2024 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (Jan 18 - 21)

[third-times-a-charm]

5 hours ago, woahnelly said:

This tournament has turned into the Lydia Ko redemption arc, maybe Pano can challenge her but I doubt it. 

 

They noted Lydia is teeing the ball lower and it's making her ball straighter, which was her bugaboo last year. Shes had several putts throughout this tournament miss by an inch, so a 2 shot lead is generous for how well shes been playing.  

Well Lydia does play this course like every day so if she doesn't win I would be concerned.

 

Then again so does Annika.

[woahnelly]

4 hours ago, Shilgy said:

They’re professional golfers! You expect them to miss by feet? 
In all seriousness I’m guessing every player has burned the edge on multiple holes so far in this event.

 

edit…that reads more harsh than intended….but the point stands.

 

Ive watched a majority of the coverage, at least 3 or 4 putts were a literal inch, or extra roll, from going in. Shes had the most consistent speeds of anyone in the field... Then again this is LPGA coverage we are talking here! the only show 4 golfers throughout the entire broadcast 😂

 

Id like to see AP2 get some more consistent coverage moving fwd if she keeps it up since beloved Rose will be MIA until after the Asian swing due to her studies at Stanford.

[PedronNiall]

10 hours ago, 8602081 said:

I think it's little weird for Annika to be playing in a celebrity tournament, which is golf..

 

I don't think any other celebrities are former all time great Professional Golfer...

 

She played professional golf all her life..

 

I don't mind. It's fun getting to see the "a scratch WRXer could take an LPGA pro" chatter play out from the same tees. In this case a former LPGA pro vs scratch men, one of whom went out for The Champions Tour last year. Guess the ladies are a liiittle tougher than many think despite any distance gaps or being retired.

 

Kind of unexpected to see the celeb aspect getting so much hate given that non-celebs are part of the rounds in some of the early season PGA play as well and get highlighted on occasion and, two, that the men's tournaments featuring celebs seem to get a lot of fanfare and generally positive response. Heck, there's an entire men's celebrity tourney every year.

 

Half the time posts on here lament how little attention Women's Pro Golf gets and how they don't get big enough purses but then there seems to be a very rigid expectation about what's proper for the related tours & events as well as a bemoaning of crowds that get too big or boisterous. Weird to me to be so down on something that likely draws eyes that would otherwise not give women's golf much thought and that likely helps keep the event viable for the sponsors.

 

Can't have everything, but even for those who aren't a fan of the format I don't get the outspoken negativity around it.

[Gregakin]

On the grounds, tournament feels like a high-end/luxury member guest, with select pro's invited. 

[mallrat]

I don’t know about the really important season for Nelly but it is getting to be time to figure some things out if she wants to be the best. I don’t see her falling out of the top 15-20 for the next decade or 2. That said I’m not sure if it’s just her putter or what but she is struggling for her. -1 (with 1 left to play) through the par 5’s this week is never going to get anything done. 17/18 GIR’s in round 1 and only -1 for the day is rough. I honestly think she hasn’t been the same since the equipment change. 

[ChronicSlicer]

14 minutes ago, mallrat said:

 That said I’m not sure if it’s just her putter or what but she is struggling for her. -1 (with 1 left to play) through the par 5’s this week is never going to get anything done. 17/18 GIR’s in round 1 and only -1 for the day is rough. I honestly think she hasn’t been the same since the equipment change. 

Surely she must be hiding an injury again? Wasn't that the common excuse for the last two years even though she herself stated she was 100% healthy.

[18majors]

 

Breaking news:

 

 

[jt2gt]

Been impressed with Pano from what they showed so far. After reading the thread about her turning pro young not sure what I expected, but she seems like she is on top of it out there. Would love to see her and RZ battle it out someday. 

[8602081]

Congrats to Lydia.. 

Got little nervous on the last hole, but she made it..

 

[woahnelly]

1 hour ago, jt2gt said:

Been impressed with Pano from what they showed so far. After reading the thread about her turning pro young not sure what I expected, but she seems like she is on top of it out there. Would love to see her and RZ battle it out someday. 

 

Yes they should have some battles for years to come, hopefully Yealimi can join the party too. 

[PedronNiall]

Nice job by Ko finishing it off while making sure even the shots that were off didn't put her into trouble. Good ball striking and able to work the lines she wanted to without the big hook showing up. 

 

McNeil seemed genuinely happy to take the celebrity comp. Ko seemed genuinely happy about the overall format and having the celebs there. Hilton is certainly happy based on their renewal. Guess those who aren't will just have to suck it up. 

 

Pano did well under the pressure and continued trying to make a move. Good things to come if that kind of play continues. 

[NikeGolfer76]

Trying to watch this tournament and I see little has changed in this new season.  If the name isn’t Ko, Korda, Henderson, or the new “it” prospect Zhang, you’d better be in contention to get any airtime.  

 

With the exception of a few fleeting moments on Day 1, would’ve never known Lilia Vu was participating.  Don’t believe I ever saw Ronin Yin or Charley Hull.

 

Media favorite or not, while I get she was never really near the lead, being #1 in the world should’ve been worth more airtime than what Vu appeared to get this weekend. 

[woahnelly]

5 minutes ago, NikeGolfer76 said:

Trying to watch this tournament and I see little has changed in this new season.  If the name isn’t Ko, Korda, Henderson, or the new “it” prospect Zhang, you’d better be in contention to get any airtime.  

