The LPGA Tour is heading to the business end of the season as the first major, the Chevron Championship, is slated to start in a day. The field is full of top performers looking to snag a major title, and joining these LPGA professionals are eight amateur golfers looking to make their mark and test the waters of the LPGA.

The amateurs have been part of a discussion lately about the change in the attitude and the approach they are taking as they slowly find the steps around the professional circuit. Speaking to Golf Today on NBC, Reid was very candid regarding how the new players on the LPGA Tour are faring. She stated, “I feel like the rookies now. A lot of rookies are coming out of these colleges. These colleges are churning out incredibly well-rounded golfers. They are not scared; they have no fear. They are just kind of ready for winning.”

The LPGA has had a good share of players rising the ranks and competing in several tournaments, including the majors on the circuit. Take Lexi Thompson, for example, who burst onto the scene as a 12-year-old at the US Women’s Open. She turned professional when she was 15 and did not join any college. The same goes for Nelly Korda, Jessica Korda, Lydia Ko, Charley Hull, and Jeeno Thitikul. However, the trend is changing ever so slightly.

There are eight amateurs on the field at the Chevron Championship this year. Carla Bernat Escuder is part of the Kansas State University collegiate golf team, while Clarisa Temelo is with the University of Arkansas. Chayse Gomez graduated from Oregon State University. Even the 2024 US Women’s Amateur Champion Rianne Malixi, who has withdrawn from the competition due to injury, is committed to Duke University for the upcoming season. More and more golfers are going through the collegiate golf program, similar to what happens on the men’s side.

This means that the players are more prepared for the bright lights of the LPGA Tour if and when their number is called. “I have noticed a slight shift in the mentality of the players on the tour now that our prize money has increased so much in the last two or three years, which we have been fighting for, and obviously we welcome it. But it has made the Tour quite businesslike. It is not quite as it used to be. It is very much like, This is me, this is my team. So they are kind of just kept in their bubble,”  Reid further added.

Back in 2019, the first major was the ANA Inspiration. The total prize money for that event was $3 million. Six years down the line, the prize pool has increased significantly to $7.9 million. The recently concluded JM Eagle LA Championship, which is just an event on the LPGA Tour, has a prize pool of $3.75 million. The prize money has gone up, which obviously means that the players are earning more, too. This allows the players to pay more to have a team dedicated to them, which could include a strength & conditioning coach, a physiotherapist, and many more. Which is what Mel Reid is referring to.

“The old school way of asking for advice on tour from mentors and older players is disappearing, which is a bit of a shame, really. But I guess that’s just the new generation now,” Mel Reid stated.

She is not complaining, though. She is just stating the change of mindset. The new amateurs are solely focused on putting up a good fight and keep pushing themselves to be the best they can be. The Chevron Championship, which is set to start on Thursday, will be the ideal testing ground for these raw golfers.

Practice round of the LPGA Major called off

If these amateurs are to make a splash on the professional scene, they have to do so battling against the toughest opponent golfers have faced throughout history—the inclement weather. The Wednesday practice rounds behind closed doors were called off at 9:30 AM after severe storms chanced upon the course.

The Wednesday storm has created waterlogged areas of the pitch (you can make a splash, literally!). The forecast for both Thursday and Friday speaks in a similar tone, with rain and thunderstorms to be expected.

Now the real question remains. Can the amateurs brave the elements and showcase their skills, and remove any doubt regarding their attitude or approach?