Yani Tseng Outlasts Maria Hjorth in McDonald's L.P.G.A. Playoff

Nineteen year old Tour rookie Yani Tseng made her first L.P.G.A. win a huge one as her 18th hole birdie bested Maria Hjorth on the 4th playoff hole at the McDonald's L.P.G.A. Championship. Tseng's 68 in regulation and Hjorth's 71 placed them one shot in front of Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa. This was Annika's farewell to the McDonald's and I'm sure falling one stroke short had to hurt. Truth be told, if Lorena or Annika could have putted on the back nine, they may have been the playoff. Putt after makeable putt missed their marks, with many coming up short. I was surprised to see the top two players in the world fall short on meaningful putts in a major. As wet as it's been at Bulle Rock, the players in the last groups have to contend with the mounds around the holes where earlier players have stepped. It puts the hole on a crown and forces the player to "firm" it in. I know they know that. They just didn't execute.

It was a seesaw battle on the back nine. Hjorth called on the golf gods on 15 when her second shot launched out of a hazard, caromed across the green to just on the fringe, from where she made birdie. She then proceeded to chip in for birdie on 16 which gave her the cushion to bogey 17 by missing a three footer that in hindsight would have won her the tournament. All this while Sorenstam and Ochoa were choking putts that would have rendered the rest of the action moot.

Tseng had nerves of titanium in the playoff. If she was nervous, she hid it well. Her lasered approach from the right rough on 18, the 4th and final playoff, to 5'9", and that was the putt that ended it. It was reminiscent of Se Ri Pak's dart to two feet on the same hole in a playoff two years ago to best Karrie Webb. Yani Tseng has a bright future. Previous to this break out win, the rookie had two seconds this year. She becomes at 19, the 2nd youngest major winner on tour, second to Morgan Pressel at 18.

The young US contingent of Pressel, Gulbis, Creamer, Kerr, and Lang played OK, but none were really in contention on the day that matters. Laura Diaz was in the hunt midway through the back nine and finished in solo 3rd at -10.

Pay attention to the future of women's golf. It's become a world game. New names and faces are, and will continue to be, the new fabric of the game. As it should be.

Average Golfer astute observation of the day....."Trevor Immelman is now the only player left with a shot at the Grand Slam".

Til' next,

McDonald's L.P.G.A. 3rd Round - The Field Fights Back

Lorena Ochoa with the lead at the halfway mark of a golf tournament is almost a foregone conclusion. Almost. The rest of the field showed up today at the 2008 McDonald's L.P.G.A. Championship. Jee Young Lee's spectacular 65 put her in front by a single stroke over Maria Hjorth, who had a no less spectacular 65. Annika Sorenstam's 68 put her deadlocked with Ochoa, owner of an even par 72 today. They're tied at -10. There's a four way tie at -8, all within striking distance.

Oppressive heat, touching 100 degrees F, made this a war of attrition as well. Umbrellas were spotted all day in an effort to escape the furnace. That aside, the golf course was for the taking. Immaculate conditions and receptive greens made low scores possible. Expect more of the same tomorrow that will make for a lot of possible movement on the leader board.

Supporting my long held theory that putting wins championships, here's a little fodder. Putts taken through 54 holes, Lee, 81, Hjorth, 84, Sorenstam, 88, Ochoa, 92. Darn if that's not the exact order on the leader board. Dottie Pepper, Golf Channel announcer, smartly pointed out excessive head movement in Ochoa's putting stroke. In slow motion replay you could see her head moving 6 inches or so in the middle of her stroke. Good call Dottie. That's what I like out of my golf announcers. I don't need to know how rainy and windy it was at Carnoustie a million years ago. Faldo.

Sunday should be a great race to the finish. Just the way a major championship should be. Has to be better than Big Brown's, huh?

Til, next,

Kane, Bastel Lead Early at McDonald's L.P.G.A.

Seasoned vet Lorie Kane and relative unknown Emily Bastel each fired bogey-free 66s to pace the 2008 McDonald's L.P.G.A. Championship today. Canadian Kane hit 11 fairways, had 12/18 greens in regulation, but needed only 24 putts to secure her 66. Ohioan Bastel, last year's Duramed Futures Tour money winner, hit 14 fairways, nailed 15/18 greens, and required 26 putts to accomplish the same feat as Kane. Different paths, same results. Lindsey Wright took possession of solo 2nd with a 67. Five players were tied at -4 and ten at -3. It's a tightly bunched field after day #1.

A wet golf course forced officials to move many tee boxes forward. With virtually no roll, what you got is what you got. It remains to be seen if the weather cooperates and turns this into an entirely different track by the weekend.

Defending champion Suzann Petersen checked in at -1. Lorena Ochoa stayed at sniffing distance at -3 despite a double bogey. Annika's positioned at -2. At -1 with Pettersen are Paula Creamer and Karrie Webb, both genuine threats to win this. Morgan Pressel came in with a +1, 73 and one of my favorite lady golfers, Laura Davies, registered a +3, 75. I'd love for Laura to make the cut and then make a move. She's still a big hitter, but erratic of late.

The 1st day of a golf tournament is like the 1st turn in a horse race. Positioning, bumping, settling into a pace. If we learn anything tomorrow it may very well be who's not going to win. The tension builds.

Til' next,

2008 McDonald's L.P.G.A. Championship - Want Fries With That?

Before you write off the week in golf knowing that half of the men's tour is "resting" in anticipation of the US Open, the women are teeing it up for their 2nd major of the year. Ronald is again hosting the McDonald's L.P.G.A. Championship at it's now familiar site at Bulle Rock Country Club in Havre de Grace, MD. Par 72, 6,596 yards. That gives you enough info for Mapquest. If you leave now you'll make the opening tee ball from most areas of the country.

Suzann Pettersen, she of Nordic beauty, returns to defend. All the big names are here. Lorena, Paula, Morgan, Annika, Karrie, and 7 of the 11 Kims. The spotlight will be on Lorena, winner in 6 of the 9 events she's played this year. Those are better than Tiger numbers. She understandably bowed out of Annika's Ginn Tribute last week due to the death of her uncle. Let's hope it doesn't affect her too badly. It may spark her as a memorial to him. Who knows? Ochoa's the only one left with a shot at the Grand Slam. Oops, Trevor Immelman does as well. The others in the field will have to step it up for four days under major pressure to topple Ochoa. That's how dominate she's been. It's hers to lose. Would you take Ochoa against the field? Would you take Ochoa against all the Kims? $300,000.00 to the winner. Televised all four days, June 5th-8th on The Golf Channel. The winner also receives an automatic berth in the ADT Championship and a spiffy trophy.

June's a big month on the links. After the McDonald's is next week's men's US Open followed by the women's 3rd major, the US Women's Open at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, MN. Everywhere you look it's raining majors.

Til' next,