Bank of Hope Founders Cup 2017

[North Texas]

In Gee Chun starts today off with birdies on her first two holes. So she has played 20 holes so far and has 11 birdies!

[hebsan]

They're probably using the same setup with two mobile cameras, and the towers behind a handful of holes. They simply don't have the staff to cover more than a few groups.

 

I have made mention of this many times before during tournaments. You are incorrect in saying "That's typical golf coverage no matter who's televising it". When LPGA tournaments are outside the USA and other networks cover the golf we always get far more live coverage. In Asia you typically get 5 - 6 hours live each day! Now I know for a fact that the GC takes the live feed and butchers it to suit them...How do I know? Because I can watch the GC coverage via a live stream online while watching our Sky Sports pay TV coverage. Fortunately for us here Sky can take the direct feed from other broadcasters and give us virtually commercial free coverage often completely commercial free. I have to say for a paid service the GC is very poor but then I don't know perhaps subscription might be very cheap there.

When we get our first LPGA tournament here the MCKAYSON New Zealand Women's Open in late August Sky will be doing the broadcast and I would be almost certain they will cover it very well and give us about 5 hours live each day. Having said that the fact the LPGA was so kind to give us our first tournament in winter here I would not be surprised if all we see are the ducks!

Believe me winters here in N.Z are cold wet and windy that's why it's always so green here...and why I now spend my winters in the beautiful south west of Germany.

 

I guess it depends on how you define "better". There is certainly more air-time on the Asian coverage, given the 4 to 6 hour window. That allows them to show more players, as the camera teams can finish with one group on the 18th, and pick up another group. However, I don't think they are covering the tournaments with a larger team. It's still two mobile cameras and a handful of cameras in the towers behind the holes on the back nine.

 

The coverage seems to follow the same pattern regardless of where it is located. The two mobile cameras follow the two featured groups, and the tower cameras pick up the other players hitting approaches. On the par 3's the tower camera can cover the tee shot from a distance.

 

Two weeks ago I analyzed the first round of the HSBC. The showed 242 shots, including "highlight" shots. The totals were: Amy (25), Ha Na (23), Brittany (23), Lexi (23), Lydia (22), Michelle (19), Sei Young (15), Anna (13), Brooke (12), Sung (8), Ariya (8), Inbee (7), Suzann (7), Shanshan (6), Ingee (4), Stacy (4), Ryann (6), Minjee (5), Mo (5), Jessica (3), Charley (1), Karrie (1), Paula (1), MJ (1). Six of the seven players with the most coverage were in the feature group. Michelle got a lot of coverage because she had a great round, and was shown numerous times in the "highlights" segments.

 

Yes, I agree that 2 or 3 hours of air-time stinks. However, there's not much they can do to cover more players without a bigger crew, and given the ratings, I don't see that happening.

 

You also have to take into consideration that GC has focused their attention this week on the API at Bay Hill (understandably). It doesn't appear that the coverage gets any better next week at the KIA. Broadcast schedule for the first two rounds is between 8:30 - 10:30 PM (EDT).

[tbowles411]

In Gee Chun starts today off with birdies on her first two holes. So she has played 20 holes so far and has 11 birdies!

That's pretty good I hear...

[Argonne69]

[hebsan]

HaNa Jang won a new KIA with an ace on 17!

[North Texas]

In Gee Chun starts today off with birdies on her first two holes. So she has played 20 holes so far and has 11 birdies!

That's pretty good I hear...

 

Nah, I've got almost that many this year and we're only 2 1/2 months in. I should match her 11 by mid-year at the latest. Sorry, I usually don't brag.

[North Texas]

In Gee Chun starts today off with birdies on her first two holes. So she has played 20 holes so far and has 11 birdies!

That's pretty good I hear...

 

Nah, I've got almost that many this year and we're only 2 1/2 months in. I should match her 11 by mid-year at the latest. Sorry, I usually don't brag.

 

Crap!. I just looked and she's made 3 more in her 2nd round for 14 birdies. Won't be as easy to match that by mid-year as I thought.

[Argonne69]

In Gee Chun starts today off with birdies on her first two holes. So she has played 20 holes so far and has 11 birdies!

 

....and then birdies her 7th hole of the day, only to bogie three of the following 8 holes. Ugh. She did bounce back with a birdie, to stay within 3 shots of the lead.

 

Stacy and Ariya continue to light it up with 5 birdies each .

[tbowles411]

In Gee Chun starts today off with birdies on her first two holes. So she has played 20 holes so far and has 11 birdies!

 

....and then birdies her 7th hole of the day, only to bogie three of the following 8 holes. Ugh. She did bounce back with a birdie, to stay within 3 shots of the lead.

