but is still looking for his first win since the 2014 Tshwane Open. Fisher has always been long off the tee, but he’s not been too accurate this year. He has hit just 54.86 percent of fairways versus 63.28 percent last year, and ranks 148th in driving accuracy.

Eddie Pepperell (98)

Literally ran out of balls in the third round of the $7 million Turkish Airlines Open much to the bemusement of playing companions Martin Kaymer and George Coetzee. The Englishman is one of the smarter players on the European Tour, but he couldn’t find a way to play the par-5 fourth hole in the third round. He went for the green in two, found the water, went for the green in four, found the water, then for six, and carried on until he had no more balls in his bag. Call it Eddie’s Tin Cup moment. Pepperell ran out of golf balls and was disqualified. He arrived in Turkey 41st on the Race to Dubai and dropped to 48th. He needs to stay inside the top 50 to make it to the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Brittany Lincicome set to return to competition next week at Pebble Beach

After giving birth to daughter Emery Reign Gouws in July, Brittany Lincicome will return to competition at Pebble Beach next week.

On maternity leave, Brittany Lincicome normally plays golf on Fridays. That is, until she received word that she’s in the field at the TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational.

Now she’s out on a Monday afternoon, sharpening her game for her first competitive round since giving birth to daughter Emery Reign Gouws in July.

“It has moments of brilliance and moments of ‘Oh my gosh,’” said Lincicome of her current form. She last competed on the LPGA at the Pure Silk Championship in late May.

Lincicome said she’s five to seven yards shorter these days but can’t tell if that’s simply because she’s playing against friends at the club rather an adrenaline-fueled tour event. She’s relieved to have longtime caddie Missy Pederson back on the bag at Pebble.

The pro-am event, held Nov. 21-24, features players from the PGA, LPGA, Champions and Korn Ferry tours compete against each other from different tee boxes for a purse of $300,000. The full field has not yet been released.

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LAZY DAY 💗💗💗. @dewald_gouws #emeryreign

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“When I heard there was a cut for this one,” said Lincicome, “I instantly got more nervous.”

Lincicome considered playing in mini-tour events against the men, which she has done in the past, to gear up for her return to the LPGA at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in January. Pebble, however, presented the best kind of tune-up.

“I miss the competition part of it and that feeling of being in contention on Sunday,” said Lincicome, a two-time major winner with eight career victories.

One thing Lincicome will have to work on for the 2020 season is figuring out how to pack for the tour with a baby in tow. For an overnight outing in Orlando, Florida, last month, Lincicome and her mother loaded up roughly 17 bags for the short drive.

Emery won’t make the trip to Asia next spring, but Lincicome is already thinking about the West Coast swing. If Emery is on the road, at least one of Lincicome’s parents will be there to help.

“I’m sure I’ll be able to squeeze some naps in there,” said Lincicome, laughing.

Naps have long been a crucial part of her winning formula.

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