2021 ANA Inspiration (Apr 01 - 04)

[Argonne69]

 

Race to the CME Globe: 625 Points

 

Format: 72 holes

 

Purse: $3,100,000

 

Location: Mission Hills Country Club, Dinah Shore Tournament Course, Rancho Mirage, CA

 

Par: 72

 

Yardage: 6763 yds

 

History: This event began in 1972, and has been a major since 1983. In 2020, Mirim Lee birdied the first playoff hole to beat Brooke Henderson and Nelly Korda after all three finished tied at -15. Mirim chipped in for birdies at the 6th and 16th, and for eagle on the final hole on her way to a 5 under round.

 

Coverage:

 

Apr 01: The Golf Channel 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm (EDT)

Apr 01: The Golf Channel 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (EDT)

Apr 02: The Golf Channel 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm (EDT)

Apr 02: The Golf Channel 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (EDT)

Apr 03: The Golf Channel 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm (EDT)

Apr 04: The Golf Channel 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm (EDT)

 

 

 

[Argonne69]

Definitely ready for some live golf coverage. Twenty hours isn't too bad.

 

Plenty of players in good form going into the week. It's going to be tough to pick a winner.

 

It's going to be sunny and hot this week. Temps on Friday and Saturday will be in the upper 90s. Winds should be low (< 10 mph), so scoring might be pretty good.

 

I'm going with Jin Young this week. No real weaknesses at this point of the season, and if her putter gets a little warm she should make plenty of birdies.

 

I think Brooke and Nelly are going to be back in the mix. I'm sure they're still stinging from last year's result. Lexi should be in the hunt as well. She does love this course.

 

[MagicClassic407]

I'm back on the Inbee bandwagon. Like last week, I'll take Olson, too. Her cross training in pickleball can't hurt.

[Medson]

Are they gonna elect the grand stand behind 18th?

[18majors]

A field of 119 players

 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2021 by 18majors

[tbowles411]

3 minutes ago, Medson said:

Are they gonna elect the grand stand behind 18th?

You mean the backstop behind the 18th green?  No, I don't think so.  That will change the hole considerably.

[Medson]

1 minute ago, tbowles411 said:

You mean the backstop behind the 18th green?  No, I don't think so.  That will change the hole considerably.

Right, I mean the backstop. I remember reading something about not having it anymore this year. But it's been a while since I read it. 

[Argonne69]

27 minutes ago, Medson said:

Right, I mean the backstop. I remember reading something about not having it anymore this year. But it's been a while since I read it. 

 

During the Kia they were showing clips from great moments at the ANA, and asking viewers to vote on their favorite. As I watch Brittany's shot into the 18th (for eagle) in 2009 it struck me that the grandstands did not extend the entire width behind the green. There were grandstands in the back left, but it was empty space directly behind the green. She still managed to pull off a great shot without the safety of the "backstop". I don't recall when the grandstand was expanded, but it had to be some time after 2009.

 

[8602081]

Just heard it on Golf Channel..

 

Backstop is gone..

 

 

I'm betting on Lydia Ko , Yealimi Noh, JYK, and Lexi Thompson to be on top. 

Going to bet that Wie will be on bottom third on the list, but I'm sure she'll get the most coverage.

 

Edited March 29, 2021 by 8602081

[Stooch]

I got no problem in the with no grandstand, it's a major (or so they tell me) you don't need gimmicky things at Majors especially the last hole.  Brooke used it last year to get into the playoff, if memory serves she drove into the rough then smoked her 2nd  over the water and used the backstop to stop it.  She still could have made birdie the old fashion way.  But hey it's  Asymetric warfare, use the battlefield conditions to your advantage.

 

Not having the wall though, I don't think will have the desired effects from a scoring point of view.  They'll want the Sunday action of having everybody be able to go for it.  This means they will really have to shorten the hole.  Long hitter will be salivating as they will be likely able to use 3-wood to find the fairway with plenty of club for their 2nd shots or use driver and have a manageable iron shot from the rough should they miss the fairway.  So if it tied on the final hole you are giving a big advantage to a player like Lexi over players like Inbee or say Ingee

 

I guess cause of the Major status and pure competition, the wall shouldn't be there for a safety net.  Plus I think rough a the back will probably be grown long enough to stop everything and you will only probably be hurt by a bad bounce or horrible flyer.

[Argonne69]

Here's a photo of Karen Stupples teeing off on the 18th in 2010. A bit hard to tell, but it looks like the grandstand behind the hole doesn't extend the full width of the green.

 

 

In 2011 it was still a partial stand.

 

 

In 2012 it was extended to almost the full width of the green.

 

 

 

 

[WestTex]

Since her T12 finish this past weekend, I'm going to go with Ayako Uehara with a win.

[Seamus_McDuff]

Minjee gets a major

[Stooch]

I think this tournament is wide open, catching many very good players with very inconsistent form.  So I don't really have a strong lean any particular way but my gut is telling me Jessica Korda.

[95124hacker]

First time in a long time that the Korean ladies have some real competition. No stupid Hank Haney “someone named Lee” will win type of prediction... 

 

A few I will root hard for, purely based on my/my wife’s personal interactions with them at the Mediheal tournaments in 2018 & 2019:

Amy Olson

Lydia Ko

Brittany Lincicome

Lizette Salas

Michelle Wie

[ChronicSlicer]

I suspect the usual culprits will be lurking Nelly, DK, Lexi, Inbee, JYK, Minjee, Brooke..
Still going with Lexi. Darkhorse coming in with Gabbi or Patty.
Look out for So Yeon and Amy Yang and Charley Hull.

