LPGA Using Twitter Vote to Determine Final Tournament Spot

There has been a lot of discussion of how the PGA is attempting to get fans more involved through technology and changing event formats.  This has also been true for the LPGA, however, as illustrated through their latest decision.

The association has decided to do something unique with the final opening in the ShopRite LPGA Classic.  Rather than choosing which golfer should be added to the field for the event, the LPGA is leaving that choice up to the fans themselves, giving them a vote between four players.  This vote will take place not on an official LPGA site, rather it will be held via a Twitter poll.

We’ve partnered with @MVPindex to award the final spot in our field! Vote now for @MissNicollet @BLAIRONEAL @mumita_b or @CarlyBooth92

— ShopRiteLPGAClassic (@ShopRiteLPGA) May 1, 2017

The four options that fans have to vote for are Blair O’Neal, Sharmila Nicollet, Carly Booth, and Susana Benavides.  The two most likely options seem to be O’Neal and Booth.  O’Neal is a popular Golf Channel commodity who won the popular show “Big Break” and is now a host for the network.  Booth is the more successful of the two, however, having won twice previously on the Ladies European Tour.

As for the other two contenders, Nicollet is one of the most popular women’s golfers on social media, which may give her an edge in the Twitter vote.  She has over 350,000 followers on Twitter and could drum up a lot of support.  Benavides is the least known of the vote options, as a player from Bolivia who played college golf at Ohio State.

Allowing fans to decide which of these players makes it in the tournament adds a new intrigue to the game and that is exactly what the LPGA is looking for.  Tournament executive Tim Erensen stated earlier this week that, “In the past, we’ve given exemptions to Brooke Henderson, Lexi Thompson, and Paula Creamer at the beginning of their careers.  We think this idea adds to the excitement of what we do.”

At the moment, O’Neal and Booth are the highest vote getters in the poll but it will be interesting to see if anyone is able to pull away in the next five days and claim the final spot.

Cover Photo via Twitter