LPGA stood firm on 10-player limit
KLPGA official records would not apply
Negotiations between the KLPGA and the LPGA Tour over player entry quotas for the BMW Ladies Championship — an LPGA Tour event scheduled for Korea this October — have broken down.
The KLPGA announced Thursday that the two sides failed to reach an agreement after the LPGA Tour refused to accept a minimum of 30 KLPGA player entries, which the KLPGA had set as a condition for the tournament to count as an official KLPGA Tour event.
The two organizations held 16 rounds of talks beginning in October last year. The KLPGA required at least 30 of its members to participate for the event to qualify for official KLPGA Tour status, but the LPGA stood firm on allowing only 10 spots for KLPGA players.
As a result, the BMW Ladies Championship, set for Oct. 22 at Pine Beach Golf Links in South Jeolla Province, will not be recognized as an official KLPGA Tour event. KLPGA Tour players who compete will therefore be unable to have their results counted toward official tour records.
The KLPGA also said members who participate could face disciplinary action. "Given the standing of Korean women's golf, a minimum of 30 entries is the bare minimum required to constitute an official tournament," a KLPGA official said. "We will continue to prioritize protecting our members' rights and the sustained development of Korean women's golf."
yjc@heraldcorp.com
