2020 US Women's Open

[bladehunter]

57 minutes ago, ThinkingPlus said:

The USGA doesn't really care if they identify the best player or the one that executes the best.  They just want the course to play hard.  Mud balls just randomize the results.

Eh.  I get that opinion.   I do.  But I’m a guy who welcomes bad weather. It cuts down on possible winners.  In my opinion it’s all in the mindset.  To me , survival is much easier than having to score.  
 

I guess I could swing with you on arguing against the USga stance on playing it down as a whole for all .  But in this case they’ve applied their already solidly known stance equally.  And I think that is the thing people aren’t considering.  This is exactly how they’d test the guy pros or all ams.   
 

We had 6 inches of rain the 3 days before my mid am qualifier in 2019.  And they made us walk and play it down from 7300 yards.  It was hard and as long as anything I’ve ever seen.  But in my opinion it was also fair.  

Edited December 14, 2020 by bladehunter

[OgeecheeMac1]

So your hands are cold. Wear gloves. Since when is 40 feet a “good look at birdie”?

[ThinkingPlus]

5 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

Eh.  I get that opinion.   I do.  But I’m a guy who welcomes bad weather. It cuts down on possible winners.  In my opinion it’s all in the mindset.  To me , survival is much easier than having to score.  
 

I guess I could swing with you on arguing against the USga stance on playing it down as a whole for all .  But in this case they’ve applied their already solidly known stance equally.  And I think that is the thing people aren’t considering.  This is exactly how they’d test the guy pros or all ams.   
 

We had 6 inches of rain the 3 days before my mid am qualifier in 2019.  And they made us walk and play it down from 7300 yards.  It was hard and as long as anything I’ve ever seen.  But in my opinion it was also fair.  

It just removes skill from the equation.  If the course requires high shots where carry is important then it becomes nearly impossible to control shots.  If we look at the origin of golf, links courses were all there was.  The ball flew little and rolled alot.  Courses had sandy base.  There were very few mud balls even with very wet conditions and the impact was negligible because the ball rolled more than flew. So playing the ball down wasn't seen as unfair or very impactful (and truly wasn't).  Today playing it down in the adverse conditions we are seeing today is purely driven by tradition and a perverse resistance to change.

[MaineMariner]

It's hard not to root for Amy Olson today. What an awesome story it would be if she pulled it off today.

[Abh159]

38 minutes ago, ThinkingPlus said:

It just removes skill from the equation.  If the course requires high shots where carry is important then it becomes nearly impossible to control shots.  If we look at the origin of golf, links courses were all there was.  The ball flew little and rolled alot.  Courses had sandy base.  There were very few mud balls even with very wet conditions and the impact was negligible because the ball rolled more than flew. So playing the ball down wasn't seen as unfair or very impactful (and truly wasn't).  Today playing it down in the adverse conditions we are seeing today is purely driven by tradition and a perverse resistance to change.

 

Personally I don't really care whether or not they play the ball up, but they should know the USGA isn't going to do that unless it's an absolute 100% must especially at a US Open.

 

My issue was that several of the players (Kristie Kerr was one) were complaining about how the USGA should be trying to make them "look really good" because they were on national TV, and about how not playing it up was making them look like they weren't any good. I feel like that sort of attitude isn't doing the LPGA and women's golf any favors. It's a US Open for goodness sake! It's supposed to be hard and something around even par should win. 

Edited December 14, 2020 by Abh159

[MaineMariner]

Oh man, there are disasters or potential disasters happening all over the course right now.

 

Advantage: cold weather climate golfers.

[Kaysquare]

9 minutes ago, MaineMariner said:

It's hard not to root for Amy Olson today. What an awesome story it would be if she pulled it off today.

I've been rooting for her all along, and especially now.  

[ThinkingPlus]

8 minutes ago, Abh159 said:

 

Personally I don't really care whether or not they play the ball up, but they should know the USGA isn't going to do that unless it's an absolute 100% must especially at a US Open.

 

My issue was that several of the players (Kristie Kerr was one) were complaining about how the USGA should be trying to make them "look really good" because they were on national TV, and about how not playing it up was making them look like they weren't any good. I feel like that sort of attitude isn't doing the LPGA and women's golf any favors. It's a US Open for goodness sake! It's supposed to be hard and something around even par should win. 

Christie's argument was sad. It should have been based on removing skill from play and making randomness the most important factor.  The setup and golf course makes it hard enough.  Funny, the USGA is more than willing to shorten the golf course considerably to make it play easier.

[Gsea]

Luckily no one sees them with the joke of a job they did broadcasting/streaming. USGA treats them like second class citizens !!!!

[Rustbelt]

Inbee Park is making a last minute charge.  Is that going to be enough?

[OgeecheeMac1]

They can’t hit straight lay up shots, either. 

[OgeecheeMac1]

Making In Bee Park look a fool.

[North Texas]

8 minutes ago, OgeecheeMac1 said:

Making In Bee Park look a fool.

 

As negative as you are, I'm not quite sure why you are even watching. 

[bladehunter]

1 hour ago, ThinkingPlus said:

It just removes skill from the equation.  If the course requires high shots where carry is important then it becomes nearly impossible to control shots.  If we look at the origin of golf, links courses were all there was.  The ball flew little and rolled alot.  Courses had sandy base.  There were very few mud balls even with very wet conditions and the impact was negligible because the ball rolled more than flew. So playing the ball down wasn't seen as unfair or very impactful (and truly wasn't).  Today playing it down in the adverse conditions we are seeing today is purely driven by tradition and a perverse resistance to change.

