AIG Women's Open

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, 18majors said:

Korean media finally shifted their attention from Inbee Park to Minjee Lee

 

Minjee Lee

 

 

Lol. That pretty much guarantees that Inbee is going to shoot 64 tomorrow for the win. 

[Mark_Crossan]

3 hours ago, 18majors said:

The saying of "on any given day" and "on any given week" has a special meaning to Sophia Popov.

 

Sophia has been a Symetra Tour member since 2015, she has a career earning of $182,780 and she's never advanced to LPGA.

 

By a stroke of luck she's invited to play 2020 Marathon Classic because LPGA planned a big field of 156 but couldn't fill it.  She did well at Marathon and was invited to play AIG and the rest will become history.

 

Sophia spent a lot of her time at the Cactus Tour.  She'll earn enough money to finance the entire Cactus Tour for a year or two if she wins tomorrow.  Incidentally, LPGA rookie Haley Moore is a much better player at the Cautus Tout but she missed the cut this week.

 

 

I get what you’re saying but life and sport is about seizing the moment and taking your chances When you get them. This could be a career turning moment for Sophia whatever the outcome tomorrow. She got an invite to the Marathon event, finished top 10 to even get into this event so every credit to her, that was seizing the opportunity on itself. 
 

she only turned up and had one practice round Wednesday so every credit to her for the golf she’s played 

[18majors]

30 minutes ago, Mark_Crossan said:

I get what you’re saying but life and sport is about seizing the moment and taking your chances When you get them. This could be a career turning moment for Sophia whatever the outcome tomorrow. She got an invite to the Marathon event, finished top 10 to even get into this event so every credit to her, that was seizing the opportunity on itself. 
 

she only turned up and had one practice round Wednesday so every credit to her for the golf she’s played 

 

 

Sophia played 3 extraordinary rounds of golf at Troon; all credits to her.  Same as what she did at Marathon.

 

She did, she earned; no question about it.

 

Win or lose tomorrow; she's done something she'll treasure the rest of her life!

[Raving Shanker]

I started following this sport in 2016. I may have noticed Popov's name once or twice, but I know absolutely nothing about her. She looks invincible right now, but how many times have we seen that before? It seems her swing is kind of vigorous, requiring a lot of mental input into every shot, so I am not sure how well it will hold up. I used to hate upstarts ruining big events with their intrusions - thinking Sean Micheel, Todd Hamilton, Ben Curtis et al. But the older I get the more I realise that nobody wins a major by accident, even it is the one and only notable thing the person does in their life! There's always a a back story that delivers the person to that triumphant moment. All credit to Sophia.

 

I still think Minjee is the most likely winner right now, but Thidapa looks hungry  and confident, like she is expecting to win. It's impressive. Lydia's had the best distance control with irons, but 3 shots further back almost rules her out. Same with Inbee. Maybe In Gee wins, and the first shot they cover is a putt on the 17th!

[iBanesto]

It is time for Minjee Lee to become a major champion.

[pmcuk]

Early scores on day 4 suggest there are birdies out there to be had - quite a few players under par. Not sure how conditions will hold up through the day, though. Right now weather forecast says cloudy with a good chance of rain, wind 4-8 mph. Temperature around 14°C. That makes a change!

Edited August 23, 2020 by pmcuk

[Seamus_McDuff]

When’s the last time a major winner played Symetra the week prior?

 

Would be something if Popov pulls it off, but I expect the pressure to get her. 

[jmvargas]

..66(-5) & 67(-4) by Ally McDonald and Danielle King respectively among the early finishers far..

Low scores can be had today..

I'm excited !!

[Argonne69]

Early low scores are definitely going to put pressure on the leaders.

[Stooch]

19 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Early low scores are definitely going to put pressure on the leaders.

Looking at those who have finished it would seem to be score on the front and try and hold on to it through the back.

[OffTheDole]

I think -1 gets it done for Popov today. She just has to play to win like she did yesterday.

 

[MagicClassic407]

On 8/21/2020 at 11:32 PM, Raving Shanker said:

That was engrossing golf! It seems to me that winning on the weekend will go the player who can transition out of the defensive mind-set the best (assuming the conditions ease up).

 

Getting to the weekend was about having the humility to grind and accept pars, and even bogies. The weekend will be about knowing when to attack and when to defend.

 

Allison Whittaker is the best expert commentator in golf! One of the older male commentators seemed to have trouble completing sentences. Coverage was great, but still a mixed bag. Not one shot from in Gee Chun, who AGAIN spent the better part of two days on the leader board (slipped away a bit at the end!). And where was Jin Young Kim?!

 

Hinako Shibuno still looks a very likely prospect going forward. She is a true "player" who hits the ball with a rare abandon and freedom - probably not so suited to Troon in 50 kph winds!

 

From what I saw, Nasa was the unluckiest golfer of the first two rounds. The number of putts that were inside a a few inches but not in - so unlucky. Her tee shots were top shelf, but she then had a tendency to over hit irons into greens.

