2021 US Women's Open, June 3-6

[Cwebb]

33 minutes ago, DanoCanuck said:

I think I made a comment Friday that Saso was "on fire". Whatever I was watching she sure seemed to be hitting it stiff. This is when both Brooke and Lexi were looking very good.
 

Don't know why the ladies don't have the same intensity as the guys. It seems necessary to elevate their game. They have the skills to do it. As soon as men tee off on Thursday it's a different atmosphere. They are focused with very little friendly banter among their partners. I've read about how players and teams use Psychologists to enhance their game. I'm thinking some of the ladies could use the same. There's no reason why Lexi should be giving up a 5 stroke lead on the back 9 Sunday at the USWO! Understand there's the "Greg Norman" effect but sheesh! Nobody took it from Lexi, she just hacked it out on her own. I'm still gutted watching that.
 

Anyway, the point being is the girls could use some out of the box thinking here. Get an edge with mental preparation. It's not unheard of and should be used in golf. I'd also like to see them increase the intensity level. Probably part of the mental prep but it doesn't mean you have to be a b&$£h. Just be more focused and that should equal better results. Regardless, it was an entertaining tourney and Fun to watch them tackle a tough course.
 

On to the KPMG! 

 

Absolutely.  From what I've seen, Patty Tav has this kind of focus.  Part of why I think she will move towards the top of the rankings soon.  Jin Young Ko and Inbee Park have really good focus as well.

[tatertot]

3 hours ago, MelloYello said:

 

I know it must pain Lexi a great deal to let something like the U.S. Open slip away but I kind of feel she's used to this. Don't crucify me for saying that but I feel like she's more equipped to deal with this. 

 

I think this is definitely a tough on for Nasa then again, she's got such a great game I'm sure she'll capitalize on this period of strong play. 

 

I don't know where Saso goes from here. Clearly it's her biggest moment but I feel like she made a lot of questionable swings coming down the stretch. She managed to avoid the huge numbers but it was sort of like those around her fell away and she edged them out. Add another 4-5 holes to this tournament and I'm not sure she ends up the winner. I think she just happened to have the lead at the right time if that makes any sense. 

Saso is 19 ... she's supposed to make teenage mistakes. And she still won. And that's the thing with a USGA event - you know 99% of the players are going to loser their heads, you just have to keep yours.

[DanoCanuck]

9 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

 

Are you kidding!

 

To each their own, I guess.

Of course, I forgot. The LPGA Tour purses far exceed the Champions Tour. Also forgot the LPGA had much more TV coverage. Sheesh, how could I have forgot that? You know the LPGA players are far more known than the Champions Tour players. Gee....I should have known better

 

[18majors]

24 minutes ago, DanoCanuck said:

Of course, I forgot. The LPGA Tour purses far exceed the Champions Tour. Also forgot the LPGA had much more TV coverage. Sheesh, how could I have forgot that? You know the LPGA players are far more known than the Champions Tour players. Gee....I should have known better

 

 

Thanks for your participation last week; adios!

[18majors]

This is the celebration in the Philippines

 

[HMHS]

15 minutes ago, 18majors said:

This is the celebration in the Philippines

 

Did you catch the whole "billboard" on the main thoroughfare?

 

[DanoCanuck]

9 minutes ago, 18majors said:

This is the celebration in the Philippines

 

 Come on  man. The Philippines does absolutely ZERO for the LPGA Tour sponsors in America. Are we really going to get into the reason the tour almost went bankrupt? If so you're nailing it. Almost every sponsor doesn't give a rip what goes on in the Philippines. They want US exposure and a return on US advertising dollars. You know this. It's not a secret. Let's move on. The ladies are great, they play wonderful golf but the sponsors absolutely without a doubt want a Lexi or Brooke or Korda or etc etc to win. It's in their bests interests. Just  like the Champions Tour. It brings in far more advertising $$$ because people want to watch them. This isn't news and you know it. Cheers...

[18majors]

2 minutes ago, Supermilo said:

Did you catch the whole "billboard" on the main thoroughfare?

 

 

Yes, I did.  Thanks.

