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Category: Pro Golf And Golfer Commentary (page 2 of 7)

“I Wanted to Beat Her, but I Could Not.”

When Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa battled it out here, Ochoa won. Twice in a row.

Back in real life, the two top female golfers went at it in Ixtapa, Mexico on Saturday, where Annika took 11 skins to Lorena’s 7, making it the 3rd year in a row she defeated the now top-ranked female golfer.

lorena annika skins mexico

AP photo from last year’s match in Acapulco.

Since this isn’t an LPGA event, might Annika continue to play it after she retires at the end of this year? That’s something I might submit to the Q&A section of her blog, where she also wrote about this weekend’s event.

Lorena vs. Men?

Before the skins game, Lorena mentioned that she would consider playing against men in the future. She is growing more and more dominant on the LPGA Tour, but she still can’t take down Queen Annika one-on-one. Do you think she should compete against the men either in a Tour event, a skins match or some other exhibition? Here’s a quick poll to have your say, and as always, you’re welcome to share additional thoughts in the comments.

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Things I Have in Common with Michelle Wie

There aren’t many, I admit, but there are a few. I also admit that while I’m glad for many of the things we don’t have in common, I sure wish I had her potential in golf. That said, here’s what we do share:

  • Skipped a lot of school (wish mine had been for golf)
  • Enjoy Cheerios (educated uneducated guess)
  • Wrist pain
  • Wish we could putt like Tiger Woods (what, you have something in common with her too?)
  • Won’t win the US Open this year
  • Thought we could
  • Occasionally delusional

I think that about covers it.

michelle wie us open putting drill

Photo by Ashley Mayo. Check out her live blogging from the Women’s US Open to read about the putting drill pictured and all the US Open action on the Golf For Women Editor’s blog.

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Tiger Woods out for the Season, PGA stock plummets

Tiger’s taking his ball (and US Open trophy) and going home. For the rest of the year.

Stress fractures of the tibia, a torn ligament, and his upcoming ACL surgery have the world’s number one hobbling away with his winnings to recover for the rest of the year. I hope he has a good disability plan, because how can someone afford to just take that much time off?

The LPGA, Champions and Nationwide Tours should prepare for scattered viewers. After Tiger’s competition against Rocco in one of the best golf tournaments ever, regular PGA Tour events are going to just seem like … golf. And we get that on the other tours. Yes, we’ll miss Tiger but it will be fun to watch other golf for the rest of the summer in His absence. Maybe towards the end of the season with Tiger far enough away in our rearview mirrors, the events will even seem exciting. There is certainly potential for a lot of drama and excitement from the women.

Oh but first we have to get past all the press coverage and speculation about how the injuries affected his play at the US Open, and how he’ll be when he finally returns. I’m sure once it hits in earnest, it will spiral out of control for awhile, so I’m bracing myself and am prepared to play through it.

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Now that’s entertainment! (and other US Open thoughts)

If you missed the US Open, you missed some of the best golf ever televised. It was incredible. Almost literally. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought it was rigged to script the drama. I guess it’s conceivable that Tiger could aim for an adjacent hole’s bunker knowing he could execute the amazing recovery shot. He could even have been paid to make it close and have missed a few putts on purpose knowing he’d win in the end. He could even wince in agony and magically recover in order to secure a few more million dollars a year from an Aleve endorsement all while lending credibility to his human persona. But did the USGA really collude with Aleve and Tiger’s creators to concoct this “competitive tournament?” Nahh… it all happens behind the scenes in Tiger’s camp, and the script began back when he had his work done. The USGA, the PGA Tour and the golf industry as a whole are simply lucky beneficiaries of Tiger’s placement here on Earth. Not to mention the fans.

The USGA did an amazing job of setting up the course to play exactly to par for the best of field. We all know that doesn’t include Tiger. He just played up to it for his own agenda which happens to make for highly entertaining golf.

tiger woods rocco mediate us openAll is right with the Universe

The Monday playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate was stellar. I bit off all my nails just watching and had putting butterflies as though I were playing and not safely home on my couch. As much as I love Tiger, my appreciation of him is for his dominance. I know some people would root against him for that reason and a lot of people rooted for Rocco because of his underdog status and his outright affability. I don’t think I’m alone that I was rooting for both of them – many of us simply wanted a good show (as Rocco said), and the players certainly delivered.

I wanted Rocco to win, but I needed Tiger to win to reassure me that the Universe was still on course. That the Earth will stay on its axis. As I rooted for Rocco, I worried about what life on Earth would be like if he won.

It was the most compelling round of golf I’ve personally ever watched. Wasn’t it fun to watch just two guys play every shot on every hole and to have it be so close? I was riveted – no skipping ahead through holes on my DVR. Every shot and every word (from the players) had to be seen and heard.

On Sunday, I was really rooting for a three person playoff. I would have loved to see Lee Westwood in there as well. My heart sank when he didn’t make it. Would it have been as entertaining as the underdog vs. number one head-on duel? We’ll never know.

