PHF Chairman addresses commissioner search, Digit Murphy hiring, expansion and more

PHF Boston Pride players celebrate after scoring in the 2022 Isobel Cup Championship game
Michelle Jay
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April 26, 2022 – Update: This story has been updated to include new information from the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) regarding the minimum salary for individual players and team roster size limits for the 2022-23 PHF season. 


Originally Published: April 20, 2022

On Tuesday evening, On Her Turf interviewed Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) Board of Governors Chairman John Boynton about a variety of topics, including the timeline for announcing a new commissioner, league expansion, the decision to hire Digit Murphy as the new President of the Metropolitan Riveters, and the role of BTM Partners in league governance.

On Her Turf also asked about Boynton’s role as chairman of Yandex, Russia’s largest tech company, which has reportedly played a role in suppressing factual information and promoting propaganda related to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. He declined to comment.

Here are the biggest takeaways from that conversation.


When will the new PHF commissioner be hired?

According to Boynton, Ty Tummunia‘s successor as PHF commissioner will be announced “very soon, and possibly even this week.” Tumminia, who took over as commissioner in October 2020, announced in February that she would be stepping aside after this year’s Isobel Cup Playoffs.

“We are deep into the search process. We started out with a really great set of candidates… and worked down through a list of finalists. And we interviewed the person we believe will be the next commissioner,” Boynton said, going on to clarify that he was not a member of the search committee himself.

According to Boynton, the committee was led by Connecticut Whale owner Tobin Kelly, and there were six people involved in the search process: three members of the Board of Governors and three senior staff members.

Boynton declined to provide names of the hiring committee members or provide a number of how many members of the hiring committee are also members of BTM Partners. “I’m not sure that’s really relevant,” he said.

When the PHF (then NWHL) was founded, the league owned and operated all four franchises. In the last three years, there has been a transition from league ownership to private ownership of teams — a strong sign of growth — though two of those ownership groups currently control more than one franchise. The long term goal — according to the league website — is for every team to be owned by its own individual ownership group. But until this happens, the current joint ownership structure has the potential to create conflicts of interest.

During the 2021-22 season, BTM Partners owned three of six PHF teams and thus had three of six seats on the PHF Board of Governors. John is chair of the Metropolitan Riveters (and chairman of the league), his wife Johanna Boynton chairs the Toronto Six and business partner Miles Arnone chairs the Boston Pride. In addition, Digit Murphy is Senior Vice President of BTM Partners, while Bryant McBride is a partner.

When On Her Turf asked about the composition of the search committee and pointed out that the current ownership structure could result in a concentration of power, Boynton replied:

“We have an ownership group that is completely aligned around our mission, right? We are trying to build a league that is the best league we can build. And we are getting slammed in the press by people like you, honestly. If I look around, show me another group of people who plans to invest $25 million in their players over the next three years. Show me another group of investors in women’s hockey who have spent more than $15 million in the last three years building a league. We are working as hard as we can to build the best league we can. So I don’t know why the ill will.”

After On Her Turf pointed out that media accountability is important to the development of women’s hockey, Boynton replied, “By the way, I think most of the players in this league are thrilled with their experience… You know, change takes time. And if you look at the amount that we’ve accomplished over the last 18 months, to me, it’s pretty dramatic. And we’re moving fast. We’re proud of what we’re doing. And we think we’re doing an excellent job. Are we perfect? Of course not. Right. But we’re doing our best to make this league the best it can be. And that’s why it’s a little bit upsetting when we have certain journalists who just tend to be consistently negative and seem to be unable to see the positive in what we’re doing.”

UPDATE: Premier Hockey Federation appoints Reagan Carey as new commissioner


Is the PHF still planning to expand next season?  

Earlier this year, the PHF announced that the league would expand from six to eight teams for the 2022-23 season. The two new teams are expected to be based in Montreal and a U.S. city to be determined. Boynton didn’t provide any additional details on Tuesday, but said he hopes more information will be available by the “end of the first week of May.”

Boynton did say that – while BTM Partners is responsible for the Montreal expansion team – a different ownership group will control the other expansion team. He also confirmed that the sale of the Toronto Six — which was announced on March 7 to an all-BIPOC group that includes Angela James — has not yet closed.


What went into the decision to name Digit Murphy as President of the Metropolitan Riveters?

