2023 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (Jan 19 - 22)

[Stooch]

45 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

Not the best, but better than nothing:

 

 

 

Watching the lead into Golf Today, I'm pretty sure Mollie didn't enjoy the programming, yikes.  Paige kinda gave a half heart defense but not really lol

[HMHS]

4 minutes ago, Stooch said:

 

Watching the lead into Golf Today, I'm pretty sure Mollie didn't enjoy the programming, yikes.  Paige kinda gave a half heart defense but not really lol

Golf Today (Hack, in particular) talked about the "Dark ages" 😄  ...  

[18majors]

17 minutes ago, Stooch said:

Mollie didn't enjoy the programming

 

 

As a leader, Mollie probably is guilty of "too much delegation".

 

The CME incidence and now this week have conclusively demonstrated that Mollie hasn't been a good "hands on" manager.  She either needs to hire better personnel or she needs to do it herself.

 

[the bishop]

38 minutes ago, Stooch said:

 

Watching the lead into Golf Today, I'm pretty sure Mollie didn't enjoy the programming, yikes.  Paige kinda gave a half heart defense but not really lol

Just embarrassing all the way around.  Should never, ever happen.  That's the highest level ladies golf talent in the world.  What the eff is wrong w/MMS?  Vote her off the island.

[kmbean]

Not having unlimited access to the practice facilities is insanity.

[Holy Moses]

1 minute ago, kmbean said:

Not having unlimited access to the practice facilities is insanity.

I think that was Sunday only, and supposedly it wasn’t enforced. But then why have the notice?

[18majors]

 

Nelly Korda interview used to be a waste of time, but the girl has grown up.  Some key points are:

1.    She started to practice with TaylorMade since October of 2022
2.    They've never had their own lockers at TOC, but she didn't mind because it's a unique event.
3.    It's a dream come true for her to be a Nike Athlete; because all her heroes Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were all Nike athletes.

 

[JungleJimbo]

6 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

Nelly Korda interview used to be a waste of time, but the girl has grown up.  Some key points are:

1.    She started to practice with TaylorMade since October of 2022
2.    They've never had their own lockers at TOC, but she didn't mind because it's a unique event.
3.    It's a dream come true for her to be a Nike Athlete; because all her heroes Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were all Nike athletes.

 

 

More on Nelly’s transition to Taylormade here 

 

 

 

[woahnelly]

6 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

Nelly Korda interview used to be a waste of time, but the girl has grown up.  Some key points are:

1.    She started to practice with TaylorMade since October of 2022
2.    They've never had their own lockers at TOC, but she didn't mind because it's a unique event.
3.    It's a dream come true for her to be a Nike Athlete; because all her heroes Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were all Nike athletes.

 

 

No more Hanwha sponsor for Nelly, Nike+TM must have given her the big bag. Long overdue!

 

In Nasas presser, she now has Hilton Grand Vacations as the main sponsor on her cap.  

[JungleJimbo]

22 hours ago, ChronicSlicer said:

Alfonso Ribeiro and DK...how many times we gonna see "the Carlton" in one day?

kinda looking forward to Alfonso Ribeiro and DK dancing "the Carlton" together! 🤞 💃🕺

[JungleJimbo]

35 minutes ago, woahnelly said:

 

No more Hanwha sponsor for Nelly, Nike+TM must have given her the big bag. Long overdue!

 

In Nasas presser, she now has Hilton Grand Vacations as the main sponsor on her cap.  

@woahnelly Isn't Nasa = the flagship LPGA ambassador (from Japan) for Srixon?

So this hat sponsor change = a big deal?

 

https://www.srixonasia.com/srixon/tour-list/

 

I see the following listed as Srixon LPGA ambassadors:

ASHLEIGH BUHAI
IN GEE CHUN
HANNAH GREEN

NASA HATAOKA*
MINJEE LEE
INBEE PARK

 

 

 

Edited January 19, 2023 by JungleJimbo

[woahnelly]

Yes she is now brand ambassador, one the amateurs in the field is also the CEO of Hilton and approached her to be brand ambassador during the '22 edition, this is Nasa's 4th season in a row playing in this event. (!)  The Srixon logo is still on the side of the cap and likely on her bag.  Umbrella sponsor still undetermined 😂

[Lobby]

I love, love, love when someone puts themselves out there, takes a risk, by giving an interview in a foreign language they’re not fluent in

 

what courage!

[18majors]

4 hours ago, woahnelly said:

 

No more Hanwha sponsor for Nelly, Nike+TM must have given her the big bag. Long overdue!

 

 

 

Nelly said she'd have four weeks off between Hilton and Thailand; that means she won't play Saudi Ladies International.  Either the Nike+TM prohibit her from playing Saudi events or she doesn't need those 6 figure appearance fees anymore.

[woahnelly]

1 hour ago, 18majors said:

 

 

Nelly said she'd have four weeks off between Hilton and Thailand; that means she won't play Saudi Ladies International.  Either the Nike+TM prohibit her from playing Saudi events or she doesn't need those 6 figure appearance fees anymore.

 

I'd rather her play in Thailand vs Saudi, otherwise Annie might get bumped off the priority list, more big players keep signing up! I'm surprised the ironwoman Yealimi has not signed up to play in any events, altho her low priority this szn did not get her into Thailand nor Singapore 

Edited January 19, 2023 by woahnelly

[Argonne69]

8 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

@woahnelly Isn't Nasa = the flagship LPGA ambassador (from Japan) for Srixon?

