2018 ANA Inspiration Mar 29 - Apr 1

[Seamus_McDuff]

Didn’t get to see it but did any players hang around to shower Pernilla with the traditional champagne?

 

Curious if anyone did or who she is friends with on your.

 

No champagne, Munoz and Sagstrom were there.

[falken19150]

 

 

Pernilla won doing "Inbee things."

 

I would rather have that ANA 787 model than the trophy!!

[Argonne69]

I rewatched the latter part of yesterday's telecast, and I was surprised to see that the four holes of playoffs took 1:20 before they suspended play. 20 minutes to play a par 5? Ugh. Granted, there were 3 players for the first three holes, but that's still excessive. Today's four holes took roughly an hour, but included two par 4's and a par 3.

 

Yes, Jodi did walk by the grandstands on 18 without acknowledging the fans. She was walking on the left side of the path with her head down while Jennifer was high-fiving several fans. To be fair, though, she wasn't the only player to do so.

 

Major congrats to Pernilla for out-putting Inbee. It was clear for anyone to see that she had the hot putter this week, which is the key to winning nearly every time. The greens did look slow this morning, and Inbee couldn't adjust.

[bravedave]

Always liked Pernilla, awesome for her. But oh man, she is so slow!

They're all slow.

[bravedave]

Yet they all finished in four hours Sunday. That's fantastic

[bravedave]

And you can bet someone will be butt hurt over this...

I suspect the women competing at ANA look forward to the jump in the pond, no matter how contrived it is. And as for someone getting hurt, didn't a mother of one of the champions crack a bone in her foot or ankle making the "leap" several years ago?

Yes Stacy Lewis mum. Another reason to end the leap into Poppy's Pond. Put cement over the pond and build the grandstands on a much grander scale. Lose the sun in the eyes seats, they're awful.

[PZero]

 

Yes, Jodi did walk by the grandstands on 18 without acknowledging the fans. She was walking on the left side of the path with her head down while Jennifer was high-fiving several fans. To be fair, though, she wasn't the only player to do so.

 

 

Once Lindberg did that I stopped rooting for her to win.

[PZero]

I captured the hot mic on video:

 

Your laugh was the best part.

[bravedave]

Are you supposed to acknowledge the fans or ignore them? As a player...

 

I know IK Kim glad handed her way to the 18th green where she then three-putter her way into a playoff.

[legitimategolf]

Inbee is back for sure and I for one am glad. I enjoy and appreciate her unique game and temperament all those intangibles that you don't really see but add up over 72 holes. Pernilla was slightly more clutch this week but I would put Inbee up as still the most clutch player in women's golf. I am still in awe of the wedge into 18 in regulation, as well as the putt on 17.

 

Jessica and Ariya IMO are the most complete players out there in terms of skills, and they torched the course on Sunday yet somehow came up just short in regulation where Inbee somehow got over the line. Don't know how she does it but she does it again and again. She didn't even have her ballstriking A game yesterday but just grinded until the very end.

 

Seems clearer now that all the time Inbee was away from the game and/or struggled was due mainly to injuries, not decline.

[RBImGuy]

Inbee is back for sure and I for one am glad. I enjoy and appreciate her unique game and temperament all those intangibles that you don't really see but add up over 72 holes. Pernilla was slightly more clutch this week but I would put Inbee up as still the most clutch player in women's golf. I am still in awe of the wedge into 18 in regulation, as well as the putt on 17.

 

Jessica and Ariya IMO are the most complete players out there in terms of skills, and they torched the course on Sunday yet somehow came up just short in regulation where Inbee somehow got over the line. Don't know how she does it but she does it again and again. She didn't even have her ballstriking A game yesterday but just grinded until the very end.

 

Seems clearer now that all the time Inbee was away from the game and/or struggled was due mainly to injuries, not decline.

 

cant have off days and shot 73 as Jessica did.

no secret

[ausgolfgirl]

Inbee is back for sure and I for one am glad. I enjoy and appreciate her unique game and temperament all those intangibles that you don't really see but add up over 72 holes. Pernilla was slightly more clutch this week but I would put Inbee up as still the most clutch player in women's golf. I am still in awe of the wedge into 18 in regulation, as well as the putt on 17.

 

Jessica and Ariya IMO are the most complete players out there in terms of skills, and they torched the course on Sunday yet somehow came up just short in regulation where Inbee somehow got over the line. Don't know how she does it but she does it again and again. She didn't even have her ballstriking A game yesterday but just grinded until the very end.

