LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP BRADENTON, FL (JAN 25-28)

[woahnelly]

3 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

@woahnelly

 

Don't forget next week is the real season opening; our real star Ina Yoon starts at Vic Open, WPGA Australia!

 

https://wpga-vicopen2.golfgenius.com/pages/10003334693040183180

 

Decent field with Jiyai in there, LPGA player Karis Davidson, Fiona Xu, and the legend Karrie Webb.

 

Jennifer Chang is surprising, but she will be in Epson Land this year along with Su Oh.  

Edited January 29 by woahnelly

[Seamus_McDuff]

29 minutes ago, MagicClassic407 said:

I thought at the outset the pairing of Nelly and Meg was going to be an issue. It's one thing to yuk it up on Thurs and Fri but the final group on Sunday with your bestie? PLUS, Meg was actually staying at Nelly's house. Awkward! The final 6" is in for a workout. Nelly tanking in the first several holes as Meg surged. Meg wresting control only to miss a shorty on #9 and never really recover. Lapse! Then they both drank from the same poisonous koolaid down the stretch. Thankfully Nelly was able to right the ship JIT.

 

Jason must be a super bagman. Wondering if his wife Caroline will make a start with Nelly on extended break. Anyone? Also wonder if Nelly wishes she WASN'T taking such a break right now. Judy Rankin would tell her to get back out there while you're in good form.

 

Congrats to Nelly and looking forward to Lyds getting that point in the near future. 

 

 

Masson is signed up for Se Ri Pak Championship, but so is Nelly. I assume Nelly not going to Asia is because Jess will have just had the baby. 

[JungleJimbo]

 

https://www.youtube.com/@LPGA 

 

 

[HulaGolfMom]

Was hoping Lydia would get the HOF win out of the way early this season.  

[OnTheBag]

3 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

I chalk it up to unfamiliarity. First time playing the course and it seems the grain was a factor as Lydia mentioned post-round. 

 

I texted with a few caddies post round today.  The grain and the speed was a struggle for most, added to the wind effecting the putts while rolling.  One of the more seasoned loopers said that he was stumped on several holes after watching putts break in both directions near the hole.  

 

Tough for everyone.  Not sure I've ever seen this many 3 putts by the top players.

[AKL Kiwi]

@OnTheBag Is it ok to use a mobile phone during a round? I noticed Nelly using hers pre shot during normal play and the commentators mentioned it. My argument here is anyone on course or your coach watching the live broadcast could send a text and/or video information from anywhere on the course that could help you 😟  

[JungleJimbo]

2 hours ago, woahnelly said:

 

Nelly hasn't had much of a break, she played both PNC and Grant Thornton.  I don't think she's missing out playing the early season Asian swing, majors are the goal this year! 

Maybe Nelly wanted to go do the Asia swing ... but pregnant sis Jess said " @woahnelly! "

Edited January 29 by JungleJimbo

[aenemated]

Man, I hate I missed this live but I was out ... uh ... playing golf. 🙂 

 

Was watching this thread while out there so thanks for the updates! 

[Titleist_PT23]

5 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

 

So Nelly got the champagne?  What happened to the 27 roses?

 

It will be a good season if these two come ready to play often...

[JungleJimbo]

12 minutes ago, Titleist_PT23 said:

So Nelly got the champagne?  What happened to the 27 roses?

 

It will be a good season if these two come ready to play often...

Champagne remains on ice, waiting for Lydia to seal the deal & get that last point.

[Jonnyuk74]

Great win by NK and great to see her back in winners circle. I kinda agree with a few comments about the 'home' soil aspect having to be taken into account, a good week would of been more than expected on this track. But you can't do anymore than Win,  bodes well with LK playing so well too. 🏆

[Ferguson]

5 hours ago, aenemated said:

Man, I hate I missed this live but I was out ... uh ... playing golf. 🙂 

 

Was watching this thread while out there so thanks for the updates! 

 

It was a great inward nine.  I flipped it on and thought this should be good.

Nelly finished like a champion.  

