No Laying Up - Golf Podcast - 910 - Post-Solheim LPGA Check-In

Episode Date: October 1, 2024

Randy and Cody look at the last couple of LPGA tournaments in Arkansas and Cincinnati, preview the upcoming Asian Swing, Tour Championship and Epson Tour Championship along with a look ahead to the 2025 schedule and some assorted news and notes. If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining The Nest: No Laying Up’s community of avid golfers. Nest members help us maintain our light commercial interruptions (3 minutes of ads per 90 minutes of content) and receive access to exclusive content, discounts in the pro shop, and an annual member gift. It’s a $90 annual membership, and you can sign up or learn more at nolayingup.com/join Support Our Partners: Yeti Titleist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Be the right club. Be the right club today. That's better than most. How about in? That is better than most. Better than most! Expect anything different? Better than most. Expect anything different. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome into the No Laying Up Golf podcast. My name is Randy. I am joined by Cody. We are talking women's golf today.

Cody, let's start here. How are you doing? Long Presidents Cup weekend. How's the new week treating you? It feels like we're still very much in President's cup weekend. How's the new week treating you? It's a feels like we're still very much in President's cup mode. Just just ended that live show. I mean, I don't know 10 hours ago or something like that. We're back on the mics again. It's awesome, buddy, but I'm excited to run down the last couple weeks in women's golf land because we've had

some awesome tournaments. Yeah, definitely. And I think that's one of the things with the President's Cup, which was going on last weekend, obviously didn't get a chance to really talk at all about the event in Arkansas. And we talked, I guess a little bit couple Sundays ago about the Cincy event, but we can hit that again. And then you and I want to look forward. Epson Tour Championship this week. We'll hit some news and notes and it'll be, you know,

hey, we're just checking in on the women's game here. We're in the fall. It's unbelievable. There's only seven events left, six before the Tour Championship in November. So we're kind of getting down to it surprisingly. But before we get into it, let's thank some great sponsors that have been with us all throughout the year.

Let's start with Yeti. What do the folks need to know with Yeti? Yeti, thank you to Yeti again for presenting sponsor for all their LPGA content this year. You know, their products, they're built to stand the duration of time, right? I think every single time I get on social media or if I'm scrolling away on YouTube or something like that,

there's always like, oh yes, you know, this Yeti washed up in this hurricane and it's still working or somebody lit this on fire and this cooler is still very much intact. Just awesome, awesome products. Doesn't matter if it's cups, if it's coolers, if it's backpacks, luggage, you name it. And they very much put their money where their mouth is and support women's golf. And

that's something that I very, very appreciative of them for. So please everybody go check out yeti.com for their complete product line, top to bottom, you'll find something there for you. But a big thank you to Yeti. Awesome. While we're here, let's thank our other great sponsor have really been a big help in doing much more women's golf coverage. And that is our good friends at Titleist. Yeah, that's right, Randy. And thank you to our friends at

Titleist. And today, I'm talking about the Titleist golf ball. I've been fit for my golf ball, everybody should go get fit. First and foremost, you can go get fit, head to Titleist.com start the golf ball fitting process there. But most importantly, what do you do with all those little golf balls when they get a little too scuffed up, they're no longer in play or you just have that that ball pocket in your golf bag that you just end up having 510 extra golf balls

in there. It's weighing the whole thing down. This is what I do. I brought props today. So I have this little mesh bag that I put all of those scuffed up balls in. And this is what I do my short game practice with. So I'll take this to the golf course. And you know me, I don't belong any of these fancy clubs around Dallas. Okay.

I hit up all the Munis and you know what they have at the Munis? Usually some beat up range balls. So I bring my own balls to practice my short game. So I'm out there grinding on chipping, pitching, trying to hit bunker shots, working on my feels, whether that's flight, spin, you name it. I want to practice with the ball that I actually play with. Cause what's the point of practicing if you're not going to know how the ball is going to react. I want the confidence and that's why I choose my title is Pro V1. I'm extending the life of these things. So listen, these balls

last a long long time. I'm extending them and getting high quality practice throughout the whole time. So everybody, please clean out your golf bags first and foremost utilize the nuggets that you got left and head to Titleist.. Start the golf ball fitting process there and go get fit. It's very, very easy. Wonderful, Cody. Thank you again to both Yeti and Tidalist. And yeah, let's get, let's get into the episode.

Hey, let's look back. Let's start here. We, we just concluded the Walmart Northwest Arkansas championship. And it was Thailand's Jasmine Sawanapura capturing her third career LPGA victory. She wanted to play off Cody over here girl, 21 year old Lucy Lee. I think the story of the day really was Lucy's final round 60, which included unbelievably

two bogeys on her front nine, including one at a par five, three Eagles, big three Eagles. I watched highlights. Did you get to watch much of this? Like I feel bad just because you know, we were locked into president's cup, but I think the thing that really strikes me is like, if like this course was playing really easy. It was like everybody was just making birdies. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's, it's a score is paradise out there. Lucia went back and looked at it. So she's hit 12 or 13 fairways.

She had 16 of 18 greens and reg had 26 putts. Didn't find a single bunker out there on that final round. And with the two bogeys, three eagles, somehow that adds up to 60. A slew of birdies in there, of course. Phenomenal stuff. And then really got into the playoff. And I'll say this, Jasmine, she had the eagle 18 to get into the playoff. She obviously eagled it. They go out, they play 18 again for the first playoff hole. She obviously eagled it. They go out, they play 18 again for the first playoff hole. Both of them on the green and two again, both of them with good eagle looks.