It was announced last week that Digit Murphy will take over as President of the Metropolitan Riveters, the same position she most recently held with the Toronto Six. The decision received some blowback from PHF fans and staff members.

“Digit was the one who launched the Six and she built that franchise from scratch and did a hell of a job with it,” Boynton said. “We (BTM Partners) were pretty hands off in our first year of owning the (Riveters). But we see an opportunity to really support the staff better, bring more resources to the team, build a team that we hope will compete more effectively next year — and do it all with a very strong culture that we think will be very much like what Digit was able to do up in Toronto.”

According to Boynton, Murphy will also be “supervising a transition of the front office (of the Six) and hiring a new president for that club” as the team transitions from BTM Partners to its new ownership group. He did not address Murphy’s current role as SVP of BTM Partners.

As for the departure of Anya Packer as Riveters general manager, “We asked (Anya) to come back as GM and she is not coming back. It was totally her choice,” Boynton said, adding that the Riveters will hire a new GM for the team ahead of next season. “We think that, to run these teams properly, you need to a president and a general manager.”

On Her Turf confirmed this with Packer in a phone interview.

“When I looked at the new role as general manager that got really narrowed by new hires in the org, it was no longer for me,” she said. “It’s a great role for whoever does take it on, but it just no longer suited me personally.”

Packer isn’t the only person to depart the Riveters organization in the last week.

Former head of Riveters Communications Jess Belmosto, as well as members of the stats team, also left.

Murphy has been criticized for her prior association with the Women’s Sports Policy Working Group, an organization that has been condemned as transphobic. Although Murphy has since left the organization and said she has done “a deep dive of what it really means to be inclusive,” Belmosto cited her hiring as a specific factor in the decision to leave the organization.

“Her coming aboard really really really made it hard to even think of staying,” Belmosto told The IX. “It made me sick even thinking of working under her knowing her beliefs and how she has treated employees in the past. I knew in my heart I couldn’t stick around. I can’t change her and never will.”

Asked about the recent staff departures, Boynton said he had a call with nine staff members on Tuesday and that it went “very well.” He went on to add, “One of the headlines that we’re sharing with the staff is that what the Riveters did this year was great. They’re doing a lot of great work and advocating for a lot of great causes.”

As for what he would say to fans who feel alienated by Murphy’s hiring — especially regarding her prior association with the Women’s Sports Policy Working Group — Boynton said:

“I would say that Digit, for 40 years, has been a tireless advocate for women and has made a huge impact, a hugely positive impact, on the world of sports. I think she believes strongly in inclusion, and empowerment, and diversity. I think if you look at the organization she built for the Toronto Six, one of her goals was that the organization should reflect the diversity of the Greater Toronto Area, and she did that. I don’t think there’s another team in this league that has as much diversity in their front office as Toronto has. So I think that Digit is a fabulous advocate. And I think that, as the Riveters fans to get to know her, I think they’ll come to appreciate all that she has to offer because it’s a lot.”


What will PHF salaries look like next season?

In a press release Wednesday morning, the PHF outlined some of its plans for “roster building” ahead of the 2022-23 season. One of the highlights is that the PHF is implementing a salary cap floor of $562,500, which is 75 percent of next year’s $750,000 salary cap — part of a $25 million commitment announced in January.

Creating a salary cap floor is a major step in ensuring that teams are spending on player salaries as advertised. That said, the release says nothing about how this will be enforced (the PHF hasn’t historically released salary information) or if there will be individual player salary minimums.

Minimum player salaries have been a crucial in other women’s leagues like the NWSL and WNBA to ensuring that no player makes below a specific income threshold. In their first ever collective bargaining agreement, the NWSL Players’ Association negotiated a minimum salary of $35,000, while the WNBA’s most recent CBA specifies the minimum salary for rookies in 2022 will be between $60,471-$72,040 and $72,141 for veterans with three years of service (per HerHoopsStats). (Note: while the PHF has a Players’ Association, unlike the WNBA and NWSL, it is not a union that can collectively bargain for player rights.)

Following the phone interview on Tuesday, On Her Turf followed up with Boynton via email to ask whether the league had enforced minimum player salaries this past season. Boynton replied that there was a league-wide minimum, but when asked what it was, he replied that he wasn’t sure, and then followed up with, “I’m sure all complied; we all abide by the rules we set together.”