[OnTheBag]

8 hours ago, AKL Kiwi said:

@OnTheBag Is it ok to use a mobile phone during a round? I noticed Nelly using hers pre shot during normal play and the commentators mentioned it. My argument here is anyone on course or your coach watching the live broadcast could send a text and/or video information from anywhere on the course that could help you 😟  

I don't believe that cell phone usage is allowed during play as doing so would result in an automatic DQ.  In my era, they weren't allowed at all on course but now rangefinders are in use, so that may have changed.  I just asked some friends what the current policy is.  

 

What I think you are referring to is Nelly looking at her phone before the playoff started.  That would be allowed, since play didn't begin until the first tee shot was struck.  I didn't notice her using her phone during the round.

[18majors]

@AKL Kiwi

 

Beth Ann Nichols seems to think Lydia will walk away from golf when she wins next time to reach Hall of Fame; what do you think?

Lydia Ko's close brush with the LPGA Hall of Fame was a wake-up call

 

 

[PedronNiall]

Wasn't asked to me, but I doubt she abandons ship immediately after the win. She still seems to be having fun and likes the results she's gotten from working on her swing fix. If she gets the win soon I see her still finishing out the season for a shot at one more Major. 

[Lobby]

I dunno. Seven weeks off seems like a long break

 

If I were Nelly, I’d consider going to the Asian swing

[RagnarD]

I was there from 12:30 to the finish yesterday. In a group of seasoned golf husbands with beginning golfer wives from Longboat Key. We saw Nelly at the driving range, then pretty much followed her group, sometimes moving up to see the Ko group as well, to stay ahead of the biggest crowd that surrounded NK's group at the tee. After NK fell to 8 under and we heard that the roar was for Ko's eagle on 17 to take her to -11, I said it was pretty much lost for her,  as she'd have to go eagle birdie just to tie. But that's what she did of course. I saw a few people leaving after the Ko eagle trying to beat the lines for the parking trolleys, but most of us stayed and of course were rewarded big time. That 18th hole position had a good bit of slope. Another thing that was hard to appreciate on the TV replay was how windy it was yesterday. NK's drive on 18 when she birdied was part heeadwind, part sidewind, so I can imagine that with a similar tailwind it could have gone 300y.

[8602081]

Congrats to Nelly.. Way to hang in there..

 

[pmcuk]

I was rooting for Lyds all the way, and felt deflated when she bottled the last hole. 

 

Good thing is we'll see her battle it out again and again until she gets her HoF point. 

[Seamus_McDuff]

1 hour ago, Lobby said:

I dunno. Seven weeks off seems like a long break

 

If I were Nelly, I’d consider going to the Asian swing

 

Im not convinced it’ll be that long. We could see her in the Aramco Florida event which is the same week as Blue Bay. 

[aenemated]

5 hours ago, Ferguson said:

 

It was a great inward nine.  I flipped it on and thought this should be good.

Nelly finished like a champion.  

 

Watched the highlights and even knowing the outcome; that last bit was some of the most thrilling golf I seen in a good while. Nelly's 17 and 18 to force the playoff was some Tiger level clutch play. 

[Lobby]

2 hours ago, Seamus_McDuff said:

 

Im not convinced it’ll be that long. We could see her in the Aramco Florida event which is the same week as Blue Bay. 

Well, if she decides to take 7 weeks, I’d like to invite her to San Antonio for a round at one of our muni courses. 
 

With 30 minutes of swing tips on the range beforehand. 
 

I mean, she giving me tips, not me giving her tips. 
 

🙂

[AKL Kiwi]

5 hours ago, 18majors said:

@AKL Kiwi

 

Beth Ann Nichols seems to think Lydia will walk away from golf when she wins next time to reach Hall of Fame; what do you think?

@18majors I think now she is married if she wants to start a family that will be when she retires. I would not put coming back out of retirement even with HOF status out of the question either. It happens quite a bit after a couple of years for top sportspeople. It just becomes a new challenge to get back to the top as Lyd's will always love playing golf if her health is ok. 

