(Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, golf reporter) ○…The total prize amount is only $50,000 (KRW 62 million).
The Texas Women’s Open, which will be held on the 2nd of next month at the Old American Golf Club near Dallas, Texas, is a regional tournament with a prize pool unlike any on the LPGA Tour. The winner’s prize is also only $10,000 (KRW 12.4 million). It is surprising that Stacy Lewis (pictured), who has 12 career victories, 2016 US Women’s Open champion Brittany Lang (USA) and last year’s Australian Women’s Open winner C?line Boutier (France) are participating.
Indeed, the LPGA Tour was “shut down” due to the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States. Additionally, this tournament overlaps with the U.S. Women’s Open, so there was no chance for LPGA Tour players or even top amateur rankings to participate. The postponement of the US Women’s Open until December brought, unexpectedly, a boon. Cheyenne Knight and Jerina Piller (both American), Maria Fassi (Mexico) and others joined to hone their competitive shooting skills.
The LPGA Tour plans to resume the 2020 season starting with the Marathon Classic on July 23. However, there is a strong chance that this will be canceled. Ohio, a hotly contested US state, currently bans outdoor events. A tournament official has already said: “We will not organize matches without spectators.” The upcoming calendar includes European events like the Evian Championship in August, the Scottish Women’s Open and the Women’s British Open. Mike Whan, LPGA Tour commissioner, expressed his difficulties, saying: “Entry procedures between the United States and Europe are complicated.”
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