LPGA’s developmental Symetra Tour to allow push carts
Interesting change in the world of golf today, as the Symetra Tour, the LPGA's developmental tour, will permit the use of push carts in competition.
Numerous smaller tours and college conferences permit the use of carts, of course, but their use at the highest levels of golf has always been a point of contention. (This isn't really a case of golfers getting out of carrying their own bags; they do have caddies for that, remember.)
What this effectively means is less expense for golfers, who now can avoid the paycheck-devouring cost of paying a caddie for an entire tournament. Consider: at last month's Riviera Nayarit Classic, the lowest finisher to cash was Lauren Doughtie at 75th. And for her efforts, she received a check for $342. No, there are no zeroes missing from that figure. The winner, Esther Choe, earned $18,750, or one-tenth what both Stacy Lewis earned for winning the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, and also what Trevor Immelman earned for finishing last inside the cut at Augusta. See now why cutting costs might be a good idea?
The Symetra Tour has an impressive, 32-year record of sending players to the LPGA. Among its graduates are Lorena Ochoa, Cristie Kerr, Karrie Webb, Christina Kim and Meg Mallon.