I don't think much of what Beth Ann Nichols says outside of facts. She was talking up Rose Zhang as the next RR#1 straight after her playoff win...as she drops to #23 this week!   

[woahnelly]

4 hours ago, Lobby said:

I dunno. Seven weeks off seems like a long break

 

If I were Nelly, I’d consider going to the Asian swing

 

Id consider the 700k first place check the Saudis are giving away in a couple weeks 😂

[18majors]

11 minutes ago, AKL Kiwi said:

She was talking up Rose Zhang as the next RR#1 straight after her playoff win...as she drops to #23 this week!   

 

 

Beth didn't follow NCAA golf much; she made a rookie mistake hyping Rose when Rose turned pro.  The facts are; Rose doesn't have the short games like Lydia and she can't drive the ball like Nelly.  She would be lucky to reach Rolex Top-10 as long as Lydia and Nelly are still roaming around the greens.

 

Where Beth has advantages is she talks to players directly; and her insight there need to be respected.

 

 

Edited January 29 by 18majors

[Argonne69]

23 minutes ago, 18majors said:

 

 

Beth didn't follow NCAA golf much; she made a rookie mistake hyping Rose when Rose turned pro.  The facts are; Rose doesn't have the short games like Lydia and she can't drive the ball like Nelly.  She would be lucky to reach Rolex Top-10 as long as Lydia and Nelly are still roaming around the greens.

 

Where Beth has advantages is she talks to players directly; and her insight there need to be respected.

 

 

Similar to Michelle, I'm curious how trying to juggle professional golf and university is going to affect her in the short run. I tip my hat to her for wanting to finish her degree, but those hours spent studying are hours not spent chipping and putting. 

 

[woahnelly]

13 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Similar to Michelle, I'm curious how trying to juggle professional golf and university is going to affect her in the short run. I tip my hat to her for wanting to finish her degree, but those hours spent studying are hours not spent chipping and putting. 

 

 

Id guess it's to appease her parents more than anything, so they can boast to their friends at church that daughter has a Stanford degree.

 

Lucy Li was taking virtual classes from U of Penn last year, she can make a dent in those loans with her check this week. 

[Ferguson]

4 hours ago, aenemated said:

 

Watched the highlights and even knowing the outcome; that last bit was some of the most thrilling golf I seen in a good while. Nelly's 17 and 18 to force the playoff was some Tiger level clutch play. 

 

The wood into 17 was a great shot.  Best of the afternoon.  Then, the discussion with her caddy about the approach into 18, and she did exactly what they talked about. 

 

Some players learn to rise to the occasion and others do not. 

[ChronicSlicer]

2 hours ago, 18majors said:

 

 

Beth didn't follow NCAA golf much; she made a rookie mistake hyping Rose when Rose turned pro.  

 

 

Every golf media outlet under the sun was hyping Rose before turning pro, after turning pro, and currently. You were guilty of the hype train as well, any regular poster here can vouch for that, but you've suddenly turned your back on the beloved Rose. I recall you even demanding her turn pro immediately once 😂

I for one actually believe Rose can maintain a Rolex top 10, or at least bounce in and out frequently. Maybe not this year, but soon enough.

[Titleist_PT23]

11 hours ago, 18majors said:

@AKL Kiwi

 

Beth Ann Nichols seems to think Lydia will walk away from golf when she wins next time to reach Hall of Fame; what do you think?

Lydia Ko's close brush with the LPGA Hall of Fame was a wake-up call

 

 

A bit of media sensationalism running full throttle here.  I don't think she will walk away immediately, but there's a good chance she doesn't play the next season.  I think she could keep going if she was one major away from winning all of them (not sure if the Grand Slam is four or five these days), not sure what else there would be to accomplish?

 

I understand an interest in and love for the game, but I doubt she will play again after retiring or whatever (or play a limited schedule for an extended period).  She will have a lot of other ways to spend her time.

 

 

Edited January 30 by Titleist_PT23
English teacher was disappointed with the grammar.