They both walk away with birdie. They go back to the 18th tee for the third time that day. And Jasmine hits a perfect drive in the middle of the fairway. Lucy absolutely pulls this left in one of the few missed fairways, but definitely definitely cannot miss that fairway on 18 if you're planning on going forward in two. She was forced to lay up. Jasmine, of course, hit it up there on the green and two, leg her eagle putt up, had a very, you know, tap in birdie putt. Man, like, you know, it sucks. It sucks for Lucy.

But honestly, for her sophomore year, again, we're building towards something. And I think that's like the positive thing about it because Jasmine's 31 years old. She's been on the LPGA tour for a long time. This is only her third win. But man, it played some awesome, awesome golf. And I know we can talk about the fact that this is only 54 hole event. And yeah, the course is questionable, but there's a nice purse for three days work and it usually is slotted in right around Soul Hunt Cup year when it's bouncing around, but everybody always loves this event. So outside of the ridiculous amount of birdies big, I guess where you kind of want to start.

Yeah, and listen, I don't have a problem with the with the setup or the course playing easy. Certain weeks you're going to get birdie fest and I think on the women's side much more so than the men's side. There are many more tests throughout the year where most of these women are hitting, you know, long irons, hybrids, three woods into par fours. Like I don't mind having a week where scoring is quote unquote easy. And there's a bunch of birdies and eagles. That's fine. Let's start here. It's I believe it's the only remaining three day tournament.

I'm trying to think now that I say that perhaps the shop, right? I know the shop, right up in New Jersey always used to be a three day or you mentioned good purse, $3 million. I mean, no, no bones to pick with the purse and the players love coming to this event. I think the majority of players stay with host families. Like I don't want to trash this event, but I do, I do just want to discuss. Does it feel odd to still have three day tournaments on the LPGA tour? Because to me, it does a little bit.

Yeah, I mean, definitely as we see the rest of the purses continuing to to advance and get bigger and, and kind of the minimum purse for new events that the LPGA tour brings on. You pointed out shop, right shop right is still it's this and Walmart are the only two 54 hole events. And if people remember LPGA tour brings on. You pointed out ShopRite. ShopRite is still, it's this and Walmart are the only two 54-hole events. And if people remember, kind of similarities here, but Linnea Strom ended up winning ShopRite

earlier this year, came out of absolutely nowhere with a final round 60. Like, went literally from like, she was in like 67th place or something like that to win the event. So yeah, it's weird. I don't know. The other thing that is kind of questionable about this

is like, it's, the purse is fine because obviously that's what like the sponsor is putting up, which I understand. I guess I don't quite understand how this event and ShopRite are getting full CME points. Like, I don't know how the Walmart Northwest Arkansas championship is worth the same as Cincinnati. But I mean in the world of messed up world rankings

and points and how everything is broken down, I guess, you know, why not? But they're just not the same. I just don't understand how that kind is the case still. Yeah. I wish I had a better answer for you. I believe at least in this Arkansas event, the reason that it's 54 holes, I believe they have heavy Pro-Am schedules.

Obviously the sponsor Walmart, I'm sure uses this as a big corporate hospitality event and more. Is that not right? Why is it 54 holes? I think it's just an old school, old LPGA thing. I understand what you're saying and you're right in the justifications that you just gave. Those are probably why it is still the way that it is. But what are we doing, man? I think that's that was just another one of those moments where I'm like,

okay, like, could you ever imagine the, like, the PJ Tour telling us like, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, we just can't do it today because we just have a heavy Pro-Am schedule and everything else. Like, is this supposed to be, like, the highest level of women's competition for this sport or not?

Because if that's the same, like, you know, I guess I just don't get it, you know, and it's one of those frustrating moments where I'm like, well, why is it an LPGA tour event? Like if they just want to put a big purse out there and, and have people show up to make sure that these executives and everything are happy, then they can do that. and have people show up to make sure that these executives and everything are happy, then they can do that. Right. Again, it's just, I don't even want to like, I know we're kind of like asking why, and I'm sure there are better reasons. But by all intents and purposes, the players like the event, the people on the ground like the event. So like, I don't want to

The players like the event, the people on the ground like the event. So like, I don't want to bemoan that, but you're right. Like the LPGA tour to willingly just contest 54 whole events. It does feel strange. I hope we kind of move away from the 54 whole events as we go forward the next couple of years, but we'll see. Yeah. I would say the one thing is like, this event's been, I would say the newest events that are on the LPGA Tour schedule, like this goes back to 2007. And I think it's a company and Walmart

and the people in Rogers like absolutely love the LPGA Tour and they love hosting. Everybody raves about it, how the members and kind of the community just embraces everybody and you have host housing and everything else. So I get that. And the field or the purse, excuse me, has advanced and grown over time. I just don't, I guess, understand why we're still stuck in like this three-day thing. And of course, I mean, if I'm a player, I'm sure I like it. Right? I mean, less work. Yeah, sure. Well, I shouldn't say less work. I shouldn't say less work. Those

Pro-Ams are probably the worst work. Yeah, I don't know. It's just one of those things where it's, the worst work. Yeah, I don't know. It's just one of those things where it's, I would say just like the LPGA Tour is doing such an intense job of leveling up some of these historical tournaments that they have to be like, hey, you guys, you have to elevate your purses. Like, I'm sorry, I understand that the history

and the tradition and you guys have been a long event for a long, long time, but like you need to put, you need to put more money in this. And you've seen big growth specifically for the California events. You see all the new events, whether that's Boston or really like we can go back to Mizzouho, Cincinnati, like this run of new events. And then really the, the events in, in Asia, like they're, they all have elevated purses here. So if they're not afraid to ask for more money, then why aren't they saying like, hey, but you guys also, we need to right balance this

because it's very much a model from the LPGA of old. And it does feel like, you know, maybe it's just crazy coincidence, but I hadn't even put together that Linnea Strom 60 occurred at the shop, right? Another 54 whole event, like are they just airing on the side of, hey, we only have three rounds, like, let's make the scoring as easy as possible. Again, fine, whatever. I will say Lucy Lee's just a couple notes on that 60 that she shot. She obviously the second

player this year, and the eighth since 2001 on the LPGA to shoot 60 or better. You mentioned Jasmine Suwanapora, 31 years old. This is her third career win, first this year. And I'll say, you know, as we get to the end of the season, this is like a very important win for her in the fact that she jumped up from 75th in the race to the CME all the way up to now she's 28th. This virtually guarantees her a spot at the Tour Championship, which you just gotta be in that top 60.