After Wednesday’s announcement, On Her Turf again followed up — both with Boynton and PHF Senior Vice President of Communications Paul Krotz — but did not initially hear back.

A member of the PHF Players’ Association who did not wish to be identified told On Her Turf that there is a “recommended” base salary of $20,000, but that the individual salary floor is lower to accommodate practice players and athletes who want to play, but can’t commit to playing the full season.


Update: On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the PHF followed up with information on individual player minimum salaries. According to Krotz, the minimum salary for a player under contract during the 2022-23 PHF season will be $13,500. Krotz’s email included the following explanation: 

“This figure was established in consultation with the players who preferred a lower number to allow for a broader distribution of pay across team rosters within the salary cap, as well as to allow for exceptions that account for part time or practice players on the roster. Each year there are players that cannot commit to a full season or may only compete in some games due to work restrictions, etc, and the players wanted to be able to accommodate those individuals. It was determined that it would be easier to manage by simply lowering the contract minimum instead of applying rules for special circumstances to allow flexibility for some players to continue playing even if they may be limited based on personal situations related to their career, family, etc.” 

Krotz also confirmed that teams will be limited to a roster size of 25 players for the 2022-23 season. 


Also on Wednesday, the PHF confirmed that there won’t be a draft this season. According to the league press release, “PHF teams have the exclusive right to re-sign any rostered players from the 2021-22 season up until April 30, with unrestricted free agency officially commencing on May 1.” While the release says teams have the “exclusive right” to re-sign players, the same member of the Players’ Association said that players have the right to refuse the contract extension from their current team and wait until free agency if they want to explore their options.

The league’s press release also provided new details about health insurance coverage, noting that the new standard player agreement includes “comprehensive benefits plan with medical coverage from Aetna, plus dental and vision coverage through MetLife. One hundred percent of the premiums will be paid for the players and they will have no deductibles.”

Follow Alex Azzi on Twitter @AlexAzziNBC

Li Li Leung talks USA Gymnastics’ cultural transformation, challenges still to come and embracing her AAPI heritage

Head of USA Gymnastics Li Li Leung.
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Li Li Leung joined USA Gymnastics as president and CEO in March 2019, when the organization was reeling from the fallout of Larry Nassar’s widespread sexual abuse and the subsequent revelations of larger cultural issues within the sport. Since then, Leung has seen USAG through an ongoing transformation, one that hinges on the work of the survivors and staff around her, whom she is quick to credit. That evolution, as she calls it, has included instituting new norms and standards at all levels of the sport, particularly in matters related to athlete safety.

Among the notable USAG initiatives that Leung has brought to fruition is the Athlete Bill of Rights, established in December 2020 as a tool “to unite the full gymnastics community around a shared vision of behavioral expectations.” At the same time, USAG instituted a protest policy for national team members aimed at supporting athletes who choose to use their voice on public platforms. Both initiatives were among the first of their kind in sport.

Prior to joining USAG, Leung served as a vice president at the National Basketball Association (NBA), where she was responsible for building and managing key partner relationships around the world. She continues to use that experience in her roles as vice chair of the National Governing Bodies Council of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and a member of the International Gymnastics Federation’s Executive Committee.

Leung, who began competing in gymnastics at age 7, was a member of the U.S. junior national training team and represented the U.S. at the 1988 Junior Pan American Games. She was a four-year member of the four-time Big 10 champion University of Michigan gymnastics team and was an NCAA Championships participant.

In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, On Her Turf sat down with Leung to talk about her journey with USAG, the challenges still to come and how being a member of the AAPI community has shaped the person she is today.

ALSO FROM ON HER TURF: Sloane Stephens gets candid about turning 30, favorite self-care practices and freezing her eggs ahead of 12th French Open

This Q+A has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

On Her Turf: Let’s start by talking about your journey since joining USA Gymnastics in 2019. What have the last four years been like for you?

Li Li Leung: This was just an incredible opportunity to give back to the sport that has given so much to me. And I really mean that because I started in the sport when I was 7 years old and did it for 15 years. It’s taught me all of these different skills that I apply to my daily life, both professional and personal. It feels a little bit like I’ve come full circle, and honestly, never in a million years did I think I would find myself in this role. … I joined at a time when it was a tumultuous time for the organization. It’s been just a little a little over four years now, and it has been an incredible journey — and believe it or not, I have enjoyed it. While it hasn’t been easy, I actually have enjoyed it, because I’ve been able to make it not just me. One thing that’s important to note is that — I had even said on my first interview with the board — it will take a village to accomplish what we need to accomplish. This is not a one-person job. And I was lucky enough to be able to bring on a leadership team that has been incredible, and also retain the staff that we have retained, as well as hire other new staff members. And it’s because of them and some really key volunteers that we’ve been able to accomplish what we’ve been able to do.

OHT: Can you talk a little more about this cultural transformation that the organization has experienced and your approach to tackling this all-encompassing change?

Leung: When I was interviewing for the position, I actually met every single board member. It was really critical to both sides that they felt that I matched the role and their needs and also I had to be confident in the board believing in the ultimate mission of the organization and what we wanted to achieve. So that the culture really does stem from the well – from the top down and everything in between as well. And when I was looking for leadership team, … one of the characteristics I was really looking for was they couldn’t have an ego. The job couldn’t be about themselves or about what they would personally get out of the role. It had to be about them believing in the bigger picture and believing in what we collectively wanted to achieve. I knew that we would only be able to accomplish what we need to accomplish if people were willing to roll up their sleeves and just do whatever needed to be done, so that was one of the key things in terms of having no ego.

Since 2018, we’ve turned over more than 70 percent of our staff. We’ve been able to retain the really key members of our staff, who have been critical to our success, but also have been able to really bring in new thinking, new blood, new perspectives. Because the other thing I was looking for when I was hiring for the leadership team was diversity in perspectives. That was critical because I did not want to be surrounded by “yes people.” I wanted to be surrounded by people who would be willing to have really robust conversations and engage in difficult conversations, because ultimately, you end up in a better place because of that.

In 2020, we reset our mission to be about building a community and culture of health, safety and excellence, with athletes who thrive in sport and in life. So we were no longer about developing technically superior gymnasts who perform well in gym. We reset our focus to be about helping set our athletes up for success with the skill sets that you learn in gymnastics, and when we come to the office each day, that’s what we’re thinking about. …

The other piece is we also know from a community standpoint that our national team coaches are the most visible representation (of USAG), and a lot of coaches model them. So we’ve been working really hard in terms of working on educating our national team coaches. We work with Positive Coaching Alliance to do educational training with them as well. And we also have introduced training specifically for young coaches coming in, because we know when they come in and they’re new, that they’re eager to learn, and that’s when you can start training and moving them in a way. So our thinking is with this top-down and bottom-up strategy, eventually the middle will meet.

OHT: You noted how the coaches can be some of the most visible representatives of USAG. Regarding the addition of 2008 Olympic silver medalists Chellsie Memmel (USAG technical lead) and Alicia Sacramone Quinn (USAG strategic lead), how have those women impacted the program?

Leung: The addition of Chellsie and Alicia has been fantastic. They have been phenomenal to work with, and the fact that they have firsthand experience of having gone through it themselves – that also gives them a very good idea of what they would change and what they wouldn’t change, at the same time. It has been a phenomenal addition to be able to have this perspective of firsthand, high-level, high-performing athletes to be able to lead our high-performance team. And the athletes are saying it as well. They’re saying, “We trust them; we feel confident in their decisions; we can relate to them” — all of those things that historically haven’t really happened before.

Then in terms of the athletes who are going to college and coming back to compete with USA Gymnastics – there are so many aspects that I think are great about this. One: It’s showing a lengthened career in a sport that historically has not been very long because it’s so demanding on the body. So that means that our athletes are physically healthier, as well, that they can train and compete at a high level for a longer period of time. It also means that they’re enjoying it more because they’re staying in the sport. From an emotional standpoint, they’re finding a lot more joy in the sport, and they’re talking about it, too. And we love the fact that they’re talking about it. We want them to talk about it, and we want them to have voices and feel open and free about sharing what they’re thinking about. I have to say I’ve been really enjoying seeing almost like — I’m not sure if I can go as far as a new era in the sport maybe — but just this evolution of the sport and the athletes changing in front of my eyes.

OHT: What do you consider now to still be the biggest challenge or obstacle for USAG?