 

Stacy and Ariya continue to light it up with 5 birdies each .

Man, I love birdies!

[tbowles411]

Barn.Burner. This weekend is going to be good!

[RBImGuy]

Lydia needs 40 more yards.

[Leftagain]

Lydia needs 40 more yards.

 

Another 10 yards would do just fine..

 

of putts that is....

[North Texas]

JZona's daughter, Dana, with a bogey-free 5 under par round of 67 today. Sits at -8 after 2 rounds and 5 shots back of the leaders.

 

Go Dana!

[jzona]

JZona's daughter, Dana, with a bogey-free 5 under par round of 67 today. Sits at -8 after 2 rounds and 5 shots back of the leaders.

 

Go Dana!

thanks NT..just got home, what a beautiful day. Just so proud of my girl and her grit.

[hebsan]

Jenny Shin tweeted that this is the first time the cut has been -5 on the LPGA.

[fore_life]

JZona's daughter, Dana, with a bogey-free 5 under par round of 67 today. Sits at -8 after 2 rounds and 5 shots back of the leaders.

 

Go Dana!

thanks NT..just got home, what a beautiful day. Just so proud of my girl and her grit.

 

So awesome man, Matt was shooting me updates via text as she charged the final holes to get under the cut line and keep pushing it lower!

[jzona]

Once again thanks fore....just woke up and getting ready for round 3, seems like a dream. I am telling ya there was some tough pins out yesterday and the girls tore it up. All the arrm chair quarterbacks here down rate these girls about short yardages and such couldn't break pair I bet at this track.

[cbbaron]

Once again thanks fore....just woke up and getting ready for round 3, seems like a dream. I am telling ya there was some tough pins out yesterday and the girls tore it up. All the arrm chair quarterbacks here down rate these girls about short yardages and such couldn't break pair I bet at this track.

Good luck today maybe she will get on TV

[Shilgy]

For those asking about tees played versus stated yardage. We walked the back numbers below. 1&2 never move. One has grandstands behind the tee and two they always play the 550 yards back tee box. Nine was two yards in front of stated yardage.

10 always 390

11 547 never moved

12 438 played 432 Clanton 304 measured

13 343

14 177

15 back tee, often up 25 Angle

16 307. 300 must lay up bunkers

17 152. 145

18 Back of back

[ironmikes]

did anybody notice Michelle Wies set up ? I know she used to putt with the table top but watching her off the tee with the driver and irons looked really odd.

 

She looked very hunched over and contorted on the round yesterday. guess it works for her but did not remember seeing her do that all the time .

[Shilgy]

did anybody notice Michelle Wies set up ? I know she used to putt with the table top but watching her off the tee with the driver and irons looked really odd.

 

She looked very hunched over and contorted on the round yesterday. guess it works for her but did not remember seeing her do that all the time .

It looks odd but it sure works. And she looks like she's having fun again.

[Shilgy]

Speaking of Michelle and the question of if she is still a big draw. This is her following on 8.

[Shilgy]

This is the following group with Ko and Lexi.

[Shilgy]

The pics show that Wie has the bigger crowd and that I am awful at taking quick pictures with my phone. :(

 

As a side note has anyone heard why the lpga does not promote this event? Back when it was the Ping and then Safeway sponsored it was promoted and there were a lot of fans present. Now there are more fans waiting in one beer line at the Phoenix Open than there are all week at the Lpga Founders. Wife and I are wondering if it is a venue request/demand. JW Marriott wanting to not disrupt business too much.

[ironmikes]

did anybody notice Michelle Wies set up ? I know she used to putt with the table top but watching her off the tee with the driver and irons looked really odd.

 

She looked very hunched over and contorted on the round yesterday. guess it works for her but did not remember seeing her do that all the time .

It looks odd but it sure works. And she looks like she's having fun again.

 

 

 

Glad somebody else noticed that stance. as long as it does not affect her health , she should be fine. just looks like it is unnatural and may be hard on the body.

 

Seems like she has found something with her putting.

 

Thanks for the pics and all of the tourney coverage !

 

My wife and I have been talking about taking a trip to Phoenix , looks like a real nice place !

[DavePelz4]

Such a great leaderboard and in an unprecedented move...all the good thoughts for the weekend are going to...

 

DANA!!!

 

Sorry Jodi Hyphen. We'll be back to normal for the next event.

[hebsan]

Looks like another birdie fest out there today. Nelly Korda -5 through 7 to tie for the lead. Will -20 be the leading score at the end of the day?

[golf1010]

Course is a joke a 3 handicap shoots 68 there

[fore_life]

Course is a joke a 3 handicap shoots 68 there

 

Let's see it.

[iotone]

Still rooting for Vicky, hope she can keep up the great play