So this hat sponsor change = a big deal?

 

https://www.srixonasia.com/srixon/tour-list/

 

I see the following listed as Srixon LPGA ambassadors:

ASHLEIGH BUHAI
IN GEE CHUN
HANNAH GREEN

NASA HATAOKA*
MINJEE LEE
INBEE PARK

 

 

 

 

In Gee now with Srixon? Wow. Brooke is not the only one to bail.

 

[JungleJimbo]

12 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

In Gee now with Srixon? Wow. Brooke is not the only one to bail.

 

@Argonne69 i'm guessing InGee's relationship with Srixon = has been limited to using the Z-Star ball?

Haven't seen any recent announcement w.r.t. In Gee & Srixon

[Argonne69]

Just now, JungleJimbo said:

@Argonne69 i'm guessing InGee's relationship with Srixon = has been limited to using the Z-Star ball?

Haven't seen any recent announcement w.r.t. In Gee & Srixon

 

That is true. She's played the ball for a few years. Seems a bit odd that she'd be listed on their website with the other (full bag) players.

 

A couple of years ago In Gee signed a ball for me. It was a Q Star, and not Z Star. I can't imagine that she's risk playing the wrong ball by having both balls in her bag. At the time she was struggling with too much driver spin, so it's possible she was playing a Q.

 

[Seamus_McDuff]

4 hours ago, woahnelly said:

 

I'd rather her play in Thailand vs Saudi, otherwise Annie might get bumped off the priority list, more big players keep signing up! I'm surprised the ironwoman Yealimi has not signed up to play in any events, altho her low priority this szn did not get her into Thailand nor Singapore 

I’m surprised she hasn’t been bumped already. Not sure when the registration cut off date is but I doubt they expected #223 Rolex to still be in at this point. 

[18majors]

4 hours ago, woahnelly said:

I'm surprised the ironwoman Yealimi has not signed up to play in any events,

 

Yealimi faces a new harsh tour life this season; she no long lives in the cocoon protection of HANA Bank.  Hopefully, it'll rekindle her fighting character.

 

 

[18majors]

 

Brooke is ready:

Brooke Henderson officially signs with TaylorMade, makes gains on distance lost from rule change

 

 

Edited January 19, 2023 by 18majors

[pmcuk]

Here in London UK I'm excited to get some real action from the LPGA tour at last! 

 

It's on YouTube here which is nice. Hooray! The season starts!

[Stooch]

While Ariya is able to find wins every now and then, she really has been Yani'ing it up the last several seasons.

[woahnelly]

4 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

Yealimi faces a new harsh tour life this season; she no long lives in the cocoon protection of HANA Bank.  Hopefully, it'll rekindle her fighting character.

 

 

/cdn-cgi/mirage/4309acc365d951054d74953387fa743db2a207b50cf7ef1c78ee83dfca9dbf24/1280/cdn-cgi/mirage/4309acc365d951054d74953387fa743db2a207b50cf7ef1c78ee83dfca9dbf24/1280/https://imgnews.pstatic.net/image/014/2023/01/12/0004954962_001_20230112181509651.jpg?type=w647

 

Somi Lee, pictured left, is a nice get for them too!

[8602081]

Weird..

 

Not a single player representing Korea in the field this week..

 

 

I do feel bad for Ariya.. 

Edited January 19, 2023 by 8602081

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, 8602081 said:

Weird..

 

Not a single player representing Korea in the field this week..

 

 

Sad, but not shocking. As we've discussed previously, the off season is simply too short. The PGA has over 4 months off from the tour championship to the start of the "real" season. On the LPGA it's a month.

 

While most of the Korean pros have homes in the U.S., they typically head back to Korea after the season. I don't blame them for not wanting to trek to Florida for a celebrity fest before starting the real season back in southeast Asia. 

 

Edited January 19, 2023 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Lol. Brooke and Nelly really struggling with those new clubs. The horror. 

 

[Stooch]

6 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Lol. Brooke and Nelly really struggling with those new clubs. The horror. 

 

Yeah, the wedge from 60 and 80 yards on 14 were telling, that's where you'd most likely see any problems.

[Golf Dino]

7 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

In Gee now with Srixon? Wow. Brooke is not the only one to bail.

 

 

Without speaking to anyone, it strikes me that perhaps Ping is re-evaluating its marketing program and player sponsorships.  They have been some of the biggest name players that Ping have had over the past 5 years.

It will be interesting to see whaht transpires over the next couple of seasons regarding manufacturers and players, etc.    

 

 

[Golf Dino]

On another note, good to see Brooke off to a flying start.  I think this season may be her best yet.  Listening to her speak, there seems to be a steely determination on her part to start making things happen regarding golf, career, and legacy.  

 

We shall see what transpires -- but whatever one says or thinks of Brooke, she has always struck me as someone who is uber-competitive and has the determination and resolve to set "stretch" goals and pursue them with all she has . . . perhaps the past few seasons did not go as well as she hoped and she has decided to rededicate herself to achieving them.    

Mostly speculation, but who knows, after the "insult" of the 46" driver, perhaps she is bent on proving she can and will succeed in spite of it?    Anyway, the real winners will be the LPGA and Women's Professional golf, especially if Brooke develops a sporting rivalry with Nelly or Lydia.