Like I said. I can get on that Train too.  So long as they do it for all.    I just didn’t particularly care for the comments that were made about making the lpga look bad.  The USga wants to make all look bad.  But nobody defends the men when it’s them griping.  So it’s hard for me to have sympathy now.   
 

so I agree.  USga should consider mud balls for all .  I just wish there was a way to make it pickup for mud balls only not just ball in hand. Too many players can’t play well with it down on dry days , and it flips the script and they then love rainy days so they can “ tee it up “.  

[bladehunter]

Hope Olson holds on to win this. 

[ThinkingPlus]

2 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

Like I said. I can get on that Train too.  So long as they do it for all.    I just didn’t particularly care for the comments that were made about making the lpga look bad.  The USga wants to make all look bad.  But nobody defends the men when it’s them griping.  So it’s hard for me to have sympathy now.   
 

so I agree.  USga should consider mud balls for all .  I just wish there was a way to make it pickup for mud balls only not just ball in hand. Too many players can’t play well with it down on dry days , and it flips the script and they then love rainy days so they can “ tee it up “.  

I sympathize with the men as well.  Actually, given the new drop height, I would change LCP to LCD.  Gives something more like normal play.

[bladehunter]

4 minutes ago, ThinkingPlus said:

I sympathize with the men as well.  Actually, given the new drop height, I would change LCP to LCD.  Gives something more like normal play.

And we have a winner folks.  That’s idea of the year for golf as far as I’ve heard.  

[OgeecheeMac1]

I love the Women’s Open. It hurts to watch this debacle. Randomness reigns.

[Hawkeye77]

Just home for lunch and excited to see Amy in the lead - will sit and watch - hope I remember to go back to work!

[bladehunter]

Olson Going at the par 5.  I hear ya!  

Edited December 14, 2020 by bladehunter

[pmcuk]

13 hours ago, Raving Shanker said:

Charie Hurrie? Is this the player French Golf Channel refer to as Sharlee Hool?

 

The very same....

 

Not Yealimi's day, and not Hinako either. I think the final round nerves must have got to them. Moriya was looking very tidy but has gone off the boil.

 

Someone could still steal it......

[OgeecheeMac1]

Oh, my. This is getting exciting. Mo and Mae and Jin Yun Ko are in it. Who can charge?

[golfortennis]

This is absolutely glacial pace.  I had paused the coverage to go for a walk with my wife.  I was fast forwarding through the dead stuff, and was about 45 minutes behind when Shibuno posted the bogey on 10.  Something screwed up and now I'm live.  They are on 13 fairway 45 minutes later!!  WTF?

 

Amy Olson.  Good on her for not marking every single comebacker she has left.  2 feet she just looks at it and knocks it in.  Yes if she wins it will be a great story for her.  But I'm getting really irritated at how NBC is milking it for all its worth.  Seems like they're afraid you haven't joined the coverage in the last 90 seconds, and may have missed the news.

 

Did I mention how slow the pace of play is?  And it appears to be the final group.  They've been 2 holes behind all day.

[North Texas]

6 minutes ago, Bluefan75 said:

This is absolutely glacial pace.  I had paused the coverage to go for a walk with my wife.  I was fast forwarding through the dead stuff, and was about 45 minutes behind when Shibuno posted the bogey on 10.  Something screwed up and now I'm live.  They are on 13 fairway 45 minutes later!!  WTF?

 

Amy Olson.  Good on her for not marking every single comebacker she has left.  2 feet she just looks at it and knocks it in.  Yes if she wins it will be a great story for her.  But I'm getting really irritated at how NBC is milking it for all its worth.  Seems like they're afraid you haven't joined the coverage in the last 90 seconds, and may have missed the news.

 

Did I mention how slow the pace of play is?  And it appears to be the final group.  They've been 2 holes behind all day.

 

Not sure that 3 and a half holes in 45 minutes would be considered glacier. 

[Abh159]

52 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

I just wish there was a way to make it pickup for mud balls only not just ball in hand. Too many players can’t play well with it down on dry days , and it flips the script and they then love rainy days so they can “ tee it up “.  

 

Sounds good in theory but impossible to actually implement. You would end up with people like Bryson claiming a "mud ball" because there is one tiny blade of grass on it. 

[golfortennis]

5 minutes ago, North Texas said:

 

Not sure that 3 and a half holes in 45 minutes would be considered glacier. 

 

2 and a half.  They were finished 10.  PLayed 11 and 12 and teed off on 13.  And currently on 14 having teed off about 4 hours ago.

Edited December 14, 2020 by Bluefan75

[ThinkingPlus]

5 minutes ago, North Texas said:

 

Not sure that 3 and a half holes in 45 minutes would be considered glacier. 

15 minutes per hole on average is a 4:30 round which is very respectable for championship golf at the highest level.  Final group seems to be playing a little slower than that. Fixed for new info.

Edited December 14, 2020 by ThinkingPlus

[Abh159]

2 minutes ago, North Texas said:

 

Not sure that 3 and a half holes in 45 minutes would be considered glacier. 

 

It was only 2 1/2 holes and one of those is a par 3. This is why I have a really hard time watching women's golf, and the LPGA doesn't seem to have any interest in fixing the problem. I mean the men get slow too once you get to the final few groups in a major but they are still light years faster than their women counterparts. 

[golfortennis]

5 minutes ago, Abh159 said:

 

Sounds good in theory but impossible to actually implement. You would end up with people like Bryson claiming a "mud ball" because there is one tiny blade of grass on it. 

 

Are you sure?  Gotta consider his brand before making that claim.

[North Texas]

9 minutes ago, Bluefan75 said:

 

2 and a half.  They were finished 10.  PLayed 11 and 12 and teed off on 13.  And currently on 14 having teed off about 4 hours ago.

 

Damn it, you didn't tell me that there was going to math involved 🙂