Worked for the same group as yesterday. Joo Mi Kim was our pro with Jeff Snow on the bag. This time we were on the Palmer Course and the greens are the best I’ve ever seen them. Very, very close to the the tournament track. Managed to dine in Hospitality afterward and it’s one of the best on tour. The ice cream shakes are to die for.
It’s cryin time again… This is flat out amazing. Three players DQ’d for missing their tee time on the Palmer. Yesterday, Shanshan Feng drove out to the tenth tee (players are allowed to take carts on this course), which is in the middle of the course, thinking she was teeing off there. By the time she realized everyone was starting on the first hole, it was too late to get back.
Today it was Maria Hjorth and Helen Alfredsson. Hall of Famer Patty Sheehan was scheduled to play in the pro-am but totally forgot about it. So when she didn’t show, Maria was the next alternate to take her place but didn’t know it. Helen was after Maria but by the time she made it out to the group, it was too late.
Some may think this is too severe a penalty for missing a pro-am but there is a good reason for it of which I won’t get into.
All that preparation down the drain. The sad part is, this has not been the first time players have missed their time on the Palmer, resulting in a DQ, here’s why. Normally, once you play the pro-am, even in a two-dayer, your obligation is complete but the field here is small and there is a good chance you may be an alternate the other day. Gets them every time.
Way down south in the land of cotton… was the tune one of the local caddies was crooning, after being fired from his amateur loop, before today’s round. The reason was that Marvin seemed a bit high yesterday and today it was even worse. Said he’d call the news but more importantly, his cousin the President.
Boy you sure called that one! In the Golfweek article Sheehan said she didn’t know she was playing. Are Hall of Famers who aren’t in the tournament field often called upon the play in the pro-am? I understand the reasons for requiring players to support the pro-am but the fact that the Wednesday debacle was triggered by a non-player missing the pro-am, DQ’ing two real players seems rather harsh.
No they are not. This may have been arranged awhile ago and she just forgot. It’s irrelevant who you’re replacing. It’s all about the amateurs on pro-am day. You have to be ready when called.
Was Feng at the 10th on time and ready to play? I’m not sure how her English is, but wasn’t there a case for some leniency with this one? It wasn’t as if she wasn’t there and hadn’t made the effort.
I am aware of why they do this, but they penalised the missing alternate, but do nothing with the cynical withdrawal. Can’t play the pro am, can’t play the tournament.
It’s the player’ responsibility to be on the correct tee. A good effort is not good enough. Also, they have to be ready at a moments notice no matter why the withdrawal. Most will tell an official in advance were they may be found, such as on the driving range or putting green. At least the smart ones do.
[...] on Tour gives us a bit more detail on the confusion in schedules. But then there’s this infuriating tidbit: "Some may think this is too severe a penalty [...]
Excellent reporting on this one Larry!
Are there (now) three players looking for new caddies? It is one of the caddy’s jobs to “get the player to the tee on time” (With fourteen clubs in their bag) I can’t remember ever using split tees on the Palmer course…the tenth is so far out there I can see why she was late.
Even though I am old (now) and certainly not very “hip”…I do think that I could get my player to the tee on time…are there a shortage of “qualified” cadero’s? Do I need to come out of retirement?
Stay where you are Lonnie, In fact, I may join you. We have used the 10th tee in the past when the pro-am was larger. The other two played the day before and must have thought their obligation was complete. Both player and caddie were at fault.