2020 CME Group Tour Championship Dec 17 - 20

[Argonne69]

Race to the CME Globe: 3500 Points

 

Format: 72 holes

 

Purse: $3,000,000

 

Location: Tiburon GC, Naples, FL

 

Par: 72

 

Yardage: 6556

 

History: This is the 9th year for the event. In 2019, Sei Young Kim drained a 25-foot birdie on the final hole to win $1.5 million, the richest prize in the history of women's golf.

 

Coverage:

 

Dec 17: The Golf Channel 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (ET)

Dec 18: The Golf Channel 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (ET)

Dec 19: The Golf Channel 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (ET)

Dec 20: NBC 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (ET)

 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2020 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Normally I'd say, "Is it the tour championship already???" This year I'll say, "Thank goodness this dumpster fire of a year is almost over."

 

Strong field, but we're missing quite a few top ranked players dur to their limited schedules. 'Definitely think CME made a poor chose with the invitees. 

 

The weather should be (near) ideal for mid-December. No earmuffs this week I'm afraid. Lol.

 

I'm going with Sei Young again this week. A few too many mistakes last week, but she has the firepower to destroy this course. Pick two is Lydia. She's won here before, and her game is looking as good as it's been in years.

 

[MagicClassic407]

I'm here! My group is first off #10 tomorrow morning: Aza, Lindsay Weaver, Megan Khang. So I'm gonna choose Megan, then the other Kang. 

[Argonne69]

Just now, MagicClassic407 said:

I'm here! My group is first off #10 tomorrow morning: Aza, Lindsay Weaver, Megan Khang. So I'm gonna choose Megan, then the other Kang. 

 

Bring a bottle of NoDoz. Aza is a snail.  

[golfortennis]

I'm typically behind "you don't change your process midstream."  I liked Whan's response to the discussion around Popov.  But, and I acknowledge they have every right to choose who they want, but to choose Natalie Gulbis as one of the sponsor's exemption..... 

[Stooch]

I'm gonna go with a "horse's for course's" type pick and go with Charley Hull this week.  She been scoring very well but also making lots of mistakes.  Though this won't be the US Open so most mistakes won't be as amplified this week.

[SwooshLT]

3 minutes ago, Bluefan75 said:

I'm typically behind "you don't change your process midstream."  I liked Whan's response to the discussion around Popov.  But, and I acknowledge they have every right to choose who they want, but to choose Natalie Gulbis as one of the sponsor's exemption..... 

 

 

I was coming in to ask why but thanks for the response......A lim kim and/or Popov should be in field obviously 

[golfortennis]

2 minutes ago, SwooshLT said:

 

 

I was coming in to ask why but thanks for the response......A lim kim and/or Popov should be in field obviously 

 

Yep.  Apparently, the CME CEO justified it as "I've known her for 20 years."  So basically it's a way of throwing her some money for whatever reason.  I guess it's all money, but from a sporting integrity POV(haha), you'd think the LPGA would not have had sponsor's exemptions to a tournament for which you need to qualify.

[SwooshLT]

Just now, Bluefan75 said:

 

Yep.  Apparently, the CME CEO justified it as "I've known her for 20 years."  So basically it's a way of throwing her some money for whatever reason.  I guess it's all money, but from a sporting integrity POV(haha), you'd think the LPGA would not have had sponsor's exemptions to a tournament for which you need to qualify.

 

 

They just said on GC that this is a one off due to 2020.....won't happen again

[NCLancer]

I'm picking So Yeon Ryu and Anna Nordqvist.  No info or stats to back up my choices.  Just hunches.  Hopefully the weather will be better than the last 2 Texas tourneys. 

[ChronicSlicer]

Ariya or JYK...why not. Jenny Shin riding the darkhorse.

 

Glancing at the field, Carlota and Caroline Masson are due to make a run.

Edited December 17, 2020 by ChronicSlicer

[Raving Shanker]

4 hours ago, Bluefan75 said:

I'm typically behind "you don't change your process midstream."  I liked Whan's response to the discussion around Popov.  But, and I acknowledge they have every right to choose who they want, but to choose Natalie Gulbis as one of the sponsor's exemption..... 

No one questions their right to choose who they want. The issue is who they chose!

[AWinfortheAges]

My pick to win this week is Anne Van Dam.

