2025 LPGA Season Odds and Ends

[Treats]

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/lpga/2025/02/18/lpgas-south-korean-broadcasting-partner-failed-to-pay-for-2024-2025/79086295007/

 

If my understanding is correct. JTBC pays the LPGA (media rights??) money to be able to broadcast some LPGA events.

JTBC has not paid any money owed for the above in 2024 & 2025 and in addition, as underwriter for the Fir Hill events, also did pay money owed for 2024 & 2025.

Yet, the LPGA won't terminate the agreement to avoid coverage disruption in Korea??

How can any organization allow something like this (unpaid bills) to continue for so long?

 

The LPGA was slated to lose $2M in 2024. Yet, the PGA Tour seems to be financially sound, even having the financial stability to fund the $50M PIP for 2024 (final year) and previous years.

 

IMO...it seems like there has been mismanagement in the LPGA for some time, including it's BoD.

Instead of creating a committee to solve the LPGA PoP issues, they should be getting their finances in order.

 

As per this video, seems like the earliest for a new Commish is May.

 

 

 

Edited February 19 by Treats

[Rapidcat]

1 hour ago, Treats said:

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/lpga/2025/02/18/lpgas-south-korean-broadcasting-partner-failed-to-pay-for-2024-2025/79086295007/

 

If my understanding is correct. JTBC pays the LPGA (media rights??) money to be able to broadcast some LPGA events.

JTBC has not paid any money owed for the above in 2024 & 2025 and in addition, as underwriter for the Fir Hill events, also did pay money owed for 2024 & 2025.

Yet, the LPGA won't terminate the agreement to avoid coverage disruption in Korea??

How can any organization allow something like this (unpaid bills) to continue for so long?

 

The LPGA was slated to lose $2M in 2024. Yet, the PGA Tour seems to be financially sound, even having the financial stability to fund the $50M PIP for 2024 (final year) and previous years.

 

IMO...it seems like there has been mismanagement in the LPGA for some time, including it's BoD.

Instead of creating a committee to solve the LPGA PoP issues, they should be getting their finances in order.

 

As per this video, seems like the earliest for a new Commish is May.

 

 

 

 

They're dreaming if they think that they can get the right exec & leader to start in May - existing work commitments for the new boss to finalise, contractual notice period, maybe a holiday to freshen up etc.

 

Will be lucky if the get anyone really starting before late in the year (didn't Mollie's appointment get announced in May 2021 but after some quiet listening and pre-work, she really started actual work in August/September?), especially as Tom said that they have a search committee that includes 'some of the players' (didn't they learn from the last time?).

 

Amateur hour but they may get lucky.

[iBanesto]

[Treats]

5 hours ago, iBanesto said:

Shibuno is a good softball player.

I believe she likes softball more than golf.

 

Who is the tall guy? Is he Japanese and can he speak Japanese? I think he plays a sport in the US, which one?

I only browsed the video.

[JungleJimbo]

 

Not surprised somewhat, to see Albane Valenzuela mentioned here

(i believe the TV commentators have mentioned Albane's high school yearbook's caption = "Most Likely to be President... country of choice = TBD")

 

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/lpga/2025/02/20/lpga-dads-enlist-trump-help-build-women-world-golf-tour/79214931007/

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

On 2/19/2025 at 7:02 PM, iBanesto said:

 

[Argonne69]

Looks like the LPGA has slightly changed the format of Q Series this year. They're now going to have 3 regional pre-qualifying sites. Might be a little cheaper for some players by reducing travel costs. 

 

Not sure about the equity of it, though. Having all players play the same course does have it's merits. 

 

https://www.firstcallgolf.com/industry-news/release/2025-02-20/lpga-announces-q-series-dates-for-2025

 

[18majors]

17 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Not sure about the equity of it, though. Having all players play the same course does have it's merits. 

 

 

 

From the point of qualifying for LPGA Tour, it's a moot point; Caley McGinty was the only player who went from pre-qualifying to LPGA Tour in 2024.

 

They do take more than 90 players to the Qualyfing stage and all of them qualified for Epson Tour.  Players might as well call it a career if they don't make that cut; equity or not!

[JungleJimbo]

On 2/20/2025 at 12:22 AM, Treats said:

Shibuno is a good softball player.

I believe she likes softball more than golf.

 

Who is the tall guy? Is he Japanese and can he speak Japanese? I think he plays a sport in the US, which one?

I only browsed the video.

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lars_Nootbaar

 

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

Missing Megan Khang at this week's LPGA event ... this answered the "where is Megan Khang" question

 

 

[Treats]

20 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

Missing Megan Khang at this week's LPGA event ... this answered the "where is Megan Khang" question

 

 

A past member, Sean, knew Megan's dad and has also golfed with Megan.

I believe dad is self taught, maybe an instructor and coached Megan.

[18majors]

This is one of those "Only in LPGA" phenomenon:

 

"Lexi Thompson is retired but she's entered to play all stroke play events in the US;

Alison Lee is active but hasn't entered any events in 2025 thus far."

[Treats]

3 hours ago, 18majors said:

This is one of those "Only in LPGA" phenomenon:

 

"Lexi Thompson is retired but she's entered to play all stroke play events in the US;

Alison Lee is active but hasn't entered any events in 2025 thus far."

I'm too lazy to look. How many events has Lexi signed up for at this time.

In all fairness, she did say she's retiring from a FT sked.

Maybe she's bored. Her fiance maybee works FT and doesn't spend much time together M-F during the day.

She can only walk Leo so much.

As a touring pro, maybe she doesn't have made too many friends to hang with.

Maybe her friends are very busy with their FT careers and/or raising kids.