It's not like the PGA Tour Championship where they do the weighted start. It's, hey, if you're in the Tour Championship, you got a shot at the biggest purse with a limited field in women's golf. So I shouldn't say biggest tour purse. So big week for her, you know, we maybe we'll be looking back in November

and saying Jasmine's won a, oh yeah, she won Walmart. You know, it's, you know, she makes money this week and potentially can make a lot of money in a couple months. Lucy Lee, same thing. She was actually right on the bubble heading into this week. She's jumped up to 32nd in the CME. And I think that's one of the things as we get down to the tour championship, it will be fun to kind of monitor that 60th spot and see who's just inside the bubble, and who is going to

be just outside of that cut. So yeah, and he run us through a few notable finishes here and we'll keep the train moving. Yeah, I would say the next people that kind of jump out, Seon Kim finished third, you know, that's coming off of her T3 that she had there last year. Mal Sigo, big, I ended up finishing T for her, but really, when we look at ongoing Rook of the Year stuff, big considerations there. Ash Buhay, kind of a quiet season for Ash Buhay here. She's solo six, but continuing to put together kind of what she's known for.

I mean, I know she has the lofty expectations from winning that major a couple of years back, but it's going to be a pretty decent season as the majority of these ladies, they're all taking off for Asia, limited field, no cut events, and just going to pick up buckets full of points. Of course, Geno Tidicol, Top Ten again, Jim Cup Show, your girl in there T7 with Linnea Strom just making mincemeat of these three round 54 hole events. Nasa Atayoka, it's good to see her back in the Top Ten. I have one.

Sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off. Please keep going. I just have one. Before we move on, I have one player I'd like to highlight. Well, the other thing is, I'm happy to see Jenny Shin. She finished T12 here, kind of last time we saw Jenny. I know she played the Irish women's open post AIG, but did not have a good final round at the AIG women's open paired with Nelly. Shoots 11 under finishes T12, but happy to see here making a top 20 and not having a very good year at all as

somebody who we talked a lot about last year. That's Cheyenne Knight, right? Fort Wurzone, she's not even in like Solheim Cup considerations at all. It has just kind of been a ghost here. And finally there T17 with Lexi Thompson there 10 under, but yeah, overall, who do you got? with Lexi Thompson there, 10 under, but yeah, overall, who do you got? Somebody else at T17 and kind of fits the Cheyenne Knight mold a little bit, but I just want to shout out Yalini No, who was on, speaking of Solheim Cup team, was on the Solheim Cup team many years ago,

going back to Toledo and she's still just 23 years old. And she was in the absolute wilderness, Cody. She ended last season. She ended 2023 ranked number 278 in the world rankings, which was way down from obviously when she had been a Solheim cupper. And now she's put together a very solid 2024. She's made 20 starts, she's made 16 cuts, eight top 25s, three top 10s,

and she's improved that world rank just kind of as a marker of how well her season is going. She's now up to 112th in the world. And I just, it's wonderful to see her having success. She really burst onto the scene, came from nowhere several years ago at the Portland Classic. I believe almost won it. She wasn't an LPGA member.

And I think was somebody did not go to the college route and was trying to figure life out on tour. And as anybody, right? But when you're 18, 19, 20 years old trying to do that, her golf game got a little sideways, but she seems to have found something. I've seen her using like a longer broomstick putter. I think that was a big bugaboo of hers.

And I just, I wanted to shout her out because this week was just another solid week tied for 17th. And quite honestly, could be a name, you know, we're getting very ahead of myself. But as we looked at 2026 and who could possibly be some of these Americans in contention for Solheim Cup spots, you leave me know, could be somebody that, you know, hey, we're talking about either qualifying on points or perhaps in that captain's pick discussion.

And I think that's a good thing, obviously, for her, but I think it's a good thing for women's golf and certainly American golf. Yeah. I mean, she's in 61st place right now in the CME. She got a lot of room to make up there, Biggie, if you are expecting her to be on that team. I will say that she was truly like in the golf's doldrums there. Couldn't figure it out. It was the putting. She's rocking that long putter, which is awesome to see her finally making putts. You mentioned the, I think she has

16 made cuts so far this year out of the 20. So four missed. What events can we not miss cuts at? Are they the majors? They're three majors and the Mizzouho. So four missed, what events can we not miss cuts at? Are they the majors? They're three majors and the Mizzouho. Yeah. But I will agree with you and say, yeah, she's putting it together when she needs to. And I will say like outside of those three majors

that we identified, she did finish top 10 at the Chevron to start the year. So it all depends on if you're including that as a major or not a major but t9 there pretty good finish well and i will say though you know you made that comment about solheim solheim has totally reset points have reset and it's going to be a long race to qualify for that next team so through two two events, Cincinnati and Walmart now, Yalini finds herself in second place on the Solheim points list. But obviously that's-

I don't know, dude, does it start immediately after or does it start at the beginning of the year? Well, Courtney, I'm just looking at the LPGA website. So Lucy Lee's in first place and Yalini knows in second place. And that has to be due to the last two weeks. Yeah. Yeah.