The unwitting pool boy

Pool boys are known for their sex appeal. I’m guessing Rocco never really has been, what with his funny body and funny smile, but I’m also guessing that just changed for a lot of female golf fans (and maybe Johnny Miller as well). Perhaps it’s simply Rocco’s easy demeanor that makes him a pool boy in Johnny’s eyes, but for me, his sexy quotient was elevated to pool boy status by his amazing golf and how he competed with the best, had him on the ropes and fought it out to the finish.

Random thoughts:

Could a non-golfer ever truly appreciate just how great Tiger Woods is? Before I took up golf, I know I didn’t.

If Elin hadn’t dressed like Rocco on Monday, would the round have been a blowout?

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Johnny Miller “gems” from the US Open

I’m told he’s not mentally disabled, so I guess Johnny Miller is fair game. With all the incredible action yesterday, it was irritating to have to listen to his nonsense. Rather than muting the telecast, I decided to document some of his gems. Some are listed by readers in this previous post, but here are some examples of his “brilliance” from Sunday at the US Open:

The nonstop comparison of himself to Tiger because of their similar knee surgeries: “I can relate to everything Tiger’s going through right now.” (Riiiiiight. There’s his delusional perspective at work.)

“Four par” (meaning a par 4 hole, not four par scores)

On what shots Tiger should hit all day: “If he plays the hook, he’s just another player.” (Uh, if he plays the hook, he’s probably an amateur. Do you mean draw?)

and… Johnny decided Tiger should be playing his power cut shots all day since they’ve been working best. (this shortly after we hear that the shot that hurts Tiger the worst is the cut, especially the power one since he snaps his left knee.)

On a random 6-foot putt: “These are the ones you gotta make if you wanna win.” (not the 4 footers, the 12 footers, the 2 footers, the approach shots or anything else?)

On a putt that didn’t break into the hole: “It stayed up there for some reason” (wonder what that reason is?)

On a shot decision with a poorly timed telestrator accompaniment: Lots of bumbling words followed by “he was playing the shot that would go this way” (are you sure he’s not mentally disabled?)

I’m recording the playoff so I’ll update this with any gems I pluck from today’s broadcast once I watch it (trying desperately not to hear the score!).

Update: From Monday’s playoff round

Talking about how “sole-ing” the club in chunky lies rather than keeping the club level at the ball for chips from the rough is the “biggest mistake I see from professional golfers.” (as though if he were still a player, he wouldn’t make this mistake and since it’s the most common, he’d be better than they are)

On the third hole after Rocco almost aced it and Tiger was in the bunker: “I had a feeling he was gonna make a 2 there when Tiger was buried.” (cocky blowhard now thinks he has ESP)

Talking about how Tiger made a bunch of one-putts then missed some “I sorta jinxed him.” (cocky blowhard thinks he has that power as well)

Constantly giving advice as to how caddies should interact with their players. For example – yesterday he suggested if he were Stevie, he’d be more forceful with Tiger’s club decisions off the tees. And today, saying if he were Rocco’s caddie he would have pumped him up by telling him to take advantage of the second par 3 when Tiger was in trouble. (Give me a break – these guys have relationships with their players and know exactly how to work with them.)

After the 18th hole when they were on their way to the 7th tee for sudden death, he said he was shocked that Tiger ate and drank as much as he did before going back to play: “It’s not always good to eat so much.” (Again – give me a break. Like Tiger doesn’t know his own body well enough to balance his own pH levels.)

Johnny – do you get paid by the word? Why do these people keep hiring him? Yes, he was announcing during the ESPN portion of the coverage as well as NBC. The only reason I can think is that the other announcers insist that he’s there alongside them so that they’ll appear brilliant by comparison.

Care to share some of your favorites? Please do!

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Will Annika retire on top?

Annika Sorenstam is playing with confidence, grace, and determination. She looks like the Annika we know and love from before her injuries. Her dominant win last week in Virginia keeps her solidly in second place to Lorena Ochoa and the momentum is on her side. More on that in my latest Golf For Women post on Swing Thoughts.

Annika Sorenstam with cat

Now there is a rumor that Annika will retire at the end of this year, and she’s supposedly going to make a statement today. We all know she is marrying Mike McGee and wants to start a family. While most of the working world has to work more to support a family, she has the luxury and probably the necessity to do the opposite. She’ll still have her business to run but to make time for a family, something’s got to give. Since she has already accomplished so much in professional golf, it makes sense that playing regularly on tour would be the thing to drop. I mean, she’s not going to get rid of that cat. *Side note: Vito actually likes cats. I told you he had snags.*

annika sorenstam and mike mcgeeAnnika has a frequent Q&A session on her own blog, and the big question this week is whether the retirement rumor is true. Maybe she will answer it in her statement today or on her blog. Either way, inquiring minds want to know. Pop in and pose a question to Annika – she’d probably be grateful for something other than this topic. I happened to notice In her post about winning the Michelob Ultra, she mentioned that she was going to celebrate by actually drinking one. Now that sounds like dutiful sponsor representation rather than an actual plan, and maybe she even cracked one open and posed for a photo. Surely that wasn’t her real beverage of choice for celebration, and just as surely, that was my own burning question on her blog. Will she answer?

