Morgan Pressel has succeeded in her attempt to gain early admittance to the LPGA Tours qualifying school. But her quest to play a full season next year on the LPGA has been stiff-armed.
Pressel has been notified by commissioner Ty Votaw that, unlike Aree Song, she will not be granted status on tour should she succeed at Q-School until her 18th birthday May 23rd. Song was granted the waiver two years ago before she turned 18, but she completed her high school requirements while still 17. Pressel wont graduate until the spring of next year.
Morgan Pressel finished 2nd at last month’s U.S. Women’s Open.
Should Pressel make it through Q-School this fall, her chances to make official money next year would be significantly reduced. She could still earn money, but it wouldnt count until after her birthday late in May and intensify pressure on her to win enough money to retain exempt status. If the schedule is as this year, she would only have 13 events after May 23 to make enough money to maintain her card ' the top 90.
LPGA Tour qualifying school opens with a first-stage event Sept. 20-23 in Palm Springs, Calif., and another Oct. 4-7 in Venice. The final stage is Nov. 30-Dec. 4 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach. The top 30 at final stage earn exempt status as full members next year with the next 35 earning conditional status.
Pressel has the option of turning pro and playing as a non-member before May 23. She could play on six sponsor invites. Votaw, however, has ruled that if the money Pressel makes as a non-member on six sponsor invites before May 23 is enough to rank among the top 90 at the end of the 2006 season, that would win her exempt status for 2007. Therefore, in reality she would be playing two seasons next year ' one before her birthday, the other after.
Pressel is currently an honors student at St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, Fla.