 

Seems clearer now that all the time Inbee was away from the game and/or struggled was due mainly to injuries, not decline.

 

cant have off days and shot 73 as Jessica did.

no secret

 

Unless you're Ian Poulter :)

[bladehunter]

 

Yes, Jodi did walk by the grandstands on 18 without acknowledging the fans. She was walking on the left side of the path with her head down while Jennifer was high-fiving several fans. To be fair, though, she wasn't the only player to do so.

 

 

Once Lindberg did that I stopped rooting for her to win.

 

Nah. In them moment trying to win. Lasts thing you want to do is break concentration by starting to enteract with the crowd. Remember Arnold’s famous story about 18th at Augusta. He told that to every player that would listen.

 

Almost every male player if in a playoff or final stretch in contention , will ignore everyone except maybe a kid or two May get a Fist bump while briskly waking by. That’s it.

 

No reason to hold these ladies to a higher standard than that.

[Argonne69]

I don't know. If the always stoic Inbee can acknowledge the fans while she's walking up the 18th with a shot at clinching a playoff spot on the line, a player 5 shots off the lead could give a smile or a wave, no?

 

[DavePelz4]

Ms. Ewart-Shadoff was less than nice to the daughter of a WRX'er who was looking for an autograph. And then on Sunday she did nothing to recognize the support of the patrons who came out to watch the LPGA. Being a bit shy is one thing, but not to acknowledge the people who support you isn't very nice when everyone else is doing it.

 

You can be frustrated with your play and still be nice.

[Dpavs]

Yes, Jodi did walk by the grandstands on 18 without acknowledging the fans. She was walking on the left side of the path with her head down while Jennifer was high-fiving several fans. To be fair, though, she wasn't the only player to do so.

 

 

Once Lindberg did that I stopped rooting for her to win.

 

Nah. In them moment trying to win. Lasts thing you want to do is break concentration by starting to enteract with the crowd. Remember Arnold's famous story about 18th at Augusta. He told that to every player that would listen.

 

Almost every male player if in a playoff or final stretch in contention , will ignore everyone except maybe a kid or two May get a Fist bump while briskly waking by. That's it.

 

No reason to hold these ladies to a higher standard than that.

 

I agree while you are still maintaining your play focus you may or may not wish to be engaged with the fans. I can't see any basis for criticizing someone for being doing whatever they feel they need to in order to maintain their focus during play.

 

Once play has completed however, the story is different and as I recall Pernilla did try to high five everyone from the gallery who reached out after the play off was over.

[legitimategolf]

I don't know. If the always stoic Inbee can acknowledge the fans while she's walking up the 18th with a shot at clinching a playoff spot on the line, a player 5 shots off the lead could give a smile or a wave, no?

 

 

Not a fair standard! Inbee is like the queen of concentration, plus she has accomplished everything in golf.

 

 

About Jodi-Ewart-Shadoff, I always thought of her as one of the most miserable-on-the-job players in all of golf. She looks like she is in literal pain out there.

[pmcuk]

I predict the winner will be aged at least 30 this year...

 

For once got that right - first LPGA win at 32 and a major too! Unbelievable - I was thinking more of Inbee who's 30 this year.

 

Does anyone know if the winners of majors are younger or older than the rest of the tournaments as a general rule? I was guessing older.......

 

Lately I'd say the trend has been younger. Lydia, Brooke, Ariya, In Gee, Sung Hyun, Danielle.

 

Yes - maybe. I was just curious about how majors might differ from the rest of the tournaments. One half of me said that experience counts, but another voice said it brings out the best in those who are determined to win and even have a kind of devil-may-care bravado about it. That last putt by Pernilla was that kind of bravery - she looked fearless.

[KBong]

That last putt by Pernilla was that kind of bravery - she looked fearless.

IMO.

On Monday morning, Pernilla looked like she was playing to win and Inbee looked liked she was playing not to lose, hoping Pernilla might falter.

 

Pernilla went for 18 in two.

Pernilla birdied 10 and Inbee needed a birdie to extend the playoff....and left a 12 foot putt short....if it had more pace it would have went in....who cares if you beam it 2 feet by....never up never in...and Inbee needed the putt in.

