Cherry Hills Village – Stephanie Louden knew where the questions were headed, and was wary.
“I’m fortunate to be out here, and I do make money,” the Stanford University graduate said Thursday afternoon, after shooting 76 in the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open. “There are a lot of people who work their butt off and make $20,000 a year. Teachers. You can’t look at it like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I didn’t make any money.’ I’m doing just fine.”
But the 26-year-old Las Vegas resident is one of the better-known players fighting the LPGA’s sometimes cruel and often fate-changing “either-or” exemption list.
Under a complicated system tied to several factors, but most notably the previous year’s money list and tournament victories, LPGA pros are designated “exempt” or “non-exempt” for tour events.
The USGA, not the LPGA, runs the U.S. Women’s Open and has its own criteria to fill the field, but the paychecks from this week’s tournament affect the LPGA money list.
“Exempt” essentially means players can get into any regular (or noninvitational) LPGA events they want to enter, and one way to become exempt is to be among the top 90 money-makers the previous year. (Another way is to win a major, which brings a five-year exemption.)
“Non-exempt” generally means players put themselves on a waiting list, hoping enough exempt players opt not to play in a tournament, or they try to get into a field through Monday qualifying.
It’s like trying to get on a Denver-to-Dallas flight, on standby.
With $102,457 in official earnings last year, Louden was No. 90. She is exempt this year.
With $92,736 in official earnings last year, Kris Tschetter was No. 92. She is non-exempt.
And the economic reality is that, especially in comparison to the male pros in the same money-earning slots, the LPGA players are not making much money, relatively speaking.
Halfway through the year, the No. 90 man on the PGA money list, Steve Flesch, has $463,000 in official earnings. The No. 90 woman, Kim Williams, has made $40,870.
“I don’t look at the disparity,” said Louden, who is No. 94 on the money list this year and has made $38,467 going into the U.S. Open. “That (PGA) tour’s been around and has had big sponsors. Our tour is moving up, and that’s all we can look at. I’m doing the best I can, and I’m working hard, and I’m very fortunate to be able to make a living doing what I do.”
Tschetter, 40, also shot 76 in the first round Thursday. Though she barely missed exempt status this year, she said that’s more of a planning headache than a disaster. She and her husband, Kirk Lucas, have 2-year-old and 8-month-old daughters, complicating matters – and family schedules.
“If you’re exempt, you just pick and choose what tournaments you’re going to be in and you set your schedule accordingly,” Tschetter said. “I would never play 10 tournaments in a row if the circumstances were different.”
Most, if not all, PGA players who finish in the top 125 and retain their player cards have enough major sponsorship and corporate-event income to serve as a financial safety net.
That’s not true for the women.
“I think there are a handful of players who can say yes to that question,” said Tschetter, without a trace of bitterness. “And their lifestyles cost more than mine. So it probably isn’t enough, either. I don’t stay in the nicest hotels and I don’t have a jet.”
Louden said, “I’m very fortunate to have sponsors. I’m grateful to have them and if you play good golf, you get more sponsors. Good golf takes care of everything.”
Terry Frei can be reached at 303-820-1295 or tfrei@denverpost.com.