[HMHS]

9 minutes ago, DanoCanuck said:

 Come on  man. The Philippines does absolutely ZERO for the LPGA Tour sponsors in America. Are we really going to get into the reason the tour almost went bankrupt? If so you're nailing it. Almost every sponsor doesn't give a rip what goes on in the Philippines. They want US exposure and a return on US advertising dollars. You know this. It's not a secret. Let's move on. The ladies are great, they play wonderful golf but the sponsors absolutely without a doubt want a Lexi or Brooke or Korda or etc etc to win. It's in their bests interests. Just  like the Champions Tour. It brings in far more advertising $$$ because people want to watch them. This isn't news and you know it. Cheers...

Isn't this thread supposed to be a celebration of the US Women's Open as well as the winners and participants?   Heck, I'm not 100% sold that Yuka is going to be representing the Philippines at all by 2022, not even after the olympics...  Let's just celebrate the athlete's win here for now for whatever country or sponsorship(s) she may bring to the LPGA...  It has to start somewhere - without Pornanum, there'll be no Honda LPGA... just saying...   

[jobin]

If we want to talk about sponsorship of the LPGA, better look at the 2 Chinese who finished in the top 10 of the USWO.

If the Chinese start to consistently win on this tour, you might find sponsorship collapse, because the TV ratings will hugely sag.

[xxio]

4 hours ago, MelloYello said:

Yeah, in fairness, Yuka Saso and Nasa Hataoka did a great job closing out the tournament. They were the only ones in contention that shot under par on the final 9. Yuka made a bogey along with 2 birdies. Nasa made a bogey along with 3 birdies.  

 

However, a bunch of others played kind of shabby. 

 

Megan Khang made birdies but cancelled them out with 3 bogeys to remain level par. 

Lexi Thompson made 3 bogeys and a double for shoot 41 on the final 9. 

Shanshan Feng made 2 bogeys to shoot 38. 

Angel Yin carded a bogey and a double for finish with a 39. 

 

I think the fact that so many collapsed at the end soured my taste a little. 

 

So in hindsight, props to Nasa and Yuka. They were the only ones that deserved to be in that Play-off. Personally, I felt I was pulling for Nasa for some strange reason. Nasa shot a final round 68 which was 5-shots better than Yuka's final round 73. 

 

I kind of feel like Nasa was the one who went out and grabbed it. Shame she didn't win. 

Isn't that how the USGA want their Open? The men's version has players reeling under the pressure in the back 9, dropping off like flies, and we enjoy that drama. Why can't we do the same when it happens to the women?

[mosesgolf]

5 hours ago, jobin said:

If we want to talk about sponsorship of the LPGA, better look at the 2 Chinese who finished in the top 10 of the USWO.

If the Chinese start to consistently win on this tour, you might find sponsorship collapse, because the TV ratings will hugely sag.

Not sure about this.  Seems like more and more sponsors in recent years have been Asian companies.  If Chinese gals start doing well add them as potential sponsors from South Korea and Japan.   In the next 10 yrs China will emerge as a golf power. 

[JungleJimbo]

1 hour ago, mosesgolf said:

Not sure about this.  Seems like more and more sponsors in recent years have been Asian companies.  If Chinese gals start doing well add them as potential sponsors from South Korea and Japan.   In the next 10 yrs China will emerge as a golf power. 

@mosesgolf I share similar sentiments (albeit slightly-different POV).  
I think Western companies might also find Chinese players = attractive billboards (similar to Li Na the tennis player got tons of sponsors after her Grand Slam breakthrough at the Aussie Open(?);
and Shanshan, Haotong Li and Muni He, Janet XiYu Lin).

[Steele47]

On 6/7/2021 at 7:31 PM, KBong said:

Hmmmm....now that you mention it....I remember Scott saying he didn't care for an event???....maybe in China???...where the fans had zero clue about golf and how to act as a fan on the course...Stacy should know....Beijing 2013....lol...I LUVED watching Shanshan take down Stacy.

 

I think Lexi is selective which events she'll play on the Asia Swings.

She likes Japan...or maybe just the appearance fees...lol...she's played some events on the JLPGA.

 

Yup...the smart ones know how to act to attract more endorsements......Gulbis for one.... knew where her bread was buttered.

I do feel Lexi is genuine and not phony with the fans.

 

My memory is bad....tell me about Lexi vs. Evian?

Didn't Stacy have an issue with the course?

