LPGA FUTURES TOUR BRITS AMAZED AT U.S. INTEREST IN WEDDING

By LISA D MICKEY

LPGA Futures Tour

Three LPGA Futures Tour players with British passports have been busier than usual this week chatting with their peers, tournament fans, volunteers and sponsors.

And why is everyone chatting up the Brits?

The simple answer points to a rather large royal wedding scheduled for Friday morning in Great Britain. Much to the players’ amazement, America is more a-titter about the royal nuptials than they are.

“It will be special,” admits Rachel Connor (pictured) of Manchester. “It’s nice that everyone here cares.”
“I’ve had so many people ask me about it,” added rookie Olivia Jordan-Higgins of the Channel Islands. “I’m really kind of surprised.”
But it’s not just in San Antonio, Texas, where players are gearing up for the LPGA Futures Tour’s Symetra Classic.
Second-year pro Jodi Ewart of North Yorkshire started the week in Mobile, Ala., at the LPGA’s Monday qualifying tournament for the Avnet LPGA Classic and was peppered by questions and comments about the wedding while she was there.
“I was talking to a lady in the pro shop in Alabama and she told me they were having a party and a special cake,” said Ewart, a former member of the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup Team. “I suppose there will be street parties at home.”
But will the golfers be awake at 4:30 a.m. Friday to watch the telecast of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal wedding?

Ewart and Connor both have afternoon tee times on Friday and say they won’t be tuning in with the early-bird wedding watchers. Jordan-Higgins likely will see a bit and might have to share some details with her compatriots later in the day.

“I have the first tee time [at 7:50 a.m.] Friday, so I’ll be up,” said Jordan-Higgins. “I’ll probably give it a look.”

“I’m interested, but only to see what she’s wearing,” said Connor. “I won’t get up that early, but I’ll watch the highlights.”

And there likely will be many highlights from the special wedding in London that has wedding watchers across America rising early and chatting up golfers from across the pond.

 Lisa D. Mickey