Controversy surrounds the years first major on the LPGA Tour and three players have been ousted from the field. 

Imagine the pending excitement of playing in the years first major.  Then finding out you’ve been withdrawn from the field because of a miscommunication. Helen Alfredsson was visibly upset yesterday leaving the Mission Hills Country Club. Turns out she missed a pro-am tee time, and so did Maria Hjorth and Shanshan Feng.

Alfredsson is a former Kraft Nabisco champion, a member of the LPGA’s board of directors and all were alternates for the pro-am. And LPGA rules require that alternates check in with officials before the pro-am begins to make themselves available should a withdrawal require them to play. Players who fail to show up for pro-am tee times are withdrawn from the tournament.

Why Alfredsson, Hjorth & Fend couldn't be reached remains unclear…but they will not be replaced in the field.