[JPsuff]

.

There's "scratch" and there's "scratch".

Most people play one course exclusively and they keep their handicap there. So if someone gets to scratch level or even a plus handicap, they're certainly playing well, but they're playing well on that course. The issue here; Could an amateur guy compete on the LPGA ? can't be based solely upon carrying a scratch or plus handicap on just one course.
If a player can carry that handicap to multiple courses, then I'd say he has a fair chance at competing in an LPGA environment. But just getting to scratch on one course would likely fall short of that goal. I think that Lee Trevino's "formula" fits very nicely into this argument: Go out and play five courses that you've never seen before and play them from the championship tees. If you can average one under par for all five rounds, you're ready to take a shot at professional golf.

He said that about the PGA Tour and he said it many years ago. I suspect that the number would be considerably lower today as applied to the PGA Tour, but I think that formula would be just about right for today's LPGA Tour.


-JP