2021 LPGA Drive On Championship (Mar 04 - 07)

[Argonne69]

Race to the CME Globe: 500 Points

 

Format: 72 holes

 

Purse: $1,500,000

 

Location: Golden Ocala Golf Club, Ocala, FL

 

Par: 72

 

Yardage: 6852 yds

 

History: This is the first year for the event.

 

Coverage:

 

Mar 04: The Golf Channel 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (ET)

Mar 05: The Golf Channel 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (ET)

Mar 06: The Golf Channel 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm (ET)

Mar 07: The Golf Channel 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm (ET)

 

[Argonne69]

Nice to have back-to-back tournaments. It won't quite make up for the following 3 week gap, though.

 

Decent coverage after last week's fiasco. Three hours each day during normal hours. 

 

Weather looks decent for the first two rounds, but there's a chance for rain on the weekend. Fingers crossed.

 

A quick glance at the entry list shows pretty much the same names as this past week. Makes sense given the hour and thirty minute drive time between the venues. 

 

OK, enough of the jinx stuff, I'm going with Lydia this week. 'Just gotta avoid the big mistakes. Nelly should have another good week, as will Jin Young.

 

[18majors]

According to LPGA Media Guide

 

Turfglass

Greens: Tifeagle bermudagrass

Tees:  Celebration/Common bermuda

Fairways:  Common bermuda

 

Course

Par:  72

Yardage:  6,526 yards

 

Hole                          Par                            Yardage

1                                 4                                  390

2                                4                                   412

3                                4                                   354

4                                3                                   130

5                                5                                   511

6                                3                                   180

7                                5                                   523

8                                4                                   388

9                                4                                   405

 

10                              4                                   398

11                              3                                    160

12                              5                                    494

13                              4                                   375

14                              4                                   353 

15                              3                                    173

16                              4                                   373

17                              4                                   402

18                              5                                   505

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 1, 2021 by 18majors

[ChronicSlicer]

It would be so easy and boring to pick Nelly, JYK, SYK, DK or Brooke, but it's tough not to choose one of them.
Once again, I expect the native Floridians to play well. I couldn't help to notice the sweet swinging Amy Yang playing pretty well last week hope that continues.

I'm still rooting for Yu Lui , so that's my pick. My gut say's take Lexi or Yealimi. Wishing Esther Henseleit good luck as well.

[18majors]

15 hours ago, ChronicSlicer said:

My gut say's take Lexi or Yealimi.

 

 

Wish you're right here.

 

Yealimi, a California kid like Inbee Park, has the same problems with bermudagrass in Florida.  But, it maybe different this week; it's her second consecutive week playing bermudagrass.  It's the best way to learn.

 

She went -2 the last twelve holes last week, after shooting +7 the previous ten holes.

 

 

Edited March 2, 2021 by 18majors

[Cwebb]

I'm picking In Gee Chun to win and burst back on the scene  

[fanofseri]

Is this the tournament for Haeji Kang?  I sure hope so.  I'd love to see this pro pose with the trophy and her adorable Pomeranian-- Kong.  

[Stooch]

Not sure either will win but I'll pick a couple of players to be there in the end.  I think Danielle Kang will bounce back after the missed cut and play well this week.  I also Think SYK will do well this week, she shot a 66 on Sunday and got her taste for the low back.  I think she has a more SYK typical week.

[Lobby]

DK prob still steaming after missing the cut last week.   I think she'll do well. 

But I think it's time for Lydia or Lexi to break through.   They're playing so well

[18majors]

Aon Risk/Reward Challenge is #12 Par 5, 494/469 yards.

[MagicClassic407]

Having witnessed the last time a winner was declared at Golden Ocala (Ha Na Jang....not in the field), there's many who were right behind that played well here. So, gonna go with Brooke and one of my (Ocala) horses, SYK.🐴 Giddyap!!🐎

[BadgerLin]

Too bad Ha Na Jang  moved back to KLPGA - she was a great personality for the tour.  I’m beginning to regret my pick of Brooke for our contest - her putting may be too big of a handicap.  I’ll go with SYK this week with at least one Korda right on her heels.  Are Lexi and Lydia going to be the Tony Finaus - always right there but never closing the deal?

