2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship

bangkokbobby · 02-15-2010, 11:41 PM

original link: LPGA's Kraft Nabisco tweaks eligibility requirements | mydesert.com | The Desert Sun

LPGA's Kraft Nabisco tweaks eligibility requirements

By Larry Bohannan • The Desert Sun
February 15, 2010

RANCHO MIRAGE — The Kraft Nabisco Championship will announce two changes to its eligibility requirements this week that could bring more players to the LPGA’s first major championship of the year in April.

“I think the anticipation is there will be at least 10 to 12 (more) players,” said Gabe Codding, business manager for the Kraft Nabisco.

The biggest change is extending automatic exemptions to the top 80 players on last year’s LPGA money list rather than the top 70.

But the tournament will cut down another category, players exempt from the current year’s money list. That category has been for the top 30 players on the money list through the tournament the week before the Kraft, but the new criteria will extend exemptions for only the top 10 players on the money list through the Kia Championship presented by J Golf.

While the current year category has only added two or three players a year to the Kraft field, cutting the category will make it tougher for LPGA rookies to make the field. That’s particularly true with the LPGA’s smaller tournament schedule before the Kraft this year.

Another category giving exemptions for the Kraft to members of both the U.S. and European Solheim Cup teams returns to the tournament this year because 2009 was a Solheim Cup year.

The Kraft field had 100 players last year, through automatic exemptions or sponsor’s exemptions offered to top amateur players. Three players declined their invitations to the tournament, leaving the 2009 event with 97 golfers.

During the last 20 years the size of the Kraft field has swung from around 120 players to under 100 because of criteria changes as well as dominant players like Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa winning multiple tournaments a year over a stretch of years, cutting the number of golfers making the Kraft field through tournament victories.

The tournament will be played April 1-4 at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club.

cougar · 03-30-2010, 11:45 PM

They apparently had trouble getting entries for the pro-am. At $6500 a pop, not too many companies are fielding teams this week. There were only 30 groups on each of the Palmer and Dinah courses today. Also, there were only three amateurs playing with a pro. On the Palmer course, they play a regular scrambles format. The players and caddies get to ride a cart, so the last group finished in 3 hours and 50 minutes. That has to be some sort of record.

On the Dinah course, the players have to walk and play their own ball. The amateurs can play their ball, or use the pro's ball.

One thing I noticed that was new - bleacher seats behind and to the left of the 10th tee. The back entrance to the big covered grandstand is a little different from in the past. The skybox behind the 18th green is a little farther back, so it might affect a few shots that fly past the green.

Tickets are different also - no weekly badges, just any day wrist bands. Will Call is at the admissions entrance instead of the parking lot, where they are now charging $5, when it used to be free.

Grace did not play in the pro-am today, and she will play on the Palmer course on Wednesday. She was jogging back and forth between the parking lot and the driving range this afternoon.

DJ, are you coming to the tournament?

DJGOLFER59 · 03-30-2010, 11:48 PM

No Cougar, sadly I cannot. I sure miss it, I didn't get to attend last year as well. I really hope toward next year though.

greentee · 03-31-2010, 03:33 AM

.
Nice opening BKB. :-)

Looking over this field I see 6 sponsored amateur players, one of them the 2009 US Am Champ, Jennifer Song. Really like to see how she does with the pros.

And one Rookie, Gwladys Nocera, they did cut the rookies back.

And bomber Wei paired with bomber Lincicome, on first two days. And late afternoon we get to see the Kia Classic winner Seo, she well know what she needs to do by then. (Ah... I picked her as winner again - long-odds risk taker, greenth-the-tee). ;-)

Wishing well for Grace, and many others, and always My-Hyun. :-)

And a little video from down under ALPGA, to get you maybe a little more hyped for the Kraft Nabisco. (Click play video on the right). :-)

http://www.alpg.com.au/index.php?page_id=14

Saint-Just X · 03-31-2010, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by greentee

.

And one Rookie, Gwladys Nocera, they did cut the rookies back.

Gwladys gets in because she was a member of the Solheim team.

There's a general exemption for anyone who played in that event ;hence the appearance of Tania Elosegui and Becky Brewerton in an event that,ordinarily,they wouldn't qualify for...

Pax Vobiscum
Saint-Just X

Blue · 03-31-2010, 09:28 AM

I think the one rookie in the field is Marianne Skarpnord.