I also will just know with even her improved putting Yalimi via KPMG performance insights, still losing about a half a stroke per round putting, but I think that's a big improvement over where she has been. She's a much better ball striker. And is somebody in that classic like, hey, if she can find it with the putter, she'll be very dangerous. So I think somebody to keep an eye on. And like I said, I'm just glad that she's playing much better golf

this year. And it seems to be consistent, at least throughout this season, which is good to see. Who else? I had Maria Fosse. She had an opening round 64 here. She went to Arkansas won a national championship at Arkansas. She's kind of the adopted hometown girl of this event. Gabby Lopez being another one that went to Arkansas. Gabby struggled in the third round. Maria tough second and third round ended up finishing tied for 58. By tough on this golf course, I just want to point out her second round, she shot even par.

And I'm pretty sure her third round, she was like two over par. So not like it's again, this golf course is, it's a racetrack. If you absolutely like get off of this birdie streak at all, you're just going to be left in the dust. Yeah. But it was cool.

I will say this, you know, Maria, we give her a hard time. I think it's because our, I don't know if it's really our expectations. I don't know if I have any expectations from her, but I will say that the marketing and everything that came out around her coming out of college and the first Anwar and everything else like that was like this big power player

and she's playing the game different and you have AT&T and all this other things everything else like that was like this big power player and she's playing the game different and you have AT&T and all this other things that are just kind of thrust upon you and then I'm sure even for her like she didn't really have like the best college career ever and she definitely made a name for herself and took advantage of it and kind of the results haven't really been there but of it and kind of the results haven't really been there. But you talk about the adopted hometown like she still has her home is still based here in Arkansas. Like this is still where she's traveling out of and everything else. Her foundation, I think it's Fosse and Friends does an awesome job with youth and youth golf and everything else like that. And they're all there and she had, you know, a ton of. You probably saw it on social, them walking up 18

or whatever it was and doing the, I don't even know what the Arkansas chant is. Did they call the hogs? All the hogs, there you go. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, I didn't want Bunky to get all upset at me. Whoop, whoop, whoop, pig suey, yeah. But I don't know, stuff like that's cool.

I think that's probably like a talk of expectations and Maria and you know, I don't know. I know she started this year without an LPGA Tour card. Like she lost access and she had to go play ladies European Tour just to, you know, get starts in at the beginning of the year. And kind of seeing how I just, I guess I don't really have an endpoint to this. I just don't really know what she's, what she's planning on doing. Yeah. Well, she's got to play better golf. I know it's a really, it's unfortunate in one sense, but I mean, good for her in another sense.

So the NCAA championship that she did win, it was a home game, right? That was the year the NCAA championship went to Blessings, which was the home of Arkansas golf. And, you know, she played well, and I don't take that away from her. But I think on the strength of that, and then she goes and turns pro, plays the US women's open, like the next month, she finishes tied for 12th. And yeah, I mean, I'll raise my hand. I think, you know, we probably tweeted, she just, she has such a powerful swing. And I think it's such a departure from what we were used to seeing in the women's game that it was hard not to be like, holy shit.

Like if she knows where the golf ball's going, like she could really, really dominate out here. And as time has gone on, you know, she just hasn't played that good a golf. And so, but with all of that came endorsements and, and I just think in some respects, like all of that so soon, probably is a disservice to her. But also like, hey, if it was never really meant to be like you might as well cash in on those endorsements and, and you know, and make as much money as you can because it might be a shorter window. I don't know.

I say all that too where it's like, I don't know where we're going. I see your name pop up on leaderboards now and it's honestly like, oh, Maria Fossey. Yeah, I kind of forget about her. These days I have zero expectations for her. So yeah, just an interesting one there, I guess. Yeah, so she played 18 events so far this year

on the LPGA Tour. She's made seven cuts. So she currently sits at 113th on the CME points list. You know, she's putting some together. She made the cut in Cincinnati, finished top 20 there, tied for 19th at 10 under par. And then we just mentioned here, made the cut in Cincinnati finished top 20 there tied for 19th at 10 under par. And then we just mentioned here, made the cut here, finishing a 500, but T 58, not a lot of money, but you know, when you're looking at a calendar here with a lot of

missed cuts, she's got to feel, feel something. Well, it just reminds me. I still remember, uh, we were talking about Maria Fossey and Van Damme, who has gone through her own struggles, but is playing better golf. And Bianca Pogdenanen, who has never really broken through, she'll flirt with leaderboards every now and again. But those three women possess power in their golf games that really are among, you know, the most powerful players in the sport. But it just speaks to like golf is a whole lot more than just hitting the ball far and having

swing speed. So anything else from the Northwest Arkansas championship? No, I'm good. I want to talk about Cincy Big. Come on. No, I'm good. I want to talk about Cincy Big. Come on. Yeah, we'll just go back to Cincy. I think that the headline news here besides Lydia Ko, I mean, Lydia Ko should be the headliner. Is that any good?

Yeah. In her first start since winning the Open Championship, she comes to Cincinnati, she shoots a final round Sunday, 63 round of the day. She beats Gino Titicum by five shots. Star-studded leaderboard. Honestly, it was a fabulous leaderboard yet. Hey Ron Rue solo third, Yuka Sasso solo fourth.

Nelly was amongst a group tied for fifth. But it was a new venue in Cincinnati. And I was curious how that new venue would take. They've moved from Kenwood Country Club, which was the site the first two years of this event, up north of the city, kind of really into the suburbs up to TPC Rivers Bend. The golf course, listen, it was pretty easy too. It's been very dry in Cincinnati. I think the course was firm. It was fast. It was lending itself to birdies.

