2020 LPGA Season Odds and Ends

[18majors]

Who's the most dominant professional golfer in 2020; it's non other than 17 years old Atthaya Thitikul, a Thailand LPGA rookie.  She won one of her first five events, then once she got a hang of it, she won four consecutive tournaments to close the season.

 

She is the closest to what Nancy Lopez did for her LPGA rookie season in 1978.

 

Awesome Atthaya claims 5th pro title at Thailand Masters

 

[18majors]

Jiyai Shin, the winningest golfer in her generation

 

'60 Win Expectation' Shin Ji-ae "The overall feeling is good" [JLPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup]

 

[Medson]

On 11/12/2020 at 2:00 PM, 18majors said:

Rose Zhang is in no hurry to turn pro

 

"Finally official! Forever thankful to my family, friends, and coaches who support me endlessly, honestly can’t wait to be on the Farm with my favorite coaches and teammates @stanfordwgolf 🥰🌲🌲#nlisigningday #stanfordcardinal #nerdnation #allglorytogod🙏"

 

 

 

Rose Zhang is left handed? I’m sure she plays golf right handed. 

[18majors]

1 hour ago, Medson said:

Rose Zhang is left handed? I’m sure she plays golf right handed. 

 

 

Yes, she plays golf right handed.

[18majors]

Cindy has a small chance; Go Cindy!

 

 

[Lobby]

I'm watching the Ladies European Tour in Andalucia and I'm so touched by those pros playing without a caddie.

On the one hand, I'm impressed by their dedication to play without a caddie.   But on the other, I'm sad that they may not  make enough to afford one.

[18majors]

Cindy Hou matched Rose Zhang's 66; but nobody has a chance against Rose

 

 

[18majors]

Lydia Ko and Sean Foley; they're perfect together

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIJYzcelKCa/?hl=en

 

Good afternoon everyone, spent the morning with my girl @lydsko. Lydia has been playing so solid, and her game is in a beautiful place. Lyds went to Houston this week to play the course the @uswomensopen next week in Houston. To ensure success at US Open it is going to require high ball flights into the green. Lyds loves to hit a slight fade and I love when she hits the ball high. So we blended the two together and above is a video and then some screen shots to allow you to see the perfect blend of geometry, physics, kinematics and kinetics needed to hit that shot. Her speed is way up which allows us to hit into the clouds. Whether you are working with a male or female player you have to treat each of them like athletes. I am so proud of the commitment that Lyds has made to getting the most out of her special gifts. Just keep showing up and wait for it to come to you. The bird never flies to the hand that is grasping for it. #kiwi #korea #special

 

[18majors]

Not a bad rookie season the 19 years old

 

Yuka Saso ends JLPGA rookie year in second, P43-M richer

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2020 by 18majors

[18majors]

She's the hot hand coming to  USWO

 

"Following rounds of 68-71-68, Denmark’s Pedersen shot a final-round 66 to win the Ladies European Tour’s Andalucia Open De Espana Sunday at 15 under — her third straight win."

 

Emily Kristine Pedersen wins LET's Andalucia Open De Espana for third straight title

 

[18majors]

The weather will be a factor next week at Volunteers of America Classic in Dallas, Texas

 

It may be one of the reasons an unusual number of players had withdrawn from the tournament.

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2020 by 18majors

[HMHS]

33 minutes ago, 18majors said:

The weather will be a factor next week at Volunteers of America Classic in Dallas, Texas

 

It may be one of the reasons an unusual number of players had withdrawn from the tournament.

 

 

 

I noticed that a lot of Americans are withdrawing, certainly not the Koreans... It'll be interesting to see if this mass withdrawals leads to better results in the USWO...  it certainly isn't bec of logistics that they're withdrawing, eg yes texas is big but it's not as if they don't know how to drive....