 

Inbee said she had a hard time adjusting to the slower greens in the morning (I've got to believe Inbee spent as a minimum 15 minutes on the practice green (this is a major) in the morning and the grounds crew also only needed to attend to an additional 3 greens for the playoff) ....come on Inbee this was your 4th hole and you are a 7 time major champ and 19 LPGA winner...you know better, you're one of the best putters on the LPGA tour.....Kerr is likely your equal.

[Argonne69]

That last putt by Pernilla was that kind of bravery - she looked fearless.

IMO.

On Monday morning, Pernilla looked like she was playing to win and Inbee looked liked she was playing not to lose, hoping Pernilla might falter.

 

Pernilla went for 18 in two.

Pernilla birdied 10 and Inbee needed a birdie to extend the playoff....and left a 12 foot putt short....if it had more pace it would have went in....who cares if you beam it 2 feet by....never up never in...and Inbee needed the putt in.

 

Inbee said she had a hard time adjusting to the slower greens in the morning (I've got to believe Inbee spent as a minimum 15 minutes on the practice green (this is a major) in the morning and the grounds crew also only needed to attend to an additional 3 greens for the playoff) ....come on Inbee this was your 4th hole and you are a 7 time major champ and 19 LPGA winner...you know better, you're one of the best putters on the LPGA tour.....Kerr is likely your equal.

 

The thing is, how many times have you seen Inbee jump out to an early lead in a tournament, especially if she's in the early morning wave on Thursday? I think she likes her greens fast, as they are prone to be late in the tournament. I believe the better putters tend to struggle on slow greens.

[Golf Dino]

That last putt by Pernilla was that kind of bravery - she looked fearless.

IMO.

On Monday morning, Pernilla looked like she was playing to win and Inbee looked liked she was playing not to lose, hoping Pernilla might falter.

 

Pernilla went for 18 in two.

Pernilla birdied 10 and Inbee needed a birdie to extend the playoff....and left a 12 foot putt short....if it had more pace it would have went in....who cares if you beam it 2 feet by....never up never in...and Inbee needed the putt in.

 

Inbee said she had a hard time adjusting to the slower greens in the morning (I've got to believe Inbee spent as a minimum 15 minutes on the practice green (this is a major) in the morning and the grounds crew also only needed to attend to an additional 3 greens for the playoff) ....come on Inbee this was your 4th hole and you are a 7 time major champ and 19 LPGA winner...you know better, you're one of the best putters on the LPGA tour.....Kerr is likely your equal.

 

I was cheering for Pernilla to win - and glad that she maintained her focus on the "task at hand".

 

However, I do think In Bee will be "stewing" a bit over that missed putt and her inability to adjust to the greens in the morning. That is the "risk" of having to come back in the morning to complete the playoff. Had it been an 18 hole playoff then there would have been time for In Bee to adjust but the "sudden death" nature of the playoff is far less forgiving. No player wakes up every morning with their "A" Game intact!

[pmcuk]

No player wakes up every morning with their "A" Game intact!

 

I don't know about that.... You can certainly wake up with your mental game razor sharp.

[bladehunter]

I don't know. If the always stoic Inbee can acknowledge the fans while she's walking up the 18th with a shot at clinching a playoff spot on the line, a player 5 shots off the lead could give a smile or a wave, no?

 

 

 

who won?

[Awsi Dooger]

A classic Johnny Miller call......when a golfer needs a shortish putt (4-10 feet) that they really need.....the typical miss is a push/shove.

Pernilla missed her 6 foot putt right on 18....and Jennifer Song missed two makeable birdie putts in yesterday's playoff to the right .

 

At least we won't have to listen to Miller talking about his Oakmont 63 nine times during this playoff. :taunt:

 

Ah yes, the myth that never dies. Classic Golfwrx. Johnny will be retired for 10 years and members of this forum will still be imagining that they are hearing him bragging about Oakmont on the air.

 

It's a great story...in reverse. He never mentions it.

 

Your other points were good. I expected Jennifer and Pernilla to push those potential winning putts. Jennifer in particular looked almost hesitant to win. I'm convinced Pernilla would have had similar trouble upon another shortish birdie putt for the victory. Different story on par putts to keep going.

 

Not to the degree of Sarah Jane Smith, but Pernilla was very connected with the gallery last November when I attended in Naples, so I rooted for her in this event. Jodi Hyphen is the epitome of head down and ignore, like virtually every male pro between green and tee. She typically hides behind shades. I have no idea how anyone could expect anything different from her this time.

