2021 Lotte Championship (Apr 14 - 17)

[HMHS]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

It's a real head scratcher. I don't expect "rookies" to come out of the gate firing top 10s week after week. However, missing several cuts in a row is strange. Both are solid players, so they're obviously tossing away strokes somewhere that can/should be easily avoided. 

 

I think Bianca needs to learn about course management --- rookie player, rookie caddie... They have to do double time homework prior to playing the course...  Too many doubles (or worst) in the past few rounds (incl ANA) -- those kill ya... and I firmly believe a mistake can be minimized with a bogey most of the time...  (Again, look at Hideki in the Masters in the past 4 rounds)... 

[18majors]

 

The course plays 6,263 yards today, shorter than 6,438 and 6,420 of Round 1 and Round 2.

 

Will we have a second 59 or even a 58 today?  We shall see!

[jumpcut]

Apparantly Beth Ann is the new commissioner, since the LPGA staff is already following her orders to shorten the course by hundreds of yards

 

But why stop there? Why not place the tee boxes mid-fairway? That would add record-breaking excitement! And mix it up on the greens by placing windmills and clown's mouths in front of the holes!

[pmcuk]

1 hour ago, 18majors said:

 

The course plays 6,263 yards today, shorter than 6,438 and 6,420 of Round 1 and Round 2. Will we have a second 59 or even a 58 today?  We shall see!

 

Wei-Ling Hsu is currently on -10 after 17 holes. Was this really what the organisers had in mind when they set up the course?

[8602081]

The course seems way to easy for LPGA.. Too many low rounds..

 

[aenemated]

3 hours ago, Yellow Jacket said:

I wonder how much Gabi is getting from Nike. It's gonna be struggle living on sponsors exemptions if she's missing cuts.

 

Same for Maria Fassi. Yet another missed cut. Not sure if she's getting sponsor exemptions but she she ain't playing in anything from performance.

 

Feel like her first round 71 was her first under par round I've seen in a while. 

[BadgerLin]

25 minutes ago, aenemated said:

 

Same for Maria Fassi. Yet another missed cut. Not sure if she's getting sponsor exemptions but she she ain't playing in anything from performance.

 

Feel like her first round 71 was her first under par round I've seen in a while. 

She doesn’t need sponsor exemptions (yet)  because she (like all players) is playing off her finish in 2019.  I think she was in the 80-100 category that year, so that gets her into most everything with a full field.  If her status will be affected by the reshuffle, she’s going to drop like a rock.

[Argonne69]

Lydia only four yards behind Yuka on her opening drive? I'm impressed already. 

 

Then she outdrives Yuka on the 2nd? Is that really Lydia? Lol. 

 

Edited April 17, 2021 by Argonne69

[North Texas]

2 hours ago, jumpcut said:

Apparantly Beth Ann is the new commissioner, since the LPGA staff is already following her orders to shorten the course by hundreds of yards

 

But why stop there? Why not place the tee boxes mid-fairway? That would add record-breaking excitement! And mix it up on the greens by placing windmills and clown's mouths in front of the holes!

 

She must have also influenced the PGA Tour as well. Same score leading after 36 holes at Harbor Town as it was for the ladies this week. 

[North Texas]

2 hours ago, 8602081 said:

The course seems way to easy for LPGA.. Too many low rounds..

 

 

Guess Harbor Town is too easy for the men. Pretty much mirror scores after 36 holes for men and women this week. 

[18majors]

26 minutes ago, BadgerLin said:

She doesn’t need sponsor exemptions (yet)  because she (like all players) is playing off her finish in 2019.  I think she was in the 80-100 category that year, so that gets her into most everything with a full field.  If her status will be affected by the reshuffle, she’s going to drop like a rock.

 

 

Maria should be concerned about 2021 first reshuffling which takes place one or two weeks before 2021 US Women's Open June 3-6.

 

Maria has only one or two tournaments before reshuffling and she's been batting zero this year in terms of cuts made.  Fortunately, she should still be able to get into full field tournaments even if her priority drops.

[Argonne69]

Those greens just look so pure. 

 

The tournament record of -20 is definitely getting bettered by a mile this week. Sei Young's scoring record of -31 might be in jeopardy. 

 

Edited April 17, 2021 by Argonne69

[Titleist_PT23]

7 hours ago, hebsan said:

Yep,  normally (pre-pandemic) there are multiple flights daily going to Asian gateways (Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei) from Hawaii.  Right now there are very few.  Hawaiian running one flight daily to / from Tokyo, and twice a week to/from Seoul.  JAL and ANA looks like 2x a week.

Even pre-COVID, there were very few, if any, direct flights between Hawaii/Singapore.  Likely, the best route would be through Tokyo.  Even if you can find one (direct flight), the flight time won't be much shorter than LA-Singapore (although you save the 5-6 hours back to LA). 

 

It seems like the scheduling was a bit left-over from what was normally done (ANA-Hawaii-West Coast with Asia already done).  Had they switched the Hawaii-LA tournament order, I'd suggest they just charter a plane from Hawaii to Singapore for those that are playing HSBC and Thailand.  Perhaps they sent the players back to LA this year (for a direct flight) so they don't need to deal with various countries' transfer rules (or get stuck) somewhere in North Asia.

