2014 CME

[DavePelz4]

Is the Christina Kim practice backswing replicating Wiesy and the driver?

[DavePelz4]

I know I've been criticized for the nickname of SNaP for Stacy Lewis however her inability to politely acknowledge people who have paid money to buy tickets and have applauded her good play is beyond reproach.

Mrs. Pelz applauded me for finally taking out the garbage last night and I tipped my NIU hat and said thank you.

[DavePelz4]

Carlotta Ciganda = Love Actually.

 

 

[Awsi Dooger]

[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1416607271' post='10485163']Is the Christina Kim practice backswing replicating Wiesy and the driver?[/quote]

Very similar. Michelle does it once prior to every shot. With Christina it's multiple times and not always the same number.

The past two days while attending the event it's thrown me off several times. I've primarily been following Michelle's group so I'm accustomed to one long waggle. Then when I join Christina again I'm briefly startled when she does it several times.

[Awsi Dooger]

After today's round I ran into Terry Gannon on the walkway alongside the hotel. I was glad to see him because I've long wanted to express condolences on the death of his father, who I worked with a long time ago in Las Vegas. His dad was a great guy, and my daily sounding board at the Horseshoe sportsbook every afternoon during the dependable overreactive lunacy of Jack Binion. Gannon's father would eagerly gobble up the day's Binion antics while chuckling and offering me a lifesaver.

Today when I approached Terry Gannon he was walking briskly, pulling a carry-on, and initially said he was busy and had to leave. Not until I mentioned that I worked with his dad did he stop in his tracks and perk up: "You worked with my father?"

I said yes, in Las Vegas 25 years ago. "Oh, at the Riviera." No, but that explained something to me. I had wondered how our sportsbook manager at the Horseshoe knew Mr. Gannon. That manager was previously assistant manager at the Riviera sportsbook, so that's how they knew each other.

Terry Gannon and I talked for 10 or 15 minutes. He's every bit as sharp and classy at he comes across on TV. Lots of guys I meet, or have exchanges with on the internet, pretend they know the sports betting scene, particularly in Las Vegas and during that era, 20 or 30 years ago. They don't know. They try to fake it. Terry Gannon did know. His reference points were absolutely correct, including when he brought up the old Churchill Downs wise guy sportsbook on the Las Vegas Strip, on the current site of Paris Las Vegas.

Gannon told me that his father became increasingly intrigued with Las Vegas before moving there in late 1985. I met him in fall 1989. They had extended visits many times previously. Terry Gannon said his interest in sports betting dates to when he was 14 or 15 years old and used to call several bookies to get the daily baseball betting lines, before passing on tips to his dad. I think he said they lived in Joliet at the time.

I told him about golf matchup betting and he was well aware of that. He also asked about a new site that deals with golf betting. Let me emphasize he was aware, not involved. Just a very sharp guy who seems to follow everything and retain relevant details.

Of course, in quick retrospect there were several things I intended to mention but didn't get a chance, like how his dad beamed every day when a fellow sportsbook supervisor named Joe would tell customers at the counter that Mr. Gannon's son was the sharp shooting guard on the famous North Carolina State team than vanquished Phil Slamma Jamma in 1983. I can still picture the big smile that would creep on Mr. Gannon's face when that topic came up.

Today as Terry Gannon shook hands and started to walk away, he wished me "good luck tomorrow night." Initially I had no idea what he was talking about. Then I realized he was referring to USC vs. UCLA. I was wearing a USC shirt and visor today. In Miami and as a Canes season ticket holder I'm so far detached from the Coliseum that I often don't prioritize USC until game time on TV.

[Awsi Dooger]

I was standing not far from B.J. Wie today alongside the 7th fairway when Michelle holed out for eagle. He threw both arms into the air and shouted in joy as Michelle turned toward him and smiled. David Leadbetter was 20 yards ahead on the cart path. B.J. approached him and they slapped hands. That was repeated alongside the green several minutes later when Bo ran toward both of them and slapped hands.

