Phil vs. Stacy?

I don't think the outcome is as outlandish as you might think.  Check out the last scene of this "match" between Phil Mickelson and Stacy Lewis:



If you want to watch the real deal, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship will have plenty of TV coverage.  Golf Channel will televise the first two rounds on Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET. NBC coverage of the final two rounds is Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. ET.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

KPMG Women's PGA Championship Field Begins to Fill

Eligibility criteria has been announced for the field that will compete in the 2015 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, to be conducted June 9-14, at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York.

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship features a $3.5 million purse, among the highest in women’s golf. The Championship will be operated by the PGA of America in partnership with the LPGA and broadcast in partnership with NBC and Golf Channel.

The 2015 field has begun to take shape, with several players entered as of March 1 including defending champion Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Jean Bartholomew and Liz Caron.

The 156-player field will be determined as follows:

• Active LPGA Hall of Fame members (To be considered Active, an LPGA Hall of Fame member must have participated in 10 official LPGA tournaments within the 12 months prior to the commitment deadline)
• Past winners of the LPGA Championship
• Professionals who have won an LPGA Major Championship in the previous five (5) years (2010-2014) and during the current year
• Professionals who have won an Official LPGA tournament in the previous two (2) calendar years (2013-2014) and during the current year
• Professionals who finished top-10 and ties at the previous year’s LPGA Championship
• Professionals ranked No. 1-30 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings as of May 12, 2015
• The top eight (8) finishers at the 2014 LPGA T&CP National Championship
• Members of the European and United States Solheim Cup Teams in 2013
• Maximum of two (2) sponsor invites (Invitees must be ranked within the Top 200 on the Rolex Women’s World Rankings at the time of the invitation.)
• LPGA Members who have committed to the event, ranked in the order of their position on the 2015 Official Money List through the conclusion of the Manulife LPGA Classic.
• If the event is not full, the remainder of the field will be filled by Members who have committed to the event, ranked in the order of their position on the 2015 LPGA Priority List as of the commitment deadline.

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship brings together a world-class, annual major golf championship with a women’s leadership summit and an ongoing community initiative to inspire and develop new generations of female leaders.

Golf Channel will televise the first two rounds of the championship, Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET. NBC coverage of the final two rounds is Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. ET.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

KPMG Women's PGA To Demonstrate Leadership

Can a golf tournament change the world?  The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship may be a start in that direction. The strong emphasis tournament sponsor KPMG is putting on the women's summit and other activities around the event designed to inspire women in business--as well as golf--shows there's more to it than who takes home the trophy.

PGA of America Secretary Suzy Whaley opened a discussion with women leaders at the PGA Show by observing that the upcoming KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Westchester Country Club is one of the most important golf events ever played. The reason? It marks a revolutionary collaboration between the men's and women's sides of the game.  Whaley knows whereof she speaks, since she is the first elected woman officer in the history of the PGA of America.

Panelist Lynne Doughtie, Vice Chair, KPMG Advisory Practice, expanded on Whaley's assessment. "It is going to be a phenomenal event to develop, elevate, and empower women both on the golf course and off," she said.  "The course, the size of the purse, the TV coverage, all make it a big deal."  The event will be played on the West Course of Westchester Country Club, site of men's PGA Tour events for many, many years.

The remarks came at the beginning of the Inspire Greatness Panel held during the PGA Merchandise Show last week. Five leading global women influencers and trailblazers discussed the importance of the golf industry’s dedication to diversity and inclusion. PGA of America secretary Suzy Whaley, PGA/LPGA, moderated the panel which included Lynne Doughtie, Vice Chair, KPMG Advisory Practice; Paige Mackenzie, LPGA, LPGA Tour Player; Donna Orender, CEO, Orender Unlimited; and Molly Solomon, Executive Producer, Golf Channel.

The group discussed the importance of inspiring more women and minorities into leadership roles at the local, regional and national levels in the golf industry and shared their stories on how they have been inspired to greatness, who influenced them and how they are currently inspiring others to lead.

“When you don't see someone who looks like you in a leadership role, it's tough to have confidence in yourself--to try." Doughtie said. "We need to shut out that voice that says you can't do something."  Having top women achievers on and off the golf course associated with a high profile event like the KMPG Women's PGA Championship provides those all-important role models, according to the panelist.

“The cultural landscape of the industry and the makeup of its leadership has to continue to shift if our efforts to make the game more welcoming and accessible to people of all backgrounds are going to be successful,” said Sandy Cross, Senior Director of Diversity & Inclusion for the PGA of America in a release before the program.

“Some of the most successful organizations around the globe continue to demonstrate that having a more diverse leadership and staff composition has a direct positive impact on the workplace culture and ultimately the company’s ability to innovate, produce better products and services, grow their business and ultimately improve their bottom line. We’re thrilled to have these exemplary leaders here to share their insight,” Cross added.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Need a Unique Holiday Golf Gift? Think KPMG Women's PGA Championship Tickets

I have a standing rule for family members--under no circumstances should they give me any golf-related gifts. I have too many golfing Santa figurines and golf-ball-emblazoned coffee cups already and wouldn't hang a club-cleaner-tee-holder-glove-stretcher on my bag if you paid me.

This year, though, I made an exception to that rule for tickets to the KMPG Women's PGA Championship to be played at Westchester Country Club. The opportunity to watch superstar golfers like Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, Paula Creamer, Lexi Thompson, and Michelle Wie doesn't come along very often, so this would be a truly unique gift that every golfer--and an awful lot of non-golfers--would really enjoy.

The best deal is the The Clubhouse Ticket Package, which includes access to the Championship Grounds, main Clubhouse and Clubhouse foyer, patio and lawn areas, Tuesday through Sunday of Championship Week, June 9-14. The package is $200, quite reasonable considering the unfettered access to the best facilities at the club. Upgraded food and beverage will be available for purchase.