I think she's bored and doesn't know anything other than golf.

 

Lexi gets some criticism for some of her past actions.

I'm okay with Lexi because she treats the fans very well. At the end of the day, pro golfers are entertainers and she's friendly to her on-site fans.

 

Yes, I was going to write about Alison before but I got lazy. What happened? She went MIA.

In the fall of 2023 for a short time before the tour season ended, she was on fire. Golf is difficult.

IF and I say IF. IF Alison could have won a lot she could have been a LPGA "IT" pro.

[Rapidcat]

Lexi has a retirement you're having when you're not having a retirement.

 

Hopefully Alison is spending all this time just working on her putting, she'll be all the better for it.

[Argonne69]

A Lim is taking a lot of grief about using aimpoint on a short putt at the Honda. Personally I don't give a rat's behind as long as it's within the time allowed. Plenty of dog slow players who don't use aimpoint. 

 

[Seamus_McDuff]

5 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

A Lim is taking a lot of grief about using aimpoint on a short putt at the Honda. Personally I don't give a rat's behind as long as it's within the time allowed. Plenty of dog slow players who don't use aimpoint. 

 

People are making too much of it. Looked like she straddled the line for about half a second, possibly out of habit. 

[Jonnyuk74]

. 🤔

Edited February 24 by Jonnyuk74

[Treats]

8 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

A Lim is taking a lot of grief about using aimpoint on a short putt at the Honda. Personally I don't give a rat's behind as long as it's within the time allowed. Plenty of dog slow players who don't use aimpoint. 

 

Who specifically was giving her grief?

[Argonne69]

5 minutes ago, Treats said:

Who specifically was giving her grief?

 

https://www.si.com/golf/lpga-major-champion-aimpoint-short-putt-widespread-criticism

 

[Treats]

4 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

https://www.si.com/golf/lpga-major-champion-aimpoint-short-putt-widespread-criticism

 

I agree with you. If it's her pre-shot routine and doesn't slow down play, it's no issue in my books.

I'm a A Lim Kim fan, so I'm also biased.

 

Remember a previous post where CPG posted a video whether D. Kang could putt out before the men's 800 meter race finished.

I'm not a D. Kang. She seems a bit phony to me.

[Lobby]

A Lim is becoming a bit more “forceful” in her interactions with the media

 

I like it. Plus her swing is heavenly 

 

I’ve added her to my list of favs

[JungleJimbo]

5 minutes ago, Lobby said:

A Lim is becoming a bit more “forceful” in her interactions with the media

 

I like it. Plus her swing is heavenly 

 

I’ve added her to my list of favs

"+1" on A Lim Kim becoming a favourite, for her positive / happy on-course demeanour

 

 

[GolfMoose]

She's the only golfer who has ever stopped and full on posed when seeing me taking a picture, so thumbs up.  Didn't Tom Abbott refer to her once on air as "a total goofball" or similar (affectionately).  I wished her luck in Korean...but apparently watching K-dramas on Netflix with the girlfriend doesn't actually count as  language training.

[JungleJimbo]

35 minutes ago, GolfMoose said:

She's the only golfer who has ever stopped and full on posed when seeing me taking a picture, so thumbs up.  Didn't Tom Abbott refer to her once on air as "a total goofball" or similar (affectionately).  I wished her luck in Korean...but apparently watching K-dramas on Netflix with the girlfriend doesn't actually count as  language training.

 

I can recommend these "Making Out in Korean" language phrasebooks

(i've attached some screenshots / PDF extract, to give you an idea of the contents

... arguably more funny/ useful than this "Korean 101" youtube video of golf-related phrases)

 

...There's an entire series of these "Making Out" phrasebooks

(e.g. Thai / Japanese/ Tagalog)

... still awaiting an Australian version (maybe @Rapidcat can advise!)

 

https://www.amazon.com/Making-Out-Korean-Revised-Books/dp/0804835101

 

https://www.amazon.com/Making-Out-Korean-Language-Phrase/dp/0804843546 

 

 

 

 

[NorthTexasGlfr]

Okay, I'll be the one, lol.

 

Put me in the same camp as Lucas Glover and Jim Nantz when it comes to Aimpoint. If I were in charge, it would be gone. 

 

And no, I'm not cutting A Lim Kim any slack. And yes, I'm one of those old people 😊

[Argonne69]

40 minutes ago, NorthTexasGlfr said:

Okay, I'll be the one, lol.

 

Put me in the same camp as Lucas Glover and Jim Nantz when it comes to Aimpoint. If I were in charge, it would be gone. 

 

And no, I'm not cutting A Lim Kim any slack. And yes, I'm one of those old people 😊

 

If the tour actually enforced the 30 second rule, I bet most players would abandon Aimpoint pretty quickly. As long as the tour allows 90 to 120+ seconds per player on the greens, well... 

 

[18majors]

 

Chevron was thrilled that Nelly won their Championship in 2024:

 

Edited February 25 by 18majors

[Treats]

23 hours ago, Lobby said:

A Lim is becoming a bit more “forceful” in her interactions with the media

 

I like it. Plus her swing is heavenly 

 

I’ve added her to my list of favs

It's hard not to like A Lim Kim.

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

 

[bcjim]

On 2/24/2025 at 9:54 PM, Treats said:

Who specifically was giving her grief?

Sxm 92 radio discussed it/mocked it quite a bit. 

 

I saw it and wondered at first if she was making fun of Aimpoint 😂

 

It was momentary enough not to delay play but stomping around the cup is just not right. Especially unnecessarily.  I don't think golfers need to be overly sensitive about each other's lines but some basic courtesy is reasonable.