2023 LPGA Drive On Championship (Mar 23 - 26)

[Stooch]

5 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

 

 

 

 

Clearly, not all things about the new clubs are all bad; but both Brooke and Nelly certainly haven't been the same players since.

 

 

I would say Nelly would have a win this season with her old clubs most likely, I've noticed she made some blunders over the weeks could be because of the new equipment.  It's gotta frustrate her she in a really good run of form right noow just with a few mistakes each week.  Brooke had an off ball striking week the 1st event of the Asian swing but really like Nelly just a bad shot here or there because of the new clubs.  Brooke is just struggling more because she can't score with bad putting and can't outrun her mistakes to have a decent round.

[Argonne69]

Looking out at the Superstition Mountains brings back fond memories. I climbed to Flatiron in early 2020, and it was one of the toughest things I've ever done. Six and a half hours round trip with a 2300' climb up boulders. Fantastic views of the area, including the courses east of Phoenix. If you're in the area, and want a challenge, this can't be missed. 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tjms6qi7xb337if/AADeoOT5hJQzpvj0HmXmn6Mka?dl=0

 

[Argonne69]

Awful course. Very little desert. Super wide fairways. Ground level greens with practically no danger. Come up short and you're putting or chipping from the fairway. Plenty of similar courses in the area. 

 

Classic case of the tour getting table scraps when it comes to course selection. Reminds me of Thornbeery Creek. We won't see 30 under, but 20 under should be a sure bet. 

 

 

[Titleist_PT23]

Funny how the narrative on new clubs changes over time.  Are they going to be shooting 80 and off the tour?  Probably not.  Some players can switch with ease while others can be very particular about certain design/feel aspects.  The differences at the top are so thin you better love what you are swinging. 

 

Or they are just not playing as well as they have at certain points in the past, and it has nothing to do with the clubs.

[kmbean]

Do we have a “Tom” in here? 

[Stooch]

23 minutes ago, agolf1 said:

Funny how the narrative on new clubs changes over time.  Are they going to be shooting 80 and off the tour?  Probably not.  Some players can switch with ease while others can be very particular about certain design/feel aspects.  The differences at the top are so thin you better love what you are swinging. 

 

Or they are just not playing as well as they have at certain points in the past, and it has nothing to do with the clubs.

I said in the tournament of champions thread no good pro is gonna fall of the earth because of an equipment change, maybe for a few months you get an extra tough shot or two per round but there shouldn't be a big effect.  I look at it with new clubs, if the player hits right or left that's on them if they are hitting it short or long and depending by how much, that will tell you if they are fighting the clubs.

[JungleJimbo]

1 hour ago, Soloman1 said:

Just texted a friend who is on Jenny Shin’s bag this week. He’s going to pack a small fire extinguisher in the bag tomorrow in case she bursts into flames with another 5 straight birdie run.

 

She’s solid. 15 birdies in 36 holes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 25 by JungleJimbo

[JungleJimbo]

3 hours ago, mhudson111 said:

Yuka Saso with the albatross!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 25 by JungleJimbo

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

 

[Titleist_PT23]

19 minutes ago, Stooch said:

I said in the tournament of champions thread no good pro is gonna fall of the earth because of an equipment change, maybe for a few months you get an extra tough shot or two per round but there shouldn't be a big effect.  I look at it with new clubs, if the player hits right or left that's on them if they are hitting it short or long and depending by how much, that will tell you if they are fighting the clubs.

Sorry, not directed at you or anyone specifically.  More just saying when Brooke won it was all hahaha.  Now, it may not be so simple and takes time.

 

From the outside, we will never know how comfortable a player was with the different sticks or whether there was some hesitation but the dollars and belief one could adapt drove the change.  I believe the latter was being discounted too much, nothwithstanding that there's a better than not chance both will be fine.  The biggest thing is these players are not measured by staying on the tour (or not falling off).  It's wins and pushing the history books.

 

[Stooch]

15 minutes ago, agolf1 said:

Sorry, not directed at you or anyone specifically.  More just saying when Brooke won it was all hahaha.  Now, it may not be so simple and takes time.

 

From the outside, we will never know how comfortable a player was with the different sticks or whether there was some hesitation but the dollars and belief one could adapt drove the change.  I believe the latter was being discounted too much, nothwithstanding that there's a better than not chance both will be fine.  The biggest thing is these players are not measured by staying on the tour (or not falling off).  It's wins and pushing the history books.

 

It's all good and I don't even think Brooke is having and big problems, her GIR is down a bit but it's still pretty good.  The last 2 events it's been her putting she's streaky and goes into funks for bit usually every year.

 

Plus, it will work out for me this week I got another Canadian to cheer for, where did Maddie Szeryk come from.

[woahnelly]

@18majors yealimi birdied her final hole to make the cut on the # 

Edited March 25 by woahnelly

[imkirby34]

1 hour ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

 

 

 

She finished with a 64 that included a double bogey and that was after yesterday's 75.  Wow.  I noticed that Smiling Cinderella also shot 64 today after a 74 yesterday.

[JungleJimbo]

1 hour ago, Stooch said:

It's all good and I don't even think Brooke is having and big problems, her GIR is down a bit but it's still pretty good.  The last 2 events it's been her putting she's streaky and goes into funks for bit usually every year.

 

Plus, it will work out for me this week I got another Canadian to cheer for, where did Maddie Szeryk come from.

