Joel Dahmen Reveals Key Metric for LPGA Star to Contend at PGA Tour Event

Newsweek

2 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A debate that resurfaces from time to time in the golf world is the likelihood of LPGA Tour stars versus their male counterparts. Opinions vary widely, especially when the PGA Tour is included in the analysis.
Fan favorite Joel Dahmen weighed in on the issue recently and, probably surprising many, didn't rule out the possibility of a female star finishing in the PGA Tour's top 10.
Dahmen was asked about this via X and mentioned the factor he considers key to such a feat:
"Course is a big factor. Nelly is the obvious answer, but going to need speed. The shortest hitter on pga is still longer than the longest on the lpga."
Naturally, off-the-tee performance is crucial in this analysis. However, The Golfing Gazette journalist Anthony Martin, who generated Dahmen's analysis, put together some data that allows for a different perspective on the matter:
5 longest LPGA Tour drivers 5 shortest PGA Tour drivers Polly Mack 289.17 Brian Campbell 276.6 Julia Lopez Ramirez 287.16 Paul Peterson 280.0 Auston Kim 285.10 Andrew Putnam 282.0 Emily Kristine Pedersen 283.66 Matt Kuchar 284.7 Weiwei Zhang 280.53 Brandt Snedeker 285.5
Can an LPGA Tour Player be Competitive on the PGA Tour?
At first glance, it would seem that some, if not all, female players could become competitive on the PGA Tour. However, it's noteworthy that none of the players included on the list above have won on the LPGA Tour, while four of the five players (except Paul Peterson) included do have at least one PGA Tour title.
The bottom line is that driving distance is an important factor, but not the only one to be taken into account in the analysis. It's not for nothing that only one of the seven LPGA Tour stars who have competed on the PGA Tour has made the cut, and that was more than 80 years ago (Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Los Angeles Open, 1938).
Joel Dahmen of the United States and Lilia Vu of the United States celebrate on the second green during the final round of the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club on December 10, 2023...
Joel Dahmen of the United States and Lilia Vu of the United States celebrate on the second green during the final round of the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club on December 10, 2023 in Naples, Florida. More
Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images
Another scenario would be to include stars like Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko, playing at the top of their game. As recent as 2023, Lexi Thompson came within inches of making a cut at the Shriners Children's Open. But that is still a ways from a top 10 finish.
A completely different analysis is the chances LPGA Tour players have against scratch golfers, a debate that also resurfaced a few days ago.
Fan opinion is divided on the matter, although the vast majority believe that professional female players would have a significant advantage over scratch golfers. However, there are those who think exactly the opposite.
Where there is a virtually unanimous consensus in favor of LPGA Tour players is among experts.
Analysts like Lou Stagner, journalists like Sam "Riggs" Bozoian of Barstool Sports, professional players like Byeong Hun An, and renowned coaches like Jon Sherman cast their votes in favor of professional female stars regardless of their name or pedigree.
Logic is on their side.
More Golf: John Deere Classic: Max Homa comes painfully close to snapping drought