It was an elegant looking shot that deserved to fall. Maybe 120 or 125 yards. Smack on line. It barely moved after landing before gently dropping.

Michelle took the ball out of the cup and handed it to a cute young freckle faced girl named Callie (sp?). That family followed the remainder of the round, with dad holding the ball for safe keeping. At one point beaming Callie asked for the ball so she could play with it. Dad told her to wait until they got home, while saying she might be Michelle's good luck charm. Sure enough, Michelle nearly holed out for eagle again, this time on the par 5 14th. Inches.

[Mr22putt]

Is it just me....or has LEGS changed her putting stroke....it seems more fluid now vs. a slow takeaway, delay and then pop at impact....previously?

I might not get a response, as I think many are only concentrating on Sandra\s gams.

Found this on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5eabQv5FNg

[DavePelz4]

Gannon is a Chicago guy, from the SW burb of Joliet which is best known for being in the Blues Brothers movie. Joliet has a school, Joliet Catholic, that is one of the best sports "factories" in IL. "Rudy" came from JCC as did George Mikan (probably showing how old I am), Mike Alstott who played for the Bucs, Coby Foleener who plays for the Colts and many others,

Back in the Jimmy V championship season, Gannon played point guard and led the country in 3 point shooting.

[Awsi Dooger]

I can understand the Thompson family's frustration with Lexi's putting, amidst claims she sinks everything at home while playing with her brothers. Late today Lexi was practicing on the putting green as the weather worsened. It was windy and cold. Only Mo Martin and Mi Hyang Lee were also on that green. Hee Young Park was the only player on the driving range, 24 hours after it was packed following conclusion of Thursday's play. Everyone else today was seeking cover and warmth. The late groups really had the worst of it. Everyone else finished before the weather changed. It had been overcast with occasional drizzles and maybe 15 mph wind all day but nothing like the weather of the last hour or so. I'm not sure they emphasized that on TV.

Lexi was practicing with a device that enabled her to place the ball on the same spot while aiming between two narrowly spaced tees at the front of the device. The putt was 8 feet with a 2 inch left to right break. Without exaggeration, Lexi sank at least 15 in a row. None of them looked like they would threaten to go anywhere besides the bottom of the cup. Very few weren't dead center.

It wasn't close to the same stroke she uses on the course. It was difficult not to blurt that out. I was 5 feet from Lexi and her caddy, while thinking, why isn't she this aggressive out there?

A young guy standing to my right outside the ropes drew Lexi's attention. She greeted him and introduced him to her caddy. He introduced himself to the caddy as Thomas Oakley. That name meant nothing to me but Lexi seemingly was in awe. Then I saw the Oakley brand names on his jacket and backpack. This guy must be a big shot.

Oakley asked Lexi if she were using any of their designs, the stuff she received a few months ago. Lexi awkwardly said no. She explained that she tried it on and it "had waves." She looked in the mirror and didn't like the waves and worried how they looked on her. Oakley explained, "that was a prototype." He said the new stuff was much better, pointing to nearby Mi Hyang Lee's outfit as an example. She was wearing deep pink rain pants. Lexi agreed that everybody seems to be raving about the new Oakley designs.

After Oakley excused himself while saying he'll be on premises all week, Lexi ditched the putting device and tried longer putts on her own. She was sinking nearly 40% from 15 feet. Again, the stroke was confident and pure, not close to what I saw on the course yesterday or today.

BTW, Hee Young Park on the range was practicing with a headcover under her left arm. She made sure to keep it tucked during the backswing but allowed it to drop on the follow through. Her coach was videoing from front and behind and showing the swings to Hee Young.

I felt bad for the volunteers on that range late today. They had one pyramid of practice balls after another set up but only Hee Young was out there in those conditions.

[Awsi Dooger]

[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1416616798' post='10485863']
Gannon is a Chicago guy, from the SW burb of Joliet which is best known for being in the Blues Brothers movie. Joliet has a school, Joliet Catholic, that is one of the best sports "factories" in IL. "Rudy" came from JCC as did George Mikan (probably showing how old I am), Mike Alstott who played for the Bucs, Coby Foleener who plays for the Colts and many others,

Back in the Jimmy V championship season, Gannon played point guard and led the country in 3 point shooting.
[/quote]

Thank you. I thought he said the family was living in Joliet during the days he was calling the bookies at age 14 and 15.

Gannon got a kick out of my story from USC that a bookmaker's son lived in my Troy Hall off campus apartment complex. During my junior and senior years that son would take bets throughout the complex for his dad. I had a rushing yardage system and was winning big on college football, seemingly every week. Consequently that son would call our apartment and scream at me on Saturday nights. "We'll get it back tomorrow. All of it. And then some."

Unfortunately he was correct. I had no idea what I was doing in the NFL at that stage, and lost more often than not. For some inane reason I was betting higher amounts on Sunday.

[Awsi Dooger]

Not nearly as much chatter out there this year. Maybe the 1 Million prize is playing a role. Particularly on Thursday when the top players were paired together there wasn't nearly as much gossip and guffaws as last year when I overheard Michelle, Jessica and Lydia yaking it up.

I did overhear So Yeon Ryu discussing her legal situation with her caddy. Apparently there are different classifications for foreign players depending on how many days they spend in this country during a calendar year. So Yeon was explaining that the key number is 183 days. So that's half a year. She said beyond that and the foreign players are classified differently. I'm not sure if it's for tax purposes, or residency or what. But she was telling him that it was a concern, and that the government doesn't count the days along obvious criteria. Sometimes it can equal a higher number than seems proper. So Yeon said that next year given the earlier start to the season she expects to be in the United States beyond 183 days.

[Awsi Dooger]

I talked to Leadbetter a couple of times. He's also not as chatty as last season. When Lydia hit an approach to roughly 12 feet, I said to him, "That will be crosshanded, right?"

"Borderline. It might be 2 feet further than she's comfortable with."

When he answered it that way, it indicated to me that Lydia prefers crosshanded but loses confidence outside 10 feet.

I told him that I've watched Lydia's tendencies all year and can't figure out what the trigger is, what causes her to pick conventional or crosshanded, just that short range is always crosshanded and longer putts can be conventional. He didn't offer anything. When I continued and said apparently she goes by feel, Leadbetter said, "That's it exactly. She picks whatever she thinks is best. She switches it up."

When I mentioned that Lydia had one event in which she putted conventional on everything, he said, "Yes, she did."

Nothing added. I was left with the impression that Leadbetter himself can't figure it out, and doesn't want to interfere. I have noticed that he has not been working with either Michelle or Lydia on the practice putting green this year, just the range.

[Awsi Dooger]

Speaking of putting, Michelle was brutal on Thursday. Her short putts looked terrible, especially on 17 when she 3 putted for bogey from perhaps 8 feet.

Immediately after that round Michelle hit the practice green with B.J. and Bo. The caddy leaned against the bag 20 feet away. Leadbetter was absent. B.J. directed the session with Bo watching and offering suggestions from 5 feet away.

They started with a 3 foot circle around the cup. Michelle sank 50% of them, if that much. Then they moved to 4 feet. This time it was markedly less than 50%. Even the ones that dropped looked tentative and barely found the edge of the cup.

Frowns everywhere. Nobody was pretending that it wasn't going terribly. Michelle moved to 8-10 feet removed and wasn't threatening the cup. Tiffany Joh approached and detected the group mood. She hesitated and walked past without saying a word. Excellent handicapping on her part. When Tiffany Joh doesn't kid and needle Michelle Wie or interject something lighthearted you know how bad it is.

Michelle stormed away, toward the driving range and Leadbetter's guidance. When she departed, a woman next to me said, "She's the friendly type, isn't she?" I told her how badly the session had gone. "I know. I saw it. That didn't look like a pro."

