Does Maria Fassi make it?

[MelloYello]

What do you all think the odds are of Fassi becoming a relevant player? Seems she's prone to some big numbers as a result of some wild swings. Does she have the game to compete at the highest level or will she eventually fade into the background?

 

[18majors]

Maria is new to LPGA and has played a total of twelve events as a member; she made three straight cuts to start her career but has missed eight of nine cuts since.

She's the first and only golfer to win ANNIKA award, collegiate outstanding player of the year, twice in consecutive years.

She's been as long off the tee as she's always been; but she seemed to be more prone to wild shots as a pro than when she played NCAA.

Her body of work has indicated that she'll be a successful LPGA player; the real question is whether she'll be No. 1 or will she win multiple majors.

We'll know a lot more by December 1, 2020.

 

 

[WestTex]

I hope she does, but right now it looks like hype. I blame the media for the hype, not her so much. The other day they were showing her and she was 11 over. I'm thinking, why show her? You probably wouldn't show SYR or Marina Alex, etc if they were 11 over...? I personally think it's likely being new as 18majors said. I would be pooping bricks myself so I'm going to hold judgement. Wishing her well to turn things around.

[MelloYello]

Yeah, I can't help but start to get a little teensy bit cynical now that the ANWA glow is starting to wear off. It's fine to cut to her but yeah, when she's +11 that's a gut-punch. Ugh, that sucks. I mean, I feel bad for her that she's struggling right now. I wish her all the best obviously. Apparently she had a real rough hole the prior day.

 

But still, it seems she's a bit prone to some mechanical issues which is what makes me wonder whether she's destined to be a highly ranked player (top-40) or whether she'll eventually become someone who has to battle just to keep her card year-in, year-out.

 

She just doesn't seem to be steady enough nor does she seem to have great touch. A lot can change but at the same time, she's not some 16-year old just emerging either. I kind of expected her to look like a little more refined player given all the hype.

[18majors]

I've been watching golf for a long time; tens of years.

As bad as Maria looks right now; she looks better than Tiger Woods was during 2015-2017 period, and I still remember Jack Nicklaus shot a final round 86 to lose a Pebble Beach tournament in the 1970's.

You would've never known that Madelene Sagstrom ranked outside of Rolex 100 before she looked unbeatable in winning Gainbridge the week before last.

Maria will be fine; we should all sit back and enjoy her 300 yard bombs from time to time.

[Argonne69]

A lot of successful players are wild at times, or were wild in their early years. I think she'll learn to dial it back a bit.

[WestTex]

I hope so. I will give her a lot of credit as I was watching the second round and she was still smiling, laughing, and rooting for Sagstrom in spite of a rough score. If I were 11 over....wait, that's not a bad score for me, never mind.

[mallrat]

I think she’s more Phil Mickelson than Tiger Woods. Meaning I don’t think she will break records for wins or cuts made but I think she will have a pretty good career. I imagine transitioning to professional golf is a big step. Learning how to travel week in week out. How to take care of yourself (mind and body healthy, eating right not brushing your teeth) and not enjoy the life too much is all a big challenge.

 

I think she’ll right the ship and have a good career but we won’t see her as #1 any time soon. I think Kupcho will have a better career and imagine they will be linked forever.

[Bushwood Country Club]

Interesting topic... I watched her play all 4 years of college, and was fortunate to meet her at the SEC Championship tourney when she was a freshman (its played at a course near me). She seemed to steadily improve ,and was a quite pleasant person. Since turning pro, I can only wonder if she is missing the structure that college golf offered - and that pro like also presents many more social distractions. I root for her and hope she becomes a start, but the play of late is concerning...

[GoGoErky]

It takes time for some to get acclimated to adulthood, professional career and all that comes with it. Let’s see where she is at in a year or two. As someone mentioned in the Akshay thread Rose had a rough start to his career and that turned out ok

[ChronicSlicer]

@18majors said:
"She's the first and only golfer to win ANNIKA award, collegiate outstanding player of the year, twice in consecutive years."
"Her body of work has indicated that she'll be a successful LPGA player; the real question is whether she'll be No. 1 or will she win multiple majors."
Amanda Blumenherst was highly touted coming from college too, here's a list of her junior,collegiate and amateur achievements. My point being, some make the transition, some don't. Time will tell.
Awards[edit]Junior golf and high school[edit]Rolex Junior All-American (2002–2005)Two-time Arizona 5A State Player of the Year (2003–2004)Phoenix Women's Sports Association H.S. Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2004)Arizona Female High School Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2005)College and amateur career[edit]NGCA National Freshman of the Year (2006)Golf Week National Freshman of the Year (2006)Edith Cummings Munson Golf Award (2006)ACC Freshman of the Year (2006)Golfstat Cup winner (2006–2008)NGCA First Team All-American (2006–2008)Honda Sports Award Golf (2006–2008)Golf Week First Team All-American (2006–2008)ACC Player of the Year (2006–2008)ACC First Team (2006–2008)NGCA National Player of the Year (2006–2009)Nancy Lopez Award (2007–2009)Golf Week National Player of the Year (2007)NGCA Scholar All-American (2007)ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American (2007, 2009)ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III (2008)Golf World Player of the Mid-Year (2008)NCAA Woman of the Year Finalist (2009)Sullivan Award Semi-Finalist (2009)ACC Co-Player of the Year (2009)Team appearances[edit]AmateurJunior Solheim Cup (representing the United States): 2002 (winners), 2003Curtis Cup (representing the United States): 2006 (winners), 2008 (winners)Espirito Santo Trophy (representing the United States): 2008

