Bienvenue! My name is Jamie and I like golf. I grew up playing tennis in eastern Massachusetts, but fell in love with the game after watching Se Ri Pak defeat Jenny Chausiriporn at the 1998 U.S. Womens Open. I studied Hospitality & Tourism Management (with a focus on Event, Tourism, and Convention Management) at the Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Tennis is my first love, but golf is a very close second.
I believe style should equal substance, and the latter is nothing without the former.
"you can't make harmony, when everyone is singing the same note."
Can Christina Do It?
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.
Why Christina Kim should be America’s sweetheart
After the 2005 Solheim Cup I was hopeful that Christina Kim’s sharp patriotism, team spirit, and most importantly, excellent golf game would put her in the upper echelons of the American golfers on the LPGA. As this little trading card pack shows you, Christina Kim is not one of America’s darlings, though she should.
I have conceded the fact that Paula Creamer is, and deservedly so, the LPGA #1 America’s Sweetheart. She has the phenomenal results to back this statement, and is the picture of girl next door. Fine, I’m okay with that. Natalie & Morgan though, what do they have going on that should put them in an upper playing field compared to Christina.
Don’t get me wrong, I do not want to turn this post into a rambling size/race discussion. Morganza does have a major that Christina dose not, but if CK were to win the RICOH Women’s British Open today, would she be warranted the same American darling status? I don’t think that’s likely. Which is a real shame, Christina Kim is truly an amazing ambassador for this tour. She showed just what she was made up on the professional side of things, as if I recall correctly was the only LPGA pro present for Marsha Evan’s presser announcing her as interim Commissioner.
Morgan Pressel is firery and competitive, a la Dottie Pepper. Christina Kim is, loud? Exuberant? Brash? Natalie Gulbis has calendars, and photo shoots galore. Christina is posting super-sexy tweets of herself. There’s quite a dichotomy here. Let me be clear here, I do not want to diminish anything from Morgan, Natalie or Paula. They are all clearly talented women, all deserving of the utmost praise, and I wish them continued success, all of it will help the LPGA.
I just wish Christina got the due respect she deserved for being an open, fan-friendly, professional out here. Would we care about her so-called “excessive tweeting” if she were size 2 and blonde? Or would we be fawning at the fact that someone so desirable were letting us in on their lives? The same way many, many, many fanboys and fangirls follow their favorite actor/singer/crush of their life sort of way?
I just think it’s truly a pity when someone who is incredibly icy (not naming names, but they may have the same initials) is considered more marketable then Christina. Let’s embrace CK and give her the love she deserves.
