LPGA Tour Under Scrutiny: Safety of Golfers Questioned After Rose Zhang & Others’ Sudden WDs Over ‘Illness’

A very disheartening situation has recently come to light. A concerning number of players have pulled out of the ongoing Mizuho Americas Open, placing the LPGA Tour in the public eye. Halfway through the competition, many golfers, including the defending champion and one of the favorites to win, Rose Zhang, Ruoning Yin, Paula Creamer, Minami Katsu, Jiwon Jeon, Haeran Ryu, A Lim Kimhad, Maja Stark, and Caroline Masson, withdrew due to illness or injury.

The huge volume of withdrawals has drawn attention and prompted worries for the athletes’ safety. In merely two rounds, around eight golfers out of the 120-player field withdrew, leaving everyone to wonder, What is going on here? A Twitter user named Randy encapsulated the feeling when he asked, “What is in player dining this week?” Rightfully so! S

So many WDs citing a mysterious injury or illness are bound to make one question as to what it is that golfers are eating at the event that is apparently making them sick. There were also speculations that there could be a viral flu outbreak in the competition, or it could be food poisoning too, given the food angle. Rose Zhang was the defending champion at the event. She won in 2023, the first edition of the event, and it was her debut as a pro too. Her withdrawal stung the golf fraternity a bit more.

Later, she revealed on her Instagram story the reason for her stepping away from the competition. “I am really disappointed that I had to withdraw from the Mizuho Americas Open today. This tournament holds a special place in my heart, having had such an amazing week last year when I captured my first LPGA Tour win here at Liberty National. I was really looking forward to trying to defend my title,  but unfortunately spent the last 12 hours with really bad intestinal pain.” 

Whether it was a flu outbreak or a general case of food poisoning, remains to be known. But what is known is that it’s the same thing affecting these golfers, and by the looks of it, it has gotten a lot more serious. Such instances have definitely made it very difficult for the tournament host, Michelle Wie West, to keep the morale high. After all, the event returned for a second edition after having immense success in 2023.

Mizuho Americas Open was a huge success in 2023

The tournament has been commended in the past for providing free amenities to golfers, including lodging, so the worries are not unwarranted. Former professional golfer Michelle Wie West praised the tournament’s efforts, saying, “Excited to announce that @MizuhoLPGA will be paying for all the players’ hotel accommodations for the tournament week at the iconic @ConradHotels just steps away from the ferry. Thank you @MizuhoAmericas for your commitment to elevate the women’s game.” 

What made the event more lavish was the venue. It was hosted at Liberty National, located in Jersey City. The course’s horizon is decorated with the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. The course has been a regular event venue on the PGA Tour, hosting the 2017 Presidents Cup and multiple Northern Trusts as a part of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Despite such a storied golf history, this was the first time the course hosted the LPGA Tour. The prize money the event offered in 2023 was $2.75 million, and this year it was raised to $3 million.

As the competition advances, the focus will be on the steps taken to guarantee the athletes’ safety and well-being. There will be pressure on the LPGA and tournament organizers to look into the situation and take swift action to resolve any possible problems. Stay tuned to find out how things unfold at Liberty National.