Golfweek: LPGA - Family, Money, Leaving Golf, Life Choices

[nevets88]

http://golfweek.com/news/2014/dec/17/lpga-pros-hard-choice-when-walk-away/

Knowing when to walk away is a complex decision that can jell in an instant or drag on for years. LPGA players generally avoid the “R” word.

“Nobody retired from golf,” said Jane Geddes, a major champion who works in talent relations for World Wrestling Entertainment. “People just faded away.”

When Lorena Ochoa told Betsy King that she wanted to play on the LPGA for 10 years and then stop to have a family, King warned her that leaving wouldn’t be easy.

“No, no, I’m Mexican,” Ochoa said. “For Latins, it’s very important to stay home.”

Ochoa married in 2009 and abruptly quit the tour the next spring at age 28 after seven seasons, 27 victories and nearly $15 million in earnings.

Stacy Lewis thinks Ochoa’s example will be more model than one-off in the coming years.

“I know there are a lot of girls who can’t even imagine having kids out there and playing,” Lewis said.

Among the current players on tour, LPGA research shows only eight have competed for at least 20 years. Of the 30 players who earned exempt status at the 2004 LPGA Q-School, only medalist Paula Creamer and three others still compete on tour. Compare that with the 35 who earned PGA Tour cards through Q-School that year: 14 are still on Tour.

Players compete for more money than ever before, but the fact remains that most women who earn tour cards go on to pursue second careers.

[iacas]

The LPGA also has a higher churn rate. They're simply not as good. Just because you make it through Q-School, doesn't mean you're likely to make it.

[DeadMan]

Money has to play a big role in all of this. I would imagine the LPGA players who are struggling just to make cuts every week can barely scrape together a living. That article says the 122nd ranked player on the money list only took home $23k. For comparison, the 122nd ranked player on the PGA money list took home just over $800k. I would imagine this wouldn't happen to the same extent if the 122nd LPGA player was even making half of what the 122nd ranked PGA player was making.

[billchao]

Money has to play a big role in all of this. I would imagine the LPGA players who are struggling just to make cuts every week can barely scrape together a living. That article says the 122nd ranked player on the money list only took home $23k. For comparison, the 122nd ranked player on the PGA money list took home just over $800k. I would imagine this wouldn't happen to the same extent if the 122nd LPGA player was even making half of what the 122nd ranked PGA player was making.

I think this has a lot to do with why there are many LPGA players known more for their modeling than their playing. If it paid more, I bet they would focus more on their golf.