LPGA Keeps Getting It Wrong

👋 Hey Golf Fans,

Right after launching the LPGA 76 years ago, the 13 Founders barnstormed city to city, hustling to hype the fledgling Tour. One time, Marilyn Smith even crashed a boxing match with co-founder Shirley Spork. They hopped into the ring, hollering at the crowd: “Come watch the LPGA!”

Should the LPGA pros do the same today, as the league continues to let them down?

Before we start with today’s edition, let's kick things off with the stories that've been making waves.

Charley Hull reveals her father snapped all her clubs in two when she was a kid. Can you guess why?

Rickie Fowler explains to a young fan how he handles pressure. It’s the exact kind of fun, candid reply you’ve come to expect from him.

PGA Tour pro pays homage to his team-mate in a dramatic fashion at the Zurich Classic. They had, after all, just avoided heading home on Friday.

If the 13 ladies behind the creation of the LPGA saw what has become of the Dinah Shore, they’d be angry at the management. The tournament was moved to Houston to increase visibility and draw more fans. Or, as some reports say, to simply move it closer to the title sponsor, Chevron’s headquarters in downtown Houston. How did it fare?

Abysmally.

Yesterday, Nelly Korda climbed to the top with a six-shot lead. Check out this sublime beauty from Korda here. You’d expect fans to flock around her after that shot, but what we saw was a near-empty gallery, and spectators you could count on your fingers.

Moving to Houston from its spiritual home at Mission Hills was a textbook corporate shuffle that cheapens the traditions and values the LPGA touts for this cornerstone of women's golf. Memorial Park was billed as sweet relief from the spiritless Carlton Woods, but it served up the same old song and dance: poor planning and a not-so-fan-friendly environment.

Not to mention, Houston is a sports hub—you need to go the extra mile to attract fans to a golf tournament. Especially one that’s sandwiched between a PGA Tour and a Champions Tour event. Turns out, LPGA didn’t do the bare minimum.

If the LPGA doesn’t want to move it to a smaller golf-starved market where it could be the biggest event, they need to amp up their efforts. Rope in icons from the Astros or the Rockets, or better still, Houston’s own Simone Biles. Build hype, capture attention. Let the tournament craft an identity of its own, instead of being short-sighted.

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Captain: The PGA of America tapped Jim Furyk for the 2027 Ryder Cup captaincy. It’s as close to an apathetically divested decision as we’ve seen recently. Granted, Furyk will spare the world from the asinine harangues that Keegan nearly turned into sermons. We’ll present just one example of a speech that badly backfired.

Luke Donald’s boys pasted this on their walls and later responded in kind. Furyk knows better—he’s been here as a player (10-20-4), vice captain, or captain for 14 Ryder Cups since 1997. However, two things stood out from his 2018 stint as captain. Firstly, half the squad had never visited Le Golf National before the Ryder Cup, which explains the 17.5-10.5 scoreline. Secondly, his four picks secured only two points from 12 outings. Little wonder, Patrick Reed had the choicest words reserved for the veteran captain.

Furyk might have the humility to accept defeat, but was he the best man for an away Ryder Cup? Not really. He needs to become more of a captain than he was eight years ago.

Axing: Some 1,035 miles away from Frisco, the PGA Tour, driven by cold financial motives, axed 4% of its staff. Yesterday, we learned that Cognizant Classic exec director Todd Fleming was one of those 56 people. So, is the Palm Beach tournament on its way to the exit door, despite Jack Nicklaus’s subtle warning against it? Very likely. But more importantly, with these cash-grab moves and bloated prize money mostly padding top pros' pockets, the Tour’s signal to other such events isn’t a favorable one.

Thursday’s Poll Result: 47.47% of you do not want any LIV pro back on the Tour. Meanwhile, 14.48% picked Jon Rahm, 26.09% went with Bryson DeChambeau, and 6.73% wanted to see Phil Mickelson back.

Struggling with nagging arm or forearm pain during golf swings? This can result in lost grip strength. Consequently, it’ll force duffed chips such as this one from Tiger. Now the issue might not be in your arm but in your neck.

• Think globally: Pain in the forearm, biceps, or shoulder often stems from the neck, which is the fuse box controlling the nerves. Test grip strength to figure out nerve irritation rather than jumping to a conclusion about local tears.

• Check sleep habits: Something as minor as poor sleeping positions can trigger these problems. Use proper pillows and avoid compression to prevent swing-disrupting pain, as experts from the Titleist Performance Institute explain here.

• Swing mechanics: If you are recovering from an injured neck, we suggest following the Hideki Matsuyama way. Notice below how his head moves forward before impact to lessen stress on his neck.

An injured neck can disrupt momentum and, more importantly, cause long-term damage. So, if you are struggling, here are a few mobility exercises you should add to your daily routine.

Teeing up against Bryson DeChambeau sounds like a pipe dream for most. But for Rhett Anderson and Matt Seramin, two recreational golfers, that became true when they paired up to play against Bryson and golf influencer Garrett Clark for a fun 2v2, 18-hole challenge.

Pure entertainment.

After all, we saw Bryson unleash a wild tee shot that fooled everyone into thinking it would kiss the green. They were all wrong. Check where it landed. But the funniest moment was Bryson trolling himself. In the video, shot in the last week of March, Bryson claimed this fun duel was helping him prepare for Augusta. Guess what showed up right after he said that? Watch for yourself.

The 1970s were a decade of rock and roll, disco, and, of course, vibrant cocktails. We’ve rounded up the grooviest cocktails from that era.

• Harvey Wallbanger: Galliano made this one an instant visual standout in the late ’60s, which reached its pinnacle a few years later. Doesn’t this look gorgeous?

• Tequila Sunrise: The Rolling Stones made this one famous during the 1972 Tour of America. Check out how that was made possible.

• Brandy Alexander: This classic bridges the gap between old‑school brandy drinkers and 1970s sweet‑tooth trends. Here’s the proof in a single, creamy sip.

• Blue Hawaii: There’s never been any doubt why that bright blue curacao cocktail dominated tiki menus in the 1970s. Don’t forget to treat yourself to this.

• Godfather: If you need a way to relax and unwind at the end of a long week, try this cocktail inspired by The Godfather. The origin story is no less fascinating.

Thank you for reading this edition of Essentially Golf.

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