LPGA 'Player Locker Room Scandal'... "How Could This Happen?"

Disrupted Operations Ahead of Opening Match Against HGVTOC

"No player locker room?!"

The U.S. Women's Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour faced a major controversy over the "provision of player locker rooms" ahead of the 2023 season opener. On the 18th (local time), Golf Channel reported, "The Lake Nona Golf & Country Club (par 72), which hosted the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (HGVTOC, total prize money $1.5 million), did not provide locker rooms for the players, causing significant backlash." Although showers and restrooms were available, there were no lockers, forcing players to change shoes in the parking lot and struggle with nowhere proper to store their belongings.

There were only 29 players participating in this tournament, so many found it incomprehensible that no locker rooms were prepared. Matilda Castren (Finland), the 2021 Mediheal Championship winner, expressed anger, saying, "This is the first tournament I've seen that did not provide locker rooms for players." As player protests intensified, Lake Nona Golf & Country Club and the LPGA Tour set up temporary locker rooms and assigned one to each player.

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club has previously hosted several professional tournaments, including the Gainbridge LPGA. Due to a hurricane that struck the Florida area in December last year, some golf course facilities were damaged. This led to issues in cooperation and communication with the LPGA Tour, resulting in the "locker room non-provision incident."

Players' dissatisfaction was directed at the LPGA Tour officials. Ryan O'Toole (USA) said, "I have no complaints about the golf course or tournament sponsors," but raised his voice, "I am angry at the LPGA Tour for not properly managing this matter." Veteran players such as Brittany Lincicome and Jessica Korda (both USA), who did not participate in this tournament, also said, "This is not the first time such a thing has happened," and added, "The truth must be uncovered and responsibility must be held."