Hello friends and welcome to this edition of the Rogers Report! I’ve been on site at the FM Championship all week, and it’s unlike any professional golf tournament I’ve ever covered. Sure, the event gets a few extra points in my book because it’s a home game, but there are so many things going on all week that make the FM Championship one of a kind.
FM Championship Tuesday
On Tuesday, I headed to the Titleist Performance Center to attend an afternoon at the LPGA Leadership Academy, where 40 girls from around the country traveled to Titleist’s Manchester Lane facility to work on their golf skills and personal development over the course of three days.
The women leading the Academy were so, so passionate about helping the attendees build confidence and a stronger sense of self, and it worked. Teenagers who started the program as strangers cheered each other on as they navigated 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 lovely afternoon at the Leadership Academy, I headed to Gillette Stadium for the Pro-Am Pairings Party. The pros arrived and took photos by the field before meeting their partners for the Pro-Am. Then we all went upstairs to mingle and hear LPGA Commissioner Kraig Kessler, FM CEO Malcolm Roberts and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey speak.
This was my first week back on site at a tournament since the Open Championship last month, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to get back into the swing of things. The LPGA Leadership Academy reminded me that golf is about a lot more than just a score, and being at 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 even though this is just the second year of the FM Championship, players circled it on their calendar as a “can’t-miss” event. He highlighted the fact that this tournament has one of the most competitive purses on tour, a missed cut stipend, hotel and airfare credits for players, a recovery room at the player hotel, elevated onsite food and beverage, as well as player-focused dinners on Thursday and Friday evening. For the pros, all of these things make a huge difference, and you can tell just how happy everyone is to be there.
Not only are the players excited to be at TPC Boston, but the locals are eager to embrace this tour stop with open arms. Hundreds of FM colleagues volunteer throughout the week, and fans of all ages have been out at the course every day to watch the world’s best players tee it up.
The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Clinic
One of the most unique things about the FM Championship is the range. It has two levels. On the upper level, you’ll see the pros warming up. On the lower level, you’ll see dozens of kids playing games, making friends and receiving hands-on instruction from LPGA teaching professionals.
It’s not every day kids just taking up the game have the opportunity to share a range with the pros, so this was very wholesome to see. The clinic was a total hit, and getting some pointers on your own game before heading out to watch your favorite players tee it up sounds like the perfect day.