GC's Golf Central had an interesting segment Tuesday night concerning the LPGA's Player of the Year race. Karen Stupples and Randall Mell debated whether Suzann Petterson should get POY instead of Inbee Park -- a very real possibility since, unlike the PGA Tour's vote, the LPGA POY is determined by points.
In case you don't know, here's how it works: You get 30 points for a win, 12 factors for second, 9 points for 0.33, seven factors for fourth, six factors for fifth, 5 points for sixth, 4 points for 7th, 3 points for 8th, factors for 9th, and one point for 10th. If you heard the controversy, Stupples made it sound as if majors count number similar to everyday activities, however -- except things have been changed -- they're surely worth double factors. (The Tour Championship -- now referred to as the CME Group Titleholders -- is likewise well worth double points.)
Inbee Park has 290 factors, Suzann Petterson has 252 points -- a distinction of 38 factors. There are occasions left -- this week's Lorena Ochoa Invitational, a regular event, and subsequent week's Titleholders. That approach there are 90 factors nonetheless up for grabs.
Mell argued that triumphing three majors in a row -- something not carried out on the grounds that Babe Didrikson again in 1950 -- need to be enough to lock POY. Stupples argued that Inbee wasn't Player of the Year however alternatively Player of the Half Year; Suzann had been far greater constant.
And each had a legitimate point.
When a participant makes records, it truly seems that ought to remember for some thing. And despite the fact that Suzann wins each events -- tying her and Inbee with 6 wins apiece -- Inbee will have three majors versus Suzann's single most important and Titleholders. Close, however you'd suppose Inbee had the brink.
However, Inbee has sincerely vanished on the grounds that her win at the US Women's Open, posting a single Top10 due to the fact then (a third in early October). Suzann published 6 Top10s at some point of Inbee's dominant half of-12 months. In all, Suzann has 14 Top10s versus Inbee's 9. Suzann changed into without a doubt the maximum constant over the entire year.
Stupples doesn't believe the points system should be tweaked, and even Mell conceded that it has worked almost flawlessly over the years. The big question is a simple one: Should a historical performance be a factor in choosing the POY? As it stands, the LPGA says no and I suspect many fans (like Mell) have a problem with that.
But there is some other issue that neither Stupples nor Mell considered... If Suzann does control to play nicely enough to seize the POY trophy, she'll possibly play well sufficient to win the Vare Trophy (for scoring; she's a mere .05 of a stroke in the back of chief Stacy Lewis) as well as becoming the new Rolex #1. That was INCONCEIVABLE returned in June when Inbee snagged her third main in a row!
Sounds like a historical accomplishment to me.
Perhaps the folks that designed the LPGA's point gadget knew something we don't...
The picture is from sbnation.Com.
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