The LPGA Tour announced this Wednesday the creation of LEAP, initials of a new ranking known as LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway, which will allow the world’s best amateur golfers to access the top women’s circuit without needing to go through the qualifying school.
It is a points ranking that golfers will acquire based on a series of merits and will accumulate over a maximum period of four years. If at any point during this period a player reaches 20 points, she will have the opportunity to apply for the LPGA Tour card directly. If she reaches those 20 points before July 1 of the current year, she will have three options: request the card only for that year, delay her entry to the LPGA until after July 1 and have the card for the remainder of that year and the next, or request it directly for the following year. If she reaches 20 points after July 1, she will only have the last two options available.
This new ranking is a fantastic opportunity created in the image and likeness of the PGA Tour University. It is of great interest to Spanish golf. Indeed, at the moment, we have six of our own among the top six in the world: Paula Martín (10), Andrea Revuelta (12), Cata Fernández (25), Carla Bernat (28), Carolina López Chacarra (30), and Rocío Tejedo (34). Currently, the Number One in this ranking is the current World Number One, the English Lottie Woad, who has 16 points.
What are the criteria for earning points in the LEAP?
1. World Amateur Golf Ranking: Having been in the top 5 of the world ranking at any point. These points can only be claimed once. They are not cumulative.
- 3 points: Number One
- 2 points: Numbers 2 and 3
- 1 point: Numbers 4 and 5
2. LPGA Tournaments: These points do accumulate over the mentioned four years.
- 2 points: top 25 and ties in a Major
- 2 points: top 10 and ties in an official LPGA Tour event
- 1 point: making the cut in a Major
- 1 point: top 40 and ties in any LPGA tournament
3. Amateur Tournaments: These points do accumulate over the mentioned four years.
- 2 points: winner of the U.S. Women’s Amateur, Women’s Amateur Championship, European Ladies Amateur Championship, Augusta National Women’s Amateur, World Amateur Team (individual winner), Div. I NCAA Championship (individual winner)
- 1 point: winner of the U.S. Girls Junior Championship, Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship, Women’s Amateur Latin America
4. Awards: can be accumulated.
- 4 points: McCormack Medal (world’s best amateur at the end of the year)
- 2 points: winner of the Annika Award
- 2 points: Women’s Golf Coaches Association player of the year
- 1 point: AJGA player of the year
- 1 point: Division I Inkster Award winner
5. Team Golf: no limits
- 2 points: competing in the Curtis Cup
- 1 point: competing in the Arnold Palmer Cup
