Former Canadian amateur champion A.J. Eathorne of Penticton, B.C., always looks forward to getting back home to Canada, but her latest return ended in victory for the 10-year LPGA Tour veteran turned caddie for Brittany Lincicome, who won the CN Canadian Women’s Open Sunday at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.
Below is my Monday column for Sun Media on Eathorne, plus a look at how the Canadian event, despite its quality reputation on tour, has no need to be designated with the major status it held until 2000, when federal anti-smoking legislation snuffed what was the du Maurier Classic.
A.J. Eathorne of Penticton, B.C., has become the first Canadian since Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973 to win a LPGA Tour event on her home soil.
Being caddie for Brittany Lincicome at the CN Canadian Women’s Open may not be the way Eathorne envisioned it when she won the 1997 Canadian women’s amateur championship or tied for top spot at LPGA Tour Q-school the following year, but Lincicome’s win comes as a turbulent season winds down.
“It’s awesome,” said Eathorne.
“It’s been a lot of fun this week just being a Canadian in Canada in a bit of the limelight and everything,” she added.
“Everyone’s asking me why I’m not playing and obviously, there is a pretty good reason why I’m not playing right now – I’ve got a great job. I can be involved in a win and I know my game is not where it needs to be to do that,” said Eathorne, who started the season looping for Kris Blanks on the PGA Tour.
After a frustrated Blanks canned Eathorne earlier this year, she soon got a text from Lincicome when she let it be known her caddying services were available. Just a few weeks later, they had their first win together.
“I never won on tour myself, so it’s kind of cool to say in one year, I’ve been involved with two wins already. I guess I never really even thought that it would get that good so fast,” she said.
“It’s just so much fun. It’s easy with Brittany,” said Eathorne, whose playing days ended in 2009 with some frustrating play of her own.
As for kick-starting her own playing career, Eathorne never says never, but right now, she’s enjoying the ride as Lincicome’s caddie, even if Tiger Woods has a position open.
“No comment,” said Eathorne.
DON’T FEEL BAD, MR. COMMISSIONER
LPGA Tour commissioner Mike Whan came off as condescending last week in his explanation of why major status was given to the Evian in France instead of the Canadian Women’s Open. In the end, it was more of a sad commentary on the state of the tour and its majors, which rarely get any attention outside of the area they’re played in anymore, with the possible exception of the U.S. Women’s Open. Whan knows Canada traditionally puts on a premier event, major or not, so he consoles our national championship with the “let’s be friends” line, while going for a better deal, with Evian opening the vault for him. It’s the perfect situation for the tour and who could blame CN/Golf Canada for not shelling out major coin for a designation that isn’t worth it? … Whan said they’ll continue to discuss it, but save the verbiage if you mean that. As it stands now, the tour will have 25 events next year and five are majors. Maybe, we’ll have six. Better yet, let’s make them all majors … Whan pointed out that 50 of the top 50 players were present in Montreal and while the tournament is to be credited for its hospitality and $2.25-million purse, the other big factor is that the LPGA has so few events that even the top players need to play about every tournament … One event that will benefit from so few tour events is the PGA of Canada’s Women’s Championship which will be played Wednesday and Thursday at Bayview Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont., where Canadians Lorie Kane, Alena Sharp, Stephanie Sherlock, Sam Richdale and others will be in the field. There is no LPGA event scheduled for this week.
TIGER’S IN, WHO’S OUT?
Now that Fred Couples has used a Presidents Cup captain’s pick on him, what will really emphasize Tiger Woods’ contribution to the American team, either positive or negative, is the strong team forming over on the International side that includes Adam Scott, Jason Day, Charl Schwartzel, K.J. Choi and Louis Oosthuizen, among others … The next logical Presidents Cup question is who gets left off the U.S. team to accommodate the selection of Woods? As of last week, it could be Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler or Keegan Bradley, who just won the PGA Championship … Woods, by the way, was 28th in American team standings as of last week … Derek Gillespie of Oshawa, Ont., has been putting on a good show the past couple of Canadian Tour events. He’s returning after breaking his right femur and five ribs and collapsing a lung following a vehicle rollover in the Phoenix area just over four months ago. “I don’t know why or how (recovery has) been this quick. I was pushing myself in the gym and just things went really well. I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d be playing the last couple of events of the year. I thought maybe six months,” said the winner of the Big Break Prince Edward Island in 2009. Gillespie admitted that he was sore after his first event at the Seaforth Country Classic, so he plans to play a few mini-tour events before deciding whether to attend PGA Tour qualifying school.
