2021 Lotte Championship (Apr 14 - 17)

[Argonne69]

Her wedge game is laser like, but it's being set up by her driver. She's outdrove Nelly a few times today and yesterday. 

 

[ThinkingPlus]

 

[ChronicSlicer]

4 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Her wedge game is laser like, but it's being set up by her driver. She's outdrove Nelly a few times today and yesterday. 

 

Sure a good bounce will do that, are you saying head to head on a long drive type setup Lydia can hang with Nelly?

[Argonne69]

Just now, ChronicSlicer said:

Sure a good bounce will do that, are you saying head to head on a long drive type setup Lydia can hang with Nelly?

 

It's been more than a few good bounces. Obviously the conditions are ideal for driving, but Nelly should still be 20+ yards past her. 

 

[Golf Dino]

19 minutes ago, ChronicSlicer said:

Her and Inbee are still proof, this is not a game of distance, nor youth.

 

 

Well, lets not get carried away too much ... Lydia has picked up distance ... the actual amount is hard to say as they have been playing in favourable conditions the last few events (regarding driving, carry & roll out).  And, Lydia is hardly a senior citizen by LPGA  tour standards.  She is still only 23 and younger than the likes of Danielle Kang, So Yeon Ryu, Sei Young Kim, Lexi, and the same age as Jennifer Kupcho, Maria Fassi, etc.  and a year older than Nelly, 8-mos. older than Brooke, etc.   

 

I think we sometimes all get fooled a bit because she arrived on the scene as a 15 year old and started playing regularly as a teen prodigy

Edited April 18, 2021 by Golf Dino

[SwooshLT]

Just now, Argonne69 said:

 

It's been more than a few good bounces. Obviously the conditions are ideal for driving, but Nelly should still be 20+ yards past her. 

 

 

I don't know about that .......looks like she has GAINED about 20 from 5yrs ago

[ChronicSlicer]

4 minutes ago, Golf Dino said:

 

 

Well, lets not get carried away too much ... Lydia has picked up distance ... the actual amount is hard to say as they have been playing in favourable conditions the last few events (regarding driving, carry & roll out).  And, Lydia is hardly a senior citizen by LPGA  tour standards.  She is still only 23 and younger than the likes of Danielle Kang, So Yeon Ryu, Sei Young Kim, Lexi, and the same age as Jennifer Kupcho, Maria Fassi, etc.  and a year older than Nelly, 8-mos. older than Brooke, etc.   

 

I think we sometimes all get fooled a bit because she arrived on the scene as a 15 year old and started playing regularly as a teen prodigy

I was referring to Inbee on youth and distance, more so distance with Lydia.

[Argonne69]

1 minute ago, SwooshLT said:

 

I don't know about that .......looks like she has GAINED about 20 from 5yrs ago

 

Currently averaging 15 yds longer in the official driving stats, but these past few tournaments have been quite firm. 

 

That said, Nelly is averaging 20 yds more this week. 

 

[Golf Dino]

1 minute ago, ChronicSlicer said:

I was referring to Inbee on youth and distance, more so distance with Lydia.

 

 

Okay ... makes much more sense now!  👍

[SwooshLT]

Just now, Argonne69 said:

 

Currently averaging 15 yds longer in the official driving stats, but these past few tournaments have been quite firm. 

 

That said, Nelly is averaging 20 yds more this week. 

 

 

 

I was just checking that too.....even as recent as 2019 , she's added ......ground certainly has helped but I believe she's appreciably longer than then.....we'll see how it carries out for the season......

[ChronicSlicer]

6 minutes ago, SwooshLT said:

 

I don't know about that .......looks like she has GAINED about 20 from 5yrs ago

Picking up 20 yards is insane, if it was that easy to gain 20 yards everyone would be doing it. Maybe 7-10, I'll buy that.

[Golf Dino]

1 minute ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Currently averaging 15 yds longer in the official driving stats, but these past few tournaments have been quite firm. 

 

That said, Nelly is averaging 20 yds more this week. 

 

 

So the relative advantage is still in play for some players like Nelly, etc.  Regardless, I will say that Lydia is driving the ball much better than she has in recent years though

[Argonne69]

Inbee must have watched Karen's instructional video on how to play the 18th. 😁

 

[ChronicSlicer]

6 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Currently averaging 15 yds longer in the official driving stats, but these past few tournaments have been quite firm. 

 

That said, Nelly is averaging 20 yds more this week. 

 

Best wait til end of year to determine these stats, like you said the last two events have boosted this category.

[Argonne69]

2 minutes ago, ChronicSlicer said:

Picking up 20 yards is insane, if it was that easy to gain 20 yards everyone would be doing it. Maybe 7-10, I'll buy that.

