2020 LPGA Drive On Championship - Reynolds Lake Oconee

[Argonne69]

2 minutes ago, ChronicSlicer said:

Thanks for confirming to everyone that just because you can out drive your competitors by 30 40 or almost 50 yards, it doesn't guarantee a win each week. 

What's really impressive is her combination of fairways hit and distance.

Looks like Carlota was poking it out there pretty good the first two rounds considering she averages 265.

 

It's an old cliche, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have an element of truth to it. Drive for show, and putt for dough.

 

That said, a player who leads in total driving is giving themselves many more opportunities to stick approaches close, and have legit birdie chances. (Right, Jodi?) However, the putter has to get warm. The longest drivers on tour tend to have mediocre putting stats.

 

[ChronicSlicer]

@Argonne69 and @Shilgy, of course the long hitter has an advantage everybody knows this, but it takes more than big drives and a hot putter to win or contend regularly. There's always that second shot into the green.

Bianca should take a page out of DJ's playbook and work on that approach shot, dial in those numbers and putting becomes easier as well.

[Shilgy]

1 minute ago, ChronicSlicer said:

@Argonne69 and @Shilgy, of course the long hitter has an advantage everybody knows this, but it takes more than big drives and a hot putter to win or contend regularly. There's always that second shot into the green.

Bianca should take a page out of DJ's playbook and work on that approach shot, dial in those numbers and putting becomes easier as well.

C’mon chronic, she’s a 23 year old rookie that has played in six events. I feel quite certain she is already doing what you suggest. From interviews I have seen with her she is not as hung up on being long as a Fassi , for example, seems to be. 

[ChronicSlicer]

10 minutes ago, Shilgy said:

C’mon chronic, she’s a 23 year old rookie that has played in six events. I feel quite certain she is already doing what you suggest. From interviews I have seen with her she is not as hung up on being long as a Fassi , for example, seems to be. 

👍

[18majors]

The Top-10 on Official Money List who's hasn't already qualified for USWO get their exemptions today.

 

I can't be sure, but these are the list:

 

#7           Jasmine Suwannapura

#25         Jodi Ewart Shadoff

#33         Cydney Clanton

#37         Andrea Lee

#40         Mina Harigae

#42         Kelly Tan

#46         Perrine Delacour

#48         Xiyu Lin

#54         Lindsey Weaver

#55         Leona Maguire

 

Congratulations!

 

[eric13]

Today Jerry Foltz said everyone should use a ten finger grip like Ally McDonald. Is that a new trend?

Edited October 25, 2020 by eric13

[bullie76]

Very happy for Ally. She's been close a couple of times so good to see her knock the door down. 

 

[HMHS]

1 hour ago, Shilgy said:

C’mon chronic, she’s a 23 year old rookie that has played in six events. I feel quite certain she is already doing what you suggest. From interviews I have seen with her she is not as hung up on being long as a Fassi , for example, seems to be. 

Here's some stats I recall from Karen in the coverage: pre-KPMG round 2 -- GIR around 65%, post round 2 - 80%.  Today 71%...  Could be a hot streak with the irons, OR, could be, working on it during freetime?  As her  college coach Laura Ianello said:  Dial in those irons and she'll be making quite a bit of $ on the LPGA...   I also feel the same with regards to how this lady is with regards to distance - she probably doesn't care actually truth be told, hence just keeps using whatever club she thinks she wants...

Edited October 25, 2020 by HMHS

[nosil]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

The LPGA gives the announcing crew a "cheat sheet" of stats before every round. That's why they're able to discuss scrambling percentages, and we're left in the dark. 😡

 

 

You just have to know where to look.  Try here:  https://media.lpga.com/    Pick the tournament and daily stats and you can get a copy of the sheet from each round; including todays. 

 

[Argonne69]

3 hours ago, nosil said:

 

You just have to know where to look.  Try here:  https://media.lpga.com/    Pick the tournament and daily stats and you can get a copy of the sheet from each round; including todays. 

 

 

The tournament dropdown list is empty. Where are the stats, e.g. scrambling percentages?

 

[pmcuk]

On a slightly different subject, we've had some interesting first time winners this season. What I'm seeing is that these new winners have stuck it out resolutely to the last hole - Sophia Popov being a particularly good example. 

 

I'm guessing that Sport Psychology is increasingly helping a lot of people in golf to stay mentally on their game under pressure. They now have go-to resources that they can draw on under pressure, and I think it's making a difference behind the scenes. I doubt if there are any top level golfers that are completely unfamiliar with Sport Psychology by now. 

 

It may be a question of just plain guts and courage, but I suspect that it's more nuanced than that. 

[18majors]

1 hour ago, pmcuk said:

On a slightly different subject, we've had some interesting first time winners this season. What I'm seeing is that these new winners have stuck it out resolutely to the last hole - Sophia Popov being a particularly good example. 