[ChronicSlicer]

I'm with you on the media and the hype they create, nothing wrong with recognizing someones abilities, but some of these clowns push the issue way to far. I guess they don't realize the added pressure they put on these young athletes. When the athletes underperform, it's on to the next "big thing". I guess they need a paycheck too..

[davidfunn500]

[North Texas]

Way too early to say one way or the other. But I am going to say that, yes, she will make it. She has the length to be the dominating player on the LPGA.

[strug'-a-ling]

I'd like to see her make it on tour.

More urgently, though, I'd like to see her make lasagna.

This diet I'm on is freakin' killing me.

 

[ChronicSlicer]

Me thinks she needs to dial that boom stick down a bit. Playing from the rough is a tough go. Reminds me of AVD, and Lexi a bit.

[Argonne69]

Lexi is actually quite accurate for a long hitter. She averaged 75% of her fairways in 2019, over 16% more than Maria.

[ChronicSlicer]

Hmm, according to LPGA.com Lexi hit 596/942 fairways for 63.3% in 2019. 65% in 2018, 69% in 2017, 68% in 2017.

Fassi was 218/370 or 58.9% in 2019. So about 4% less than Lexi.

I wish Lexi could hit 75% of her fairways, Jin Young only hit 80% in 2019. Crazy enough even though Lexi hit 63% of fairways, she still hit 76% of her GIR's good enough for 4th place 3.5% less than Jin Young's 79.6%.

Picture Lexi having Jin Young's driving accuracy, her GIR's would be pretty insane. She might even make a few more putts...maybe..lol.

[Argonne69]

Ugh. Stupid mobile LPGA site. I selected 2019, but it displayed 2020. She's currently at 75 percent for this season. Not much to go on, but trending up.

 

[Singapore Joe]

Fassi will tee up in Bonneville, NSW at the Australian Ladies Classic. There's the NSW Women's Open in Dubbo (I guess that's somewhere in NSW) a week later so I guess it's a safe bet she will be there, too. Reports - Ladies European Tour

[Bushwood Country Club]

Decent finish last weekend...best in a while, but faded on Sunday.

[OffTheDole]

Right now, I see Maria Fassi less as a star of the tour than a player holding on to her card via a few good weeks a year on courses that suit her game.

She really goes after it and I think that's why double bogey is always in play. Her swing has a lot of lag, which IMO makes days that her timing is off really spectacularly bad.

So far she's 1 for 3 on cuts made and had a really rough start to the season at Boca Rio, 82 (+10).

She could get away with some errant shots on a course like Royal Adelaide because missing left or right wasn't putting her in jail. A Florida course like Boca Rio, where water, trees, and sand are everywhere, is going to be tough for Fassi if she can't gear down and keep the ball in play.

 

[MagicClassic407]

Unfortunately, Maria missed the cut this week on the LET by 1.

[RealNickG]

She's still young and there will be some settling in. She will straighten herself out and contend at some of these events.

[GoGoErky]

I think she mentioned in the video she did with meandmygolf that she is making swing changes to help he have more control

[BeerPerHole]

I think she'll have a good career. I absolutely love her swing.

[SEP1006]

Been watching the replay from the Amateur at the Masters the last few days. Man does she go after the golf ball, very aggressive swing and no fear.

[jubess]

You can't teach length and Maria has it in spades. Once she learns to control it and play smart golf, she will win plenty. Look at what Ariya did. Ariya put away her driver and has won a bunch of times.

[cristphoto]

I think she will adapt to LPGA play and survive. She probably still has the match play mentality and bombs drives. Match play you send one deep into the woods you just move to the next hole. Stroke play you go find it and card an 8.

[Argonne69]

After she straightens out her driver, she needs to work on her putting. She ranked 112th in putting average in 2019, and 87th in putts per GIR.

Now, the general wisdom is that poor ballstriking puts pressure on a player's short game, so the putting woes could be pressure related. We've seen that with several other players.