Edited November 29, 2020 by HMHS

[18majors]

4 minutes ago, Supermilo said:

I noticed that it's mostly the Americans withdrawing, certainly not the Koreans... It'll be interesting to see if this mass withdrawals leads to better results in the USWO...  I am of the view that you play when you get the chance, esp in a covid season, but that's just me and I'm no pro...

 

The more players withdrew, the more opportunities for the rookies.

Hope rookies take the opportunities and shine!

 

[HMHS]

7 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

The more players withdrew, the more opportunities for the rookies.

Hope rookies take the opportunities and shine!

 

Yes, so long as the withdrawals are the vets indeed... lower rung Qschoolers take priority  in the reserve list and I'm keeping track :)... I'm sure Haley Moore, despite still being reserve #2 is already on her way to Texas (even if she wont play USWO)...

Edited November 29, 2020 by HMHS

[MagicClassic407]

6 hours ago, 18majors said:

She's the hot hand coming to  USWO

 

"Following rounds of 68-71-68, Denmark’s Pedersen shot a final-round 66 to win the Ladies European Tour’s Andalucia Open De Espana Sunday at 15 under — her third straight win."

 

Emily Kristine Pedersen wins LET's Andalucia Open De Espana for third straight title

 

Does Ollie take any credit for this?

[18majors]

1 minute ago, MagicClassic407 said:

Does Ollie take any credit for this?

 

 

Did Ollie caddie for her?

 

The way Emily has been playing, Ollie may have a hard decision to make in the near future.

[MagicClassic407]

44 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

 

Did Ollie caddie for her?

 

The way Emily has been playing, Ollie may have a hard decision to make in the near future.

Not her caddy but can we say mental coach? For more than one player? Had a chat with him awhile back at Viola's on Paradise Island during Bahamas tourney. He was working for Sandra Gal at the time. Very laid back guy.

 

 

[Seamus_McDuff]

Her Father caddied for her in Spain and SYR’s caddy caddied for her in the two Saudi events. 

[North Texas]

18 hours ago, 18majors said:

The weather will be a factor next week at Volunteers of America Classic in Dallas, Texas

 

It may be one of the reasons an unusual number of players had withdrawn from the tournament.

 

 

 

 

Man, NW winds the first two days without abundant sunshine and below average temps is not going to be fun. May help a little that the winds won't be coming off the water

[fredogolfer]

Looks like Lizette Salas withdrew. She was already in the area as she posted videos of herself practicing at a course near McKinney.Wonder what happened? 
 

Fortunately Maria Fassi got in. AT&T is a sponsor for the event and Fassi being an AT&T ambassador is all over printed materials for volunteers. 
 

I was going to volunteer for the event. I made the decision to not go as I could not make any of the pre-tournament Covid testing and there was a chance I would have to pay for my own testing once I got to town at an approved site. We weren’t informed of testing requirements until a couple of weeks ago. I am sure it was no big deal since likely most people are local but for someone coming from out of town it’s a bit more difficult. I really like this course and it would have been fun. The event organizers have been working overtime so kudos to them.

Edited November 30, 2020 by fredogolfer

[AWinfortheAges]

On 11/28/2020 at 3:55 PM, 18majors said:

Lydia Ko and Sean Foley; they're perfect together

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIJYzcelKCa/?hl=en

 

Good afternoon everyone, spent the morning with my girl @lydsko. Lydia has been playing so solid, and her game is in a beautiful place. Lyds went to Houston this week to play the course the @uswomensopen next week in Houston. To ensure success at US Open it is going to require high ball flights into the green. Lyds loves to hit a slight fade and I love when she hits the ball high. So we blended the two together and above is a video and then some screen shots to allow you to see the perfect blend of geometry, physics, kinematics and kinetics needed to hit that shot. Her speed is way up which allows us to hit into the clouds. Whether you are working with a male or female player you have to treat each of them like athletes. I am so proud of the commitment that Lyds has made to getting the most out of her special gifts. Just keep showing up and wait for it to come to you. The bird never flies to the hand that is grasping for it. #kiwi #korea #special

 

I could be completely wrong,  but I think Sean is just publicly documenting things for when he's shown the door around May of next year.

