The LPGA has officially rolled out plans for a program that will offer top amateurs direct access to membership.
The LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway, or LEAP, launches next year and is modeled after the PGA Tour University accelerated program. As with Accelerated, players who reach a 20-point threshold by meeting certain elite criteria will be able to activate up to a year and a half of exempt LPGA status.
The big difference with men, however, is that players don’t have to be varsity, just amateurs, and they can start earning points at any time. There will be a rolling period that will include the current year and the previous three years, so starting January 1, players will be able to count points earned in 2025 plus anything accumulated since January 1, 2022.
GolfChannel.com was first reported last week that this program was in preparation. Another ranking was also reported, such as the regular PGA Tour University system, which would distribute Epson Tour cards to top college seniors. The LPGA did not announce such a program Wednesday, but it said it continues to work on other avenues and will announce details when ready.
“LEAP represents an important next step in expanding global pathways to the LPGA Tour for the world’s best amateur athletes,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “LEAP aims to identify and reward the most elite amateurs from all walks of life. Through extensive research and analysis, we have identified achievements that indicate future success on the LPGA Tour and have constructed a points system that will provide top athletes from around the world a streamlined opportunity to pursue their dreams and compete in the highest level.
Among the achievements that earn players LEAP points: Earning the McCormack Medal (4); reach number 1 in the world amateur golf rankings (3); and capture top tournaments such as the NCAA Championship, Augusta National Women’s Amateur and US Women’s Amateur (2 each).
When the LPGA briefed its members at a players’ meeting last week before The Annika driven by Gainbridge in Belleair, Fla., it noted that only three players would have reached 20 points in the past 12 years: Lydia Ko, Leona Maguire and Rose Zhang. . Currently, world number one amateur Lottie Woad, a junior at Florida State, leads the way with 16 points.
Here is a complete overview of how players can earn points:
WAGR RANK
Awarded on the basis of the best career mark, and only once
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3 points – No. 1
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2 points – n°2-3
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1 point – n°4-5
LPGA FINISHES
Players can only earn one of these achievements per finish (for example: a T-25 in a major tournament is only worth two points, because players do not also get the cup point; same for a T- 10 in a regular event, which is worth two points, not three total)
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2 points – Top 25 and tie in a major
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2 points – Top 10 and tie in an official event
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1 point – Fact cut in major
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1 point – Top 40 and tie in an official event
AMATEUR WINNERS
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2 points each – U.S. Women’s Amateur, British Women’s Amateur, European Women’s Amateur, Augusta National Women’s Amateur, World Amateur Team Championship (medalist), NCAA Division I Championship (medalist)
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1 point each – US Girls’ Junior, Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, Women’s Amateur Latin America
PRICE
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4 points – McCormack Medal
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2 points each – Annika Award, WGCA Player of the Year
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1 point each – Rolex AJGA Junior Player of the Year, Juli Inkster Award (DI)
TEAM APPEARANCES
Under LEAP rules, if Woad, or anyone else, reaches 20 points before July 1 of a calendar year, they have three options (assuming they meet all of the LEAP eligibility criteria). LPGA, including a minimum age of 18 – however, like Lydia Ko, such a rule may be requested):
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Accept LPGA membership immediately and until the end of the current season
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Defer LPGA membership until July 1 and gain eligibility through the end of the following season.
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Defer LPGA membership until the following season and gain eligibility for that season only.
If a player were to earn their 20 points after July 1, they would have two options:
If the LPGA has multiple LEAP graduates at any given time, the player who reached 20 points first will have higher priority. The LPGA did not specify where LEAP graduates would be ranked on its priority list.
Here is an overview of current amateurs with several points earned since January 1, 2022:
After hearing the details of LEAP, at least a few college coaches were concerned that the program would increase the LPGA’s ability to poach top talent from the NCAA game, although it is also worth noting that several ways to earn points are not available only to university players. The coaches also highlighted the continuing need to encourage players to play all four years; three top-10 amateurs, all seniors, turned professional last Friday in order to compete in the upcoming LPGA Final Qualifiers, leaving their teams mid-season – a trend that has plagued top college programs for years.
“It’s a start,” one coach said. “It’s all about having a place to play without having to deal with Q-School.”
Another coach added: “Their two big changes recently hurt us even more: having to turn pro before the Q-Series, and no LPGA Tour U.”
For now, at least.