[Awsi Dooger]

Michelle still dreads the left miss. Her game is mostly identical to what I witnessed at this event last year. She's more confident in her follow through. That is a difference. It is ingrained, without the needed repetition and attention. She is also not hitting her hybrid nearly as low as last year, when it was basically the same height and distance as her 3 wood. This time the hybrid is traveling softer and higher and not as far. I'm not sure if it's by design but it's the reality. Every time she pulls that club as second shot into a par 5 I'm confident it will fall shy. Last year it was rolling out onto the green.

When she misses left, Michelle gets annoyed and rehearses her transition several times. She exaggerates her left knee moving too rapidly left, causing her right shoulder to come over the top, resulting in a pull. That was the focus of the Thursday range session. Michelle talked about her left misses, notably a pulled wedge into the par 5 14th. Leadbetter agreed that was her worst swing.

Leadbetter was trying to get Michelle to shift focus from her left leg and right shoulder. Finally he walked behind Michelle and grabbed her torso just above her beltline on the right side. He demonstrated how that part of the body should turn during the transition. Once Michelle started to use that as the trigger her range results improved noticeably, and it seemed to carry over to Friday's round. Very few left misses, although she did hate one pulled tee shot on the back nine.

Michelle finally used driver on 18 on Friday. I hadn't seen that club in two days, a waste considering how beautifully she drills it on the range with a slight draw. The tee ball on 18 was a comparative blooper, not close to her best.

[78Staff]

Rolex First-Time Winners- Mi Hyang Lee, Austin Ernst, Mi Rim Lee, Lizette Salas, Lydia Ko, Mo Martin

 

Lol. I guess Mo didn't get the memo.

 

 

well we know why, the walking stilts - but still, Mo looks classy - the rest look like they are going clubing. Oh well, at least no one wore a tank top... oh wait.

 

;)

[78Staff]

[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1416593689' post='10483875']
Lots of golf to be played but if it ended now, Wiesy would pick up the Mil.
[/quote]


Yeah, I'm getting tired of getting the million dollar updates on Thurs/Fri - way to much golf to be played. But It's the big sell this week, so I guess GC has to mention it every 5 minutes .

[78Staff]

[quote name='Mr22putt' timestamp='1416596265' post='10484133']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1416593760' post='10483881']
Lewis only 3/9 GIR so far and started with a bogey on a par 5. Can't imagine she's the happiest of campers at this moment being 7 shots back.
[/quote]
Some people have dual citizenship....SNaP has dual nicknameship.....she's back to Ms. Pouty Face today.
I hope her poor attitude does drag down her playing partners...The Rocket & SMOKEHOUSE....too much today.
[/quote]

[size=3][quote name='hebsan' timestamp='1416599548' post='10484433'][/size]
[size=3]SNaP is getting poutier by the minute. Not sure what hole she was on (the TV is on in the background, no sound) but after she hit her approach shot, she tossed her club to the left about 5 feet.[/size]
[size=3][/quote][/size]


[size=3]SNAP is pretty much retired in my book, the past few weeks have definitely brought back Ms. Pouty.[/size]

[78Staff]

Staff78

I know Kendall Dye is one of your fav's.....looks like she's put on a few lbs.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, Kendall's always been a little on the thick side, but in a good way. I think that's just the dress - I mean if you stand next to JS and still look big, somethings wrong lol. Recent Instagram/Twitter pics have been "situation normal" :). Looking foward to seeing her play next year.

[DavePelz4]

[quote name='78Staff' timestamp='1416622259' post='10486291']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1416593689' post='10483875']
Lots of golf to be played but if it ended now, Wiesy would pick up the Mil.
[/quote]


Yeah, I'm getting tired of getting the million dollar updates on Thurs/Fri - way to much golf to be played. But It's the big sell this week, so I guess GC has to mention it every 5 minutes .
[/quote]

Staff right now you are as close to the $1M bonus as is Morgan Pressel.

[Awsi Dooger]

* Ciganda really blasts the ball. I had never followed her for several holes until today. She crushes low 3 woods with similar ball flight and power to Michelle. Slightly higher. Her 3 wood on 18 today was amazing, rivaling Lincicome's driver as the longest tee ball I've seen on that hole.