And that's fine. I guess I'll be more curious next year how it plays if it's more kind of normal weather, if you will. The event will be here the next two years they announced that so I just I've said this before, like personally, because it's Cincinnati, I do think Kroger and PNG are good corporate sponsors to have on board in the women's game. The whole trick is finding a venue

that can establish roots and you can go back there year after year. And so I'm hopeful TPC Rivers Bend will be that venue for this event. Everything coming out of Cincinnati, the tournament, the, excuse me, from the sponsor side, I read an article that they were thrilled with the event this year. And I know this is one of the Excel tournaments, so we obviously have lines to the Excel people. I think they were very happy

with this event. And so I think this is one where, you know, fingers crossed, it's a good event in the fall. And I'm hopeful this venue will be a sticking point for him. So, we can go on about Lydia Ko. Honestly, I'm not sure there's much to say. Like, Lydia Ko is just... She's playing the best golf in the world right now of anybody on the women's side. And then honestly, maybe even the men's side. Okay, I agree with you on that. Now, phenomenal golf from Lidico.

No, there's no arguments about this. A big storyline that week, just frankly, was every single person that played in the Solheim Cup, how fatigued they were, how all they wanted to do is lay in bed. And that honestly, they're just like, hey, this is, to do is lay in bed and that honestly they're just like, Hey, this is, this is a lot. And I think it's what we see this leaderboard. We talked about how amazing the leaderboard was. I mean, outside of Nelly Korda who finished T fifth, which, which honestly is, you know, very impressive. There is no other writer or a Solheim Cup player that finished in the top 10.

I'm going to scrolling down now. The next person, the top 15. No, no, no. On US, are you going both sides? I'll go both sides because you have Albon. I will say don't miss Albon tied for seventh. Very good. So you got two Nelly T5 Albon and T7.

Then we're going to keep scrolling, scrolling, scrolling. Angelian did not make the team and Anorquist T19. So you have three people on the Solheim Cup. Lexi's down there T19. Charlie's at T19. So we could, it's going to start adding up here, but four or five people from the Solheim Cup that actually made it. And the vast majority of them played. I think the only person that I know that intentionally skipped it like Elsie didn't travel just because she knew it was going to be way too much. But I was shocked. You mentioned P&G and I agree and sounds like everybody's happy there. I didn't realize until looking at the full LPGA schedule. So the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by PNG.

The following week, we have the Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship presented by PNG. PNG is sponsoring back-to-back events. Is that right? Yeah, I thought it was like just a Walmart, but it's not. PNG is tied to both of them. They got them on both. Yeah, unless that's a typo on the website, which I don't mean to throw them under the bus, but certainly could be a possibility. New website. You don't

know. Yeah. I didn't realize that, Cody. Yeah. The one thing I will say about the Cincinnati event with P&G and Kroger, I mean, these are humongous companies. We got to raise the purse here. I believe the Kroger event is only a $2 million purse. And so to your point, you go to Arkansas the next week, 50-4-hole event, it's a $3 million purse. I just think, I know Commissioner Marcuse-Haman has made a point like she's trying to get as many events up to that like $3 million purse level as possible. And I feel like this is one that should needs to get there sooner than later. Well, why is how does the 54 hole event have a bigger purse

than your Cincinnati event? Big? I don't know. I gotta go talk to my hitters in Cincinnati. We might need Skyline. You know, we just got to get more of my favorite companies involved. I did. I didn't see a lot of people enjoying Skyline this year like they have in years past. It's tough because I, you know, this will just give you a sense of where this tournament is. It's in a place called Mainville, Ohio, which I said is a suburb of Cincinnati. It's a place like I quite honestly, I've never been to like if you were telling me to leave my house. I grew up on the east side of Marymont. Like if I were to walk out my parents

door in Marymont and you were to tell me, hey, you need to drive to TPC rivers been without any GPS help. Couldn't get there. Don't know where it is. Have you played golf course? No, I've never been to this golf course. Never, never set foot on it. But I only say that because the skyline, there was a, there's my favorite skyline is right down the road from Kenwood country club, which is where the event used to be. I don't know the skyline situation up in Mainville. I'm sure they have one. Maybe it's just off the exit of the highway. I'm not sure. But yeah, maybe that plays a part in not as much skyline taking place this week.

Do you know where Kenwood, were they not happy? Was it a club decision? Was it a sponsor decision? Did you ever get to the bottom of it? Yeah, membership just didn't wanna give up the course for every year for however many weeks, the setup, the tear down, which really sucks because Kenwood, every single player I've talked to, every caddy I've talked to, they really thought that was a good golf course.

And it is a good golf course. It's, it's, it's a proper test. It's a big golf course, but I think it was just a membership thing at the end of the day, which stinks. Yeah. That's Cincinnati. We're excited though. Big.

We're, we're, we're about ready. We got flights booked. Everybody's taking off on this Asian swing, man. What are we doing? Yeah. So when we look ahead at the LPGA calendar, we have our fall Asian swing. So we have four events in Asia, not this weekend. This weekend's an off week, travel week. We're going to start next weekend. And I will say the upshot of this for people in the United States, it's fabulous prime time golf. Central Time Zone, I believe this first China event, Cody will start on Golf Channel 10 PM year time. I know it's 9 PM Mountain Time, but the ladies will be in China. And then they go and play the BMW Ladies Championship in Korea, which is a great event. You and TC were

over there a few years back. They return after several years off, they go play the Maybank Championship in Malaysia. And then they finished this swing in Japan. And what I think is interesting, once you get through these four limited field Asian events, which I will say, remember last year at this time, Lydia Ko, I believe was playing in these events, but as a sponsor invite. Yes. So she wasn't, I think it was Lydia, it was it was a big name. And we learned that if

you're a sponsor invite, you're not eligible for the points, because they are, you know, limited field, there's a rule where I think only the qualifying players qualify for the points as they're then assigned to the race to the CME. I think it was Lydia for everything but BMW because she had one BMW like the two years prior or something like that.

