The least we can say is that the 29 players in the Tournament of Champions, which kicks off the 2023 LPGA season in Lake Nona, Florida, are not being treated as they should be.
You can’t imagine for a second that the gentlemen of the greatest professional golf circuit are ever received with so little regard.
Yet the rules imposed on their female counterparts for the season-opening event at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club near Orlando are truly unworthy of their status!
On the parking
Deprived of lockers, the 29 players present at the start of the Tournament of Champions will probably have to change their shoes in the parking lot.
LPGA players can use the showers in the women’s locker room, but will not have a closet to store their belongings while on the course.
Indeed the area where the lockers are located is in the cloakroom allocated to male members and has not been privatized!
Practice limited to warm-up
The information note that was sent to the players before the tournament setting out these restrictions also indicates that the driving range will only be open to them one hour before their departure times on training days.
In summary it is not possible to train with your coach before the tournament.
A question of cost?
Lake Nona is however the club where many professional players have taken up residence. It was here in 1990 that the first Solheim Cup was held. The bride and world number 1 Lydia Ko owns a house in the resort as does Annika Sorenstam.
It is therefore certainly for economic reasons that the management of the LPGA has decided to ignore the benefits usually in force, to the chagrin of the players.