I've always thought the Evian is a fake major...it never should have happened....I think Whan agreed to a major as they were having difficulties at the time sourcing a sponsor to place Kraft Nabisco.

 

Or maybe Lexi didn't like the Evian because this would happen to the winner.🤣🤣 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dat's some creepy sheet.

[bladehunter]

16 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

We've finally surpassed 40,000 views; that required many lurkers who read but hasn't posted.

 

One step at a time; we hope more fans will be posting in the future.

If Lexi had won  you’d have more comments.  
 

I was one of the lurkers.  Nothing against the other competitors.  But.  Americans in general need an american to pull for.   We have one with more physical gifts than most , if she’d only get the 6 inches of grey matter sorted out.  

[MelloYello]

13 hours ago, xxio said:

Isn't that how the USGA want their Open? The men's version has players reeling under the pressure in the back 9, dropping off like flies, and we enjoy that drama. Why can't we do the same when it happens to the women?

 

Ha! And what, you're going to sit there and say that you like to watch people shoot 39 and 41, LOL? Yeah, right! No one believes that for a second. If that's what you're calling "drama" I don't think you're normal. That stuff doesn't sell well. Viewers at home don't want to watch constant bogeys and doubles. I don't care what the heck tournament it is. 

 

Reality is, all tournaments are competitive. You have to beat other people. That's always built-in. Whether it means getting to -20 or +2. 

 

No tournament organizer (and the US Open is not somehow unique) wants to see a bunch of bogeys coming down the stretch. That's precisely why I pointed out that Yuka and Nasa deserved to be in the Play-off as they were the only ones that played well on the back and broke par. 

 

Hell, now I'm re-writing what I already wrote. Did you even read it?! GD

Edited June 9, 2021 by MelloYello

[MelloYello]

15 hours ago, tatertot said:

Saso is 19 ... she's supposed to make teenage mistakes. And she still won. And that's the thing with a USGA event - you know 99% of the players are going to loser their heads, you just have to keep yours.

 

Winning doesn't care how old you are and quite frankly neither do the viewers. We're just watching competitors who are all the same once they enter the fray. It doesn't really matter whether you're 19 or 25 or 30+. Once you're in it, you're in it. 

 

I agree though, Yuka Saso did a great job, especially considering her circumstances. No doubt about that. 

[Argonne69]

27 minutes ago, MelloYello said:

 

Winning doesn't care how old you are and quite frankly neither do the viewers. We're just watching competitors who are all the same once they enter the fray. It doesn't really matter whether you're 19 or 25 or 30+. Once you're in it, you're in it. 

 

I agree though, Yuka Saso did a great job, especially considering her circumstances. No doubt about that. 

 

Most of the time. However, if a player is very young, or "old", there seems to be more interest. 

 

Lydia's two wins at the CWO in her mid teens was great television. Tom Watson almost winning the Open Championship was compelling. Phil winning the PGA was something to behold. If Bernhard ever contends for the win at Augusta National I bet there will be more eyeballs than usual. 

 

Edited June 9, 2021 by Argonne69

[HMHS]

6 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

@mosesgolf I share similar sentiments (albeit slightly-different POV).  
I think Western companies might also find Chinese players = attractive billboards (similar to Li Na the tennis player got tons of sponsors after her Grand Slam breakthrough at the Aussie Open(?);
and Shanshan, Haotong Li and Muni He, Janet XiYu Lin).

  At some point, I see Asian sponsors in the LPGA increasing rather than declining, barring global financial crises.  

 

Singapore was/is a case in point - nowhere was Sentosa considered a venue, heck third world city state in the 70s.  I'm waiting to see a Singaporean LPGA "competitor" - that will bring the entire SG portfolio (eg Temasek, Etc) into play... Malaysia needs more Kelly Tans, Thailand has Jeen, Jaravee, etc etc, Philippines is "third world" for sure but there's quite a few Filipinos (expat or former Filipinos) abroad that are in corporate decision making... Finally, aren't Korean companies sponsoring Americans? Qcells come to mind... Im hopeful...

[MelloYello]

52 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Most of the time. However, if a player is very young, or "old", there seems to be more interest. 

 

Lydia's two wins at the CWO in her mid teens was great television. Tom Watson almost winning the Open Championship was compelling. Phil winning the PGA was something to behold. If Bernhard ever contends for the win at Augusta National I bet there will be more eyeballs than usual. 

