LPGA Tour event offering exemption based on Twitter vote
The LPGA’s ShopRite Classic is offering an exemption into the Galloway, New Jersey, event to one of four players based on a Twitter vote.
The event, working with a social media company called MVP Index which is owned in part by Jordan Spieth’s father Shawn, has pit Blair O’Neal, Carly Booth, Susana Benavides and Sharmila Nicollet against each other for the spot.
We've partnered with @MVPindex to award the final spot in our field! Vote now for @MissNicollet @BLAIRONEAL @mumita_b or @CarlyBooth92
— ShopRiteLPGAClassic (@ShopRiteLPGA) May 1, 2017
Booth, who plays regularly on the Ladies European Tour with two victories, is the only player in the top 500 in the Rolex Rankings. O’Neal co-hosts Golf Channel’s “School of Golf,” and she competes regularly on mini-tours. Nicollet has also played on the LET, making one start this season. Benavides played college golf at the Ohio State University.
The common thread between all four players is a social media following, with Nicollet boasting more than 350,000 Twitter followers.
The tournament has been criticized for holding a popularity contest to determine a spot that could be life-changing.
The ShopRite LPGA Classic is scheduled for June 2-4.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
