Mone Inami won her first LPGA title on home soil and had a chance to accept immediate tour membership. The 24-year-old had until midnight Sunday local time in Japan to make her decision. She opted to turn it down.
That means the $300,000 paycheck from the Toto Japan Classic won’t be considered official money. She also will not receive the 500 Race to the CME Globe points. Inami would’ve been in the field at the upcoming Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican event in Florida, which would’ve given her a strong chance to make the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida.
Had Inami accepted immediate membership, those last two events would’ve made up her rookie season.
Now Inami, a 13-time JLPGA winner who was named after famed painter Claude Monet, has until 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 13 to decide whether or not she will accept membership for the 2024 season.
Japan’s Hinako Shibuno famously turned down an LPGA membership after her 2019 AIG Women’s British Open victory and had to later go to Q-School to earn her card.
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