 

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

 

https://www.youtube.com/@LPGA/videos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[woahnelly]

9 minutes ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

https://www.youtube.com/@LPGA/videos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd rather see a Shibuno or Maddie or Annie vid who actually played well today. Jeeno did not. They even dropped a Lexi R1 vid shooting a 72 😑

[JungleJimbo]

9 minutes ago, woahnelly said:

 

I'd rather see a Shibuno or Maddie or Annie vid who actually played well today. Jeeno did not. They even dropped a Lexi R1 vid shooting a 72 😑

Agreed... LPGA's limited  camera crews followed the stars... but others lit up the course in R2. (eg Ariya)... in this tournament, i count  the following Thai pros ahead of (or tied with) Atthaya:

 

1. Moriya -12 cumulative score

T32. Pavarisa -6

T39. Ariya, Wichanee, Chanettee, Atthaya -5 

T53. Patty -4

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 25 by JungleJimbo

[18majors]

2 hours ago, woahnelly said:

@18majors yealimi birdied her final hole to make the cut on the # 

 

 

 

It's better to be lucky than good; she sat at T66 for a while before a kind soul dropped a shot to let her in!

 

Go Annie and Go Yealimi!

 

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

3 hours ago, Stooch said:

It's all good and I don't even think Brooke is having and big problems, her GIR is down a bit but it's still pretty good.  The last 2 events it's been her putting she's streaky and goes into funks for bit usually every year.

 

Plus, it will work out for me this week I got another Canadian to cheer for, where did Maddie Szeryk come from.

@Stooch Your question on Maddie Szeryk intrigued me enough to do a google-search! But with her dual-citizenship... seems she's as much an American as she is Canadian? (her family has been based in Dallas TX for a long time?) 

 

 

Edited March 25 by JungleJimbo

[Stooch]

1 hour ago, JungleJimbo said:

@Stooch Your question on Maddie Szeryk intrigued me enough to do a google-search! But with her dual-citizenship... seems she's as much an American as she is Canadian? (her family has been based in Dallas TX for a long time?) 

 

 

Yeah, she took advantage of our great junior golfing program and switched to Canada, but I followed her junior college a little bit so would be nice to see her do well.

[iBanesto]

On 3/23/2023 at 9:14 PM, JungleJimbo said:

What happened to Yealimi's Malbon bucket-hat? @18majors

 

As long as Anna Davis keeps the bucket hat! 😅

 

[JungleJimbo]

33 minutes ago, iBanesto said:

 

As long as Anna Davis keeps the bucket hat! 😅

 

 

@iBanesto Seems like Anna Davis = undecided between bucket hat and visor?

 

https://golf.com/news/anna-davis-defend-anwa-title-photos/

 

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2022/04/rising-star--anna-davis.html

Edited March 25 by JungleJimbo

[iBanesto]

21 minutes ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

@iBanesto Seems like Anna Davis = undecided between bucket hat and visor?

 

https://golf.com/news/anna-davis-defend-anwa-title-photos/

 

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2022/04/rising-star--anna-davis.html

 

Look at those wear marks on those irons in the pic.

 

Player!

 

[18majors]

 

Lilia Vu's putting is such a reliable weapon; hat off to her!

 

Hard to believe a player of her caliber missed eight out of nine cuts and T72 on her only weekend during her rookie LPGA season of 2019.  It solidifies that mental is 90% of professional golf!

[8602081]

10 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

 

 

 

This doesn't matter..  JYK and Nelly almost caught up..

 

[Rapidcat]

Some random observations.

 

Great to see the LPGAT back in North America, despite the easy course.

 

Random player ouches re missed cuts:

• Sung-Hyung Park 70, 77 – will she ever get her consistent form back? It's not happening, is it?
• Esther 74, 71 – I see lots of good in her game but she is in danger of retreating to the LET.
• Steph Kyriacou  68, 75 – I rate her but lack of consistency will ruin her on this tour, but she’s still learning so there is hope, she not Su Oh just yet.
• Pauline Roussin 68, 74 – back down to earth, hope the party was awesome.
• Sarah Schmelzel – 70, 72 – shaping as a significant mover on tour but not quite yet.

 

Other stuff:

• Charley ‘ull – mentioned in the coverage, ended up with 20 putts in R2, 8/18 GIR contributed🙂.
• Youletme Know – made a cut, about time, too talented to fade away.
• Ryan O’Toole – lovely R2, a 64 with 8 birdies and no blemishes, life with Georgia must be good (and for Georgia too at -9).
• Maddie Szeryk – R2 22 putts
• Mel Reid – is she back, - 8 with 2 -4 rounds…or was she ever really here?
• Long driving (tour ave measurement) – Madelene Sagstroem R1 301y, R2 298y
• Pernilla made a cut!

 

30 something weeks of this and then the Solheim...good times!

[JungleJimbo]

5 minutes ago, Rapidcat said:

Youletme Know

@Rapidcat not worried that @18majorsmight give you a black eye, for butchering the name of his favourite LPGA pro? 🤜😵🤛

[Rapidcat]

1 hour ago, JungleJimbo said:

@Rapidcat not worried that @18majorsmight give you a black eye, for butchering the name of his favourite LPGA pro? 🤜😵🤛

 

🙂That name 'pun' just rolls off the tongue to me, but @18majorsneed fear not, I like Yealimi and wish her the best.

 

Plus she's one of the few to get 'game face' Leona to smile during a pro event round:

Edited March 25 by Rapidcat

[BadgerLin]

It’s great to see Patty T back on the leaderboard after a mostly brutal 2022.