NAPLES (Florida) — Next season’s QBE shootout will be a mixed event with more LPGA stars joining their PGA Tour counterparts.
Not only will more men be able to learn about tempo, balance, and their short game (more later), but a few may also gain fashion sense.
This year, it was already in motion with Denny McCarthy and Nelly Koda partnering for the first time.
McCarthy stated that McCarthy had sent her a few J.Lindeberg clothes, but she didn’t have the right color scheme. “So, we were trying to coordinate outfits. It’s hard to know if my outfits will match hers, as she has some wild color schemes.
This year’s 24-strong field includes only two mixed groups: Lexi Thompson and Maverick McNealy. According to the Associated Press, the shootout will be a true mixed-team event beginning next year. This is the first such shootout since 1999’s JCPenney Classic.
The question is: Why did it take so long?
This event is a perfect opportunity for both tours, with the women taking a break and still one month away from the beginning of the next season and the men at the end of the relaxed wraparound part of their season. Or the “silly” season.
Adding players like Thompson, Korda and Annika Sorenstam to the field together with a PGA Tour partner would make it more exciting and give more reasons to watch the TV.
Participants will have a lot of fun.
Korda, No. 2, said that “I believe it’s an excellent season finisher.” 2. It’s exciting for us to share the stage with these men. It’s a little something extra for viewers.
The purse for the 2022 QBE Shootout is $3.8million, which is modest by PGA standards. However, it will be topped only by six LPGA events next year. Sponsors will be more interested in unique events, which means more money for them.
Thompson, who is ranked seventh worldwide, stated that golf is an individual sport and that more team events are needed. He also suggested that there should be mixed gender teams. It will be great for golf. Team events will bring in a larger fan base, I believe. People love to watch us play, fist pump, and be there for one another.
Sorenstam was a pioneer of mixed golf
Sorenstam was the first woman to participate in the shootout. It took Thompson ten years to become the next woman to participate in the shootout, who was teamed up by Bryson de Chambeau. Thompson will be making her sixth appearance at the Shootout this year. This marks the first time that the Shootout has more than one woman on the field.
Thompson is drawn back by the experience and how her male peers have accepted her. DeChambeau was also her partner, as well as Sean O’Hair, Tony Finau and Bubba Watson throughout the years.
She is not a stranger to playing with men, having been raised with two older brothers.
She said that there were no other girls in the tournament (until this season), and it was an honor to be invited to participate in the challenge.
Playing the extra length is the biggest challenge for women. Three weeks ago, the LPGA’s season finale was held on the same Tiburon course, with the par 72 playing at 6,556 yards. The Shootout’s yardage is 7,385 yards.
This means that women can hit a 6- or 5 iron to the green, instead of a 9 or pitching wedge. Thompson is open to it.
She said, “I don’t want to play forward.” Let’s give ourselves a challenge. I love that I can hit driver on every hole. It’s rare that I get this opportunity when I play on the LPGA Tour, so I love hitting the mid- to long irons and blitzing the ball off the tee.
Learn from the chipping and putting skills of female professionals
The women may be able to admire the men’s shots on the tee, but it is the men who are talking about the benefits of playing with a female golfer.
Jason Day has enjoyed watching women putt and chip during his career. He said, “I feel that women have great short games and their putting skills are excellent.” “If you do play with them, there is always something to learn.”
Day and Billy Horschel, who have teamed up this week in an LPGA partnership, admire the rhythm and tempo displayed by the women.
Horschel stated, “I watch a lot LPGA golf.” Their rhythms are flawless. Technically, their tempo, balance and swing are perfect. “You can always learn something from someone.”
