The inaugural KPMG Women's PGA Championship takes place this week at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y., and "many of the changes that came into play when the PGA of America came on board and rebranded the LPGA Championship were on display" yesterday, according to Mike Dougherty of the Westchester JOURNAL NEWS. Players were "taking notice of a new vibe," as they are playing on the "highly-regarded West Course." The look "is new, too, from the manual scoreboard near the 18th green to the multitude of banners proclaiming this an important championship." Golfer Lexi Thompson said, "I would definitely say there's a different energy this week. ... Obviously, it felt like a major in Rochester, but this year it really, really does. It feels like a U.S. Women's Open and it feels like a major championship" (Westchester JOURNAL NEWS, 6/10). GOLFCHANNEL.com's Randall Mell wrote the "size, weight and scale of the LPGA’s flagship event have been magnified tenfold." Mell: "At least that’s how it feels with the LPGA Championship fully transformed." This "doesn’t feel like the LPGA Championship is being rolled out under a new name as part of a new partnership." It "feels wondrously new with the muscle of the PGA of America helping the LPGA give birth to something original to the women’s game." The major "assumes a new gravitas with the LPGA partnering with the PGA." The scope of the event is "so much larger as it now reaches beyond golf." There is a "women’s empowerment theme woven into the week," as a "powerhouse leadership summit designed to 'inspire the next generation of women leaders'" is scheduled at Westchester Country Club today to run in conjunction with the championship. Playing in the shadow of N.Y. also "adds a crackle and buzz to the week" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 6/9).
THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE: GOLFWEEK's Beth Ann Nichols noted players this week are "buzzing about details spectators wouldn’t notice that make this event already feel different." Jessica Korda "appreciates the courtesy Kia cars." While other majors -- the ANA Inspiration and U.S. Women's Open -- offer cars, the LPGA Championship "did not." But half the field this week "gets a free ride." Korda also "noted the array of Gatorade flavors, in their own box, on the golf course." Player Mo Martin said, “Not only Gatorade, they have Snickers and apples. I don’t know why that’s such a big deal but it is" (GOLFWEEK.com, 6/8).
MEASURING UP: The JOURNAL NEWS' Dougherty noted this week's tourney is "supposed to be a big deal" with a $3.5M purse, but "are we ready to get reacquainted with the LPGA?" Tournament Dir Bob Jeffrey said, "If we had between 5,000 and 7,000 people a day, that's a good number. We really want the bleachers filled and people around the course, and I definitely think we'll get there." Dougherty noted the fact that an LPGA major with 60 years of history "has been stabilized and raised to a level that compares with the U.S. Women's Open makes this venture a success no matter what the gate is." Still, the event "will play better with crowd noise." The LPGA "has a recognizable talent pool and intriguing story lines," which should "inspire fans to come out." Dougherty: "Even so, we aren't likely to line the ropes in great numbers on the weekend unless the leaderboard has marquee value" (LOHUD.com, 6/9).