 

Gotta remember that her driving accuracy was pretty bad, and she was losing a ton of distance hitting into the rough. She only averaged 243 in 2017. 

 

[Golf Dino]

1 minute ago, ChronicSlicer said:

Best wait til end of year to determine these stats, like you said the last two events have boosted this category.

 

 

Yes, but Lydia has picked up distance compared to previous years, but that will mean little for her ranking in the Driving Distance stats if all the newcomers are out driving her distance-wise.   

 

The real key for Lydia though, is she herself has picked up distance, is driving the ball better and looks to be getting into better spots for her approach shots -- to which she has always been pretty good at. 

[ChronicSlicer]

I can't help to think this course might become a favorite of some players.

[Argonne69]

Just now, ChronicSlicer said:

I can't help to think this course might become a favorite of some players.

 

I assume they'll be back Ko Olina next year. 

 

[Stooch]

That what causes Lydia problem is accuracy.  Here it's wide open big fairways so it's the perfect event for her to breakout.  I believe they said on the broadcast she was leading the field in missed fairways and still has a 5 shot lead, other place you pay a bigger price.

Edited April 18, 2021 by Stooch

[Golf Dino]

2 minutes ago, Stooch said:

That was cause Lydia problem is accuracy.  Here it's wide open big fairways so it's the perfect event for her to breakout.  I believe they said on the broadcast she was leading the field in missed fairways and still has a 5 shot lead, other place you pay a bigger price.

 

Is it just me, or are these greens a fair bit bigger than say the ones at ANA, and other courses?

 

[Argonne69]

1 minute ago, Golf Dino said:

 

Is it just me, or are these greens a fair bit bigger than say the ones at ANA, and other courses?

 

 

They keep talking about how small they are, but they do seem somewhat generous. 

[Stooch]

Just now, Argonne69 said:

 

They keep talking about how small they are, but they do seem somewhat generous. 

Yeah I definitely wouldn't call them small, maybe skinny.

[stingerfade]

1 hour ago, Stooch said:

of course so is Lydia lol

She can’t birdie every hole

Edited April 18, 2021 by stingerfade

[ChronicSlicer]

16 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Gotta remember that her driving accuracy was pretty bad, and she was losing a ton of distance hitting into the rough. She only averaged 243 in 2017. 

 

Her driving accuracy was 78% in 2017 good enough for 25th in the league 

[Stooch]

Following the stats I was wondering how Brooke made that particular type mess on 17, thanks Sei Young for showing me lol

[stingerfade]

31 minutes ago, Golf Dino said:

 

 

Well, lets not get carried away too much ... Lydia has picked up distance ... the actual amount is hard to say as they have been playing in favourable conditions the last few events (regarding driving, carry & roll out).  And, Lydia is hardly a senior citizen by LPGA  tour standards.  She is still only 23 and younger than the likes of Danielle Kang, So Yeon Ryu, Sei Young Kim, Lexi, and the same age as Jennifer Kupcho, Maria Fassi, etc.  and a year older than Nelly, 8-mos. older than Brooke, etc.   

 

I think we sometimes all get fooled a bit because she arrived on the scene as a 15 year old and started playing regularly as a teen prodigy

Wow Lydia same age as fassi and cupcho? 
 

that is seriously mind blowing 

[Golf Dino]

1 minute ago, stingerfade said:

Wow Lydia same age as fassi and cupcho? 
 

that is seriously mind blowing 

 

 

And three years younger than Leona Maguire!  

[stingerfade]

I love Lydia. She has “it” where when she was a chubby am with glasses I for some reason was mesmerized by her game. I watched all of her rounds because I loved her tempo and rhythm. She went down a rabbit hole and seems to have found herself as her swing to me looks like it did then. I’m sure with video and slo motion you can find the differences but to me it looks THE SAME. I feel her super happy attitude is a little forced but that’s how she needs to be to play her best and I think now it’s become her real attitude not needing to be forced and that’s why she’s back. From where she was before. 
 

and I hate that Sean Foley gets any credit for this. He’s just there at the right time. 

Edited April 18, 2021 by stingerfade

[NikeGolfer76]

Quite certain I’m of the minority opinion here, but personally preferred the diversity of player coverage that will almost certainly become a thing of the past now that Lydia’s game has resurfaced. 

[ChronicSlicer]

4 minutes ago, NikeGolfer76 said:

Quite certain I’m of the minority opinion here, but personally preferred the diversity of player coverage that will almost certainly become a thing of the past now that Lydia’s game has resurfaced. 

I mean they do tend to show the leader more than others...