Saint-Just X · 03-31-2010, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Blue

I think the one rookie in the field is Marianne Skarpnord.

Gwladys Nocera is classified as a rookie,too.

Marianne Skarpnord gets in on the basis of her finishing position on the LET 2009 money list...

Pax Vobiscum
Saint-Just X

Blue · 03-31-2010, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Saint-Just X

Gwladys Nocera is classified as a rookie,too.

Marianne Skarpnord gets in on the basis of her finishing position on the LET 2009 money list...

Pax Vobiscum
Saint-Just X

I forgot about Gwladys. She's been around so long, she doesn't seem like a rookie.

No rookies qualified from their performance on the LPGA this year. It would have been very difficult. It would have required a top 10 finish in the Kia Classic. I think Misun Cho was the closest.

Meanwhile Kraft is giving out up to 15 sponsor exemptions including a slew of amateurs T&CP members. I would have rather had them let in anyone in the top 20 on the 2010 LPGA money list or anyone who finished in the top 30 in the last (actually the only so far this year) full-field event before the KNC. I don't see the point of including players like Chie Arimura and Cydney Clanton instead of Amanda Blumenherst or Misun Cho. Especially because after this event, there is a month off until the LPGA plays another event and six weeks before they play another event in the United States. It's ridiculous not to let the top LPGA players in the field.

At least we can thank GOD Michelle Wie got in or people would have been screaming from the rooftops about how unfair the rules are and that they were all designed just to keep her out.

cougar · 03-31-2010, 08:42 PM

The news is not so good for Grace fans. She WD from the pro-am today due to back problems. Hopefully, she will be able to play in the tournament.

guy4grace · 03-31-2010, 08:55 PM

Indeed, that is not good news about Grace.... we can only hope for the best.

02-15-2010, 11:41 PM	#1
bangkokbobby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,895	2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship original link: LPGA's Kraft Nabisco tweaks eligibility requirements \| mydesert.com \| The Desert Sun LPGA's Kraft Nabisco tweaks eligibility requirements By Larry Bohannan • The Desert Sun February 15, 2010 RANCHO MIRAGE — The Kraft Nabisco Championship will announce two changes to its eligibility requirements this week that could bring more players to the LPGA’s first major championship of the year in April. “I think the anticipation is there will be at least 10 to 12 (more) players,” said Gabe Codding, business manager for the Kraft Nabisco. The biggest change is extending automatic exemptions to the top 80 players on last year’s LPGA money list rather than the top 70. But the tournament will cut down another category, players exempt from the current year’s money list. That category has been for the top 30 players on the money list through the tournament the week before the Kraft, but the new criteria will extend exemptions for only the top 10 players on the money list through the Kia Championship presented by J Golf. While the current year category has only added two or three players a year to the Kraft field, cutting the category will make it tougher for LPGA rookies to make the field. That’s particularly true with the LPGA’s smaller tournament schedule before the Kraft this year. Another category giving exemptions for the Kraft to members of both the U.S. and European Solheim Cup teams returns to the tournament this year because 2009 was a Solheim Cup year. The Kraft field had 100 players last year, through automatic exemptions or sponsor’s exemptions offered to top amateur players. Three players declined their invitations to the tournament, leaving the 2009 event with 97 golfers. During the last 20 years the size of the Kraft field has swung from around 120 players to under 100 because of criteria changes as well as dominant players like Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa winning multiple tournaments a year over a stretch of years, cutting the number of golfers making the Kraft field through tournament victories. The tournament will be played April 1-4 at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club. __________________ Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail. ---Bruce Lee http://bangkokbobbysports.wordpress.com/

03-31-2010, 03:33 AM	#4
greentee Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,484 Images: 4	. Nice opening BKB. :-) Looking over this field I see 6 sponsored amateur players, one of them the 2009 US Am Champ, Jennifer Song. Really like to see how she does with the pros. And one Rookie, Gwladys Nocera, they did cut the rookies back. And bomber Wei paired with bomber Lincicome, on first two days. And late afternoon we get to see the Kia Classic winner Seo, she well know what she needs to do by then. (Ah... I picked her as winner again - long-odds risk taker, greenth-the-tee). ;-) Wishing well for Grace, and many others, and always My-Hyun. :-) And a little video from down under ALPGA, to get you maybe a little more hyped for the Kraft Nabisco. (Click play video on the right). :-) http://www.alpg.com.au/index.php?page_id=14 __________________ ... I am not a tree, I am a tee... hit me, ah... wait a minute... Last edited by greentee; 03-31-2010 at 05:46 AM.

