The post How a two-stroke penalty helped Cheyenne Woods win a U.S. Women’s Open qualifier appeared first on Golf.

The post How a two-stroke penalty helped Cheyenne Woods win a U.S. Women’s Open qualifier appeared first on Golf.

Few, if any, golfers can claim to have been helped by a two-stroke penalty in competition. Fewer still can claim to have been helped by incurring a two-stroke penalty during a 36-hole, do-or-die U.S. Open qualifier.

Cheyenne Woods is one of those golfers.

Woods, the 30-year-old niece of the 15-time major champion, won her U.S. Women’s Open qualifier Monday at Spring Lake Golf Club in New Jersey in routine fashion — a five-stroke throttling that helped her earn a spot in this year’s national championship. But, according to Golfweek, her performance came thanks to an unusual catalyst: a two-stroke penalty.

On the 7th of her first 18 holes, a long par-4, Woods and her playing partner both hit their approach shots right of a blind green. When they approached the putting surface, the two players found one ball on the green and another in the rough. Woods, who’d hit a poor second shot, assumed her ball was in the rough and played her third shot. But when the two players approached the green, they realized Woods had played her playing partner’s ball, violating rule 6.3 of the Rules of Golf and incurring a two-stroke penalty.

For many golfers, a two-stroke penalty in a make-or-break event (one in which only two players from a field of contenders would earn entry into the U.S. Women’s Open field) would be reason enough for a meltdown. But for Woods, the penalty served the opposite effect, instead forming the catalyst around which her qualifying effort would take shape.

She birdied both holes after the wrong ball dilemma, eventually finishing her opening round at one over, including the two-stroke penalty.

“Honestly, I feel like the penalty really dialed in my focus and got me a little angry,” Woods told Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols. “Where I just wanted to just play my way in.”

Woods’ game got even hotter on her second 18, shooting a four-under 69 to finish the 36-hole tournament at three under, good enough for first place and an invite to the Olympic Club for this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.

Sure, the penalty isn’t something Cheyenne Woods would like to make a habit, but at Monday’s U.S. Women’s Open qualifier, it was the kick she needed to earn an entrance into the third women’s major of 2021.

The post How a two-stroke penalty helped Cheyenne Woods win a U.S. Women’s Open qualifier appeared first on Golf.

The post This year’s LET event in Dubai will be played at night under the lights appeared first on Golf.

The post This year’s LET event in Dubai will be played at night under the lights appeared first on Golf.

The Omega Dubai Ladies Masters has a new name: the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic. And as the name suggests, the event will be played during both the day and at night under LED lights — which is a first for a professional Tour event.

The host venue —  the Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Course — was built with night golf in mind. It was redesigned by six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo in 2005 and reopened as a par-72 layout in 2006. Floodlights are an integral part of the course’s design.

Fifty-six professionals and three amateurs will comprise the field for the 54-hole event that will be played on May 1-3. Two of the rounds are scheduled to be contested at night under the lights, and admission is free to all attendees.

Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic ?
First ever day-night event ✅@EmiratesGC May 1-3?@NickFaldo006 course ??
World class golf ??‍♀️
Entry is FOC ? #ODMC #MadeForGreatness pic.twitter.com/RuKSsYeL0u

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) April 29, 2019

The par-3 17th hole on the Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club.

Getty Images

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“We think playing under lights is going to be absolutely awesome!” said tournament director David Spencer. “Playing the tournament in May and under lights further showcases what an incredible golfing destination Dubai has become and how long our golfing season lasts each year.”

This year will mark the 13th iteration of the event, which is offering a purse of $500,000. The tournament has made headlines over the years for its field. Invitations are extended to not only top professional players but to social media influencers as well. This year, Cheyenne Woods has committed to play, and after making her professional debut in 2015, Instagram star Paige Spiranac will return this year to host coverage across the event’s social media channels.

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The tournament has an illustrious list of former champions, ranging from LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam (2006, 2007) to Lexi Thompson (2011) and Shanshan Feng (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016). Last year’s champion, Angel Yin, became the first American to claim the title since Lexi Thompson in 2011. Yin has 10 career top-10 finishes on the LPGA tour, but the win in Dubai was her first major-tour professional victory.

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The post This year’s LET event in Dubai will be played at night under the lights appeared first on Golf.

The post Cheyenne Woods wants you to stay balanced appeared first on Golf.

The post Cheyenne Woods wants you to stay balanced appeared first on Golf.

Woods gives you the tips to stay balanced all the way through your swing.

Woods gives you the tips to stay balanced all the way through your swing.

The post Cheyenne Woods wants you to stay balanced appeared first on Golf.

The post GOLF Films Presents: Bobbi appeared first on Golf.

The post GOLF Films Presents: Bobbi appeared first on Golf.

Bobbi Lancaster hid who she was for decades, until golf helped give her the courage to finally be herself.

Bobbi Lancaster hid who she was for decades until golf helped give her the courage to finally be herself.

The post GOLF Films Presents: Bobbi appeared first on Golf.

The post A Round With Cheyenne Woods appeared first on Golf.

The post A Round With Cheyenne Woods appeared first on Golf.

The LPGA mainstay on proving herself, how her famous uncle inspires her, and the secret to happiness.

The LPGA mainstay on proving herself, how her famous uncle inspires her, and the secret to happiness.

The post A Round With Cheyenne Woods appeared first on Golf.

The post Cheyenne’s 3 keys for the perfect driver position at the top appeared first on Golf.

The post Cheyenne’s 3 keys for the perfect driver position at the top appeared first on Golf.

LPGA star Cheyenne Woods has these helpful tips to perfect your big swing off the tee.

LPGA star Cheyenne Woods has these helpful tips to perfect your big swing off the tee.

The post Cheyenne’s 3 keys for the perfect driver position at the top appeared first on Golf.

The post Cheyenne Woods’ tip for squaring the clubface appeared first on Golf.

The post Cheyenne Woods’ tip for squaring the clubface appeared first on Golf.

LPGA pro Cheyenne Woods demonstrates how a neutral grip and pressure through the ball will square your clubface, giving your iron shots perfect, solid impact.

LPGA pro Cheyenne Woods demonstrates how a neutral grip and pressure through the ball will square your clubface, giving your iron shots perfect, solid impact.

The post Cheyenne Woods’ tip for squaring the clubface appeared first on Golf.