 

After reading the explanation from the CEO, I think the sponsors picks are fine. The ladies may even want to say thank you to Gulbis when the pass her on the driving range. It sounds like her friendship with the CEO helped to keep the company's interest and support in the tournament. Richest purse in women's golf, you can give your sponsor a little room in a crazy year. 

 

[pmcuk]

I don't see an outsider winning this - I'm going for Inbee, SYK or JYK.

 

You'd expect some action from DK, Nelly, Brooke, the Jutanagarns and some others, but I think this is going to be a pretty bloody race to the line with the top players grinding it out. I'd like to see Yealimi in there but she crashed and burned in the Open - not a good omen.  

[tbowles411]

I've got nothing this week.  The way I've been picking has been spotty at best.  LOL

[Titleist_PT23]

1 hour ago, pmcuk said:

I don't see an outsider winning this - I'm going for Inbee, SYK or JYK.

 

You'd expect some action from DK, Nelly, Brooke, the Jutanagarns and some others, but I think this is going to be a pretty bloody race to the line with the top players grinding it out. I'd like to see Yealimi in there but she crashed and burned in the Open - not a good omen.  

I'm guessing the Koreans are running on empty.  They were all playing for last week.  $1.5 MM is nice but none of them are in danger of having their debit card turned off so I'd assume some type of emotional/mental step back.  Could be wrong....

[Titleist_PT23]

I just saw JYK is -2 through 2...

[Mr69]

Only 3 in the field, but I like a Lee this week.

[North Texas]

13 minutes ago, agolf1 said:

I just saw JYK is -2 through 2...

 

You jinxed her 🙂

 

Now -1 thru 3. 

Edited December 17, 2020 by North Texas

[Stooch]

The top 10 player who missed the cut last week and didn't have to put up with the cold and the delays seems to be off to a fast start 🙂

[Argonne69]

3 hours ago, Stooch said:

The top 10 player who missed the cut last week and didn't have to put up with the cold and the delays seems to be off to a fast start 🙂

 

Looks like a number of players who missed the cut last week are under par. 'Guess last week was just a warm up for the big paycheck this week. Lol.

[elwhippy]

No British or US Open champions. Please explain when Gulbis is in the field. I thought she had stopped playing competitively. 

[Lobby]

It would be cool, with Fassi being one of the last to get in the tournament, that she'd contend.   Win even.

 

[Argonne69]

Nice to have Terry back. 

[Argonne69]

Nice opening round. No big surprises I guess. Lexi has had a lot of success here, and once again she has a final opportunity to post a win to extend her streak of seasons with at least one win. 

 

Sei Young is looking good. Will she drain the winning putt on the final hole again? Lol. 

 

More solid play by Inbee. She has eyes on winning the POTY award. 

 

Megan continues to impress. A first win here would be huge. 

 

Jin Young lurking. A win in her shortened season would be something, extending her streak to four years running. 

 

Nice to see some decent weather. 

 

[ChronicSlicer]

14 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Nice opening round. No big surprises I guess. Lexi has had a lot of success here, and once again she has a final opportunity to post a win to extend her streak of seasons with at least one win. 

 

 

 

Oh you are wrong dear sir, there is a huge surprise this round. Lexi is putting well...that is damn near a shock 
Good for her, hope it continues for 3 more rounds.

[Bad9]

18 hours ago, elwhippy said:

No British or US Open champions. Please explain when Gulbis is in the field. I thought she had stopped playing competitively. 

I asked in the other thread, who is Sarah Kemp, the other sponsors exemption. At least I know who Gulbis is.

[Bad9]

29 minutes ago, ChronicSlicer said:

Oh you are wrong dear sir, there is a huge surprise this round. Lexi is putting well...that is damn near a shock 
Good for her, hope it continues for 3 more rounds.

 

We all know her good putting won't last.

[Argonne69]

13 minutes ago, Bad9 said:

I asked in the other thread, who is Sarah Kemp, the other sponsors exemption. At least I know who Gulbis is.

 

Sarah is a CME ambassador (sponsee) since 2018. She's been on the tour since 2008. She's played in 13 tournaments this season, has made 5 cuts. Her best finish was 19T at the Volunteers of America. She has four career top 10's.

[Bad9]

2 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Sarah is a CME ambassador (sponsee) since 2018. She's been on the tour since 2008. She's played in 13 tournaments this season, has made 5 cuts. Her best finish was 19T at the Volunteers of America. She has four career top 10's.

I watch the LPGA much more than the PGA, recognize most names but don't recall her at all.