Man, where has Nasa and 6ix been.. come on girls time to play catch up.
 

[Golf Dino]

A preview of the ANA Championship, including some thoughts from Sophie Walker of Sky Sports.  She will be covering it for BBC Five Live along with golf editor Iain Carter.  Sophie is a former player on the Ladies European Tour and now works as a golf analyst.  She also works with a fantasy golf pool and she usually has a good take on the players and who too watch for.  

 

http://bit.ly/ANATournament

 

 

Anyway, I am going to keep an eye out for Amy Olson.  She has flown under the radar for much of her professional career, but she has been in contention in a few of the majors over the past couple of years with 3 - T2s at the USWO and the Evian.   I think that if someone like Pernilla can win the ANA, then Amy most definitely can do it too - especially as she has a stronger game than Pernilla did.  

 

Of course, I think there is some unfinished business for both Nelly and Brooke, and their driving and iron games are so strong that they should be in the hunt come Sunday.   But my pick would have to be Jin Young Ko ... her game is just so solid and without any glaring weaknesses (👀  here's looking at Brooke's three putts).  Of course if she (Brooke), Nelly or Lexi are hot with their iron play, then all bets are off as they can usually attack the pins to the point that they don't have too many long putts.

Edited March 30, 2021 by Golf Dino

[ChronicSlicer]

7 minutes ago, Golf Dino said:

Of course if she, Nelly or Lexi are hot with their iron play, then all bets are off as they can usually attack the pins to the point that they don't have too many long putts.

It's not the long putts with Lexi, it's the gimme range that spook me. I still think she looks so timid and uncomfortable with that putter in her hand no matter the length. 

[Golf Dino]

1 minute ago, ChronicSlicer said:

It's not the long putts with Lexi, it's the gimme range that spook me. I still think she looks so timid and uncomfortable with that putter in her hand no matter the length. 

 

There is some truth in that! Perhaps especially at the ANA after the debacle in 2017 and her replacing /not replacing her ball properly on the green.

[preiter20]

I am going with Danielle Kang.  I think she will be on her game this week after the double-bogey finish at the Kia to miss out on a 2nd place (tie) finish.  I am a big Lexi fan but her putting is worrisome from week to week.  No backstop on 18 is great news.  Looking forward to the TV coverage this week!  Here's hoping it's Terry and Judy in the booth this week.

Edited March 30, 2021 by preiter20

[18majors]

This is resfreshing!

 

 

[Lobby]

22 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Here's a photo of Karen Stupples teeing off on the 18th in 2010. A bit hard to tell, but it looks like the grandstand behind the hole doesn't extend the full width of the green.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 My follow through looks like that.

But less athletic.

And with less shoulder turn.

And with my belly button facing that tee marker on the right.  

Except for all that, we're the same!

[HMHS]

50 minutes ago, Lobby said:

 My follow through looks like that.

But less athletic.

And with less shoulder turn.

And with my belly button facing that tee marker on the right.  

Except for all that, we're the same!

Do you love mowing lawns too? 😛

[Raving Shanker]

Minjee for the win!

 

But...can Ariya avoid a bad start and get into contention? Can Lexi overcome her Mission Hills/all putting greens demons?

 

My gamblers' picks are Jennifer Kupcho (at $67) and Amy Olson ($81).

[stingerfade]

On 3/29/2021 at 1:27 PM, Medson said:

Are they gonna elect the grand stand behind 18th?

Is this a bad joke on the state of Asian dominance of the LPGA?

[stingerfade]

23 hours ago, 95124hacker said:

First time in a long time that the Korean ladies have some real competition. No stupid Hank Haney “someone named Lee” will win type of prediction... 

 

A few I will root hard for, purely based on my/my wife’s personal interactions with them at the Mediheal tournaments in 2018 & 2019:

Amy Olson

Lydia Ko

Brittany Lincicome

Lizette Salas

Michelle Wie

Lydia and Michelle wie are Korean 

[Yellow Jacket]

I know the ANA likes to think of itself as the women’s version of the Masters with its amateur invites and going so far as to do a champions dinner, but with the Augusta National Women’s Amateur scheduled for the same week, nobody in their right mind would play the ANA. And we see that in the ANWA field, all the top names are there.

 

Does this matter for the long term reputation for the ANA?

[Medson]

31 minutes ago, Yellow Jacket said:

I know the ANA likes to think of itself as the women’s version of the Masters with its amateur invites and going so far as to do a champions dinner, but with the Augusta National Women’s Amateur scheduled for the same week, nobody in their right mind would play the ANA. And we see that in the ANWA field, all the top names are there.

 

Does this matter for the long term reputation for the ANA?

 

Well, I hope ANA and Augusta can sort it out. I'd love to see top women's amateurs are able to play in both events. 

[Golf Dino]

Highlights of Media Day at the ANA today.  Interestingly, both Brooke and Lexi spoke at length about spending this off-season working on their putting. @ChronicSlicer    Brooke gets into it with even more in-depth discussion, telling us that she switched to a left-hand low for putts in and around 10 feet and plans on keeping it that way for the time being.   We will see how that works out for her this week. @Stooch

 

They (along with Nelly) spoke about some of the different conditions this year versus last year's edition and the challenge presented by the moving tee-boxes. 

 

You can check it out here:

http://bit.ly/ANA-DAY-1

 

Video clip of Lexi's media scrum is there too.

[North Texas]

Yealimi Noh gets $4,247 paycheck at Kia Classic along with a $10,000 fine for slow play. Repeat offender. 

 

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2021/03/30/lpga-yealimi-noh-slow-play-fine-kia-classic/