 

I'm guessing that Sport Psychology is increasingly helping a lot of people in golf to stay mentally on their game under pressure. They now have go-to resources that they can draw on under pressure, and I think it's making a difference behind the scenes. I doubt if there are any top level golfers that are completely unfamiliar with Sport Psychology by now. 

 

It may be a question of just plain guts and courage, but I suspect that it's more nuanced than that. 

 

 

I doubt many players have gone the route of sports psychologist.

 

There're courses for horses.  When a player leads into the final round, she's obviously comfortable playing that course.  The only way to unnerve her, is for someone to mount a serious challenge.

There aren't Tiger Woods or any other intimidators in LPGA right now; nobody mounted serious challenges to Popov, Reid or McDonald enroute to their victories.

 

Maybe there'll be less first time winners, when Bianca Pagdanganan fully establishes herself as the force in the field.

 

 

Edited October 26, 2020 by 18majors

[Argonne69]

59 minutes ago, pmcuk said:

On a slightly different subject, we've had some interesting first time winners this season. What I'm seeing is that these new winners have stuck it out resolutely to the last hole - Sophia Popov being a particularly good example. 

 

I'm guessing that Sport Psychology is increasingly helping a lot of people in golf to stay mentally on their game under pressure. They now have go-to resources that they can draw on under pressure, and I think it's making a difference behind the scenes. I doubt if there are any top level golfers that are completely unfamiliar with Sport Psychology by now. 

 

It may be a question of just plain guts and courage, but I suspect that it's more nuanced than that. 

 

The thing is, for every winner who's held off the challenge, there's still plenty of players who were in the hunt that faded considerably on Sunday. That includes players looking for their first win, players trying to win for the second time, and veterans looking for their nth with. Ally was right, it's hard to win out there. 

 

Obviously many of these tournaments are "weaker field" events during this odd year, but the field still has plenty of talented players. As Karen mentioned yesterday, the players on tour were all good enough to get to the big leagues, and most of them have won at some level of elite competition. 'Seems like self-belief is a term that's used a lot.

 

 

[pmcuk]

55 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

As Karen mentioned yesterday, the players on tour were all good enough to get to the big leagues, and most of them have won at some level of elite competition. 'Seems like self-belief is a term that's used a lot.

 

 

Yes - I noticed that comment. But Sport Psychology is all about strengthening self-belief, besides many other useful strategies. Can anyone comment on the use of Sport Psychology in Ladies Golf? It's common in snooker, for example, and top players have described how working with a Sport Psychologist helped them quite a lot. Besides, a lot of strategies that started out in Sport Psychology are now mainstream knowledge you'll find all over the Internet, and it's hard not to be exposed to it. Stuff like relaxation techniques, meditation, mindfulness, the Zone etc. I'm sure a lot of coaches are familiar with this stuff too and pass it on.

Edited October 26, 2020 by pmcuk

[Argonne69]

 

They haven't discussed specific techniques, but Danielle's work with Butch seems to be centered primarily on the mental aspect of the game. She was a bit of a hothead, and still is to a point, but she's been able to dial it back, and get over the poor shots quickly. She always had the talent, but now she's able to remain focused until the last putt drops. 

 

 

[pmcuk]

Thanks for that - working on the mental game doesn't surprise me in the case of any sportsperson's success. That's the point I'm making here - there is a wealth of strategies available to coaches and players now, it's fairly widespread. Loads of different techniques for performance anxiety which are being used regularly by all kinds of people who perform in public and which help take the edge off the nerves and prevent panic and breakdown. And plenty of stuff around getting into and staying in the Zone.

 

I'm sure this is helping some of the LPGA players to stay focussed right through to the last hole. Doesn't always work, but the strategies are there for the taking. Even when players say something as simple as "I concentrate on playing each shot at a time" you know it came out of some awareness of basic Sport Psychology.  

[18majors]

11 minutes ago, pmcuk said:

Thanks for that - working on the mental game doesn't surprise me in the case of any sportsperson's success. That's the point I'm making here - there is a wealth of strategies available to coaches and players now, it's fairly widespread. Loads of different techniques for performance anxiety which are being used regularly by all kinds of people who perform in public and which help take the edge off the nerves and prevent panic and breakdown. And plenty of stuff around getting into and staying in the Zone.

 

I'm sure this is helping some of the LPGA players to stay focussed right through to the last hole. Doesn't always work, but the strategies are there for the taking. Even when players say something as simple as "I concentrate on playing each shot at a time" you know it came out of some awareness of basic Sport Psychology.  

 

 

It does sound like a lobbyist for Sports Psychology Society!

[Argonne69]

7 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

 

It does sound like a lobbyist for Sports Psychology Society!

 

I spend a ton of time grinding through the stats. (I'll be posting the latest revision of the ballstriking stat shortly). At the top of the charts are many players who don't seem to get it done under pressure. Obviously very talented players, but it's generally not the technical aspect of the game that holds many of them back. 