 

Go Minjee! Or Lydia. Or anyone really.

Jin Young Kim......right, I saw that. NBC can't even get the #1 player in the world's name right. Pathetic. Person responsible needs to be sacked, along with his fact checker.

[ThinkingPlus]

And now it's probably down to 3.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I'm watching it in Japan (the broadcast's just started here). Ueda Momoko looks to be putting a pretty good round together, but she too far off the lead. Popov's faring well so far. Hope she keeps it together.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Also, it's nice to watch an Open on a course I've played, even it was 30 years ago.

[stingerfade]

Minjee needs a new putting coach. She’s really just not good 

 

Edit: except on 8th wow

Edited August 23, 2020 by stingerfade

[pmcuk]

Exciting stuff!!! Good play from the 3 leaders and no sign of any big cracks so far. Suwannapura is right in there and looking confident. Minjee is determined and solid. Popov - words fail me........... What a great last round unfolding. 

[ThinkingPlus]

How can a touring pro hit a wedge 25 yards left of the pin with no wind?  How can the same pro chop it onto the green from that stance/lie and make the 20 footer for par?  Crazy.

[18majors]

Lydia was 19 when she won her 14th LPGA title at 2016 Marathon Classic; winning was automatic.

Fourteen!  We could count with our fingers the number of players who've won a title when they're 19, from both LPGA and PGA.

 

But she's won only once since then.  Most of the time it's because she seems to be in between swing changes from different coaches.

This year, however, she's tempted us with a swing that is almost as good as her winning days, but she hasn't won yet.

 

One reason is stronger competition; as an exhibit, a No. 304 ranked player is leading the final round of a major championship today.

 

On the whole; it's great we have a competitive Lydia on the course again, even if she won't ever repeat her past magic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ThinkingPlus]

I hear the first stirring notes of Ride of the Valkeries...

[Ignatius Reilly]

Holy crap!

 

Back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16.  

 

Apparently, she belongs there.

[Newinup]

Minjee Lee couldn't seize the moment, yet again... another data point in my books for "Rickie Fowler of the LPGA". Maybe trying too hard, or will just be unlucky in majors... Popov deserves the win with how she played.  

[Naptime]

Longshot to win. A bit like John Daly winning the PGA.

[18majors]

13 minutes ago, Newinup said:

Minjee Lee couldn't seize the moment, yet again... another data point in my books for "Rickie Fowler of the LPGA". Maybe trying too hard, or will just be unlucky in majors... Popov deserves the win with how she played.  

 

 

@Newinup

 

I'd give Minjee a pass this time, she shot under par in the final round.   The way Sophia Popov played in this tournament, even Tiger Woods in his prime can't stop her.

 

On the other hand, do you think major championships are over rated?  I don't think Sophia Popov is a better golfer than Minjee, just because she's a major champion.

[pmcuk]

I'm speechless!

[kwcsports]

Great final round, congrats to Popov, well played. 

[MaineMariner]

This is such a great post-win interview and celebration, Ms. Popov has a new fan.

[Newinup]

1 minute ago, 18majors said:

 

 

@Newinup

 

I'd give Minjee a pass this time, she shot under par in the final round.   The way Sophia Popov played in this tournament, even Tiger Woods in his prime can't stop her.

 

On the other hand, do you think major championships are over rated?  I don't think Sophia Popov is a better golfer than Minjee, just because she's a major champion.

Yeah, youre right, maybe watching Minjee losing grasp of another chance is just "frustrating as a spectator" to watch... (easy to watch, hard to do/play, of course)... Suwannapura did grab the bull by the horns early though, which made the show more interesting today...

 

But yeah, the way Popov played, the BO was FOR her... Long putts, lucky breaks despite losing her footing on her wedge play etc etc...  Same with Shibuno sinking that putt last year, and Hall sinking putt after putt to fend off Phatlum in 2018... But then again, don't most winners of golf tournaments have such "luck" to win that tournament? LOL (I remember Justin Thomas' 10 second+ putt sinking in to defeat Matsuyama in 2017 PGA as another clear example)

 

As for majors being overrated?  That's a tough question for me -- on the one hand, they make it more prestigious with the prize money so there's more "competition" / "cream of the crop" as they say.  At the same time, golf being golf, the BO has shown anyone can have a good day/week and take a major (Even the commentators talked about it today on the broadcast, but I did mention Hall, Shibuno, etc in this thread prior to the TV commentators talking about unheralded BO winners today in the telecast haha)... So kinda mixed for majors being "overrated" -- there's a reason why they're such, $ being one of them, and maybe the "legacy/history" of the majors like BO, Masters... 

 

Now to look forward to rooting for Bianca to get at least a top 5-10 again on Friday-Sunday!   

[18majors]

@Newinup

 

Hey, if Sophia Popov can win AIG, why not Bianca Pagdanganan winning Walmart!

[gvogel]

What a great story.