LPGA players provide unique legacy at Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational

December 1, 2008

Juli Inkster

When Bill Sendell assumed Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational responsibilities earlier this year, he had his own ideas. But as only the third director of the tournament that dates nearly four decades, Sendell also appreciated its traditions. Perhaps the tournament’s most unique attribute is the inclusion of women professionals. Tournament founder Harold Firstman can’t recall the first year women played, but it was his idea and it began in the event’s infancy.

Through the years, legendary LPGA players have competed — Kathy Whitworth to Jan Stephenson, Hollis Stacy to Amy Alcott. And in 1990, Juli Inkster became the only woman to win.

Playing in the next-to-last group at Pebble Beach, Mark Brooks missed a six-foot putt force to a playoff.

“I recall they were really itching for a woman to win,” said Brooks, a two-time tournament winner who Friday shot 80 at Spyglass Hill and trails co-leaders Arron Oberholser and Tommy Armour III by 14 strokes. “I can’t remember the details about the day like what the putt was, but I remember some of the women’s tees were in fairways.”

Brooks respects Inkster and her accomplishments in golf and he likes the Callaway format. Like other pros, he believes the tournament is largely for the amateurs. The competing pros play without the pressure of their respective tours.

Sendell wanted to expand women’s participation this year in the only tournament that features head-to-head competition among the four major tours. He invited Michelle Wie, Juli Inkster and Natalie Gulbis. Wie, one of the few women pros to play in a PGA Tour event, has not played in the Callaway event and declined. Inkster and Gulbis have both played in the event, but could not participate because of sponsorship commitments.

“I think that’s the great thing about golf,” said Sendell. “We like to think that we have a good handicap system and in this tournament we have a tee arrangement system to allow the ladies to fairly compete against the men.

Janice Moodie

“I don’t think I’m saying anything out of bounds when I say the men hit the ball on average farther than the ladies. Obviously, if they’re playing the same tees that’s not a fair playing field.”

After numerous practice rounds and discussions among men and women, the tournament’s current “equalizer” was determined during Firstman’s tenure as director. The system has been tweaked, but based on the pros’ average driving distance, LPGA and Champions Tour players are provided tee shot advantages on the tournament’s three courses.

Through its 37 years, the yearly field has included as many as 12 women. This year, seven women are competing: Vicky Hurst, Brittany Lincicome, Leta Lindley, Charlotte Mayorkas, Jill McGill and Janice Moodie.

Sendell and former tournament director Rich Patterson in recent years have also had to determine a women’s field based on the corresponding season-ending LPGA tournament that features the top-30 money leaders playing the largest purse in women’s golf.

Among this year’s Callaway women’s field, McGill and Moodie have both played in the tournament more than a half-dozen times. Both have made the cut with Moodie finishing as high as sixth.

But playing in the Callaway event does not equate to a woman playing in the PGA Tour event.

“If a woman wants to play on the PGA Tour then good luck,” said Moodie, who shot a 2-over 74 at Spyglass Hill and leads the seven women entrants in this year’s event at 2-under 142. “But If I were playing on the PGA Tour, it would just be to see if I could make the cut and that’s not what I’m trying to achieve. I play to be competitive and to try to win tournaments.”

McGill, who shot a second-round 77, also at Spyglass, en route to a 145 total, is unsure a woman can win the tournament, particularly with Spyglass Hill in the three-course rotation.

“That’s the deal-breaker for me, especially the par 5s,” said McGill. “But comparing the players on the two tours is like apples and oranges. And as far as playing on the PGA Tour, I can’t be competitive, so I don’t get it. If I were barely getting by, that would be pretty disheartening.”

Following the third round Saturday, the top-40 pros will advance to Sunday’s final round at Pebble Beach. Last year, Leta Lindley was the only woman to make the cut. She finished tied for 14th, trailing winner Tommy Armour III by 10 shots at 6-under 282.

Posted in Global Golf News, Golf Tournaments, LPGA Tour, Player Profiles