'

[pmcuk]

18 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

 

It does sound like a lobbyist for Sports Psychology Society!

 

Yep, I'm a Performance Psychologist. I work with musicians, but the techniques are very similar, and a lot of the knowledge comes from pioneering work in the field of Sport Psychology, which got there first and was always well-funded.   

[tbowles411]

First time winners are still exciting even though we make our veteran picks most of the time!  Congrats to Ally!

[pmcuk]

26 minutes ago, tbowles411 said:

First time winners are still exciting even though we make our veteran picks most of the time!  Congrats to Ally!

 

Yes - first time winners are exciting! You can feel how much it means to them. Emotion is always great when it happens in sport. 

[tbowles411]

2 minutes ago, pmcuk said:

 

Yes - first time winners are exciting! You can feel how much it means to them. Emotion is always great when it happens in sport. 

Agreed.  You know it's life changing.  That sense of relief that you got it done, and that you have two additional years on Tour to make your way.  It's awesome!

[nosil]

17 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

The tournament dropdown list is empty. Where are the stats, e.g. scrambling percentages?

 

Did you pick the year?  Once you pick the year the tournament list populates.  Once you pick the tournament you get the directory of files.  The stats are under daily statistics

 

Edited October 26, 2020 by nosil

[mallrat]

9 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

They haven't discussed specific techniques, but Danielle's work with Butch seems to be centered primarily on the mental aspect of the game. She was a bit of a hothead, and still is to a point, but she's been able to dial it back, and get over the poor shots quickly. She always had the talent, but now she's able to remain focused until the last putt drops. 

 

 

I don’t remember the player specifically (DJ or Rickie I think) but a year or 2 ago I heard a conversation On a broadcast about Butch and the guys that go to him. They said at that level of golf works more on their mental approach. They were saying that he basically is a shrink for the elite players. 

[mallrat]

10 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

 

I doubt many players have gone the route of sports psychologist.

 

There're courses for horses.  When a player leads into the final round, she's obviously comfortable playing that course.  The only way to unnerve her, is for someone to mount a serious challenge.

There aren't Tiger Woods or any other intimidators in LPGA right now; nobody mounted serious challenges to Popov, Reid or McDonald enroute to their victories.

 

Maybe there'll be less first time winners, when Bianca Pagdanganan fully establishes herself as the force in the field.

 

 

I have no idea about the women’s game but in the men’s almost every younger player has one. They are part of their “team” and from my understanding a lot even travel with one. 

[Oh Hi Carl]

Course looked like it is really fun and the community seems like a great place to live with the lake and boats.  But what was that awful buzzing sound throughout the telecast?  It sounded like a small plane buzzing just overhead or having a mower follow you around the course all day.  Was it boats, jet skis?  I almost had to turn the volume down.  Worse than those vuvuzellas at the World Cup.  

Edited October 27, 2020 by Sonja Henie

[Argonne69]

24 minutes ago, Sonja Henie said:

Course looked like it is really fun and the community seems like a great place to live with the lake and boats.  But what was that awful buzzing sound throughout the telecast?  It sounded like a small plane buzzing just overhead or having a mower follow you around the course all day.  Was it boats, jet skis?  I almost had to turn the volume down.  Worse than those vuvuzellas at the World Cup.  

 

The buzzing was the small airplane that was providing the aerial camera shots. 

[Oh Hi Carl]

1 minute ago, Argonne69 said:

 

The buzzing was the small airplane that was providing the aerial camera shots. 

That's good to know.  I may actually visit now that I know I won't have to take a bottle of Advil with me.  Thanks.  

[Golf Dino]

https://bit.ly/3lfweWb   

 

Podcast with Beth Ann Nichols on Ally McDonald and her mental approach to golf in the last few months.  She also talks a bit about Bianca Pagdanganan, sponsorships and women's professional players.   She's a very informed and passionate golf writer.

[Raving Shanker]

I came here to see what you golf cognoscenti had to say about Ally McDonald. I confess I don't know much about her as she is not usually prominent in the coverage.  I still don't know much! She seems a pretty solid performer, who had her day in the sun - but that sounds boring! Come on guys^*.

 

Like everyone, I was completely wowed by Bianca. Such a powerful and free swing! I only hope we don't put too much pressure on her. She is playing really well in the here and now, but everyone is projecting to a future of greatness. But she is great right now, so just enjoy it!  Sport is fickle.

 

How long can Carlota go on being a top-10 player who doesn't win? Even though she has won, it was a long time ago, so I think of her among the group of great players without a win. Is it 5 years now? Just, wow!

 

Great to see Ariya back in the mix. Love that woman! Still seems to be fighting herself more than anything.

 

That plane noise WAS pretty irritating. I have thought for a few years that golf needs camera-fitted drones to improve the coverage. If it does happen I hope they can keep the noise down.

 

*"Guys" used in the non-gender specific sense.