LPGA denies Q school petition

**TN94z** · July 25, 2012

Ariya Jutanugarn , 16 recently pursued a pass to q school even though she is only 16 and turning 17 on November 23. You must be 18 by January 1 to attend q school. The reason behind this was her sister, Moriya Jutanugarn 17 and turning 18 on July 28, is going to q school and the younger sister wants to play along side her older sister.

Quote:

I just want to play with Moriya at the same time, make it easier because we go together all the time

I feel sad because . . . they tell me I’m too young,” Jutanugarn said. “I think I have a chance to qualify at Q-School for the LPGA. I just want to try.

The LPGA has since denied the petition but has declined to comment on this decision. It seems pretty straight forward, right? You just aren't old enough. But here is the problem:

Quote:

The LPGA declined to comment on the decision, which comes a year after Lexi Thompson, then 16, received a pass. Thompson won first stage by 10 shots, then won the LPGA Navistar Classic two months later, leading LPGA commissioner Mike Whan to grant her an LPGA card for 2012.

In addition to Thompson, the LPGA also has granted exemptions to 17-year-olds Jessica Korda, Morgan Pressel and Aree Song. Petitions from Yani Tseng and Inbee Park were denied.

I don't understand how the rules can be changed for one person and not another. If you start down this road by allowing one golfer in, you must understand that this will start happening more frequently and to deny another golfer the same opportunity just won't cut it.

What do you think? Is it fair or unfair?

**LovinItAll** · July 25, 2012

[URL=http://golfweek.com/news/2012/jul/23/lpga-denies-ariya-jutanugarns-q-school-plea/]Ariya Jutanugarn , 16[/URL] recently pursued a pass to q school even though she is only 16 and turning 17 on November 23. You must be 18 by January 1 to attend q school. The reason behind this was her sister, Moriya Jutanugarn 17 and turning 18 on July 28, is going to q school and the younger sister wants to play along side her older sister. The LPGA has since denied the petition but has declined to comment on this decision. It seems pretty straight forward, right? You just aren't old enough. But here is the problem: I don't understand how the rules can be changed for one person and not another. If you start down this road by allowing one golfer in, you must understand that this will start happening more frequently and to deny another golfer the same opportunity just won't cut it. What do you think? Is it fair or unfair?

Sure would be nice to know why the LPGA gave passes to that list (other than the list of girls that got passes are a lot cuter than those that were denied).

**Tontj5** · July 25, 2012

Seems clear cut to me. She is only 16. Lexi is the only girl who was given an exemption at the age of 16, and that was because she had already won on the LPGA tour.

**Doodaddy** · July 25, 2012

Maybe there is some under the table money being passed around? Seems like that could be some incentive.

**TN94z** · July 25, 2012

Originally Posted by Tontj5

Seems clear cut to me. She is only 16. Lexi is the only girl who was given an exemption at the age of 16, and that was because she had already won on the LPGA tour.

She will be 17 this year...the same age that Morgan, Jessica, and Aree were, right? They didn't turn 18 until their rookie season on the tour. So technically, she turns 17 this year, and would turn 18 her rookie season....assuming she made it through. Difference?

Ginger Howard was also allowed into Q school at the age of 17, she turned 18 in March of the following year....2 months after the "official" cutoff

But my question is where do you draw the line? 2 months after the cutoff date? 5 months? That's the problem with these exemptions....they open the door for problems. I guess their past results would come into play, but again...if the only rule is the age limit, then isn't that what you should stick to?

**The Recreational Golfer** · July 25, 2012

Another example of the LPGA seeming to make up the rules as they go along.

**clubchamp** · July 28, 2012

Not that I think it's right but Lexi got an exemption because the LPGA needs an American that can carry the load for the U.S. They keep struggling to find and keep sponsorships in the U.S. so they were hoping Lexi would dominate bring in large crowds. This girl seems to have the resume that would match any of the previous exemptions so either they now intend on sticking to the age policy or she is just getting the short end of the stick. I honestly think in 5 years the LPGA tour will struggle to exist or they will be playing the majority of the schedule over seas.

**LuciusWooding** · July 28, 2012

Can't she qualify for individual events without passing Q school? Or get a sponsor's exemption? Either way, it's not the tour's fault that she's a year younger than her older sister. Her big sis could wait a year if it means that much to the two of them to play together, otherwise I don't care. I didn't get to skip 2 years of high school because my older brother was going to college and I wanted to stay with him. Didn't get to attend Kindergarten at age 3 with him, didn't get to be born when I was age -2. Certainly didn't get to drink at 19 or vote at 16, nor drive at 15 or buy porn and lotto tickets at 16.

Also, if the fields weren't so weak on the women's tour, you wouldn't see so many girls going pro at 16-18. It's done somewhat on the men's tour as well, and I don't think it's healthy. Play college golf, grow up at a slower pace, and maybe get a free education on the way. Not a good way to set a good example... In any sport.

**colin007** · July 28, 2012

I don't really see a problem, i mean, this is womens professional golf, it's not like its the real world our anything so if they pick and choose for their own agenda then so be it.

**WUTiger** · July 28, 2012

I suspect the policy may be related to the fact that age 18 is when most US teens graduate from high school. As Lucius suggests, let them get their basic schooling done before they "turn pro."

From the boys' side, there's the near tragedy of Sean O'Hair turning pro at age 17. Father Marc sold his business and moved the family to Florida so Sean could enroll at Dave Leadbetter Golf Academy. Starting in 1999, Sean failed in his first 5 attempts at Q-school, and had only limited success on the mini-tours. Sean and his father didn't speak to each other for a couple of years.

Sixty Minutes and Sports Illustrated covered Sean's struggles before his breakthrough season in 2005, as mentioned in this Wikipedia piece:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_O%27Hair

**zeg** · July 29, 2012

Originally Posted by colin007

I don't really see a problem, i mean, this is womens professional golf, it's not like its the real world our anything so if they pick and choose for their own agenda then so be it.

My thoughts are along these lines, although I think it would be best if they made some attempt to be consistent. But the whole point is that the golfer is asking for a variance from the rules. If that's automatic, then the rules aren't what's written.

Maybe they decided their previous decisions were poor ones? Or maybe there is something different about this situation. After all, if the rule says you must be 18 to enter, a petition that amounts to, "I'm 16, let me in," should be rejected. There's more to it than that. Maybe they don't think the golfer is as competitive in this situation?

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LPGA denies Q school petition

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