Occasionally Ciganda comes across it and hits a bit of a cut to the right.

* After two long days I didn't mind sitting in the bleachers while most of the final groups finished, watching all the penalty drops and rulings. Seemed like Paula started it, wading in there with her bare feet and rain jacket. I felt worst for Marina Alex, blowing 3 shots on 18 with two balls in the hazard after nearly eagling 17. Somehow the final group featuring Gal and Granada was still on 17 despite all the delays and rulings ahead of them. Nobody on 18 could understand that.

* So Yeon on Thursday bladed a sand shot across the green and ended up with double bogey. She went to the practice bunker after the round and almost immediately did the same thing. Her coach or whoever he is was joking to spectators nearby. "She did that on 16 too." He's not her caddy but I didn't see any evidence it's a boyfriend. He was filming the session.

* Shamrock didn't show up until 17 on Thursday. Like a celebrity agent. Decked in a bright pink Nike long sleeved blouse and hugging everyone while discussing dinner plans. I give her credit for showing up much earlier on Friday. This time she looked disheveled, like many others in that weather. Michelle and Ciganda and other low ball hitters had a decided edge today.

* So Yeon hits the ball higher than the last time I followed her extensively two years ago. Moderate power but always high.

* I have no idea how Pettersen rallied to finish -1 on Thursday. When I was following her early that round she was up to +4 and not comfortable at all. She backed off several shots, gesturing to her caddy that it didn't feel right, apparently referring to the swing changes. Then on Friday she again seemed out of sorts, although she hit a great shot into 17 and nearly eagled.

* Two fans told me essentially the same story so I'll pass it along even though I didn't witness it. Early on Thursday Suzann reportedly was in trouble near the green on the first or second hole before taking a drop on her own. Azahara Munoz reportedly wasn't thrilled with Suzann's decision: "How can you do that?" Suzann: "What did you want me to do, hit it from the drain?"

* Something I overheard but didn't get the full context happened late on Friday. Karine Icher walked past me briskly and was obviously irritated. "The superintendent should be fired immediately. That's the first thing that should happen." She was ranting loudly to her caddy while gesturing. I couldn't imagine she was referring to this course, which seems to be in better shape than last year. Icher had finished late in the day. I thought perhaps she had a problem with greenside on 18, and all the balls dribbling down into the hazard. Icher continued, "Look at all they have to work with...sun, rain, money. In Canada they had none of that and the course was in great condition."

[avgjoe]

speaking of SC... Salas (salsa? chica?) first win almost seems like it was years ago

[DavePelz4]

Shamrock?

[Mr22putt]

Yeah, Kendall's always been a little on the thick side, but in a good way. I think that's just the dress - I mean if you stand next to JS and still look big, somethings wrong lol. Recent Instagram/Twitter pics have been "situation normal" :). Looking foward to seeing her play next year.

I think a lot of the gals are tomboys and have minimal style or maybe just don't care.

Many of the pros look better in golf attire than their everyday clothes.

 

I know they play and then attend the gala dinner.....but Lydia's hair looked terrible....flat and greasy looking....yet in the same group....Lewis showed up at the dinner with her hair done in curls.

 

I know there are others....but some pros that come top of mine.....who dress classic and elegant for the gala dinners, include:

SYR

Ai Chan

maybe at the top of the list....Nicole Castrale.

 

Mo Martin did look nice....but my vote for style last night goes to Dewi Clare (left).

[Mr22putt]

Shamrock?

Jamie Kuhn......Wiesy's bag man...I mean road manager....who can't resist a photo op with MW vs. staying in the background.

Awsi heard Whan nicknaming Jamie last year at the CME.