Solheim Cup — Just curious about something here after watching all the Opening Ceremonies this AM on The Golf Channel from Ireland — Really great stuff , full of ” pomp and pagentry ” with the bagpipes , the National Anthems , etc . , etc . as only the Irish can do it —- But we are talikng about the US vs Europe , which is terrific and should make for some great matches over the next few days — But , the last time I checked , and as far as women professionals are concerned , the world rankings are top to bottom with women from Asia !! ( Korea , Taiwan , Japan , etc. ) So the question is : Why isn’t there the equivalent of a PRESIDENT’S CUP in the world of women’s professional golf ??? Kind of odd , don’t you think ???
Don’t forget Ted that the Presidents Cup is relatively news as well so it may come in time on the women’s side. You’re right though, should be some good matches ahead
Hutch !! Love ya a bunch , but the word ” objectivity ” doesn’t appear to be in your vocabulary ! All I was trying to point out , was the indisputable fact that , the world of Womens Professioal golf as we know it today , is DOMINATED by Asians !! Now why don’t you guys in the so called ” media ” TELL IT LIKE IT IS ??? — The President’s Cup ( mens ) isn’t new Hutch , it’s been around for years now !! The US vs the rest of the world as opposed to Europe — Opposite years to The Ryder Cup !
Let’s get back to the girls here for a minute as to what’s happening in Ireland starting tomorrow morning in Ireland ! My point is , THE WORLDS BEST ( women ) aren’t there !! Now why do you suppose that is ??? Here are my thoughts for what their worth and you can put them in your pipe and smoke it for all I care ” THE US and indeed EUROPE would be CRUCIFIED by the Asians / Australians / Mexicans / Etc . Etc . , All this ” hype ” about about The Solheim Cup between the US gals and the Europeon women are all , to a degree a ” fabrication ” when in fact , the world of women’s professional golf , is DOMINATED by women from ” other ” CULTURES ” — ASIA (eg ) Just check out the world rankings !! Tomorrow in Ireland is the start of The Solheim Cup matches between The Us and Europe — But here is 2 CONTINENTENTS that are namely number 2 and 3 in the world !! Just doesn’t add up from where I sit !!
So big guy , why not tell it like it is
So , unlike The Presiden’t Cup on the mens side , why don’t these talented gals from other parts of the world get the opportunity to represent their respective countries / and indeed Continents on the world stage ??? Something is wrong here big guy ! I for one , won’t be watching the Solheim Cup matches tomorrow and here’s why : THE BEST IN THE WORLD ARE NOT THERE !!!! I for one am not the slightested bit interested in watching NUMBER 2 and NUMBER 3 , when in fact NUMBER 1 isin’t there !
Ted, my only point was that for years the Americans and Europeans were the powers of women’s golf, thus the Solheim Cup which hasnt been around all that long. Since its inception, there has been a power shift to Asia and other countries as well. All I said was that such things take time to evolve. The Solheim Cup is the women’s version of the Ryder Cup and I don’t think it should disappear because of a power shift. Perhaps it could be enhanced by adding an Asian element or perhaps a women’s version of the Presidents Cup, featuring an International side, could be created. Geez, take a chill pill. You’re creating controversy where there isn’t any.
OK , OK , I give up !! But aren’t you the guy who advocates people to write in and express their respective opinions here on GNN ?? Kind of odd , that today under ” conversation ” my name is there 3 times and you are there twice !! Where’s everybody else ??? If I were to guess , they are probably out there somewhere trying to get a deal on fall rain jackets !! T M —
You are correct Ted. I do encourage you to write with any opinion and that includes your previous one. I was just clarifying that the “Asian invasion” may one day result in another women’s team event. In other words, I agree. As for the others, you might be right…in Ontario at least, they could be busy sandbagging with all the rain (and I don’t mean sandbagging in the golf sense).
Me again one last time ! OK , In fact I did take a ” pill ” over the weekend , and watched , arguably the best women’s professional golf ( Solheim Cup ) , I have ever seen ! — Talk about an exciting finish , and cudo’s to the European gals for pulling it out at the very end ! Still though , as far as womens golf in the world is concerned , I for one hope , that in the not too distant future , there is the equivalent of a President’s Cup , whereby the gals from the rest of the world get to ” strutt their stuff ” and represent their respective countries —- Thanks Hutch ! T M —
Ted, you may take interest in Sandra Post’s comment in my most recent blog
Way to go Sandy !! Right on ! Couldn’t agree more !!