[Titleist_PT23]

15 hours ago, vtpachyderm said:

Stats according to the LPGA for Lydia's second round (63) were 15/18 GIR and 24(!!!!) putts? Yuka (64) had 16/18 (!!!) and 27 putts! I can't even begin to comprehend just how good that is! My best scoring round last season (+5) was 50% GIR and 31 putts, and I was just over the moon, and then to read this stat line, I'm just speechless.

Another thing you can do to feel good about yourself, look at the last ranked player in every major stat category and see if this "hypothetical worst player" would still be emptying your pockets.

[mallrat]

22 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Lydia only four yards behind Yuka on her opening drive? I'm impressed already. 

 

Then she outdrives Yuka on the 2nd? Is that really Lydia? Lol. 

 

She has changed her body a lot, or age has, not saying it’s a good or bad thing or critiquing in any way. She looks taller and thinner, is she? 
 

Just curious if that could be some of the reasoning behind her added yardage. 

[Argonne69]

16 minutes ago, mallrat said:

She has changed her body a lot, or age has, not saying it’s a good or bad thing or critiquing in any way. She looks taller and thinner, is she? 
 

Just curious if that could be some of the reasoning behind her added yardage. 

 

Combination of added muscle and confidence in her swing (finally). 

 

[Argonne69]

I don't mind shortening par 5s to make them reachable, but they shouldn't be driver/8i. 446 yds? Yikes. If the hole is playing downwind, 500 yds is plenty short. 

 

Edited April 17, 2021 by Argonne69

[ChronicSlicer]

6 hours ago, 18majors said:

@Supermilo

 

 

What about Su Oh, she woke up bigtime yesterday!

 

Maybe she'll go on a Jason Day run, but wins 2-3 majors instead of one!

 

Many people, including me, seem like Su even though she hasn't won on LPGA tour yet!

Been rooting for Su for years. She has the game, it just doesn't show up enough.

I feel the same about Yu Liu.

[ChronicSlicer]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

Those greens just look so pure. 

 

The tournament record of -20 is definitely getting bettered by a mile this week. Sei Young's scoring record of -31 might be in jeopardy. 

 

Tournament record should reconsidered since it's a different course than usual.

[ChronicSlicer]

2 hours ago, aenemated said:

 

Same for Maria Fassi. Yet another missed cut. Not sure if she's getting sponsor exemptions but she she ain't playing in anything from performance.

 

Feel like her first round 71 was her first under par round I've seen in a while. 

You are correct about her shooting under par, first time since 12/2020. Seeing how easy this course is playing, she still couldn't make a cut..yikes

[Argonne69]

Yuka leaking oil, but still in it. Should be an entertaining final round. 

 

Nelly left a few out there. She could have a three or four shot lead at this point. 

 

[ChronicSlicer]

475yd par 5 and only 3 eagles all day..

[aenemated]

33 minutes ago, ChronicSlicer said:

You are correct about her shooting under par, first time since 12/2020. Seeing how easy this course is playing, she still couldn't make a cut..yikes

 

Oof, yeah ... she needs to step back from the sponsors and work with someone who can get some control in that athleticism. Her swing is tremendous, she just seems to not be able to control it.

 

Really pulling for Lydia here ... as much as I love Nelly. 

[HMHS]

35 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Yuka leaking oil, but still in it. Should be an entertaining final round. 

 

Nelly left a few out there. She could have a three or four shot lead at this point. 

 

I'd rather her leak oil today and regroup tomorrow than leak oil tomorrow and no chance to regroup... I dunno if she can close it though, with so much pressure on the line -- LPGA tour card AND Japanese media... We find out tomorrow that's for sure ☺︎

Edited April 17, 2021 by HMHS

[ChronicSlicer]

Goodbye Thornberry, hello Kapolei.

[ChronicSlicer]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Combination of added muscle and confidence in her swing (finally). 

 

Is it me or did Amy Yang slim down a bit?

[Stooch]

Nelly had herself a  round, she's looking really good.  Lydia just playing solid again keeping up,  Yuka let one get away today but she's still in it with a good shot.  I guess if -14 shoot a 63 they could go to -23 but I think Nelly and lydia will blow by that.  More likely match play tomorrow with Yuka trying to go real low.

Edited April 17, 2021 by Stooch

[aenemated]

Lyds with that clutch putt on 18. Tomorrow's gonna be awesome! 

[Titleist_PT23]

3 minutes ago, Stooch said:

Nelly had herself a  round, she's looking really good.  Lydia just playing sold again keep up,  Saso let one get away today but she's still in it with a good.  I guess if -14 shoot a 63 they could to -23 but I think Nelly and lydia will blow by that.  More likely match play tomorrow with Saso trying to go real low.

This is a test for both of them tomorrow.  Even when Nelly wins, it seems like she is sputtering over the finish line, the wheels one lap away from falling off.  For Lydia, to hoist the trophy again and do it against one of the better players in recent times.

[mosesgolf]

Gals got game and they're on a pitch n putt set up.