Yeah. Where I was going before that sidetrack, they have moved the Hawaii event, which used to be in April. Now they've stuck it at the end of this Asia swing. So it kind of serves as a buffer event coming back from Asia. Obviously the folks that haven't qualified for Asia, they'll have several weeks off and can make their way out to Hawaii. But you have four events in Asia. They come hit Hawaii, and then they go from Hawaii to Tampa, the Pelican, Onikos event. And then that's the last full field event with the conclusion being the tour championship. So after this weekend,

they're playing seven straight weeks. I mean, we're getting to the end of the season here. It's a long season, but we're, the end is in sight here, Cody. Yeah, it truly is. And honestly, this is where it kind of gets silly because we talk about these limited field events. I understand why they do it because they guarantee, you know, travel and purse and everything else like that.

Like they're very well compensated if you get to the correct ranking spot to be able to make these events. But if you don't, you really, you have to put all of your, you have to play great in Hawaii and play great in Tampa. And Hawaii can be weird, you know, if the winds up. That's a tough one. And then, yeah, you gotta go from Hawaii, like you said, back to Tampa, I'll be honestly, I'll be curious what the field ends up

being for Hawaii, if it will attract pretty much all of those people that are trying to get inside the CME cut, or if some people feel like, hey, it's not worth the travel that that will be one to keep an eye on. The other thing I was just going to mention, we're getting to the point, I'm actually surprised unless you have heard whispers. We're usually getting to the point in the year where we start to at least get some word about the 2025 schedule. I really haven't heard much. I think they typically is this right? Can we

expect an official schedule release like around that? Anika Pelican week in November? Is that what they did last year? Yeah, that's usually when everybody makes fun of the schedule. We figure out how many miles they're flying. Yeah, and then there's social content to follow and everything else like that. But yeah, it'll be interesting. I know last year we were waiting so long because of this big vote.

What's going on with the LPGA LET and still nothing. Yeah, that feels like it's crickets. We've asked some people and they're like, no, I don't think anything's going on. Who knows, man? But yeah, we should. But you're right. We haven't heard anything really too new. I mean, we know that the new're right. We haven't heard anything really too new. I mean, we know that the new Boston event, that's gonna stick around for a little bit. We know since he's locked in that same location. I was kind of questioning because I was told last year when they took the Texas, the Dallas event off, the Volunteers of America event, that it was a sponsor decision to remove it, but they already had a sponsor lined up there just

waiting to figure out where it would fit on the calendar. And obviously this year is coming on and there's no Texas event. There's still there's nothing, you know, that's that's been a North Dallas staple there for a long time and that didn't happen. So it'll be interesting to see if that slots back in next year because this year's calendar, it was kind of all over the place. And I know a lot of that had to do with doing a back to back Solheim cup year, but also, yeah, the Olympics and everything. So it's tough. I know our normal, you know,

AIG women's open is very, you know, this year was, was mid August next year. We're back to like end of July into that first week in August. Yeah. You know, it's hard, man. I'm trying to schedule summer breaks and vacations and stuff. I got to tell Yari, Hey, I'm, I ain't gonna be here. I'm gonna be in Wales. She was not. And I was going to, that's the other thing with having five majors and

with that fifth major, if we call the Evian the fifth, you know, being over in France, it's just makes it how do they slot those in, you know, this year they went, which I was glad that the match play moved up to early April. But as it stood this year, you had the match play and then a week off and then the first major and it's like that doesn't seem like the best way to kind of roll into your opening major. So yeah, we'll be keen to kind of start hearing about the schedule and obviously getting the official schedule when it does come out. It's not like there's not, you

know, major gaps in this schedule where they could potentially move things around too. I mean, we'll just want to highlight again that the LPGA Tour kicks off in January usually, like the second or third week with the Hilton Tournament of Champions. Then they've added drive-on. So the drive-on event that is very much needed because then you take almost a month off until the end of February. And that's the beginning of the first Asian swing. And you do it's out of the world, Thailand, Singapore, China, before we come back and really dig into kind of California, Arizona, and then match play. You're right. It's crazy. Yeah, it's crazy. I know that's one area where it's like, okay, we're going to, we're, we're going to

need to see some progress with the schedule making more sense this year. Do you know the other thing that I would say too is like, you know, obviously LC won the Scottish Open, which I thought was, you know, it's awesome, right? Why can't the women's Irish Open be co-sanctioned? Like I'm just looking, you know, it used to be. Yeah, it used to be. But research for this podcast, I was like, hey, wait a second here. Where is the LET at as we're getting ready to take off on this Asian swing? So obviously, there's no event this week at all. Over on the the

ladies European tour, they are in China because they have the Ramco team series China event with that has a million dollar prize fund. And the vast majority of people that are, you know, that are entered into it, like there's some big name LPGA players on here. Ronny in new he, Janet Lynn, Angel in Allison Lee, Emily, Christine, Pedersen, Anna Norquist, like all going over, which rightfully so, they're gonna be in China the following week for the LPGA tour.

So I'm like, okay, that makes sense. Like it's not just cash grab, like go play at Ramco. I think it's good. It's an off week on the LPGA tour. They don't schedule them against any big other LPGA events. Like I get it, it makes sense. That's a very good scheduling thing. Then I look at it on the LPGA the following week when the Buick LPGA event is in China.

