College Athletes Will Be Severely Affected by This New LPGA Rule Change

Golf rules have undergone tremendous changes over the years. It’s true that a few rules governing golf can sometimes be agonizing for professionals. However, the LPGA recently announced the end of a ruling that will affect the young female professionals looking to play on the Tour in the future.

LPGA makes a shocking announcement

For approximately two decades, the USGA and the R&A have allowed amateurs to play in the qualifying school without jeopardizing their amateur status. However, the female golf body has now decided that only a professional can play the final stages of the qualifying series. They made an announcement on Thursday about the same.

Amateurs can now compete in stages one and two of the qualifying series. However, to play in the final stage, an eight-round event that spans over two weeks, they need to turn professional. The change in the rules will come into effect this year. Furthermore, the changes were made to keep an equal playing field for those players looking to play full time on the Tour.

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The decision eliminates the chances of college players opting to play in the final stages of the Q-school as amateurs. Earlier they could earn their LPGA card as amateurs, and avoid using it until they finish their collegiate season, which ends in spring. Moreover, the deferral system started in 2018 and gave the college players the best of both worlds.

If a female player made it through the qualifying series, she could maintain her amateur status and be guaranteed to join the Tour after finishing her college golf. However, the deferral was rarely used, and out of the 16 professionals who made it through the Q-school after the opportunity was announced, only two professionals, Maria Fassi and Jennifer Kupcho, used it.

The other 14 professionals turned professionals did not continue playing for their college. Notably, one aspect of the ruling has not changed. If players make it through stage II of the school, whether they are amateur or professional, they will get the Epson Tour status. As a result, they can play on the Tour.

It will be interesting to see how players react to the same. Do you think the ruling change is fair? Share your views in the comments section.

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