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,

Ochoa Surges to the Lead at McDonald's L.P.G.A. After Round #2

Watching Lorena Ochoa play in golf tournaments is like watching the movie Groundhog Day. Bill Murray repeats the sequences of his life over and over with perfect precision. His goal, earn the love of Andie MacDowell. Lorena does the same. She wins golf tournaments over and over while earning the respect of golf fans and her peers, even though she's beating the crap out of the latter.

Ochoa's near perfect 65 vaulted her into a one stroke lead over Linsdey Wright, 10 and 9 under par respectively. By near perfect I mean 13 out of 14 fairways hit and 17 of 18 greens in regulation. Day #1 co-leader, Lorie Kane, is alone in 3rd at -8. Annika at -6, defending champ Suzann Pettersen at -5, Karrie Webb at -2 are some of the bigger names that better make a move tomorrow or face playing Sunday for skin money. Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel are too far down the list to consider having a legit shot, especially the way Ochoa's playing. That's the difference in her during this barrage of wins. She flat out doesn't give up her position once she's gained it. Remind you of a certain someone?

Consider that Lorena's made 11 birdies in 36 holes, has no bogeys, and one devilish double bogey to her credit. Can anyone else here do that over the next two days? Need more? She's averaging 272 yds. off the tee on a soggy golf course with almost no roll. The course is wet as a fish. Pettersen averaged 264 yds. and Annika 242. Is it just me or was Annika a lot longer off the tee a couple of years ago?

I'm watching this tomorrow because I have the day off and I'll get to see if the field can make it worth watching on Sunday. Hope so.

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,

2008 U.S. Open - No Clear Favorite.

Hogwash you say? Who's the favorite then? Tiger? Home course advantage I'll give you. Two month layoff won't help. Sure, he's Tiger Woods. Still, two weeks before a major he's still not playing 18 holes on his backyard course that looks nothing like Torrey Pines in mid-summer. Four days of walking in microwave heat, combined with some understandable ring rust, I don't see him as a favorite. Contender and possible winner? Of course. Just like everyone else. Well, almost everyone. His last U.S. Open win was six years ago at Bethpage. The Open isn't his favorite major I'd say.

Phil? #2 in the world Phil? He's never won the U.S. Open. He had won at Winged Foot in '06, but gave it back like a fisherman losing his grip on a trophy bass. You'd have to say that Geoff Ogilvy is as much a favorite as Phil, considering he can legally hold an Open trophy. Same as Angel Cabrera. Why wouldn't he be the favorite? He's the last guy to do it. Or Retief Goosen. He's the latest guy to win two Opens, '01, '04. Wouldn't that make him the favorite? Oops, where's Retief been this year? Ernie Els? Multiple Open winner. I guess the fact that Ernie's game's in disarray doesn't make him the favorite. Did I mention he's won two Opens?

Are you a current stats person? Go with who's hot? That would be Kenny Perry. Hot as a pistol. Just coming off a victory on a tough course in Jack's Memorial. Crap, he's not in the Open. He didn't want to go through 36 hole qualifying, so he'll be mowing the lawn and watching the Open like you and me. Sergio's pretty hot. Is he the Open favorite? Well, could be, but never won a major. Until he does I don't see him as a favorite in any of them. Tell him it's the Ryder Cup and he's my prohibitive favorite. Vijay? Contender, not the clear cut favorite. Stewart Cink has more top ten finishes than anyone, (6), in '08. Open Favorite? Nope. Corey Pavin leads in scrambling. Why? Because he has to. Heath Slocumb leads in proximity to the hole, (31' 3"), not the Open favorite. Driving distance is Bubba Watson, no surprise, (312.3 yds.). Unfortunately Bubba's not the Open favorite. Olin Browne leads in driving accuracy, (78.71). I'm not even sure if he's in the Open. (Sorry Mrs. Browne) If so, I wish him all the luck in the world, but he's not the favorite.

Stumped? That should make for a great tournament. However, Average Golfer indeed does have a favorite. If she'd agree to a fake mustache for a few days I'd pick Lorena Ochoa. Go ahead, bet against me. Thought so.

Til, next,

Kenny Perry Wins 2008 Memorial - Goggin Gags.

Only two men have won three Memorial tournaments. Tiger Woods, and now Kenny Perry. