jamie in the rough

Jessica Korda Captures Maiden Professional Win

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:53:00 -0500

When Jessica Korda joined the LPGA last season many eyes were pointed her way to be one of the contenders for Rookie of the Year. With a sparkling amateur career, and professional athlete pedigree (her father Petr was a top tennis player winning the Australian Open), it wasn’t a question of will she, but when she. It wasn’t her rookie campaign which saw her finish just inside the top 100 on the money list. While adjusting to the professional lifestyle, and trying to find some momentum is the sparse playing schedule for rookies last year, Korda never got anything going. It took her one week to turn that around.

Jessica Korda showed some nerves of steal when she birded the second playoff hole to knock out 5 other women in the sudden death playoff for the ISPS Handa’s Women’s Australian Open. Korda started the round magically with three birdies in the first 8-holes to get up to 7-under par. Then the wheels started to fall off. She doubled the 9th, broke even with a bogey/birdie duo on 10 & 11, before a 3-bogey stretch on holes 14-16. The mini-choke was truly just miniature, because she rebounded with a birdie on 17 to finish at 3-under, which lead to her impressive playoff victory.

The tough weekend scoring conditions saw them finish at just 3-under par, 3-shots worse than the 6-under par So Yeon Ryu posted to take the 36-hole lead.

For Ryu, it’s another troubling so close, but cannot close moments. She bogeyed her 72nd hole to fall back to 3-under. She lead for most of the weekend last week at the Australian Ladies Masters before closing with an even par 72 to fall one stroke short. Today she entered the final round one-behind Korda and again shot even par, which was enough to get in the playoff, but still equals the same result, a runner-up finish. Ryu got the reputation as a clutch competitor at the U.S. Women’s Open last year where she stared down Hee Kyung Seo in the aggregate playoff, but these type of runner-up finishes seem more accurate. Aside from the U.S. Open Ryu has only won one other time in the past two years, and has faltered down the stretch and was unable to win a single KLPGA End of Season award. While these back-to-back runner-up finishes are promising for the rookie, the manner in which she got there leaves some troubling feelings in my opinion.

It’s nice to see Julieta Granada secure a runner-up finish as well. After strong 2006 and 2007 seasons which saw her win the ADT Championships (and the million dollar payday) Julieta has struggled. She hovered around the 100 on the money list range for three years, before a mini-resurgence last year brought her into the top 70. This might be a nod to say Julieta’s back!

Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lincicome also found themselves in the playoff and look to continue to push Cristie Kerr & Paula Creamer out of the top of American golf. Hee Kyung Seo, the runner-up to Ryu at the US Open rounded out the 6 way playoff. Seo matched Ryu’s even par round, and also matched her 72nd hole bogey, to get into the playoff that would be won by Korda.

And what a way to win your maiden LPGA title by birdieing the second playoff hole to knock out 5 talented women out. Korda was a teenage prodigy, and had a mountain of expectations laid upon her last year. In just one week she’s tripled her career money won. Heck, even if she had lost in the playoff the share of runner-up money would’ve been more then she gained in 2011! Jessica Korda has always had the game to be one of the best, now that she has proven belief how far will she go?

Top 30 Predictions

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:25:00 -0500

1. Na Yeon Choi

2. Yani Tseng

3. Suzann Pettersen

4. Critie Kerr

5. Jiyai Shin

6. Paula Creamer

7. I.K Kim

8. Michelle Wie

9. Hee Kyung Seo

10. Karrie Webb

11. Brittany Lincicome

12. Mika Miyazato

13. Amy Yang

14. Sun Young Yoo

15. Catriona Matthew

16. Azahara Munoz

17. Se Ri Park

18. Maria Hjorth

19. So Yeon Ryu

20. Anna Nordqvist

21.Meena Lee

22. Jee Young Lee

23. Jimin Kang

24. Lexi Thompson

25. Mi Hyun Kim

26. Christel Boeljon

27. Seon Hwa Lee

28. Haru Nomura

29. Chella Choi

30. Candie Kung

Everytime I’ve done this I’ve always gone against the current #1. That’s not picking Lorena during her reign, and picking Na Yeon Choi over Yani Tseng now. I’ve never been right, butI figure I may as well keep it going.

I’m expecting comebacks by Seon Hwa Lee & Jee Young Lee after some disappointing play of late. So Yeon Ryu & Lexi Thompson are the only rookies I picked to be in the top 30.

Boeljon Outduels Ryu for Australian Ladies Masters Title

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:31:00 -0500

In the fickle world of tournament golf, it’s all about what have you done for me lately. Christel Boeljon who hovered behind the lead for the majority of the Australian Ladies Masters wound up on top after birding the 72nd hole to avoid a playoff with U.S. Open Champion So Yeon Ryu, Diana Luna, and Ha-Neul Kim. Ryu, the 54 hole leader couldn’t find any of the form that saw her shoot an 11-under 61 in the second round.

When the tournament opened all eyes were on last week’s champion Lydia Ko, the 14 year old amateur from New Zealand. After the opening round Bo-Mee Lee lead by 1, but lurking behind were the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open playoff participants So Yeon Ryu and Hee Kyung Seo. Even in my post after the opening round I barely mentioned Boeljon, who shared the 2nd place spot with the two Koreans.

When Ryu shot a 61 on Friday to vault atop the leaderboard, the only question was would she have the post-awesome-round slump, or would someone be able to come close to such form on Saturday. Frances Bondad did with a 63 all her own, but Ryu still lead and looked to ride her great form into victory on Sunday.

It wasn’t to be.

Boeljon’s 4-undr 68 was enough to out duel the field, and she had the awesome opportunity to have a birdie putt on the 72nd hole to take the crown. For Ryu, it has to be another disappointment in a career that could be a lot better. I remarked earlier about her near misses in the KLPGA’s season ending awards, and the U.S. Open was only one of two worldwide victories she’s had in the past 2 years. This tournament can be added to her growing list of near misses. Strange sight for a player who burst on the international scene with some of the clutchest shots ever during the end of the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open.

Boeljon who finished #6 on the LET Order of Merit in 2011 starts off her 2012 season in fine fashion. She might not have been a headline coming into Sunday, but she grabbed the only one that really mattered.

So Yeon Ryu Shoots 61, leads by 4

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:35:29 -0500

Incoming rookie & 2011 U.S. Women’s Open So Yeon Ryu lit up the course on the Gold Coast shooting a 61 to take a 4 shot lead over Christel Boeljon. As Ryu finishes her preparations here for the first LPGA event as a tour member next week my thoughts are immediately turned to the potentially epic Rookie of the Year showdown between So Yeon & Alexis Thompson.

Both are joining the LPGA this year after posting non-member wins in 2011, with Thompson becoming the youngest winner ever on the LPGA when she cruised to victory at the Navistar LPGA Classic. While Thompson’s entrance in the world’s elite has been well documented, Ryu, who’ll be 22 later this year, started her career in Korea with a bang very similarly to her new rival.

Ryu was a decorated amateur in Asia earning a gold medal at the 2006 Winter Asian Games (an Asian equivalent of the Olympic Games), and aiding Korea in team wins at the same games and the 2007 Queen Sirikit Cup, which pits top amateurs from Asia and the Pacific. At the end of the year she turned pro at the age of 17.

Turning pro before 18 is far more common in Korea, but it still doesn’t maker Ryu’s win at the KLPGA’s 2008 Sports Seoul Open any less impressive. Did I mention it was her first event on tour?

Not to count out the other talented rookies in the 2012 class it would be shocking if the contest did not come down to these two talented ladies. Can Lexi continue to live up to the hype and pressure and continue to thrive in the LPGA microscope? Will Ryu cope with a year abroad adjusting to the American tour? Coming over for a three week span is one thing, but spending an entire season is entirely another.

Ryu, although a consistent top performer on the KLPGA, has never taken home any end of the year awards. In 2008, despite winning the first tournament she entered on the KLPGA, she still wound up #2 in their Rookie of the Year race. In 2009 despite at one point winning 3-events in a row she only finished second on the money list and player of the races to Hee Kyung Seo (the 2011 LPGA Rookie of the Year and runner-up to Ryu at the U.S. Open). Ryu only managed one win in 2010, but still finished 4th on the money list. Last year she lead the KLPGA money list for most of the 2011, but couldn’t find it at the end of the season and finished 3rd.

Despite her top 4 finishes or better, Ryu hasn’t shown that she can have it all for the entire year. Thompson’s stamina is untested as well as 2012 will mark her first full year on a professional tour. So, who has the edge?

I don’t have an answer, but I’ll grab the popcorn as it’ll be a great show to watch.

*Lexi Thompson shot a 2-under 70 in the second round and finds herself 10 strokes behind Ryu.

Bo-Mee Lee Leads at Australian Ladies Masters

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:01:59 -0500

In what could be a mini-preview of next week’s co-sanctioned ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, 2010 KLPGA player of the year Bo-Me Lee leads by a stroke after the opening round of the ALPG’s Australian Ladies Masters. Lee, who is not currently in the field for next week’s LPGA event, shot a 7-under 65 and leads two of her more well known contemporaries by a stroke: 2011 U.S. Open Champion So Yeon Ryu & the runner-up and 2011 LPGA Rookie of the Year Hee Kyung Seo (Christel Boeljon of the Netherlands joined them). Lee had 7 birdies & no bogies to take the early lead.

U.S. Teen phenom Lexi Thompson is only two behind after her opening round 67, further proving her position as one of the world’s best. For a change though, Lexi isn’t the youngest player of interest at the event. 14 year old Kiwi Lydia Ko is 5 shots behind after opening with a 70, which was marred by bogeying 2 of her final 4 holes. Ko became the youngest player to win a professional title last week when she won the 2012 Bing Lee/Samsung Women’s NSW Open also on the ALPG.

LPGA members Christina Kim, Gwladys Nocera, Sophie Gustafson, and Permila Lindberg are all in the hunt 4 shots at 3-under. Joining Lydia Ko at 2-under par are former amateur stalwarts Jennifer Song & Danielle Kang. Hee Young Park is the most notable name struggling on the wrong side of the leaderboard and we’ll need to go under par to make the cut after opening with a 76.

Lang Leads By 1

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:18:52 -0400

In 2005, Brittany Lang was a 20 year old rising junior at Duke playing in her first U.S. Women’s Open Championship. There Lang (along with fellow amateur Morgran Pressel) took the LPGA by storm nearly winning the event, before finishing T2 two strokes behind Birdie Kim. After the finish Lang quickly turned pro.

5 years later Lang returns to the top of the U.S. Women’s Open after being the only player to break 70 at Oakmont Country Club. 5 birdies and 3 bogeys led to her opening round 69, pretty good numbers considering she was only averaging 229 yards off the tee, only hit 8 fairways and 11 greens. Since her magical finish in 2005, Lang has gone 2 for 4 in made cuts at the U.S. Women’s Open with her best finish being a T31 in 2008.

Looking to do one better then Lang’s open debut is amateur Kelli Shean who turned in an impressive 1-under 70 to share second place with Amy Yang, M.J. Hur, and Inbee Park. Shean is a rising senior at the University of Arkansas. Shean impressed in her LPGA debut last year at the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship where she finished T27 as a sponsor’s exemption.

Inbee Park looks to be finally shaking off the U.S. Open curse that afflicted her since her win in 2008. Park has had a phenomenal start to her JLPGA career (winning once in 2010), and has had 6 top 10s in 2010, and has made nearly $500,000, which is almost double what she made in all of 2009.

Amy Yang had an impressive career in Australia and the LET, and has been one of the best players on the tour in 2010. Yang is 13th on the money list and has had two top-10 finishes thus far.

2nd year member M.J. Hur has had a pretty good season in 2010 as well, coming off the heels of her successful rookie campaign that saw become a Rolex First Time Winner. Hur is in the top 20 on the money list and has two top 10s as well.

Of the 14 players at 1-over and T-8 only two of them have wins on the LPGA in 2010. #1 player in the world Cristie Kerr and KLPGA member Hee Kyung Seo.

The scoring at Oakmont was nothing drastically worse like expected. The big story at the bottom of the leaderboard is Michelle Wie’s opening round of 82, which had 3 double bogeyes, and no birdies.

Meg Mallon Retires

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:53:37 -0400

Meg Mallon Retires:

Golfweek’s Beth Ann Baldry reports that Meg Mallon played her last event last week at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.

Mallon won 18 times on the LPGA, and four of those were majors. She won the U.S. Open in 1991 and 2004. Her last win came at the 2004 edition of the Jamie Farr.

Mallon was great champion and will surely be missed, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing her around the Solheim Cup at least for a years to come.

is there a cliff's notes version?

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:34:00 -0400

The tough test of Oakmont Country Club awaits the best and brightest of the LPGA this week as the ladies compete for the 65th U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Expect to see some tough scoring this week, as the course features the longest par-3 in U.S. Open history, the 8th could play 252-yards throughout the week.

Don’t expect the course this week to only be about the length. The USGA has the option to make a couple of the 4s reachable. It’s going to be a diabolical week, and with the few birdie opportunities that will be abound, I think the winner will be the player who takes the few chances that are given to them this week. Or to put it simply, who can sink those putts when it matters.

Don’t expect anything close to the Cristie Kerr blowout that we saw a few weeks ago at the LPGA Championship.

I would be shocked to not see Cristie Kerr in the thick of things come Sunday. It’s almost as traditional as apple pie to see Kerr somewhere near the top at the most coveted championship on the LPGA. In the past 9 years Cristie has had 6 top-15 finishes, including her victory in 2007. The question really isn’t whether she’ll be a factor (that’s a given), but whether or not she’ll succumb to the pressure on championship Sunday.

2010 has been a coming out party for Japanese sensation Ai Miyazato, and I don’t expect the Japanese star to look to end the festivities anytime soon. The list of career milestones Ai has achieved thus far in her 4-win season is superlative. In 2010 she’s had her first multi-win season, captured her first win on American soil, and ascended to #1 in the world. The one thing she’s missing both in 2010 and in her career is an LPGA major. A win this week would be a huge exclamation point as she attempts to end the year #1 in the world and on the LPGA.

Let’s not forget Jiyai Shin either, Shin was the first player to jump to #1 in the world when Lorena Ochoa retired, but Shin has been seemingly lapped in 2010. After posting 3 victories in both 2008 (as a non LPGA member) and 2009 (as a rookie), Miss Shin hasn’t been able to get into the winner’s circle in 2010. That isn’t to say Jiyai has been having a bad 2010 by any means. In her 8 starts this season she has finished top-10 6 times, and hasn’t finished outside the top 30 yet. It was a big question mark as to how Shin would play after her emergency appendectomy, and I think her back to back top 5 finishes answers that loud and clear.

Song-Hee Kim had the Jamie Farr Owens Classic in her hands on Sunday, and was unable to sink a putt on the 73rd hole to capture her first title. It’ll be interesting to see how she bounces back from that. In 11 events in 2010 Kim had finished in the top 10, ten times. That’s impressive stuff.

With her length and determination Suzann Pettersen may finally capture her first victory of 2010. Pettersen has 6 top 10s in 9 starts, and sits at #4 on the money list right behind Miyazato, Kerr, and Kim.

Na Yeon Choi will be looking to win back to back for the first time in her career. She finished T9 last year at Saucon Valley. In-Kyung Kim was in the hunt all day on Sunday last year at the open. She’s finished T3 the past two years at the U.S. Open and will be looking to get her first victory of 2010 also.

hate being an outtie

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:55:28 -0400

Last year, fans and media alike were reeling when two of the LPGA’s most popular ladies Michelle Wie & Natalie Gulbis failed to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open Championship. This year there is no public outrage, but there are a few notable names who won’t be teeing it up at Oakmont.

Laura Davies

Davies will be missing the U.S. Open for the first time in 24 years. Yes, I said 24 years! After receiving a special exemption in the U.S. Open last year and finishing a solid T17, she didn’t do enough on the LPGA to get herself automatically in. She also chose not to attend qualifying, and will be a familiar face missing from the field. At least we will be saved from having to hear on Davies is 2 points shy from making the LPGA Hall of Fame this week.

Lori Kane

Watching (well reading) Song-Hee Kim struggle to close out her first victory this past week at the Jamie Farr conjured up memories of Lori Kane’s struggle to get into the winner circle. From 1996-1999 Kane had an astonishing 34 top 10s and 8 runner-up finishes. Finally she broke through in 2000, and the wins kept coming. Her 3-win season was one of the best she’s had on tour. Kane hasn’t seen a top 10 since 2007, and is trying to end a 2-year slide of finishing outside the top-130 on the money list. Kane was the old dog at the qualifying site at the Plantation Bay Country Club, where tweens Alexis Thompson and Yueer Feng qualified. She is an alternate into the field after losing out on a spot in a playoff. Kane hasn’t played a U.S. Open since 2007.

Mi Hyun Kim

Peanut had a shortened 2009 season after having her first child, and is trying to adjust and round back up into form. Kim’s last win came in 2007, which is also the last year she finished in the top 5 of the money list. She hasn’t done much in 2010 and may have the rest of July off as I don’t see her getting into the Evian or the British Open. Hopefully when the LPGA resumes domestically the 8 time winner will get back on track. Kim hasn’t played an open since 2008. In a stacked field at Hawke Pointe G.C., Kim failed to qualify by 4 shots. Jimin Kang & Soo Yun Kang were also in the field, and failed to qualify.

Grace Park

Grace’s 2004 Kraft Nabisco Win is a 7 year distant memory for the player who has struggled mightily over the years with back and other injuries. 2004, where she finished #2 on the moneylist was the peak for a player that looked poised to threaten for #1. Park is attempting to resume a full schedule in 2010, and after a promising finish at the Kraft this year, she’s been unable to find the top 10. Park hasn’t bettered her T6 at the open that she got 10 years ago (in her first year as an LPGA professional), and hasn’t been in the field since 2008. Grace attempted to qualify at Pinnacle Peak C.C. and missed out by three strokes.

Other notables missing are Permilla Lindberg, Paola Moreno, Haeji Kang, Angela Oh, Mariajo Uribe, Jane Park, Il Hee Lee, Young-A Yang, Karin Sjodin, Misun Cho, Whitney Wade, Leta Lindley, Allison Hanna, and Diana D’Alessio.

Three's Company

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:15:30 -0400

Before you could finish saying the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic presented by Kroger, the pairings for the 65th U.S. Women’s Open Championship have been released. You can check them out over here. Below are some of the most intriguing pairings in my mind:

Thursday Hole 1 7:33 a.m./Friday Hole 10 1:03 p.m.

Morgan Pressel
Maria Hjorth
Candie Kung

All three of these ladies have famously finished runner-up at major championships (with Pressel being the only one who has been able to bounce back and win one). Morgan famously fell to the miraculous birdie bunker shot by Birdie Kim at the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open. Candie Kung felt the heartbreak last year when Eun-Hee Ji managed to to sink a birdie putt on the 72nd hole to avoid a playoff. Maria lost at the 2008 LPGA Championship to a precocious rookie named Yani Tseng in extra innings. This group could feed off each other and set a good pace early.

Thursday Hole 10 7:33 a.m./Friday Hole 1 1:03 p.m.

Ai Miyazato
Jiyai Shin
Michelle Wie

Wow. I don’t think there’s much to add to this pairing. Wie was formally a given contender for any major championship, let’s hope she can bring that form this week.

Thursday Hole 10 7:44 a.m./Friday Hole 1 1:14 p.m.

Angela Stanford
Suzann Pettersen
Paula Creamer

Expect a log jam in the galleries around these two groups. Stanford, Pettersen, and Creamer are all looking for their first win of 2010 with Stanford playing good, not great golf, Pettersen playing great, but not winning, and Creamer just coming back from injury. Paula did well two weeks in her debut tournament, but failed to make the cut last week at the Jamie Farr.

Thursday Hole 1 7:44 a.m./Friday Hole 10 1:14 p.m.

Sakura Yokomine
Hee Kyung Seo
Brittany Lincicome

Let us not forget about Seo’s non-member win earlier in 2010 at the Kia Classic presented by J Golf. She chose not to accept membership on the LPGA tour for 2010, but is in the field this week. Sakura Yokomine is the highest money winner on the 2010 JLPGA so far this year, and Linciome is a former major winner, and conveniently forgotten when talking about the future of American golf.

Thursday Hole 1 7:55 a.m./Friday Hole 10 1:25 p.m.

Kristy McPherson
Amanda Blumenhurst
Na Yeon Choi

Kristy is one of the best Americans on tour without a win, Blumenhurst has had an impressive rookie campaign and is in a tight race with Azahara Munoz currently for Rolex Rookie of the Year. Choi obviously is coming in hot after her victory at the Farr Owens.

Thursday Hole 1 8:06 a.m./Friday Hole 10 1:36 p.m.

Jennifer Song
Catriona Matthew
Eun-Hee Ji

The low amateur from 2009, paired with the Women’s British Open Championship, and the defending U.S. Women’s Open Champion. Song had an impressive professional debut on the Duramed Futures Tour winning her first event as a professional. Ji is slowly snapping out of her U.S. Women’s funk, and Matthew has had a solid if unimpressive year so far.

Thursday Hole 1 1:03 p.m./Friday Hole 10 7:33 a.m.

Alexis Thompson
Stacy Lewis
Amy Yang

Thompson, like Song recently turned professional. If any of these three were near the top of the LPGA five years from now, I would not be shocked.

Thursday Hole 1 1:14 p.m./Friday Hole 10 7:44 a.m.

Yani Tseng
Cristie Kerr
Anna Nordqvist

Tseng & Kerr won the first two majors of 2010, and Tseng is the next breath in the conversation for World #1 (just behing Kerr, Miyazato, and Shin). Nordqvist has two top 10s in 2010 coming off an impressive rookie year that saw her win the LPGA Championship and the Tour Championships.

Thursday Hole 10 1:14 p.m./Friday Hole 1 7:44 a.m.

Juli Inkster
Christina Kim
Jee Young Lee

Expect the hometown fans to be rooting squarely for Juli and Christina this week, and Jee Young Lee seems to always be smiling on course. This would be a very fun group to follow.

Take a Big Bite

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:44:00 -0400

In a dramatic finish, Na Yeon Choi captured her first wire-to-wire victory outlasting Christina Kim, In-Kyung Kim, & Song-Hee Kim in a 2 hole playoff to capture the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic presented by Kroger. Choi was the only player to get a birdie during the playoff doing so on the par-5 17th hole. “The Big Apple” gets her first victory of 2010, but it certainly wasn’t easy.

World #3 Jiyai Shin’s recovery from an emergency appendectomy seem to be going well, she posted a scoring 7-under 64 to post 13-under. When Shin finished she was two behind NYC who held the lead at 15-under. Song-Hee Kim was a stroke behind that at 14-under, while Christina Kim was struggling a bit and was back at 12-under.

In the closing 5-holes it appeared none of the ladies wanted to take home the title. Choi, who was in control at this point, would bogey the 14th and 15th holes to drop back to Shin’s number at 13-under. Her near collapse at last year’s Samsung World Championship (which I talked about yesterday, and last fall) showed us that while wilting, she’d still be there to walk through the door if it was left open, and boy did these ladies leave it open.

In-Kyung Kim birdied her final hole to leapfrog Jiyai Shin and become the new clubhouse leader at 14-under.

Song-Hee Kim was at 14-under also before she herself bogeyed the the 16th hole. She would bounce back with a birdie on the 17th to also post at 14-under.

Christina Kim was still recovering a rough double bogey she suffered on the 10th hole, despite immediately following that double with three consecutive birdies. She parred 14-16 to be tied with Na Yeon Choi at 13-under. She took advantage of the par 5 17th, and got herself up with Inky and Song-Hee at 14-under going into Christina & NYC’s final hole.

Going into the par 5 8th Kim & NYC both needed birdies. Christina’s would give her the outright victory. Choi’s would get her into the playoff. It was up to Christina to shut the door on Na Yeon, but she was unable to do it. She chipped to 10 feet, and had that left to claim her first victory in 5 years. She didn’t get it. NYC did sink her birdie putt, and we were set for a four way playoff.

In a great display of golf, all four ladies were on the green in 3 on the 1st playoff hole (they replayed the par 5 18th). Not only were they on the green, but they were all within 12 feet.

Choi’s 12 footer was 1st, but she missed.
Inky had a 10 footer, but she failed to convert.
Christina Kim had just 7 feet, but again was unable to hole her birdie.

The tournament was now in Song-Hee Kim’s hands. She was 5 feet away from the maiden LPGA victory we were all expecting from her. With 15 top 10s in her last 18 events, it certainly felt like this was her time. I wholeheartedly believed that the next tweet from LPGA would be one saying that S-H finally got her first victory.

She missed.

It seemed to deflate Song-Hee who found the bunker with her 3rd shot on the par-5 17th on the 2nd playoff hole, and wasn’t down after 5 shots.

Choi chipped to 3-feet, and had a near gimme for her birdie on the 2nd playoff hole. There were two players left who could shut the proverbial door.

Christina Kim had two makeable chances in a row the past two holes, and again was unable to birdie. Her 20-footer failed to connect.

In-Kyung Kim was the only person left in the Big Apple’s way. 12 feet away to put pressure on her compatriot. She couldn’t do it.

NYC sunk her 3-footer and finally put an end to it. She walked back through the door she opened to the field.

What a disappointment for Christina Kim & Song-Hee Kim. This was Christina’s first top 10 of the season, and she had a chance to win it in regulation. Hopefully she’ll remember all the good things that got her to the playoff and not the putt she missed.

Song-Hee Kim gets another top 10 finish, and is still the best player on tour without a win. This was the first time she truly had the tournament in her hands, and her failure could do very bad things mentally. It’ll be interesting to see how she bounces back next week at Oakmont.

In-Kyung’s brilliant 64 should hopefully bring her season back into the positive after a mediocre start. She played amazing to get into the playoff, but never had the upper hand in the day’s proceedings.

Na Yeon Choi again showed that she’s not quite comfortable with the lead, but miraculously again she found a way to take the title anyway.

It’s a shame that such an exciting finish was not televised. Thankfully the LPGA had constant updates to get us through this exciting finish.

Can Christina Do It?

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:38:00 -0400

When Cristie Kerr became the new #1 ranked golfer in the world last week, the common theme amongst the media was the potential resurgence of American Ladies Golf. Kerr has been a consistent top 5/10 player, and it was no real shock that the she is leading the charge of Americans this year.

When journalists and bloggers alike delved deeper into the American talent they began to throw out names of other Americans who could potentially make an impact for the good of the LPGA.

Paula Creamer immediately came to mind, along with fellow top American pros Morgan Pressel and Angela Stanford. Again, no shock here as these players are some of the highest ranked and most popular girls on tour.

Missing from the conversation was former major champion Brittany Linicome. If the big hitting blonde was going to be missing from the chatter, then it’s certainly no surprise that there was no mention to the spunky Californian Christina Kim. Well CK is looking to get her name back in the mix in a big way this week.

She is only one back of Na Yeon Choi playing her best golf of 2010 by far. Kim has struggled in a big way in 2010, her best finish is a T24 way back in March at the Kia Classic presented by J Golf. Kim’s 3 rounds in the 60s so far this week matches the number of rounds in the 60s she’s had so far in 2010.

Kim hasn’t won on the LPGA in 5 years. If she can do it this week it could really capitalize on the momentum of American golf going into the biggest event of the year next week, the U.S. Women’s Open.

With the LPGA in a big transition period, many casual fans are not warming up to a leaderboard crowded with talented Koreans and other foreign born players. A win by Kim or one of the other Americans in the hunt (Kristy McPhereson is 4 back, and Stacy Prammanasudh is 6 back) could continue the momentum that Kerr gave us last week, which would be just in time as we head into the biggest event on the LPGA next week, the U.S. Women’s Open.

That would be a sweet 4th of July for the LPGA. Although having television coverage of this event would certainly make this sweeter.

NYC bouncing back.

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:25:21 -0400

Last week I scanned the leadearboard of the LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans and did a double take when I didn’t see Na Yeon Choi’s name among the top 20. Using my trusty command + f, tool I typed her name to find her below the cut line for the first time in her career.

I have a lot of faith in Na Yeon Choi’s game, so much so that I picked her to finish #1 on this year’s money list. Choi has been solid in 2010 (as always) sitting at #10 on the money list with over $341,000 in earnings over the year, but that’s a far cry from the top of the list (#1 & #2 Ai Miyazato and Cristie Kerr have nearly tripled her earnings), but she’s looking to close the gap this week at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic presented by Kroger.

Choi enters the final round with a one shot lead over Christina Kim, and is looking to post her first ever wire-to-wire victory. A victory this week could prove momentous for NYC. Choi captured her first victory last year at the super exclusive Samsung World Championship, but it wasn’t easy. Choi held a whopping 7-stroke lead with 12 strokes to play, before seeing it deflate completely by the time she arrived on the last whole. A two shot swing (a birdie for Choi, with Ai Miyazato’s earlier bogey) on the 18th hole gave her first title, but it was certainly more of a barely hung on moment, then a cruise to the title victory we thought she was getting.

She showed a lot of gutso in her 2nd victory on tour, matching Yani Tseng’s birdie on the final hole to capture victory by one stroke and avoiding a three way playoff with Maria Hjorth. So, she’s certainly brushed off the nerves that almost saw her blow her maiden victory. Let’s see if she continue to hold her nerve tomorrow.

jamie in the rough is back.

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:37:40 -0400

Dear Everyone,

For the 10 of you who read my blog, and specifically to the great staff over at SB Nation (especially Ryan Ballangee) I have to apologize for complacent laziness that have overcome my golf blog the past few months. I began working a lot of hours at a restaurant and completely neglected my online life.

Thankfully the bulk of it began during one of the many gaps in the LPGA schedule. Unfortunately when the LPGA resumed I wasn’t prepared or willing to start writing again. It’s so bad that I don’t even know the exactly when SB Nation pulled my blog offline, I hadn’t been paying attention.

I think I’ve found a balance in my life, and will begin to post again. I unfortunately blew my chance to write semi-professionally, but I do miss it, and miss the little ol community that is the LPGA blogosphere.

Sincerely,

Jamie R. Belyea

Nordqvist Notches 2nd Win, Lorena Player of the Year

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:02:00 -0500

When Anna Nordqvist calmly shot a 68 during the final round of the McDonald’s LPGA Championship to capture her first title (and obviously first major), they were a slew of questions that opened up. The biggest of all being, who is this unknown Swede, is she the next Annika, or is this a fluke?

On another important final round Nordqvist shined brightest shooting a 7-under par round of 65 to capture her 2nd title in her rookie season. To capture two titles in a year and to have them be the McDonald’s LPGA Championship & the LPGA Tour Championship is pretty impressive for anyone, especially an unheralded rookie! Anna utilized 8 birdies and a lone bogey to win two strokes up on World #1 Lorena Ochoa.

By finishing runner up today, and having points leader Jiyai Shin finish T8 Ochoa was able to capture her 4th Rolex Player of the Year title & Vare Trophy. In heartbreaking fashion Shin bogeyed the 17th hole to lose to Lorena by a mere point in the final point tally. Thus Jiyai couldn’t join Nancy Lopez as the only players to capture all four major titles in their rookie season, but being the Money List leader & Rookie of the Year is nothing to be scoffed at.

Na Yeon Choi took third place after shooting the round of the day, an 8-under 68 that left her 3 back of Anna. An eagle, 7 birdies (4 of them in the first four holes!) and a lone bogey should keep NYC’s spirits up going into 2010. With Choi’s clearly added confidence from gaining her first win, she could be someone to watch in the Player of the Year race for 2010.

Heather Bowie Young & Reilley Rankin were both unable to jump into the top 80 after Monday’s round. Bowie Young did herself proud with a season best T12, but it left her two spots outside of the top 80 at 82. Rankin struggled mightily on Monday dropping to T42 after she lead for some of the 2nd round. Rankin maintained her spot at #100 giving her some status for 2010, but certainly not what she was looking for when she started her rounds on Monday.

The cruel fate of #81 fell upon Moira Dunn who finished just under 2K behind #80 Irene Cho. While former tour winner Joo Mi Kim will be officially returning to Q-School as she finished at #101 a little under 5K behind Reilley Rankin.

Former Big Breakers Jeannie Cho-Hunicke & Kim Welch get the dubious distinction of finishing in the bottom of the money list in 2009 at 159 & 160, making $2,647 & $2,171 respectively.

2009 LPGA Tour Championship Update, NYC Making a Play

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:06:42 -0500

In 2008 Na Yeon Choi went winless, but still put up a valiant fight in the Rookie of the Year eventually won by LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng. Yani, would go on to struggle to win her second event not doing so until earlier this year when Soo Yun Kang choked on the 18th hole at the LPGA Corning Classic. In a sharp contrast Na Yeon Choi finally broke through at the star studded Samsung World Championship this fall (despite a three bogey in a row stretch). The wait for NYC’s second win was not as long awaited as Miss Tseng, Choi broke through a few tournaments in Korea.

Now, at the conclusion of the season Choi has an opportunity to join Jiyai Shin & Lorena Ochoa as the only three time winners in 2009. She is currently 7-under on her day and 9-under overall, tied for the lead with American Kristy McPherson. Kristy, a Big Break Alum, is seeking to join Na Yeon Choi as a Rolex First Time Winner in 2009. Choi has an eagle, 6 birdies, and one bogey through her first 13 holes, while Kristy McPherson has only managed one birdie and eight pars through her first 9.

Jiyai Shin who is currently coming up lame in the final round (+1, through 9) is three back of Choi and McPherson. You’ve gotta believe that if Shin can keep her spot in the top 10 she’ll be rooting for Choi or McPherson to claim victory this week to secure her first Player of the Year title. Her only rival, World #1 Lorena Ochoa is one stroke behind the leaders at -8 through 9 holes.

Needless to say, I wish I wasn’t at work so I could bask in the excitement of this final round. This is looking to be an exciting finish!

Jiyai Shin Answers Ochoa's Call

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:42:00 -0500

@Kstupples, 2-time LPGA Winner Karen Stupples, tweeted on Wednesday: “i tee off at 12:50 and its dark here at 5:30, my chances of finishing? slim at best.” Little did she or any of us know the type of foreshadowing it would spell for the LPGA Tour Championship presented by Rolex.

Instead of finding an outcome of the Rolex Player of the Year or Vare Trophy races, or seeing if Michelle Wie would continue her strong form from winning in last week, we are instead still looking to finish the second round. It’s quite an underwhelming and anticlimatic finish after the great buzz that was built up this week.

54 holes or not, we are still in for an exciting finish at the Tour Championship. American Kristy McPherson managed to finish her round on Sunday, and currently sits atop the leaderboard after a bogey free 67, and sits at 8-under. Lurking right behind the player looking for her 1st win on tour, is the 2009 Rolex Rookie of the Year, 6-time LPGA tour winner, and Player of the Year race winner, Jiyai Shin. Shin is still on the course, with two holes to play, but is 5-under on her round herself, and just a stroke behind. Shin’s strong round has allowed her to move past POY #2 Lorena Ochoa whose 3 birdie, 3 bogey effort through 17 holes has stalled her at -6. She is tied with rookie Anna Nordqvist, and Heather Bowie Young.

The other player in the thick of things for Player of the Year Cristie Kerr is 5 strokes behind Kristy at -3 after a 69. Kerr needed to win this week, and Lorena and Jiyai to not finish in the top 10 to secure her first Player of the Year title, and unless Shin and Ochoa blow up on Sunday, it appears she’ll need to wait another year.