Leung: There are a couple of big initiatives on the list. One is we want to build a training and wellness center where all of our disciplines will train under one roof. This is a long-term project, obviously, but my vision around it is that it will be the heart and hub of gymnastics in America. And while this is where national team athletes will ultimately train to some extent, it is going to be a welcoming place for athletes of all different disciplines and all different levels. We want it to be a place where young athletes can come through and see their role models training. We want this to be a place of education for our community and judges. We want to be able to run clinics there for all different levels. We just want this to be a gathering place of gymnastics and to be able to celebrate the sport there at the same time.

We’re also going to reset our foundation. There’s been the National Gymnastics Foundation, but we are going to reset it and basically be much more proactive on fundraising and development to grow the sport and also to raise more money for athletes in their training.

OHT: Turning to AAPI Heritage Month and being named to the 2023 Gold House A100 List (the A100 is named each May honoring 100 Asian Pacific leaders who made the greatest impact on culture and society over the past year). What did that honor mean to you?

Leung: It was such an incredible honor to be recognized by them, and my fellow honorees — when I read the list, I thought to myself, “I don’t belong.” There are some incredible names on that list. But again, I go back to what I said earlier: I owe this honor to a lot of the other people who work [at USAG]. I think the really important thing to recognize is that this was not done by just me. It was done by a lot of other people who are on staff and who aren’t getting the accolades or the recognition. But it was an incredible experience to be, and I’m very, very touched and honored to be on that list.

OHT: How do you identify within the Asian American Pacific Islander community? Did you embrace your heritage growing up and how has that shaped who you are today?

Leung: So I’ll tell you a story that I’ve mentioned to other people recently. I grew up in a town called Ridgewood in Bergen County, New Jersey, and most of my friends had blond hair and blue eyes. When I was growing up, I wanted the name “Nancy Smith,” and I wanted blue eyes. I wanted to fit in. As a kid, you always want to fit in. Then when you get older and wizen up a little bit, you realize that it’s okay and it’s good to be different, that you can use that to your advantage. And so upon growing up, I realized that it’s pretty special to be Asian American and there are benefits to being Asian American, and you should embrace the fact that you are different. In fact, I recently lectured to a women-in-sports-business class, and one of the questions they asked me was about impostor syndrome. I said the same thing that I’m saying to you now, which is absolutely embrace who you are. Absolutely embrace your differences, because those ultimately are embedded advantages to who you are and make you stand out from the rest of the crowd. So that’s my philosophy now.

OHT: Do you or your family have any traditions that are especially important to you?

Leung: I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a tradition, but in the Chinese culture, food is really important. Food is what brings people together. It’s a sign of respect, and that is the ultimate unifying language in a way. So when we do get together as a family, it’s really important for us to get together around a meal, because that’s when we share our stories. That’s when we connect with one another.

OHT: You might have just answered my next question, but I want to ask: What brings you joy about your heritage and culture?

Leung: It’s funny, I was actually at a conference last week and you were supposed to find someone you didn’t know in the conference and share a secret talent that you have. I shared that I can eat a lot more than most people think. Food is a really important part of our culture and in my upbringing and family.

OHT: Lastly, I wanted to ask, as we’ve seen an increase in hate-filled actions toward the AAPI community, what does supporting the AAPI community look like for you?

Leung: Well, I think kind of going back to my other answer, it’s just about embracing who you are and embracing your differences. I think part of it is being unafraid of it at the same time, which I know is really difficult. But if you’re going to truly embrace it, and then you can’t be afraid about embracing it at the same time.

MORE FROM ON HER TURF: Laureus award winner and three-time Olympic medalist Eileen Gu on Stanford, elevating women and changing the game

2023 Mizuho Americas Open: How to watch, who’s playing in inaugural LPGA event at Liberty National GC

Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand tees off on the eleventh hole during Day One of the HSBC Women's World Championship.
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The Statue of Liberty is the backdrop for this week’s inaugural Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. The tournament boasts a theme of mentorship and education, and includes a girls’ 72-hole, modified Stableford tournament featuring 24 juniors to go along with the 72-hole stroke-play event for 120 LPGA professionals.

The field is led by seven of the top 10 players on the Rolex Rankings including world No. 1 Jin Young Ko, No. 3 Lydia Ko, No. 4 Lilia Vu and No. 5 Minjee Lee. Also teeing it up this week are the finalists from Sunday’s Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play, where Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn captured her second LPGA title with a 3-and-1 victory over Japan’s Ayaka Furue.

