Top-tier LPGA players subject to $25,000 fine for skipping Tournament of Champions 10:48, 18/01/2023

LPGA has imposed a $25000 fine on two big names for skipping the LPGA year opener event, the Tournament of Champions.

The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (HGV TOC), the LPGA's first event of 2023, will take place at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, Orlando, Florida from January 19-22.

Multiple major champions Minjee Lee and Jin Young Ko have not featured in the opening event of the year in the last few years. The LPGA’s 1-in-4 requirement states that players in the top 80 of the CME points list will be required to feature in the domestic event once every four years.

In case a golfer competes in 230 LPGA Tour events as a member, he will be completely exempt from this rule. This rule was introduced with the purpose of ensuring the interests of the sponsors of the tournaments.

*World No. 3 female golfer Minjee Lee and World No. 5 Jin Young Ko face punishment from LPGA*

World No. 3 Minjee Lee and World No. 5 Jin Young Ko, have been absent from the Tournament of Champions for a few years and they will have to attend the 2023 event to avoid penalties. However, the HGV TOC tournament will begin this week without the participation of both Lee and Ko.

Accordingly, both golfers will face a $25,000 fine for being absent from the HGV TOC event for violating the LPGA's 1-in-4 requirement. Previously, both had registered to participate in the tournament but then changed their minds. If you are fined $25,000 and continue to not attend that tournament for the next 2 years, the fine will increase to $35,000.

Mr. Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana, Deputy Executive Director of LPGA Tour shared that these two golfers will have the right to appeal and the final decision will be with the LPGA commissioner.

To compete at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, the pair will have to travel "around the world". After the opening game in Florida, the second tournament of the season, Honda LPGA Thailand, took more than a month to start. Minjee Lee from Australia and Jin Young Ko from South Korea will have to travel to the US just to compete in one event, after which they have to choose between staying in the US, returning home or flying straight to the next venue. follow in Thailand.

Other potential reasons for the pair's refusal to compete could be due to a wrist injury Ko suffered at the end of last season and Lee's hectic schedule with last month's competition at ISPS Handa Australian Open.