Aside from that, the LPGA Tour Championship has the perfect scenario to finish off this 2009 season. The tour’s #1 and #2 are 2 and T3 heading into the final round. Not too shabby considering the poor weather and circumstances the LPGA had to endure this week. The other race to watch out for is the race for the top 80 and top 100 on the tour’s money list. Getting into the top 80 gives players full status for next season, while 81-100 get interspersed with Q-School qualifiers for status.Considering the sparse schedule for 2010, it’s more important then ever for players to get their category #1 status.

Reilley Rankin sits at #100 on the money list, a little more then $50,000 less then #80 Katie Futcher. Despite a pair of bogeys on 8 and 9, Rankin is still in the top 10 three strokes behind McPherson. She’ll want to look for a top 10 finish in order to retail Categoy 1 status for 2010. Rankin has 5 holes left to play in the second round.

Heather Bowie Young is a stroke better then Rankin at -6, and will want to make up the 21K deficit she has behind Futcher. Katie Futcher is -1 at T30 keeping herself in the race for the category 1 spot.

In-Kyung Kim & Christina Kim headline the players likely to miss the cut at the conclusion of tomorrow’s morning round.

For the record, Kaen Stupples has played two solid rounds and find herself at -4 currently T-9.

Lorena Ochoa is Making Moves for the Player of the Year

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:00:00 -0500

World #1 Lorena Ochoa has put herself in prime position after the opening round of the inaugural ADT-less LPGA Tour Championship after a 6-under 66. Ochoa who can clinch her 4th Rolex Player of the Year with a win this week. Ochoa’s current 3-win season is mediocre for her standards (she hasn’t won less then 6 times since 2005), but despite this she along with Jiyai Shin have had the most victories in 2009 on the LPGA tour.

Ochoa has had bouts of lackluster play this summer, and was a non-factor at the history making, Wie’s first win, Lorena Ochoa Invitational last week. Lorena’s opening round had 8 birdies and two bogeys and leads Reilley Rankin by one stroke. Rankin is looking for a strong finish this week as she is sitting in a precarious 100th spot on the LPGA Money list for 2009.

Although Jiyai Shin was unable to live up to her ‘Final Round Queen’ nickname last week, I wouldn’t conclude that her 4 stroke deficit to Ochoa is too much to handle. Let us not forget that Jiayi was able to hold up to the pressure on the KLPGA in 2008, and swept all three major championships under intense pressure and scrutiny.

With 23 players at T9 or better including 2009 winners, Ochoa, Shin, Yani Tseng, Pat Hurst, Anna Nordqvist, Ji Young Oh, Na Yeon Choi, Brittany Linicome, Sophie and Gustafson the LPGA Tour Championship presented by Rolex should be an exciting affair.

Michelle Wie withdrew after an even par-72 citing her sprained ankle as a cause. Due to her withdrawal the LPGA will have gone through 2009 without a back-to-back winner, which is a testament to the depth of the tour.

Other 2009 tour winners Eunjung Yi & Catriona Matthew were not able to rise to the occasion shooting 77s putting them outside the top 100 in the season ending event. Tour winners and two of my favorites Christina Kim & Seon Hwa Lee are two strokes away from DFL after posting disappointing 79s, which all but ruin their chances to gain their first and only win of 2009.

LPGA Timing, Not so Great

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:53:07 -0400

Some argued that having the player revolt/ousting of Carolyn Bivens occur during one of the LPGA’s major championship was a bad thing, in my eyes it always seemed like the right time to have controversy. Have it during your tour’s biggest events, so, even if they are tuning it because of the Commissioner drama, they will be able to witness your tour’s best and brightest playing in one of their biggest events of the year.

This is why making an announcement tomorrow, on the eve of the Hana Bank * Kolon Championship 2009 seems a bit silly indeed. The event is in Korea, ie the tour’s elite are all in Korea (including current acting commissioner Marty Evans), and it’s not going to be televised in the United States. For a tour that’s screaming and needing more attention in it’s home country, making the announcement now, rather then during the LPGA Tour Championship a televised home event, is baffling.

It’s not as if Michael Whan will be beginning his tenure right away anyway. Marty Evans will be holding down the fort for the remainder of the season with Mr. Whan taking the lead beginning in January.

The LPGA jumped the gun on this one, timing could’ve given the LPGA Tour Championship some pretty big buzz.

Early Reports: Michael Whan new LPGA Commissioner

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:39:11 -0400

Golfweek Magazine and Golf Digest are reporting that Michael Whan will be announced as the new LPGA commissioner at a special meeting in NYC on Wednesday morning.

See Golfweek’s report here.

Whan is a former executive at Taylor Made Adidas, and was recently a CEO of Mission-ITECH hockey.

More reports are coming out, but hopefully we’ll get a bigger look of it tomorrow morning.

Whan was not a name on the radar as a likely choice for the new LPGA commissioner, and hopefully he’ll prove overly fruitful for the LPGA economically and beyond. In the few short months acting commissioner Marty Evans was at the helm, she has added events back to the 2010 schedule, and secured a title sponsor for the LPGA Tour championship.

The role of LPGA commissioner has been a hot topic after a “player revolt” caused Bivens to step down during the spring.