Michelle Wie West is serving as the tournament host, and she’ll be on hand to welcome fellow Stanford alum Rose Zhang, who’s fresh off her second straight NCAA individual title and turned professional just last week. Zhang will have her first go at an LPGA prize purse, which tops out at $2.75 million this week with the winner taking home $412,500.


How to watch the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open

You can watch the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open on Golf Channel, Peacock, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Check out the complete TV and streaming schedule:

  • Thursday, June 1: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET, Golf Channel and Peacock
  • Friday, June 2: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET, Golf Channel and Peacock
  • Saturday, June 3: 5-8 p.m. ET, Golf Channel and Peacock
  • Sunday, June 4: 4:30-5 p.m. ET (streaming only on Peacock); 5-7:30 p.m. ET, Golf Channel and Peacock

ALSO FROM ON HER TURF: Wake Forest captures team title at 2023 NCAA DI women’s golf championships, Stanford’s Rose Zhang wins individual crown


Who’s playing in the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open?

The 120-player field features seven of the top 10 players (and 16 of the top 25 player) on the Rolex Rankings:

  • No. 1 Jin Young Ko
  • No. 3 Lydia Ko
  • No. 4 Lilia Vu
  • No. 5 Minjee Lee
  • No. 6 Atthaya Thitikul
  • No. 8 Brooke Henderson
  • No. 9 Georgia Hall

Also in the field are 2023 winners Celine Boutier (LPGA Drive On Championship), Ruoning Yin (DIO Implant LA Open) and Grace Kim (LOTTE Championship), plus several sponsor exemptions including reigning NCAA individual champion Rose Zhang and her Stanford teammate Megha Ganne. Ganne, a native of Holmdel, N.J., finished T-21 at the recent NCAAs and is playing as an amateur. Joining them as an exemption is fellow Cardinal Mariah Stackhouse, who has conditional status on tour in 2023. Monday qualifiers include tour rookie Alexa Pano and Australia’s Sarah Jane Smith.

Among the notable juniors expected to play are 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur winner Anna Davis, 2022 U.S. Girls’ Junior winner Yana Wilson and 2022 U.S. Junior Girls’ runnerup Gianna Clemente. The 24 junior players were invited through their standings in the Rolex AJGA Rankings.


What’s the format for the Mizuho Americas Open?

The professionals will play a 72-hole stroke-play competition, with a cut to the top 50 and ties after 36 holes. The 24 juniors will play a 72-hole, no-cut competition using the modified Stableford scoring format and a different yardage than the pros.

During the first two rounds, the AJGA players will all be paired together. During the final two rounds, one junior player will play with two LPGA pros with groupings based on scores. This unique format marks the first time the AJGA and LPGA have partnered to showcase junior and professional competitors playing together.

Stableford scoring refresher: “Stableford” is a scoring system that awards points for the number of strokes taken on each hole in relation to par, rather than simply counting strokes like in stroke play. Unlike in stroke play, where players want the lowest score, the goal in Stableford scoring is to have the highest score. Standard Stableford points values are:

  • 0 Points – Double bogey or worse (two strokes or more over par)
  • 1 Point – Bogey (one stroke over par)
  • 2 Points – Par
  • 3 Points – Birdie (one stroke under par)
  • 4 Points – Eagle (two strokes under par)
  • 5 Points – Albatross or double eagle (three strokes under par)
  • 6 Points – Condor (four strokes under par)

More about Liberty National Golf Club

Located on the shore of the Upper Bay of New York Harbor, Liberty National Golf Club was designed by Bob Cupp and Tom Kite and officially opened on July 4, 2006. After the course received mixed reviews following the PGA Tour’s Northern Trust in 2009, the course underwent a renovation led by Steve Wenzloff of PGA Tour Design Services. Of note, the course hosted an event during the PGA Tour Playoffs four times (2009, 2013, 2019 and 2021) as well as the 2017 Presidents Cup, where the U.S. defeated the Internationals 19-11 for the Americans’ seventh consecutive victory in the competition and its 10th straight win overall. For this week’s event, the course will play to a par of 72 with an unofficial scorecard yardage of 6,671 yards.

MORE FROM ON HER TURF: Laureus award winner and three-time Olympic medalist Eileen Gu on Stanford, elevating women and changing the game