[18majors]

6 minutes ago, AWinfortheAges said:

I could be completely wrong,  but I think Sean is just publicly documenting things for when he's shown the door around May of next year.

 

 

Sorry, I've to disagree.

 

I can't guarantee Sean will be with Lydia forever, but I'm certain Lydia will win again before the end of 2021.

[Golf Dino]

30 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

 

Sorry, I've to disagree.

 

I can't guarantee Sean will be with Lydia forever, but I'm certain Lydia will win again before the end of 2021.

 

I would tend to agree too ... It seems improbable that Lydia will return to the lofty heights that she occupied at the apex of her career (around 2015-2017), but she really seems to be elevating her game again ... as mentioned in a previous post, swinging the club more freely without mental impediments, gaining distance off of the tee for the first time in her professional career, and if she keeps her GIRs and putting competitive with the best, then she should have plenty of opportunities to win again. 

 

Lydia credits Sean Foley as a huge source of this improvement ... so she seems content with the direction things are going.  Also, lets not forget that Lydia is older now and she seems far more mature than she was ... and I think she may have learned some things about herself, handling her own expectations and perhaps those of her immediate family too ... which bodes well for her.

Edited November 30, 2020 by Golf Dino

[18majors]

4 minutes ago, Golf Dino said:

 

I would tend to agree too ... It seems improbable that Lydia will return to the lofty heights that she occupied at the apex of her career (around 2015-2017), but she really seems to be elevating her game again ... as mentioned in a previous post, swinging the club more freely without mental impediments, gaining distance off of the tee for the first time in her professional career, and if she keeps her GIRs and putting competitive with the best, then she should have plenty of opportunities to win again.

 

It's just one tournament, but Lydia out drove both Jessica Korda and Brooke Henderson at Pelican Women's Championship.

 

Lydia                  267.8 yards

Jessica              260.1 yards

Brooke               260.5 yards

 

[postfold]

On 11/29/2020 at 6:54 PM, 18majors said:

 

 

Did Ollie caddie for her?

 

The way Emily has been playing, Ollie may have a hard decision to make in the near future.

Why mess with a good thing?  Make bank working for world #4 major winning all around awesome person Danielle Kang, date LET money list champ multiple event winner rising superstar Emily Pedersen. 

 

I know Pedersen has played in the US a decent amount -- too lazy to look up how much exactly -- but I wonder if her plan is to play more on the LPGA or to stay based on the LET.  She might be the one with the hard decision...

[Lobby]

Makes one wonder about the relationship between LPGA pros and their caddies, when the caddie is in a romantic relationship with a playing competitor.  

But I suppose that's another thread.    Not to mention the ladies deserve their privacy.

[BadgerLin]

I think it’s quite common for caddies to be in a relationship with an LPGA pro other than the pro they’re caddying for.

[18majors]

LPGA in 2021 will look a lot like 2020 LPGA

 

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship moves 2021 tournament to September

 

"Originally scheduled for June, the event will transition to September 2021 as part of the LPGA Tour’s overall schedule adjustments for the upcoming calendar year with the goal of providing LPGA players the most opportunities to compete in 2021 as possible."

 

[Stooch]

Ha Ha weird little quirk, it even plays out on the LPGA

Brooke/Brittany

Nelly/Jessica

Ariya/Moriya

 

Probably left out many others

 

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-are-great-athletes-more-likely-to-be-the-younger-siblings/

[Argonne69]

3 hours ago, BadgerLin said:

I think it’s quite common for caddies to be in a relationship with an LPGA pro other than the pro they’re caddying for.

 

I wouldn't classify it as common, but it's certainly not uncommon. 

 

As we saw with Jerry and Karen, having a "normal" relationship when one is on the road over half the year is tough as nails. It certainly doesn't surprise me that people who travel in the same circle can form strong bonds. 💖