Teeing it Up Solo: Dispatches from an LPGA Pro's Final Round as a Single

Have you ever played a competitive round of golf by yourself? Hacking it around one or two holes or a par 3 course doesn't count. I mean like a full 18 holes of golf where you're dialed in, keeping score, and not giving yourself gimmes.

Practicing on your own is one thing, but to play a tournament round all alone, especially as a professional, feels out of the norm...and well not super fun. Despite our game being categorized as an individual sport, we still love the concept of a group dynamic. Who you play with often makes the experience more enjoyable. For the pros, things shake out a little differently. Weekend pairings aren't about having a stroll with your buddies, it's more serious but they still need a playing competitor.

For instance, we saw a couple weeks back the field at the Masters was at an odd number and one lucky Augusta National member teed it up alongside Tom Kim during Saturday's round and Brian Campbell during the final round. Even on golf's biggest stage, everyone needs a buddy.

Flash forward to this past Sunday during the final round of the JM Eagle LA Championship, LPGA rookie Kate Smith-Stroh was sent out ahead of the rest of the field as a solo.

Stroh took to Instagram writing, "I had a new experience in this last event—got put out as a single Sunday morning! (Odd number of players in the event.) Played in 3 hours. The pace was nice but I missed people! As far as scoring, the walking scorer signed my card."

I caught up with Smith-Stroh after her round at El Caballero Country Club in Los Angeles to get a sense of what playing a round of professional golf, on a Sunday, is really like.

In all honesty, a three-hour round of 18 does sound quite nice, and I'm sure the pace was appreciated by all. (The new LPGA pace of play policy that includes fines and penalties for exceeding time limits has been in effect for a month now.)

For 25-year-old Smith-Stroh, her rookie status means that she doesn't have much to compare to when it comes to pace of play on the LPGA Tour. This was her third final round made in four starts since earning her Tour Status at the LPGA Q-Series in December.

"I can’t say that I know what it was like before," Smith-Stroh said. "However, playing in four events so far, I’ve felt like the players and the staff have taken the pace issue very seriously this year and it’s paid off. I haven’t had any rounds that I’ve felt drag on, or had lots of backups."

Smith-Stroh focused on playing her fastest golf without getting too out of her routine, but was still able to have some fun with it. The rookie and her caddie made bets on who would guess the official round time to the closest minute. She played in three hours and two minutes, and lost the bet to her caddie.

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This week the LPGA's first major, the Chevron Championship will be a big test across the board. Last year, it took the final group which included world No.1 Nelly Korda (who is a notoriously fast player) nearly six hours to finish their round. It was a waiting game for most of the weekend, and something the Tour is looking to alleviate this year.

"It’ll be tested this week," Smith-Stroh said. "Obviously there’s a lot on the line and course will be tougher, but I believe as a whole we are all trying to be better about pace so I hope it continues on."

Only time will tell for the University of Nebraska alum!

As for the vibes of the day Smith-Stroh teed it up sans-partner, I was curious as to how things flow for a player who works all week to get themselves in to a competitive mindset, just to go out and compete solo. I imagine it's not awkward, but just...different.

Smith-Stroh said she loved feeling like a trail blazer hitting all the first shots on Sunday into the final-round pins. With her walking scorer by her side and signing her scorecard, she enjoyed the opportunity to connect with volunteers across the course—something playing solo allowed her to do more than usual.

When I asked her if it was indeed an awkward experience, she explained:

"It wasn’t super awkward! I only felt bad for the walking scorer and standard bearer with me just following me, I was worried it was boring for them."

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Finishing 1-over for the week at 71st on the leaderboard to take home her third paycheck as a LPGA Pro, Smith-Stroh did point out that she was missing the company of others during that final round.

"I love the camaraderie of golf. Saying 'good shot', interacting with players, maybe your group gets on a run of making putts," Smith-Stroh said. "So I think the round lacked a lot of what’s so good about tournament golf!"

One unexpected challenge playing along, Smith-Stroh said, was finding the time to use the restroom. There isn't any downtime waiting on the tee when you go out first and there wasn't an opportunity for her to ask her playing partner hit first to give her a few moments away.

Smith-Stroh confirmed my thinking, playing competitive golf is more fun with people. (I'm looking at you Rory and Bryson.) Sure, you're locked in on your own game and beating par (and your opponent) but it's nice to know that others are simply just there.