WOODS HIGHLIGHTS INAUGURAL Q-SERIES FIELD
Highlighting the field for the inaugural LPGA Q-Series presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is 102 players, but none with a bigger profile than Cheyenne Woods(Phoenix, Arizona).
Since her rookie year on the LPGA in 2015, Woods has six top-25 finishes including a LPGA personal-best tied for sixth result at the 2016 Cambia Portland Classic. Meanwhile, she has stepped into the winner’s circle once in her professional career at the 2014 Volvik RACV Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour (LET).
However, only nine cuts made in 21 starts this season placed Woods at No. 124 on the LPGA Tour official money list and has the Wake Forest University alumna competing the next two weeks in Q-Series at Pinehurst Resort.
“It is not necessarily somewhere you want to be, but at the same time I think it is a chance to evaluate and start fresh,” Woods said. “I had the last month to practice and am able to use this as a launching pad for next year.”
Woods has the game to do more than compete and stay in the hunt, but rather have an overall strong showing. She owns a career-best finish in a major of tied for 43rd, which the former ACC individual champion accomplished at both the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the 2016 Evian Championship.
With credentials to back her game, it’s now about firmly establishing other aspects that comprise the mindset of an athlete.
“Having to come to Q-School, not having the best year is not a reflection of how hard you are working or how good you truly are, but a lot of times is mental because it is so tough out here,” said Woods. “You are playing a lot of golf throughout the year, so I think if you are able to grasp the positives and break it down so you are not overwhelmed of the feeling that you have to reinvent yourself, just get back to the basics, it makes the process a lot easier.”
Even though it can be mentally challenging, Woods believes she has as great of a chance as anyone to conclude Q-Series among the top-45 finishers and ties that will earn LPGA Tour membership in Category 14 on the LPGA Priority List for 2019.
“I would consider myself a great ball striker and I love competing,” Woods said. “Whether I am struggling or not, I am a fighter and will grind it out. A lot weighs on these two weeks and at the LPGA level, you really get used to having big moments. You need a mental toughness to get you through the good and the bad, because everyone is great.”
In addition to the skill set she possesses, Woods has the game of golf coursing through her veins. She is the daughter of Earl Woods Jr., who is Tiger Woods half-brother, making her uncle the 14-time PGA TOUR major champion.
His climb back to the peak in the men’s professional game was sealed with his TOUR Championship victory at East Lake Golf Club in September, his first win since 2013. Seeing how Tiger worked back into form is an inspiration for Woods to do the same through Q-Series.
“This past year was a huge inspiration, seeing where Tiger was and where he is now, not only physically but mentally,” said Woods. “It really shows you that anything is possible, no matter what you are going through. Tiger believed in himself and I’m sure there were moments he didn’t, but you work hard and believe in the bigger pictures. Being at Q-School I have to continue that and realize this is not a defining moment in my career, but an opportunity to create something and learn from it.”
WHO’S IN THE FIELD
- One member from the top-75 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings: Jeongeun Lee6
- 19 players from Nos. 11-30 and ties on the Epson Tour official money list
- 40 players who advanced from Stage II of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament
- 37 players who finished from Nos. 101-150 on the current-year LPGA official money list
- Top-5 collegiate players in the country according to Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings: Lauren Stephenson, Lilia Vu, Maria Fassi, Patty Tavatanakit, Jennifer Kupcho
NORTH CAROLINA CONNECTIONS:
Lori Beth Adams (from Burlington and attended University of North Carolina Wilmington), Cydney Clanton (from Concord), Allison Emrey (from Charlotte and attended Wake Forest University), Katherine Perry (from Cary and attended the University of North Carolina), Maia Schechter (from Chapel Hill and attended the University of North Carolina), Laura Wearn (from Charlotte)
PAST AMERICAN SOLHEIM CUP PARTICIPANTS:
Kristy McPherson (2009), Vicky Hurst (2011), Alison Lee (2015)
PAST EUROPEAN SOLHEIM CUP PARTICIPANTS:
Mel Reid (2011, 2015, 2017), Emily K. Pedersen (2017)
PAST USA CURTIS CUP PARTICIPANTS:
Cydney Clanton (2010), Stephanie Kono (2010), Kyung Kim (2014), Alison Lee (2014), Erynne Lee (2014), Bailey Tardy (2016), Kristen Gillman (2018), Lauren Stephenson (2018), Lilia Vu (2018)
PAST GB&I CURTIS CUP PARTICIPANTS:
Mel Reid (2006), Amy Boulden (2012), Gemma Dryburgh (2014)
PAST USGA CHAMPIONS:
Julieta Granada (2004 Girls’ Junior), Doris Chen (2010 Girls’ Junior), Kyung Kim (2012 Women’s Amateur Public Links), Kristen Gillman (2014 and 2018 Women’s Amateur), Eun Jeong Seong (2015, 2016 Girls’ Junior; 2016 Women’s Amateur), Taylor Totland (2017 Women’s Amateur Four-Ball)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT Q-SERIES
- Individuals will compete in a 144-stroke play format over two, four-day tournaments for a purse of $150,000
- There is no cut and the unofficial prize money will be distributed at the event’s completion
- The first week of Q-Series will be contested on the George and Tom Fazio-designed Pinehurst Course No. 6 from Oct. 24-27
- The second week of Q-Series will be contested on the Rees Jones-designed Pinehurst Course No. 7 from Oct. 31-Nov. 3
- Action gets underway at 7:50 a.m. ET in the first four rounds
FORMAT
102 players; 144 holes, stroke play; no cut
WHITELINE PAR AND YARDAGE
Pinehurst No. 6: 36-36-72, 6,650 yards
Pinehurst No. 7: 36-36-72, 6,544 yards
(par and yardage are subject to change through the start of the tournament)
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