September 22, 2022

The Presidents Cup needs women’s golf — Andrea Lee wins in Portland — Must-click women’s golf links

The IX: Golf Thursday with Addie Parker, Sept. 22, 2022

Happy Golf Thursday y’all! All week long my social media timelines have been filled with Presidents Cup content and I’ll be honest, it’s only making me more excited for the 2023 Solheim Cup.

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And it looks like I’m not the only one who’s excited, the official countdown has begun!

365 DAYS! 🇺🇸

The countdown has officially begun for @TheSolheimCup in Spain! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/jiUsM9nGfs
— Solheim Cup Team USA 🇺🇸 (@SolheimCupUSA) September 21, 2022

I hate wishing away time, therefore, let’s soak in the present moment of how the Presidents Cup can positively impact women’s golf.

I think it’s a bit obvious how golf publications are trying to pump the juice with this year’s Cup. It’s harsh to say that it’s inferior to the Ryder Cup, but it just doesn’t seem to garner the same level of attention or excitement. But also, the Presidents Cup is a PGA Tour sanctioned event, meaning all those players who defected from the Tour to go to LIV are ineligible to play, so the press build up seems more intentional (and dare I say petty…and I’m not mad about…like at all).

So the ban of LIV players impacts the International team (losing players like Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann) more so than the American team. The average world ranking for Team USA’s 12-player roster is 11.8, where as the International team average sits at 48.8.

Out of the 13 times the Presidents Cup has been played, Team USA has won 11 times. The cup has been around for almost 30 years…it’s time to shake things up.

I’m not alone in my thinking. Both Golf Digest and Golfweek released pieces outlining a mock-version of a joint LPGA and PGA Presidents Cup.

“So why the Presidents Cup specifically? Well, for the event to be more competitive, the teams need to be more balanced. For the teams to be more balanced, you need more talent on the International side. And you don’t have to look any further than the LPGA for international talent, with 29 of the top 50 players on the Rolex Women’s Rankings being natives of countries outside the U.S. and Europe (and 62 of the top 100). By comparison, only 12 in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking hail from outside the U.S. and Europe, and 31 of the top 100.”
Keely Levins and Kent Paisley, contributors for Golf Digest, ‘Presidents Cup 2022: What if the matches added LPGA players?’

It’s a great idea, and we’ve discussed introducing more mixed events to the schedules before, and this would be in a big way.

Last year’s Solheim Cup broke attendance records, and based on the positive direction the tour has been heading in this year, I think we can assume the best.

It would be in the best interest for both the PGA and LPGA to work together, especially with the LIV Tour becoming more appealing to younger golfers. The tours need to incentivize the players in nuanced ways that go beyond payouts. Yes, pay these athletes what they are worth, but also provide spaces for them to be themselves, to have fun, and show that the golf world is connected not polarized.

We have lots of golf to tune into this weekend, I’ll be turning another year older on Sunday, and I can’t wait to kick up my feet and be surrounded by screens so I don’t miss the LPGA in action in Arkansas, the Presidents Cup, and of course NFL Redzone.

See y’all next week!

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This week in women’s golf

If you have links you wish to share for Golf Thursday, sources for golf news, or want to talk about anything at all, you can email me at addieparker25@gmail.com ! Discussion of any kind is always welcome…I mean it…MESSAGE ME!

LPGA News

This week’s event is the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Here’s what you should know about the week and how to watch. ESPN+ featured groups are also back this week!!!!

Andrea Lee is the latest, first-time winner on the LPGA…and it wasn’t easy

Maja Stark is finding her footing on the LPGA with the help from mentor, five-time LPGA Tour and 16-time LET winner Sophie Gustafson

This stats comparison between Lydia Ko and Jordan Spieth will surprise you

Brittany Lincicome throws first pitch at Rays game, makes plans to return to LPGA near Florida home after birth of second child

LET News

After a 10 year hiatus the Women’s Irish Open is back with a new sponsor and as the tournament gets underway, all Irish eyes will be on Leona Maguire

Ines Laklalech makes history on the LET as the first Moroccan, first Arab and first North African woman to win a Ladies European Tour title at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France in Deauville

Epson Tour News

Maria Torres won the Guardian Championship last week, check out what’s in her bag

PLAYER FEATURE: Sierra Brooks, on blending her passion for golf and art

The 108-player field for the seventh Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout has been finalized by the Epson Tour. The “Road to the LPGA” is in week two of its final stretch of the season. Play will happen at the Mystic Creek Golf Club in El Dorado, Arkansas from September 23-25.

NCAA News

Golfweek KILLS it with the college golf coverage!!! This weeks recap includes an Ohio State Victory, freshmen setting records, and San Jose State has continued their domination.

The Campbell Camels collected another W in Myrtle Beach, Ashley Sloup helps guide Campbell women to another win in 2022 Golfweek Fall Challenge.

PODCAST: This episode of ‘College Golf Talk’, Steve Burkowski and Brentley Romine welcome Wake Forest women’s coach Kim Lewellen.

The Demon Decaons are also the 2022 ANNIKA Intercollegiate winners with late birdie barrage

Other News

The LPGA Professionals announced today the following members as winners of the 2022 national awards in acknowledgement of their dedication and achievements

Ross Bridge on Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama suffers accidental poisoning of greens, closed indefinitely

What’s it like battling for the largest purse in women’s long drive history?