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to jump, or no to jump? That is the question this week. It’s Chevron Championship Week, the first major of the LPGA Tour season, and there are 35 years of tradition involved.
For the past three decades, there has been no hesitation in this opportunity. chevron champions snatched can and family and confined At Poppie’s Pond at Mission Hills Country Club, not a care in the world. Why bother staying dry when you’ve just won a major tournament. And anyway, when I got out, the starring staff were there in nice white robes for comfort.
This year, things have changed. Chevron moved halfway across the country to Houston and the club is in Carlton Woods. It’s a very different golf course but has one important similarity: The 18th hole is a par five and features water hazards off the putting green. So, naturally, the players were asked to think about what they would do if they won the tournament on Sunday. Are they jumping in, keeping the tradition alive?
The decision is not so simple.
Even though the track is on the northwest side of Houston, these are the people. Low, low country. There are different animals here than in the California desert. Only pond maintenance is different. Amy Rogers From the Golf Channel in pursuit of us. Rogers tweeted two photos of the new setup near the 18th hole, one of which includes a look at the “crocodile net” that was put in to control the area.
What kind of netting? alligator netting. As in, the kind that keeps barriers out. Are there gatherings in that pond? Who do you know. But we now know that there is a crocodile net inside. Which is probably all you need to hear.
Defending champion Jennifer Copshaw was asked what she would do if she won again. A special platform has been put in place to offer the option to jump if players wish to do so. But Kupcho is very hesitant.
“I guess we’ll see what comes out of that,” she said. “I’m not sure. I think there might be snakes in the water here, so it might be a little exciting.”
Nelly Korda was asked the same question. do you jump
“Hopefully,” she said, covering her bases. “But yeah, I will.”
Lydia Ko was a bit reticent.
“Are you supposed to jump?” Ko asked. It’s a fair question. Last year’s pool was very welcoming, kept in a blue that looks like a backyard pool. There was nothing crawling up your leg from the depths. This week’s pool is a much more natural hazard, Koo noted, before admitting that this dilemma is just a good problem to have. To jump or not to jump is an honor awarded to one player. To continue the tradition or not, well, it’s entirely up to them.
“It’s a good concern,” she said. “I feel like people are going to jump in because this is a tradition for this tournament, and Chevron has made that possible for us.”
Tune in Sunday night to find out. (unless you’re a crocodile).