[rushfan96]

[quote name='78Staff' timestamp='1416622324' post='10486299']
[quote name='Mr22putt' timestamp='1416596265' post='10484133']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1416593760' post='10483881']
Lewis only 3/9 GIR so far and started with a bogey on a par 5. Can't imagine she's the happiest of campers at this moment being 7 shots back.
[/quote]
Some people have dual citizenship....SNaP has dual nicknameship.....she's back to Ms. Pouty Face today.
I hope her poor attitude does drag down her playing partners...The Rocket & SMOKEHOUSE....too much today.
[/quote]

[size=3][quote name='hebsan' timestamp='1416599548' post='10484433'][/size]
[size=3]SNaP is getting poutier by the minute. Not sure what hole she was on (the TV is on in the background, no sound) but after she hit her approach shot, she tossed her club to the left about 5 feet.[/size]
[size=3][/quote][/size]


[size=3]SNAP is pretty much retired in my book, the past few weeks have definitely brought back Ms. Pouty.[/size]
[/quote]

You can still use SNaP. (Situation Normal as Pouty)

[Awsi Dooger]

I almost forgot one brief story. Today as I was following the Ciganda, Alex and Ryu group off the 18th tee box, a golf cart approached in the opposite direction. The person in the passenger seat wasn't someone I had expected to see here, but I recognized her immediately. It was Sadena Parks.

As the cart got close, I thumbed toward the fairway and asked, "Are you going to be out there next year?"

Sadena looked me in the eye and the response was loud and emphatic: "YES"

The typed words really don't do it justice. It was a two-part YES, like yeh-us. That doesn't work either. Too bad I lack an audio replay. It was a defiant response, almost like, how could anyone believe otherwise? Why are you asking? Of course I'll be in this event next year.

I liked it. It allowed a grin all the way to the green, or at least until Marina Alex decided to start depositing golf balls in the hazard. This tour desperately needs more attitude out there.

[Chief Illiniwek]

Always enjoy reading your guys' discussions of the LPGA events, but wanted to throw out an extra thanks to Awsi for his on course insights this week. Now if we can just get the story behind his "no-h" hate... :-)

[mnmlistgolfr]

I'm a UCLA Bruin, but Awsi... Good Stuff today!

[Argonne69]

Nice turnaround by Wiesy today. Of course, a hole out for eagle and a chip-in birdie sure takes some pressure off the misbehaving putter. The top 9 in the CME points seem like they're playing overly cautious. I understand that the conditions were tough, but they're heading in the wrong direction.

At this point, I have to go with Wiesy. Of the top 10, she seems to be the only one to be able to hang in there on the weekends. Lydia may still have a shot as well. Kanga-Ryu will hang in there, but she just seems to lack the oomph to grab a late lead.

Legs has smoothed out her putting stroke. That was also one sweet shot into 18. I have a hunch she pulled the ball, otherwise she appeared to be the only one firing directly at the pin. The birdie was icing on the cake.

[Argonne69]

[quote name='78Staff' timestamp='1416622324' post='10486299']
[quote name='Mr22putt' timestamp='1416596265' post='10484133']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1416593760' post='10483881']
Lewis only 3/9 GIR so far and started with a bogey on a par 5. Can't imagine she's the happiest of campers at this moment being 7 shots back.
[/quote]
Some people have dual citizenship....SNaP has dual nicknameship.....she's back to Ms. Pouty Face today.
I hope her poor attitude does drag down her playing partners...The Rocket & SMOKEHOUSE....too much today.
[/quote]

[size=3][quote name='hebsan' timestamp='1416599548' post='10484433'][/size]
[size=3]SNaP is getting poutier by the minute. Not sure what hole she was on (the TV is on in the background, no sound) but after she hit her approach shot, she tossed her club to the left about 5 feet.[/size]
[size=3][/quote][/size]

[size=3]SNAP is pretty much retired in my book, the past few weeks have definitely brought back Ms. Pouty.[/size]
[/quote]

She certainly wears her emotions on her sleeve. I have a feeling that when she sees that she can still claim the million with a decent (non-winning) finish, she'll focus more. I was a bit surprised to see her projected at #1 in the CME points race while occupying the 14th spot on the leaderboard.