Of course the retirement issue is of greater importance. Whether she will or won’t, I’d love to see her back in the #1 position before she goes. This year would be just fine with me. The LPGA has a lot of great competition, with dominant Lorena Ochoa leading the pack, so Annika’s got her work cut out for her. I think we’re going to see a lot more stellar play out of Annika this year, and maybe with retirement beckoning at season’s end, her focus and determination will be that much stronger.

Update: It’s official. Annika made the announcement today, citing “following her dreams” of business and family as her reasons for stepping away from competitive golf. She said “I have given it all and it’s been fun.” You can watch the press conference at the link above. She also talks about the state of women’s golf and even gives a nod to Brett Favre for their similarities in reasons to retire (they love the competition, they’re just “tired of the daily grind”). It’s an interesting speech and she also discusses her plans to stay involved in the game of golf and inspire future golfers. As for the next seven months, her goal is to win many tournaments, including majors. That’s what I’m talking about. That’s what I want to see.

Thank you, Annika, for all the years you’ve given us and everything you have already done for golf.

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Way to go, Sergio!

I guess I didn’t ever witness much of Sergio Garcia’s bad behavior, or if I did, I didn’t pay it much mind. I did witness him choke over the years and struggle with his putting and actually wanted to see him overcome that and win. Yes, I admit I was rooting for Sergio Garcia this weekend that The Players Championship.

Of course, Paul Goydos was fun and engaging and would have been a terrific Cinderella story, so I was rooting for him, too. When it came to the playoff I truly would have been happy to see either man get the victory.

sergio garcia drive pose

As much as it hurt to see Goydos’ tee shot find the water on the first playoff hole, it was refreshing to see his graceful reaction. And inspiring to see Sergio’s shot get so close to the hole. I was rooting for Paul to pull off a miracle and hole out his third shot, figuring there was a pretty good chance Sergio would miss his 4-footer. Well, maybe he would have made it if that pressure would have been on him, but when Goydos missed his putt for bogey, Sergio could comfortably two-putt for the win. Sure he probably wanted to make the birdie, but he made sure not to disappoint by disappointing and making a ho-hum par for the championship. Even after that, he kissed his putter if only to remind himself and us that his putting is indeed coming around regardless of that miss.

As Goydos remarked in his comments after taking second place, Garcia played better than anyone else. The tournament statistics agree – Sergio deserved and earned this win. I’m happy to see him maturing and hope this victory leads to more consistent competition for the rest of golf’s top players.

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Is Johnny Miller mentally disabled?

I get downright irritated when I watch a golf event that Johnny Miller announces. It seems like on every hole, he says something (often many things) so stupid, self-aggrandizing or just plain annoying that I want to mute the telecast and watch it to music. But if he’s actually mentally disabled, I’d feel bad criticizing him as his “performance” would be admirable. Even then, I’d suspect the rest of the mentally challenged community would be embarrassed to have him as a representative at times.

So, is Johnny Miller a marginal disabled announcer or a terrible non-disabled one?

Why do the networks keep employing him and letting him open his mouth for all to hear?

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The Kids are Alright

paula creamer semgroup champIf Lorena falls into the Tiger Woods category, she certainly didn’t let it show this week while Paula Creamer stomped her down at the SemGroup Championship. The 21-year old “pink panther” held off the would-be-record-breaking five-time LPGA winner from claiming that glory at Cedar Ridge Country Club. I doubt anyone who is a serious follower of the LPGA world discounted Paula Creamer from being a contender, but lately Lorena Ochoa has been Tiger-like in her dominance. If Annika can’t stop her, maybe Paula can. She did this week at least.

Meanwhile, another youngster gave the field a Tiger bashing (in Tiger’s knee procedure absence) with a 5 stroke win at the Wachovia Championship. He’s 22 years old, many eyes have been on him, and he finally has his first PGA win – with serious authority. His name is Anthony Kim, and you better believe he’s not a fluke winner. Put this kid on your fantasy team if you have one. Adam Scott may be hotter, but I think this kid’s a more threatening competitor when it comes to golf. Look out, men!

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Tiger Woods has work done, Lorena Ochoa takes the spotlight

Tiger’s website says he underwent “arthroscopic knee surgery” last week and will be out 4-6 weeks while he rehabilitates.

Translation (from internal memo):

Worn part #52a92J replaced in subject Gpr8#kl2. Actual time out of commission: 5.8 Earth minutes. Cover story issued to handlers. “Arthroscopic knee surgery” often requires 4-6 weeks of rehabilitation time in actual humans, therefore subject and handlers may use this as justification for not participating in several undesirable events as well as recent loss at the human revered “Masters.”

This “down time” and distraction allows us to focus on our internal reorganization and determine how best to assign our assets between subjects Gpr8#kl2 and Bw8^p4m. For those not previously involved in subject Bw8^p4m’s development and assimilation, we gave it a human female form with Mexican heritage and call it “Lorena Ochoa.” You will receive further information if you are transitioning to this case.

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