[Gsea]

Nelly back to back or Lexi $$$$

[ChronicSlicer]

46 minutes ago, BadgerLin said:

Too bad Ha Na Jang  moved back to KLPGA - she was a great personality for the tour.  I’m beginning to regret my pick of Brooke for our contest - her putting may be too big of a handicap.  I’ll go with SYK this week with at least one Korda right on her heels.  Are Lexi and Lydia going to be the Tony Finaus - always right there but never closing the deal?

I'm with you on Ha Na. Always smiling and having fun, no slouch with the sticks either.

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, BadgerLin said:

Too bad Ha Na Jang  moved back to KLPGA - she was a great personality for the tour.  I’m beginning to regret my pick of Brooke for our contest - her putting may be too big of a handicap.  I’ll go with SYK this week with at least one Korda right on her heels.  Are Lexi and Lydia going to be the Tony Finaus - always right there but never closing the deal?

 

Lol. What? Simply can't put Lexi and Lydia in the same category as Tony. Both are proven winners multiple times over. They'll win again soon. 

[18majors]

They mean business

 

After warming up, Jinyoung Ko and Seyoung Kim lead the Korean counterattack at the LPGA Drive-On Championship.

 

[18majors]

This guy, Joe Buttgereit, DraftKings and fantasy sports will bring many more fans to LPGA.

 

 

 

 

 

[18majors]

I thought Yealimi Noh would have changed her caddie after last week; but she's staying with Kris Maerke.

[18majors]

@BadgerLin

 

Morgan Pressel and Golf Channel/NBC producer Beth Hutter will have a joint virtual media appearance at 1:30 PM EST today.  You could follow it through LPGA Facebook or Twitter account.

[Bad9]

17 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Lol. What? Simply can't put Lexi and Lydia in the same category as Tony. Both are proven winners multiple times over. They'll win again soon. 

I can't believe he even made that comparison. Lydia and lexi have double digit wins and major wins. Finau has 1 PGA Tour win. Its like he hasn't watched the LPGA for almost a decade.

[BadgerLin]

1 hour ago, 18majors said:

@BadgerLin

 

Morgan Pressel and Golf Channel/NBC producer Beth Hutter will have a joint virtual media appearance at 1:30 PM EST today.  You could follow it through LPGA Facebook or Twitter account.

Thanks, 18majors!

[idontnoh]

So much more excited about this than the API. Hope they have good TV coverage this week...

[BadgerLin]

20 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Lol. What? Simply can't put Lexi and Lydia in the same category as Tony. Both are proven winners multiple times over. They'll win again soon. 

Certainly wouldn’t put them in the same category - probably could have phrased it as “Are they developing a Tony Finau syndrome?”  Lydia, for example, has finishes of 2, 6, 8, 4, 5, and 2 since the restart last summer.  Close but needs to finish one off.  

[BadgerLin]

3 hours ago, Bad9 said:

I can't believe he even made that comparison. Lydia and lexi have double digit wins and major wins. Finau has 1 PGA Tour win. Its like he hasn't watched the LPGA for almost a decade.

See above - and “he’s “ a “she” who has watched LOTS of LPGA .

[18majors]

4 minutes ago, BadgerLin said:

See above - and “he’s “ a “she” who has watched LOTS of LPGA .

 

 

I thought your comparison to Tony Finau was done a bit of "tongue in cheek", but clearly those people didn't know you at all.

 

Cheers!  

 

 

[18majors]

@Stooch

 

Do you follow Draftkings?  What do you think of it?  

It's been a fantastic success as a business!  It went public less than one year ago in April 2020, and now has a market cap of $68.58 billions.

 

I'm pretty excited that there's this on-line betting outfit which is on shore and is bringing on LPGA big time.  Maybe they'll sponsor a LPGA tournament with a purse of $10.0 million.

 

Some interesting matches this week:

 

Jin Young Ko                       -112                          vs.                               Nelly Korda                         -118

Brooke Henderson              -125                         vs.                              Lexi Thompson                    -106 

 

 

 

 

[AWinfortheAges]

Picking and rooting for Nasa Hataoka this week.

 

 

Is Kristen Gillmen injured? She seems to be in a slump. 

[MagicClassic407]

Don't recall hearing any players or caddies lately having to bow out due to positive Covid tests. Does anyone know if they're not testing in FL?

[18majors]

15 minutes ago, MagicClassic407 said:

Don't recall hearing any players or caddies lately having to bow out due to positive Covid tests. Does anyone know if they're not testing in FL?

 

Danielle Kang mentioned she got tested.

[18majors]

In Gee Chun has recapture a share of mind in Korea