03-31-2010, 06:56 AM	#5
Saint-Just X Senior Member Contests: Joint 3nd place overall winner 2010 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,675	Originally Posted by greentee . And one Rookie, Gwladys Nocera, they did cut the rookies back. Gwladys gets in because she was a member of the Solheim team. There's a general exemption for anyone who played in that event ;hence the appearance of Tania Elosegui and Becky Brewerton in an event that,ordinarily,they wouldn't qualify for... Pax Vobiscum Saint-Just X __________________ I have sent the most relevant posts you made about Paula Creamer to her lawyers. Hope they take action against your statements - Elf

03-31-2010, 10:59 AM	#7
Saint-Just X Senior Member Contests: Joint 3nd place overall winner 2010 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,675	Originally Posted by Blue I think the one rookie in the field is Marianne Skarpnord. Gwladys Nocera is classified as a rookie,too. Marianne Skarpnord gets in on the basis of her finishing position on the LET 2009 money list... Pax Vobiscum Saint-Just X __________________ I have sent the most relevant posts you made about Paula Creamer to her lawyers. Hope they take action against your statements - Elf

03-31-2010, 01:40 PM	#8
Blue Forum Moderator Contests: Joint 3rd place overall winner 2009. Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,650 Images: 6	Originally Posted by Saint-Just X Gwladys Nocera is classified as a rookie,too. Marianne Skarpnord gets in on the basis of her finishing position on the LET 2009 money list... Pax Vobiscum Saint-Just X I forgot about Gwladys. She's been around so long, she doesn't seem like a rookie. No rookies qualified from their performance on the LPGA this year. It would have been very difficult. It would have required a top 10 finish in the Kia Classic. I think Misun Cho was the closest. Meanwhile Kraft is giving out up to 15 sponsor exemptions including a slew of amateurs T&CP members. I would have rather had them let in anyone in the top 20 on the 2010 LPGA money list or anyone who finished in the top 30 in the last (actually the only so far this year) full-field event before the KNC. I don't see the point of including players like Chie Arimura and Cydney Clanton instead of Amanda Blumenherst or Misun Cho. Especially because after this event, there is a month off until the LPGA plays another event and six weeks before they play another event in the United States. It's ridiculous not to let the top LPGA players in the field. At least we can thank GOD Michelle Wie got in or people would have been screaming from the rooftops about how unfair the rules are and that they were all designed just to keep her out.

03-30-2010, 11:45 PM	#2
cougar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 734 Images: 20	They apparently had trouble getting entries for the pro-am. At $6500 a pop, not too many companies are fielding teams this week. There were only 30 groups on each of the Palmer and Dinah courses today. Also, there were only three amateurs playing with a pro. On the Palmer course, they play a regular scrambles format. The players and caddies get to ride a cart, so the last group finished in 3 hours and 50 minutes. That has to be some sort of record. On the Dinah course, the players have to walk and play their own ball. The amateurs can play their ball, or use the pro's ball. One thing I noticed that was new - bleacher seats behind and to the left of the 10th tee. The back entrance to the big covered grandstand is a little different from in the past. The skybox behind the 18th green is a little farther back, so it might affect a few shots that fly past the green. Tickets are different also - no weekly badges, just any day wrist bands. Will Call is at the admissions entrance instead of the parking lot, where they are now charging $5, when it used to be free. Grace did not play in the pro-am today, and she will play on the Palmer course on Wednesday. She was jogging back and forth between the parking lot and the driving range this afternoon. DJ, are you coming to the tournament?

03-30-2010, 11:48 PM	#3
DJGOLFER59 Contest Statistician Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,685	No Cougar, sadly I cannot. I sure miss it, I didn't get to attend last year as well. I really hope toward next year though.

03-31-2010, 09:28 AM	#6
Blue Forum Moderator Contests: Joint 3rd place overall winner 2009. Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,650 Images: 6	I think the one rookie in the field is Marianne Skarpnord.

03-31-2010, 08:42 PM	#9
cougar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 734 Images: 20	The news is not so good for Grace fans. She WD from the pro-am today due to back problems. Hopefully, she will be able to play in the tournament.

03-31-2010, 08:55 PM	#10
guy4grace Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 18	Indeed, that is not good news about Grace.... we can only hope for the best. __________________ Go Grace !! Larry

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