Hello friends and welcome to this edition of the Rogers report! I have been on site all week at the FM championship and it is different from any professional golf tournament that I have ever treated. Of course, the event gets a few extra points in my book because it is a home game, but there are so many things going on that are going on all week that make the FM championship unique.
FM Championship Tuesday
On Tuesday I went to the Titleist Performance Center to attend an afternoon on the LPGA Leadership Academy, where 40 girls from all over the country traveled to the Manchester Lane facility of Titleist to work on their golf skills and personal development over three days.
The women who lead the academy were so passionate about helping those present to build trust and a stronger feeling of self, and it worked. Teenagers who started the program while strangers encouraged each other while navigating outside through three clinic stations outside. After lunch, Megan Khang joined a panel to discuss her leadership style, life on the LPGA Tour and more.
After a nice afternoon on the Leadership Academy, I went to Gillette Stadium for the Pro-Am-Parenfeest. The pros arrived and took photos per field before they met their partners for the Pro-AM. Then we all went upstairs to mix and LPGA Commissioner Kraig Kessler, FM CEO Malcolm Roberts and Massachusetts -Governor Maura Healey to hear.
This was my first week back on the site during a tournament since the Open Championship last month, and I could not have asked a better way to get back in the swing. The LPGA Leadership Academy reminded me that Golf is over much more than just a score, and they are in Gillette Stadium with the best golfers in the world was a dream come true for this New Englander.
A chat with LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler
On Thursday I moderated a panel with LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler. He explained that although this is only the second year of the FM championship, players circled it on their calendar as a “non-miss” event. He emphasized the fact that this tournament has one of the most competitive wallets on tours, a missed cut-stipping, hotel and airline tickets for players, a recovery room in the Player Hotel, raised food and drinks on the spot, as well as on players-oriented dinners on Thursday and Friday evening. All these things make a huge difference for the pros, and you can see how happy everyone is to be there.
The players are not only enthusiastic to be at TPC Boston, but the locals want to embrace this tour stop with open arms. Hundreds of FM colleagues are volunteers all week, and fans of all ages have been on the course every day to see the best players in the world.
The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Clinic
One of the most unique things in the FM championship is the reach. It has two levels. At the top level you see the pros warming up. At the lower level you see dozens of children playing games, making friends and receiving practical instructions from LPGA education professionals.
It is not every day that children who take on the game get the chance to share a reach with the pros, so this was very healthy to see. The clinic was a total hit and got some clues on your own game before you were on your way to see how your favorite players sound on the perfect day.
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