 

 

Does 19 qualify as young for the LPGA though? 

 

All week long we talked about how this was Lexi's 15th US Open, how Megha Ganne was in contention at 17yo and how others like Morgan Pressel had contended at similar ages. All week they kept flashing over to Lucy Li who famously qualified at what? 11yo or something insane like that? You cited Lydia. There's also Brooke and several others too who've done impressive things on tour while they were essentially kids. 

 

Success at 19yo ain't exactly abnormal for the LPGA. We cannot continue to act shocked every time a young person wins on the LPGA. At this point it's a trend in the women's game. Acting shocked is just pretending at this point.

 

The women's game is heavily biased towards younger players. Let's be real. Impressive to you and me? Sure. Notable in the history books of the US Open? Okay. In the larger picture though? Eh, not really. 

 

Plus, I kind of disagree with your point. The reason Tom Watson's "almost" was so popular is that it was Tom Watson. Same for Phil's recent PGA victory. We've seen the same thing happen when Fred Couples posts a good opening round at Augusta. It's as much about who does it as anything else.

 

I do have a question for you though. While I'm sure it's no issue among fans like us, do you think it's generally a bad look for girls as young as 11 or 12yo to be qualifying for Majors? When that's obviously never going to happen in the men's game, does it suggest to the viewer that the women's game is just too easy?

 

If it happened 1 time I think it would look historic. But when we begin to routinely see it happen, does it actually just serve to make the women's game look like "child's play?"

Edited June 9, 2021 by MelloYello

[HMHS]

3 minutes ago, MelloYello said:

 

Does 19 qualify as young for the LPGA though? 

 

All week long we talked about how this was Lexi's 15th US Open, how Megha Ganne was in contention at 17yo and how others like Morgan Pressel had contended at similar ages. You cited Lydia. There's also Brooke and others, too. 

 

Success at 19yo ain't exactly abnormal for the LPGA. The women's game is heavily biased towards younger players. Let's be real. Impressive to you and me? Sure. Notable in the history books of the US Open? Okay. In the larger picture though? Eh, not really. 

 

 

 Huh? Ok so it's that easy to win at the LPGA at 19yrs old?

 

[HMHS]

My point about the above is: yes, the younger and older one will get interest precisely Bec it's not easy to do so... So yes, for me it is "abnormal" for a 19yr old to win an LPGA event, let alone be in contention the past few LPGA events (in this case, Yuka, in the history books: Lydia, Brooke, etc are for me, not "normal" as you guys already know). 

 

In essence agree with @Argonne69... maybe to people here it's normal, I dunno...

[xxio]

How many 19 year olds have won a major in only less than 10 LPGA events? It is the extreme exception, not the norm.

 

So I guess you're not watching the US Open next week?

 

Not all tournaments are set up this way, but the USGA prides itself in set up the US Open for the weekends to be over par struggles. Again I say...we expect it for the men but we are disappointed when it happens to the women. 

 

There was an event last month where the ladies went really low because the course was set up easy.

You want that every week?

 

Again the US Open is the exception not the norm.

[MelloYello]

12 minutes ago, Supermilo said:

 

 

 Huh? Ok so it's that easy to win at the LPGA at 19yrs old?

 

 

Nobody said it was "easy." 

 

Inserting that word completely changes the message. 

[bladehunter]

25 minutes ago, MelloYello said:

 

Does 19 qualify as young for the LPGA though? 

 

All week long we talked about how this was Lexi's 15th US Open, how Megha Ganne was in contention at 17yo and how others like Morgan Pressel had contended at similar ages. You cited Lydia. There's also Brooke and others too who've done impressive things on tour as kids. 

 

Success at 19yo ain't exactly abnormal for the LPGA. The women's game is heavily biased towards younger players. Let's be real. Impressive to you and me? Sure. Notable in the history books of the US Open? Okay. In the larger picture though? Eh, not really. 

 

Plus, I kind of disagree with your point. The reason Tom Watson's "almost" was so popular is that it was Tom Watson. Same for Phil's recent PGA victory. We've seen the same thing happen when Fred Couples posts a good opening round at Augusta. It's as much about who does it as anything else.

