It's possible you did not hear approximately the newest wrinkle within the LPGA's 2014 season. Other bloggers -- maximum considerably, the Constructivist -- have already completed posts about it. You'll clearly need to read his publish and the links inside it, three of which I'll list here simply to make certain you realize which post is which:
- Brent Kelley's explanation of "how it works" at golf.about.com
- Randell Mell's announcement at GolfTalkCentral (video from Jon Bodany, LPGA CMO)
- Mell's second post at GolfTalkCentral (video with Lexi Thompson and Brittany Lincicome)
The LPGA paid quite a few attention to the FedExCup and Race to Dubai setups, and attempted to pick the high-quality factors of each even as minimizing the weaknesses. For example, the points system is simpler so it need to be easier for enthusiasts to hold up with who needs to do what to win.
The most interesting aspect to me is how they decided to handle the final event. As with the other tours, there's a point reset right before the final event -- which has changed its title from the CME Group Titleholders to the CME Group Tour Championship -- so no player can lock up the points race before the final event. (Shall we call this the Vijay Singh Rule?) Otherwise the points work the same as in the other tours' races... except only 9 players will have a mathematical chance of winning the LPGA's Race. And only the top 3 "control their destiny."
And only 3 gamers get payouts. The winner gets $1mil, 2d gets $150k, 0.33 gets $100k. This is without a doubt near a winner-take-all state of affairs. That's really greater interesting, do not you observed?
In addition, CME Group will run a season-long application for the Wounded Warriors Project. Every eagle made for the duration of a weekend spherical at any LPGA event will bring about a donation of $one thousand.
Based on what I've heard to this point, this appears like a first-rate exposure generator for the LPGA. (Just consider how an awful lot the FedExCup sparked buzz for the PGA Tour.) It feels like they've averted most of the large issues that the other excursions needed to tweak in their factors races. And at a point wherein many players are thinking about staying on their home tours and fending off the LPGA's journey agenda, it is a big carrot to lure those players lower back.
But most of all, it seems to spotlight how properly Michael Whan has managed the LPGA at some stage in tough times... And the way appealing it has turn out to be to sponsors. After the economy tanked and hurt the Tour so badly, did we ever count on to look a Corporate Race to the LPGA? Yet it appears it is precisely what we have right here. If the International Crown event (the brand new eight u . S . Group opposition in July) works out as deliberate... And the Race works out as planned...
Who is aware of what we would see subsequent from the LPGA?
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