The LPGA ShopRite Classic has come up with an innovative method for deciding its final sponsor’s exemption for next month’s tournament.
The LPGA ShopRite Classic has come up with an innovative method for deciding its final sponsor’s exemption at next month’s tournament.
A twitter poll.
The four candidates, Sharmila Nicollet, Blair O'Neal, Carly Booth, and Susan Benavides, have been chosen by MVP Index, a firm owned by Jordan Spieth’s father, Shawn Spieth, which ranks players based on their social media presence.
Drawing high-profile players who might not otherwise get a spot in the tournament, which takes place 2-4 June in Atlantic City, seems like a great PR move.
But if the backlash on Twitter is anything to go by, the event may have done well to stick to a more traditional selection policy.
Let’s just say these four players have something in common, and it isn’t their golfing prowess.
The biggest name, at least from a social media perspective, is India’s Sharmila Nicollet, a little known player in these parts but a seriously big deal back in her home country. She made one start on the Ladies European Tour last year, finishing in T66.
Next up is Golf Channel presenter Blair O’Neal, arguably best known for the sexy golf poses on her Instagram account.
A former Big Break winner, the American now focuses on her career as a reality star, although she has played over 70 tournaments on the Symetra Tour. O'Neal was given an exemption to the Omega Ladies Masters last year, finishing at ten-over-par over.
By far the most accomplished player is Scotland’s Carly Booth, who has two LET titles to her name, and is among the most recognisable players on the Tour. The stunning Scot was destined for great things when she burst onto the scene as a teenager, but has struggled for form in recent years.
The final selection is Bolivian Susan Benavides, who currently plays the Symetra Tour. The South American has attracted attention for her model-looks, with Golf Digest commenting last year that “she could represent her country in a Miss Universe pageant.”
The choice has certainly been a polarising one, with many taking to twitter to criticise the tournament organiser's apparent decision to let looks negate skill.
“For the naysayers, if we get 10 million new eyeballs exposed to our event, that’s not only good for the winner of our contest, but for the 143 other players in the field,” Erensen said. “We need to get new people interested in the game, and if it takes out-of-the-box thinking like this, we are happy to do our part.”
Of course, the event has the right to select their exemptions in whatever way they deem appropriate, but it’s worth begging the question whether the selection shouldn’t be based on a golfer’s accomplishments rather than their appearance.
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