 

I do have a question for you though. While I'm sure it's no issue among fans like us, do you think it's generally a bad look for girls as young as 11 or 12yo to be qualifying for Majors? When that's obviously never going to happen in the men's game, does it suggest to the viewer that the women's game is just too easy?

 

If it happened 1 time I think it would look historic. But when we begin to routinely see it happen, does it actually just serve to make the women's game look like "child's play?"

Agree there. 19 year old lpga player winning isn’t nearly as shock worthy as a 19 year old major winner on the men’s tour. Not really close.  

[MelloYello]

1 minute ago, xxio said:

How many 19 year olds have won a major in only less than 10 LPGA events? It is the extreme exception, not the norm.

 

So I guess you're not watching the US Open next week?

 

Not all tournaments are set up this way, but the USGA prides itself in set up the US Open for the weekends to be over par struggles. Again I say...we expect it for the men but we are disappointed when it happens to the women. 

 

There was an event last month where the ladies went really low because the course was set up easy.

You want that every week?

 

Again the US Open is the exception not the norm.

 

You're getting very off-topic. 

 

My point was not a general one. I highlighted something about this US Open relative to others. 

[MelloYello]

3 minutes ago, Supermilo said:

My point about the above is: yes, the younger and older one will get interest precisely Bec it's not easy to do so... So yes, for me it is "abnormal" for a 19yr old to win an LPGA event, let alone be in contention the past few LPGA events (in this case, Yuka, in the history books: Lydia, Brooke, etc are for me, not "normal" as you guys already know). 

 

In essence agree with @Argonne69... maybe to people here it's normal, I dunno...

 

IDK, man. 

 

I watch the LPGA virtually every week and there's A LOT of young talent out there and it contends quite often. 

 

To act surprised that a 19yo won an LPGA tournament, major or not, just seems out of touch with what we've been watching for the last 10 years on the LPGA. 

[mosesgolf]

1 hour ago, bladehunter said:

If Lexi had won  you’d have more comments.  
 

I was one of the lurkers.  Nothing against the other competitors.  But.  Americans in general need an american to pull for.   We have one with more physical gifts than most , if she’d only get the 6 inches of grey matter sorted out.  

Tough breaks for Lexi at the ANA few years back(4 stroke penalty which was utter nonsense) and now the US Open (blowing huge lead in back nine almost Palmeresque). The Olympic True to legend produces an underdog champ.  Saso played with steel nerves and snatched victory from jaws of defeat.  

 

 

[Tasals]

1 hour ago, bladehunter said:

If Lexi had won  you’d have more comments.  
 

I was one of the lurkers.  Nothing against the other competitors.  But.  Americans in general need an american to pull for.   We have one with more physical gifts than most , if she’d only get the 6 inches of grey matter sorted out.  

 

I agree, its no different when my team is eliminated from most major sports I quickly lose interest as well. Hockey - Team Canada isnt playing I dont usually watch, NHL if my team is eliminated Ill casually watch the play offs unless I have buddies over but that hasnt been possible for two years. Football is probably the only sport that I will watch once my team is eliminated. Golf ive turned off some pretty uninteresting leaderboards in non-majors, but if its someone I want to win, yeah ill be changing the time I eat dinner or just order something in to watch a great finish.

[MelloYello]

6 minutes ago, mosesgolf said:

Tough breaks for Lexi at the ANA few years back(4 stroke penalty which was utter nonsense) and now the US Open (blowing huge lead in back nine almost Palmeresque). The Olympic True to legend produces an underdog champ.  Saso played with steel nerves and snatched victory from jaws of defeat.  

 

 

 

Absolutely. 

 

And to go a step farther, I'd like to see tough layouts like this more often on the LPGA, if only to see who chokes and who doesn't. 

 

As an example, Angel Yin got into contention but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that nobody thought for a second she'd get it across the finish line. She just doesn't have the nerve like Nasa (or apparently Yuka). 

 

I prefer to see that kind of nerve win tournaments. It'd be nice to see a few more "tough" layouts / setups deployed throughout the year. I think this might also reduce the bias towards young players being able to go low on "resort course" setups which is often the derogatory phrase used to describe LPGA venues. That may be condescending but there's some truth to it. 

Edited June 9, 2021 by MelloYello