The LPGA Thread

[tonyj5]

Can this week get any worse for former number one Yani Tseng?
First she saw her string of 109 weeks on top the Rolex Rankings come to an end, as Stacy Lewis replaced her as the number 1 player in the world.
Now she has been withdrawn from the Kia Classic, for missing her Pro-Am tee time.

For full story:
http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...a-classic.html

[Skyboxer]

Quote: Originally Posted by tonyj5

Can this week get any worse for former number one Yani Tseng? First she saw her string of 109 weeks on top the Rolex Rankings come to an end, as Stacy Lewis replaced her as the number 1 player in the world. Now she has been withdrawn from the Kia Classic, for missing her Pro-Am tee time. For full story: http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...a-classic.html

I felt really bad for her. Sucks, but rules are rules.

[tonyj5]

Here are the leaders after round 1:

1 Jane Park -6 F
2 Caroline Hedwall -5 F
2 Karrie Webb -5 F
4 Jessica Korda -4 F
4 Giulia Sergas -4 F
6 Inbee Park -3 F
6 Se Ri Pak -3 F
6 Paula Creamer -3 F
6 Austin Ernst -3 F
6 Jodi Ewart Shadoff -3 F
6 Lizette Salas -3 F
6 Haeji Kang -3 F
6 Beatriz Recari -3 F
6 Mo Martin -3 F
6 Amanda Blumenherst -3 F

[tonyj5]

Here are the leaders after 2 rounds:

1 Beatriz Recari -8 F
2 Paula Creamer -7 F
2 Karrie Webb -7 F
4 In-Kyung Kim -6 F
4 Cristie Kerr -6 F
4 Inbee Park -6 F
4 Haeji Kang -6 F
4 Jane Park -6 F
9 Lizette Salas -5 F
9 Caroline Hedwall -5 F
11 Jeong Jang -4 F
11 So Yeon Ryu -4 F
11 Stacy Lewis -4 F

[tonyj5]

Here are the leaders after 3 rounds:

1 Beatriz Recari -11 F
2 Karrie Webb -9 F
3 In-Kyung Kim -8 F
3 Paula Creamer -8 F
5 Stacy Lewis -7 F
5 Lizette Salas -7 F
5 Cristie Kerr -7 F
8 Inbee Park -6 F
8 Jane Park -6 F
10 Na Yeon Choi -5 F
10 Suzann Pettersen -5 F
10 Azahara Munoz -5 F
10 Mo Martin -5 F

[tonyj5]

Final Results:

1 x-Beatriz Recari -9 F
2 In-Kyung Kim -9 F
3 Pornanong Phatlum -8 F
3 Mo Martin -8 F
3 Cristie Kerr -8 F
6 Jane Park -7 F
6 Lizette Salas -7 F
6 Karrie Webb -7 F
9 Giulia Sergas -6 F
9 Haeji Kang -6 F
9 Azahara Munoz -6 F
9 Stacy Lewis -6 F

[tonyj5]

As I sit down to write this I am completely exhausted from watching the conclusion of the Kia Classic. It just doesn't get much more exciting than that. Beatriz Recari defeated I.K. Kim on the second hole of a playoff. The 18th hole at the Avira Golf Club is one of the best finishing holes in all of golf. Your drive is threatened by water all the way up the right side. If you miss your approach shot to the green to the right, there is a water hazard. Miss it to the left and getting it up and down is nearly impossible. Landing it on the green is no sure bet for par either, as the 2 tiered green led to 3 putts all day long. Both I.K. Kim and Beatriz Recari just needed to two putt for a win in regulation, but neither one could. On to 18 they went again for the first playoff hole. They hit the green in two, but they both 3 putted once again, and on they went to play 18 for a third straight time. I.K. then hit the green in regulation, and Beatrice almost went into the hazard on the right, leaving her with 4 feet of grass to putt through. I.K. putted first and just missed, leaving her with a tap in for par. Beatriz would now have to get down in two to keep play alive. Her putt then went through the four feet of grass and another 13 feet of green to land square in the center of the cup.

For Beatriz, it was the second win of her young career. For Kim, who missed winning her first major championship last year when she missed a 14 inch putt, it was another devastating loss.



On to today's topic. Although the LPGA has only completed 5 of the 28 tournaments on the 2013 schedule, I don't think it is too early to see who the biggest surprises and biggest disappointments are so far this year. I will revisit this after the 15th tournament, and again at year's end.

For complete story:

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...2013-part.html

[tonyj5]

Back in January, LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan made what I think was the most important announcement of his entire tenure as Commissioner. He announced the details of a new tournament, beginning in 2014, called the International Crown. What made this so different from the several other new tournaments that he had previously announced? It gives all players, no matter what country they are from, the chance to represent their country in an Olympic type event.

Before this was announced the only competition between countries that the LPGA had on its schedule was the Solheim Cup. A competition between the United States and Europe. As a resident of the United States, it was my favorite tournament of the year. At the tournament's completion, it always made me sad that we had to wait two more years before it would be played again. But in truth, I was lucky that at least I got to see my country play. That could not be said for fans of players from South Korea, Japan, Australia, Thailand, and many other countries whose players could not compete.

Why shouldn't players like Ai Miyazato, Na Yeon Choi, Yani Tseng, and Pornanong Phatlum have an oppurtunity to play for their countries? Surely they are amongst the top players in the world.

With the announcement of the International Crown, all that has changed. Every country will now have a chance to compete. The tournament will be played on even numbered years, while the Solheim cup will continue to be played on odd numbered years.

"The final field of eight countries will be determined by the combined Rolex World Ranking of the top four players from each country as of the Rolex World Rankings published at the conclusion of the 2013 CME Group Titleholders." (Countries must have a minimum of four ranked players to be eligible.)

"The final field of 32 players will be determined after the Rolex World Rankings are published on the Monday of the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship week. At this point, the top-4 ranked players from each pre-qualified country will make up their respective country’s team."

This makes it very interesting because at the completion of the 2013 LPGA season, we will know who the 8 countries that are competing are, but we will have to wait until well into the 2014 season to know who the players are that will represent their respective countries. In fact a player playing well in 2013 could help get their country in, but not make the team themself for playing poorly at the start of the 2014 season. Personally I think this is a stroke of genius on the commissioner's part. Not only will be watching carefully at the end of this year to make sure our country gets in, but we will be following closely the following year rooting for our favorite players to get in.

Now it's time to take a look at the standings as they are today. Which countries would qualify as of right now. Here is a listing of the top eight countries with their top players' Rolex Ranking in parenthesis:

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...wn-update.html