 

With the exception of a few fleeting moments on Day 1, would’ve never known Lilia Vu was participating.  Don’t believe I ever saw Ronin Yin or Charley Hull.

 

Media favorite or not, while I get she was never really near the lead, being #1 in the world should’ve been worth more airtime than what Vu appeared to get this weekend. 

 

New year, same lame LPGA coverage. 

[Shilgy]

15 hours ago, woahnelly said:

 

Ive watched a majority of the coverage, at least 3 or 4 putts were a literal inch, or extra roll, from going in. Shes had the most consistent speeds of anyone in the field... Then again this is LPGA coverage we are talking here! the only show 4 golfers throughout the entire broadcast 😂

 

Id like to see AP2 get some more consistent coverage moving fwd if she keeps it up since beloved Rose will be MIA until after the Asian swing due to her studies at Stanford.

So you’re not talking burning the edge? But instead she’s left them an inch short?

 

That is not good speed control unless they were exceptionally long putts.

[AKL Kiwi]

Not the finish Alker had for NZ yesterday but the same result! That's back to back wins now for Lyd's and another HOF point....on to next week...

[ChronicSlicer]

Well, even though I watched roughly 6 minutes of this whole thing, it's good to hear Lyds is playing well. 

[Titleist_PT23]

5 hours ago, ChronicSlicer said:

Surely she must be hiding an injury again? Wasn't that the common excuse for the last two years even though she herself stated she was 100% healthy.

Wouldn't be the first time an athlete said he/she was "fine," but really wasn't.  Many adopt the approach that if you are playing, you are "fine."  No reason to go out there with any other mindset.  She may have truly been fine for most of the season, but an injury is still a disruption to the flow of practicing and playing.

 

Anyways, you think you know it all.  Remember when you thought drivers don't matter?  That one ended well for you; someone that actually knows pretty much told you what you don't know.  The arrogance is amazing.

 

Have a nice evening.

[Titleist_PT23]

I'm not a huge fan of the Grant Thorton or this tournament, but everyone's favourite L.KO gets another HOF point.  She had some better finishes in Asia late last year as well, so it looks like she's picked herself up off the post-marriage bottom.

 

Winning is hard, but it looks like she should have some chances this year.  Let's all hope for (at least) one more win and an accomplishment that not many others will even have a sniff at.

[woahnelly]

8 minutes ago, Titleist_PT23 said:

I'm not a huge fan of the Grant Thorton or this tournament, but everyone's favourite L.KO gets another HOF point.  She had some better finishes in Asia late last year as well, so it looks like she's picked herself up off the post-marriage bottom.

 

Winning is hard, but it looks like she should have some chances this year.  Let's all hope for (at least) one more win and an accomplishment that not many others will even have a sniff at.

 

One of the only valid talking points Pretzel was able to spew during the broadcast was Inbee was the last do it in 2016, and nobody besides Lyds is remotely close. Jin Young would be next closest, but she has been battling the injury bug of late even to this present day. Vu had a historic season, but she's the same age as Lydia is now. Truly the hardest HOF to enter in all of pro sports! 

[Argonne69]

I think the conditions favored Lydia with her new, lower ball flight, but she still had to execute. Not perfect, but her short game once again shined. Great to see her start the season off right, and get within a point of the HoF. Pressure will be on her next week. Lol. 

 

Very impressed with Alexa's play today. Didn't look out of place. OTOH, Ally was off kilter. 

 

Nice round for Brooke, equaling Leona for the low round of the day. Unfortunately she couldn't keep the birdies going on the back nine. 

 

[JungleJimbo]

 

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

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

30 minutes ago, woahnelly said:

 

One of the only valid talking points Pretzel was able to spew during the broadcast was Inbee was the last do it in 2016, and nobody besides Lyds is remotely close. Jin Young would be next closest, but she has been battling the injury bug of late even to this present day. Vu had a historic season, but she's the same age as Lydia is now. Truly the hardest HOF to enter in all of pro sports! 

 

 

 

[JetSpeed79]

20 wins and 2 majors by age 26 is seriously impressive. 

[Titleist_PT23]

18 minutes ago, JetSpeed79 said:

20 wins and 2 majors by age 26 is seriously impressive. 

I didn't realise this was her 20th win, as I've only been tracking HOF points (and mainly how many more to go).  I guess the figure is not relevant for the LPGAT, but it is a marker on the PGAT.

[woahnelly]

As prolific as Jeen and Ronni are, they only have 3 points each. Quite a ways to go! 

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

 

[Rapidcat]

12 hours ago, ChronicSlicer said:

Well, even though I watched roughly 6 minutes of this whole thing, it's good to hear Lyds is playing well. 

 

Pfft, I watched 20 times the minutes you did.

 

I must be an uberfan.

[Argonne69]

After a good start, Danielle came off the rails with a 79, 75, and 82 in her final three rounds. Ouch. It has to be something besides injury, no? Would a pro risk further injury struggling through four rounds for a small payout?

 

[OnTheBag]

On 1/21/2024 at 12:09 PM, mallrat said:

Nelly but it is getting to be time to figure some things out if she wants to be the best.

What she needs to figure out is the 6" between her ears.  All the talent in the world won't overcome bad decisions and pouting when things go south.

[18majors]

2 minutes ago, OnTheBag said:

What she needs to figure out is the 6" between her ears.

 

 

I took a look at the weather at Bradenton, Florida, where Drive On Championship is playing this week.  I guarantee Nelly will have a better week because the temperature will be high seventies and low eighties.