 

Pace of play on Sunday was excellent. When they had a 2 PM local tee time and Pernilla in the final group toward a scheduled 6 PM close I thought they had to be kidding. But it was quick from the outset, always on schedule or several minutes in front. The complaints in this thread regarding Pernilla's pace on that day are the same caliber as the Johnny Miller line.

 

Inbee at 5 foot 6 and such a robotic game has tons of margin for error. That's why she's always a threat regardless of current form. With the players on either end of the ideal height range they are always a candidate to misfire in a given event or given round. You can't concede anything to players like Lexi or the Kordas or Wie or Sei Young Kim or even In Gee Chun, who is a few inches too tall. I am somewhat relieved that there is a current lull of top caliber new Koreans in that perfect height range because it allows the Americans more opportunities.

 

I don't agree with Terry Gannon. That leap is always interesting due to all the possible types of entry. We never see these players leap into a pond or basically do anything out of their golfing norm so the aggression is uncertain along with style and attitude. The personality is on display more than anything. I guess I'm interested in that stuff as a handicapper. Decent marks to Pernilla.

 

If Terry Gannon wants to use his soap box for anything it should be to complain about the legitimately contrived cha ching scoring system in figure skating, which rewards the wrong victor in the Olympic women's event as often as not. Upstart wind up doll jumpers are somehow given the nod above classic established skaters who are basically their equal in technical skills yet vastly superior in presentation and artistic merit. They botched it for the second consecutive Olympics this year, with Zagitova above Medvedeva. The Russian who was wrongly elevated above elegant Yuna Kim in Sochi has done basically nothing subsequently. And I realize very few people watch the world championships in an Olympic year but Zagitova fell on her butt three times in the long program at worlds a couple of weeks ago, dropping out of the medals entirely.

[deadsolid...shank]

Great, now when a twosome can play in 4:00 hours we're excited that it's not slow.

 

Their overall time might have been within whatever parameters they consider acceptable, but anyone who thinks Pernilla is not slow, at least over the ball, is seeing something different out there than I did.

[DavePelz4]

Great, now when a twosome can play in 4:00 hours we're excited that it's not slow.

 

Their overall time might have been within whatever parameters they consider acceptable, but anyone who thinks Pernilla is not slow, at least over the ball, is seeing something different out there than I did.

 

DSS...you and I walking, as a twosome, what do you think...3:30 on that course? 3 flat?

[Argonne69]

Great, now when a twosome can play in 4:00 hours we're excited that it's not slow.

 

Their overall time might have been within whatever parameters they consider acceptable, but anyone who thinks Pernilla is not slow, at least over the ball, is seeing something different out there than I did.

 

DSS...you and I walking, as a twosome, what do you think...3:30 on that course? 3 flat?

 

Lol. You planning to stop for a 30 minute lunch break at the turn?

[DavePelz4]

Great, now when a twosome can play in 4:00 hours we're excited that it's not slow.

 

Their overall time might have been within whatever parameters they consider acceptable, but anyone who thinks Pernilla is not slow, at least over the ball, is seeing something different out there than I did.

 

DSS...you and I walking, as a twosome, what do you think...3:30 on that course? 3 flat?

 

Lol. You planning to stop for a 30 minute lunch break at the turn?

 

Naaaa...the extra time is when DSS is laughing at my swing.

[deadsolid...shank]

Great, now when a twosome can play in 4:00 hours we're excited that it's not slow.

 

Their overall time might have been within whatever parameters they consider acceptable, but anyone who thinks Pernilla is not slow, at least over the ball, is seeing something different out there than I did.

 

DSS...you and I walking, as a twosome, what do you think...3:30 on that course? 3 flat?

 

The rough looked legitimately tough, and the greens were fast. I think that would add a little time. I'm thinking 3:15.

[DavePelz4]

Great, now when a twosome can play in 4:00 hours we're excited that it's not slow.

 

Their overall time might have been within whatever parameters they consider acceptable, but anyone who thinks Pernilla is not slow, at least over the ball, is seeing something different out there than I did.

 

DSS...you and I walking, as a twosome, what do you think...3:30 on that course? 3 flat?

 

The rough looked legitimately tough, and the greens were fast. I think that would add a little time. I'm thinking 3:15.

 

You hit it in the rough?