And at the same time, the ladies European tour is in Taiwan. And I'm like, wait, we're in the same part of the globe here. Like the LPGA tour is underpinning these purses on the LPGA tour, the L.E.T. tour. Like, what? Why? Why are we coming together here? Or better yet, and it's already a limited field event. Why are we all just trading? Yeah. Playing opportunities. Right. You know, I don't know. I think if we could say what would I like to see different schedule wise for 2025? Yeah, I'd like to see a little bit more like consistency on the LPGA schedule. But like really, what would I like to see is like, let's figure out what's going on between these two tours. And if it's nothing and they're going to continue, then somebody say that. Just saying, hey, nothing's going to change here and it'll be fine.

Well, good segue there. You mentioned the ladies European tour. I did just want to highlight that Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini won last weekend's French Open on the L.E.T. She won in a playoff over Australia's Kirsten Rudgley. German sensation and future Solheim stalwart as as prognosticated by by TC and myself. Helen Bream finished tied for 28th. And I will just say that the ladies European tour obviously coming down to the end of their season. I believe they have five events left, maybe six. A couple of those are Aramco events, as you mentioned.

And Chiara Tamburlini leads the order of merit. Belgians, Manon de Roy, I may have mispronounced that. I'm sorry. She is second and Bronte Law of England is third. So anybody keeping track there? Yeah. Well, Cody, I don't even know. So the vote we never got to a vote. So the order of merit, the winners, they do not necessarily receive LPGA cards, right? Because I know that was discussed, but that was what the

vote ultimately that yeah, we haven't gotten there yet. Yeah, I don't know. That's not official. Okay. Shout out Lydia Ko. We mentioned she won in SinSang a couple of weeks ago. She was over in Korea playing in the HANA financial group championship on the KL PGA. She finished 10th. I don't know who this woman is.

MA Dawson of Korea won the event. So shout out to her. Minji Lee was in the field. She finished tied for third. I will say this though, Cody, when I went to explore the KL PGA website, it's a very good website. It's like I know the LPGA just updated theirs. But like the KL PGA was, you know, running circles around them these last couple years. It's real good, except for the occasion when Google Translate isn't properly working for

that plugin. It came in Korean, I finally did find the English button. So yeah, that was very helpful to say the least. Another quick news and note, and I want to make this our Mizuho-winning moment. I'll plug our other year-long sponsor here, Mizuho America is this our Mizuho winning moment. I'll plug our other year long sponsor here, Mizuho Americas, part of Mizuho Financial Group, the 15th largest bank in the world. Mizuho Americas is a corporate and investments bank

serving corporate and institutional clients. They advise and fund businesses looking to go public, raise money, expend operations, or connect with large investors. They also help finance large infrastructure projects that promote civic improvement. So you may not know the name Mizuho. You likely know many of the name brand companies they have helped or the projects that they have funded. They are very big investors in the women's game, of course,

the Mizuho Championship being one of their flagship investments there. But Allie Ewing has announced that she is retiring at the end of the year. And we always kind of look for kind of team or just significant quotes to tie to this Mizuho advertisement. And I wanted to just call out a couple here that Allie made in conjunction with announcing her retirement. And it has to do with the Solheim Cup, Cody, and we can joke, like, she's gonna retire with a very unfortunate Solheim Cup record.

So I don't want that to overshadow. She said the pride, and I'm quoting Ali Ewing here, "'The pride I had to wear red, white, and blue "'will always be at the top of my achievements. "'It only propelled me to feel like I could push even harder. From a younger age, it's what I highlighted that I wanted to be a part of because there's just no greater honor than representing your country. To now be a veteran, apparently there might be some mama bear type of remarks made

towards me. So I'm definitely feeling the older role, which is great. It's an honor to be a part of four of these and I'll take whatever that gets me. And put aside her individual record, and I think she's gonna end on a, what is it? A seven or eight match losing streak. I'm very happy for her. She's going out on her own terms.

And more importantly, she's going out as a Solheim Cup champion now as part of the winning US team. And I think that's very cool. Yeah, really's very cool. Yeah, really, really cool. You know, it's funny, she talks about Mama Bear. She's 31 years old, but of course, it's just one of those things in LPGA world. Like that's kind of old.

And I completely get it. So obviously if people don't know who All Ali is, you know, her maiden name was McDonald. Her husband is actually the head golf coach of the Mississippi State women's golf team, which she went to college at. So she's very, very proud to be a Mississippi State alum. She did not have this crazy amateur record growing up. She definitely worked super hard at this like little nine hole golf course with no driving range. Yeah, just kind of built it as she went. She remained very close to home in Tupelo, Mississippi and like never really forgot who she was no matter how or where she was playing. I think the fact that she was able to represent her country is awesome. But she also is like leaving with,

you know, she has three LPGA wins. And I know for her, like, there's a huge future ahead of her, whether that's, you know, I'm assuming that she's going to be tied more into either college golf based off what, you know, her husband's kind of doing or junior golf or something. But like golf is such an integral part of her life. And she mentioned that and wish her nothing but the best regardless. Like Solheim Cup record aside, she did the damn thing and like she qualified and it's really, really cool. I'll say she won the first Cincinnati event.

That was one of her three career victories. Yeah. I think she's another one that's just universally respected. And like, I haven't ever heard anybody say a bad word about her. And that's, you know, what better legacy than that for her? And like you, you know, maybe she wants to start a family. I do think in some capacity, she likely will end up at least helping her husband if not coaching on her own at the collegiate level. And I feel like she she will do a wonderful job with that or honestly, whatever she wants to do. The last thing, Cody, before we get out of here,

we'd be remiss. This is a big week, even though the LPGA tour is off. It's a big week for the 2025 LPGA Tour and that's because the Epson Tour, the women's version of the Corn Fairy Tour, if anybody is not aware, this week is the Tour Championship, the finale of the Epson Tour. They're playing it at a new venue. They've moved out to Indian Wells in California and they are handing out 15 Tour Cards. So the top 15 women on the season long points race will all earn tour cards for 2025. I don't know if we have to go through all 15

in position right now, but who are some names or at least a couple names that you want to highlight and give mention to as we monitor this this weekend. Yeah, I'd say first and foremost, like leading the points list right now. American Lauren Stevenson, she's has it very much locked up. So her I don't even want to take a swing. I don't even want to take a swing at that one. Do you want to try?

Yuhui Zhang, I think Yuhui Zhang from China. She has also clinched a card young lady, Jessica Poor Vassnik. Yeah Yeah, and then really I'll say and Brooke Brooke Matthews and Fatima Fernandez Cano from Spain there they have them all clinched Jenny Bay from the United States She does not have a clinch, but is sitting firmly in seventh place looking very, very good. Ingrid Lindblad, who

won two weeks ago, her first professional victory on the Epson Tour, sitting in eighth. Anna Belonk, she is from Slovenia, but really has been around the Raleigh area of North Carolina for a long, long time. Actually used to practice at Forest Creek in Pinehurst. Where I was at. Was she a dookie? Did she go to Duke? She was.

Yep. So she's in ninth, gonna go back to the LPGA tour. And yeah, you know, we looked down to the bottom. So people were kind of in jeopardy right now. Kim Kaufman sitting at 14th, and then Valerie Plata from Columbia sitting at 15th place. So who do you wanna focus in on kind of from the outside? Because we have some that are kind of making a run for it,

who actually have like a shot of getting up there in that top 15. And then we have some notables who are just like, this ain't gonna happen. Yeah. To me, the most interesting name, just because of her US AM victory is Japan's Saki Baba. I believe she currently sits in 18th, so she would need to move up three spots. She would be a fun addition to the LPGA

tour. And no disrespect to the other women around there who are close to the cut line, but I think Saki is the biggest name that's kind of like, will she or won't she? Well, that's close, right? I would say other big names that people will recognize is Amari Avery. So she turned pro after finishing spring semester at USC. She's played in nine events so far. She's made seven cuts, has two top tens, but currently is in 82nd place. She's going to have to win to really give this a shot. Now, I will say there is crazy because I will just go back to Ingrid. Now, Ingrid won. And so that's what's going on today. But Ingrid's only made seven starts and finds herself an eighth.

Yeah, basically they got to win. And that's what it is when you only have 15 cards and so many events. Right. It's hard to beat people out. The other person that I want to say notable is long time, you know, kind of LPGA veteran. And if people pay attention to the LPGA tour, I've gotten very familiar with her because of her work with Hope and Mr. Stanley on their podcast there, but that's Emma Talley. So she's played, she didn't have her LPGA tour card this year. And she's gotten a couple starts on the LPGA tour, but really what she's been focusing on is Epson

and trying to do everything to get her card back. So she's currently at 86 on the point list. She's nine starts, eight made cuts, but only has one top 10, but is trying to make something happen. Other person I wanted to shout out to as we go, a favorite of ours, Annie Park, just not gonna happen. 136 on the list.

And most surprisingly, when I came across this name, somebody who also turned professional very much along the lines of Amari Avery, uh, Ingrid Lindblad, and kind of somebody who we thought was going to like pop was Charlotte Heath. And that name should sound familiar because she played really, really good last year at the AIG Women's Open. She was the Smith Salver trophy winner for being low amateur, and she's had seven starts so far this year on Epson. And it's not like she's been bouncing between Epson and Ladies European Tour. She's been full-time Epson. Seven starts, only three made cuts. Truly having a tough go of it so far

in her professional career, but you know, it takes time for people. And I think that's what, when you think of the roses and Ludwig's and Nick Dunlaps of the world, like that's how truly impressive it kinda is for them because for the rest of them who are out there trying to figure this out, is it completely new? We talked about Maria Fassi. Yeah, it's a new world. She's right in that. You're exactly right. I will say, you know, I went hunting. I was like, man, it'd be cool to watch, you know,

at least the final round of the Epson Tour Championship this weekend. I did find you can stream it online. So I want to give a shout out. GK live.tv GK live.tv will have the Epson Tour Championship. Check specific listings they you can watch the replay. Typically, they'll have about three hours from noon to 3pm local time. So this would be 3 to 6pm Eastern time because they're playing in California. So at least, you know, fans, if you're curious about the Epson tour, if we get a good leaderboard heading into the weekend, there will be a streaming service. But man, it feels like, you know, if there was a golf channel that was dedicated to showing golf, it seems like this would be a good event to maybe put on. But

not worth the money big. At least there's a streaming option. That's what the people will tell you. And it sounds like we need to explore a little GK live TV. Maybe they need some color commentator boys. I know, I know. I honestly I didn't I sheepishly I they had broadcast some some stuff earlier this year. Totally missed that, but might tune in this weekend for the Epson. So Cody, I think that's an episode,

unless you have anything else. No, it's great, buddy. You know, we said, you told me it was gonna be a 45 minute episode. We're at 57 minutes now. It's gonna be great. Beautiful, beautiful. Well, I enjoyed the check-in.

A lot of good stuff. We're getting down into the nitty-gritty, down to the wire with the women's golf seasons. And so you and I will be back. But until then, thank you. Thank you, everybody listening. And yeah, cheers and crack on. Cheers! Be the right club. Be the right club today. Johnny, that's better than most. How about him? That is better than most. Better than most!