Want to give a youngster a thrill?  Buy a Tuesday or Wednesday grounds ticket for yourself (a whopping $15) and you can take up to four kids 17 or under with you absolutely free!  You can do the same thing Thursday-Sunday for slightly higher prices, but the cool thing about Tuesday or Wednesday is that those are practice round and pro-am days and the players are really, really approachable.

For that very special golfer on your list, you'll want to give them something you KNOW they don't already have. How about the opportunity to play the Westchester Country Club West Course with one of the 156 star players in the Tuesday Pro-Am?  Prices start at $4,000 and space is limited, so order that little stocking stuffer right away!

Hey, Santa! Need more info? Call (800) PGA-GOLF (742-4653) or visit www.kpmgwomenspgachampionship.com.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

KPMG Women's PGA Championship Offers Tickets

Tickets for the inaugural KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, to be held at Westchester Country Club from June 9-14, 2015, go on sale to the public this week. While a daily pass starts as low as $15 for the June 9 and 10 practice rounds, those who want the “VIP treatment” at the tournament can purchase a Weekly Clubhouse Pass for $200.

“The PGA of America, the LPGA, and KPMG are growing the game, so setting ticket prices reasonable enough for not just individuals but for families to come is a great way to get people involved,” says championship director Bob Jeffrey.  “The $15 day pass for practice rounds is about as good as you’re going to see for golf or any sporting event.”

Daily and weekly packages for grounds or clubhouse access will allow spectators to be a part of history. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is the first women's major run by the PGA of America, which also stages the annual PGA Championship and bi-annual Ryder Cup competition.

Jeffrey points out, “You’ll see the best female golfers in the world. We’ll have Stacy Lewis, Michelle Wie, and our defending champ Inbee Park so you’re going to see some great golf.  Westchester is a great venue for viewing, too. There are several holes where you get an amphitheater feel."

Ticket options include:

• Weekly Clubhouse Pass - $200 (includes access to the golf course, main clubhouse and clubhouse foyer, patio and lawn areas, Tuesday through Sunday); upgraded food and beverage available for purchase
• One-Day Flex Pass - $35 (allows golf course access on day of choice, Thursday through Sunday)
• Daily Grounds Pass (allows golf course access)
$15 Tuesday and Wednesday
$25 Thursday and Friday
$30 Saturday and Sunday

According to Jeffrey, there will be additional features to make the event even more attractive to families and juniors: “On the weekend, we’re going to have some junior clinics and junior golf activities on site, so if you bring your family out, there will be things for them to do in addition to watching golf.  There will be chipping and putting in the middle of the course at our junior activities area.”  He adds, “The pro-am on Tuesday is a great time to get close for photos and autographs with the players.”

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship brings together a world-class, annual major golf championship with a women’s leadership summit and an ongoing community initiative to inspire and develop new generations of female leaders.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Get an Insider's Look at KPMG Women's PGA Championship

An army of volunteers as big as the event itself is needed for the inaugural KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to be held June 9-14, 2015, at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y.

"We’re looking for about 1,800 volunteers," says Championship Director Bob Jeffrey. "About half of those are marshals we get through local clubs who are great supporters.  The rest serve on volunteer committees that handle admission sales and will call, contestant transportation, leaderboards and thru boards, and walking scorers."

It sounds like a lot of work--and it is--but the opportunities to experience the tournament are big, too. "Volunteers work three or four shifts depending on their committee assignment, so they have plenty of time to attend and enjoy the tournament the rest of the week," Jeffrey points out.  "Marshals and walking scorers are inside the ropes and are close to the players. Some jobs, like transportation, get opportunities for even more personal contact."

Adult volunteers, ages 22 and older, are required to work four shifts and contribute a minimum of 16 hours total, while junior volunteers, ages 16 to 21, are required to work three shifts and contribute a minimum of 12 hours.  Shifts will last between three and four hours.  For details on positions available, visit www.kpmgwomenspgachampionship.com/volunteer.  You can also contact Jenna Boyce, Volunteer Operations Manager, 914-595-6801 or jboyce@pgahq.com.

"We’re absolutely looking for men as well as women," Jeffrey says, "and we even have junior positions for young people 16 to 21. There’s no fee for them. We want to get as many juniors involved as we can."

Adult volunteers pay $96 to participate. In return, Jeffrey explains, "they get items with a much greater value. The package includes a Polo Ralph Lauren shirt, headwear, a credential they can use to access the course anytime whether they’re working or not, meal and water vouchers for on-course concessions, a program, complementary parking, and a discount for merchandise."

Not sure you know enough about golf to hold a responsible position at a professional tournament?  Not to worry.  "Not every job requires a lot of golf knowledge," Jeffrey says. "Transportation, admissions, and office volunteers don’t need any golf knowledge at all."  He adds that there will be training and orientation offered in late April and, the weekend prior to the tournament, volunteers will visit the course to see what they will actually be going before they start their first shift.

The Championship will offer a purse of $3.5 million, among the highest in women’s golf.  The event is a collaboration of KPMG, the PGA of America, and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Continuing in the tradition of the LPGA Championship, which was first played in 1955, the event will rotate annually among prestigious courses in major metropolitan areas.

Throughout Championship Week, KPMG will spearhead an on-site women’s leadership summit bringing together top women leaders in business, politics, sports, and society to network, learn, and give back. KPMG also will manage the ongoing community initiative to provide today’s top women leaders the opportunity to cultivate the next generation of female leaders and equip them with the leadership skills, networks, and confidence through scholarships, training, and internship and mentoring programs.

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will be broadcast on NBC and Golf Channel

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf