Mehaffey and Craig continue LET card quests; Woods eyeing new equipment for return
Tiger Woods in action in the 2020 Masters
Northern Ireland's Olivia Mehaffey and Victoria Craig will continue their quests for Ladies European Tour cards at the marathon LET Qualifying School Final Stage in Spain today.
The duo are amongst 128 players from 30 countries who will play 72 holes over the North and South Courses at La Manga Resort with the top 65 and ties playing the fifth and final round at the South Course.
The top 20 and ties will earn category 11 LET cards for 2022 with the top 50 and ties exempt in category 15 and the remainder earning category 18 status.
Mehaffey, who is teeing it up less than a fortnight after losing her father Philip to cancer, showed form when finishing third in last week's pre-qualifier at the same venue with Craig tied 67th.
Both start from the 10th on the South Coures, Mehaffey with Slovenia's Katja Pogacar and the Czech Republic's Tereza Melecka (8.11 am Irish time) with Craig with Italy's Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso and Denmark's Smilla Tarning Soenderby (8.55 am Irish time)
In the US, there is speculation that Tiger Woods and his son Charlie (12) will be using this weekend's PNC Championship in Florida to try out prototype equipment from Woods' club sponsor TaylorMade.
Olivia Mehaffey
According to Golfweek, TaylorMade’s Stealth and Stealth Plus+ drivers were added to the USGA and R&A’s Conforming Driver lists on Monday, which means the clubs have been tested and deemed legal for play by the game’s governing bodies.
On Wednesday, Woods announced he's planning to use a prototype Bridgestone ball.
While Pádraig Harrington and his son Paddy will compete in pro-ams at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando today and tomorrow, Woods will ease himself into the week, teeing it up with Matt Kuchar in tomorrow's second pro-am before being joined by Charlie for the event proper on Saturday and Sunday.
The 15-time major winner is the big attraction at the 20-team event as he returns to action just 10 months after shattering his right leg in a car crash.
The tournament has a purse of $1.08 million with the winner taking home $200,000 and last place worth $40,000.
Meanwhile, the 2022 Irish Open will be one of 16 events in 11 countries to offer qualifying spots in The 150th Open at St Andrews through The Open Qualifying Series.
There will be three places up for grabs for the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties at Mount Juliet Estate in Co Kilkenny from 30 June to 3 July.
Ireland will have at least four players at The Old Course from 14-17 July with past champions Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry amongst the 82 players already exempt.
Regional Qualifying events will take place at venues throughout Great Britain and Ireland, including County Louth, on 20 June.
A minimum of 12 places will then be available via Final Qualifying at Fairmont St Andrews, Hollinwell, Prince's and St Annes Old Links on 28 June.
