WINTER HAVEN (Fla.) – Brittany Lincicome wanted to slip under the radar at Florida’s Natural Charity Classic. It’s difficult for two-time major winner Brittany Lincicome to fit in at an Epson Tour event.
The mother of two, Lincicome, thought she would try to regain confidence at the season-opening event, which is about 90 minutes without traffic from her St. Petersburg home. This is her first appearance on the official qualifying tour. The 37-year old was a rookie in 2005 and went straight to LPGA after high school.
This week, 12 LPGA-qualified players are competing in Winter Haven. This is the maximum permitted to play under Category F. Lincicome is back from maternity leave and is not the only major winner. Pernilla Lindberg from Sweden, who won 2018 ANA Inspiration, now Chevron, is also competing. Jaye Marie Green and Perrine Delacour were the other major winners. Marissa Steen was one of five Epson Tour players that finished in the top 10 on last year’s money list.
Delacour Green, Steen and Steen will be eligible for medical exemptions. Uribe was on maternity leave.
Lincicome said that traveling with two daughters is more difficult than she thought. She is currently in the process of sleeping training Sophia. She’ll be staying with Rachel Rohanna, a fellow mom, this week.
Lincicome is an eight-time winner of the tour and currently ranks 84 as the priority on LPGA’s priority list. She has spoken often about her quest to regain that relaxed attitude she had when she was younger. She feels that she is trying to avoid making the cut rather than charging up the board.
Lincicome, along with her family, will have to adjust to a new coach this season, as Missy Pederson, her long-time looper, is retiring from the caddie world. Lincicome will be working with Holly Clyburn, but Brittany Hamilton has been hired by Lincicome to help her transition to a new caddie for the LPGA season. Clyburn is employed by Paula Creamer.
Lincicome said that she feels more connected to female caddies because of her experience working with them.
Lincicome will be using one of the three “test starts” this week. LPGA players on maternity leave or medical leave can take three test starts on Epson Tour to get back in competition.
However, playing on a test run does not guarantee you a spot in an Epson Tour field. Priority status determines which of the 12 spots in Category F is filled.
Epson Tour events are not open to the top 60 CME ranking players from the previous season. However, those ranked below 61 are permitted to compete in Epson Tour events up to three times per season. Only the 12 highest-ranked players are allowed to play.
LPGA’s 2023 schedule does not include a full-field event. It will be the Drive On Championship, March 23-26 at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, Gold Canyon, Arizona. This is a five-month stretch for players who have graduated from the Epson Tour in November.
It’s no surprise that Category F for the Mesa Drive On is once again crowded with LPGA players who are looking to improve their game.
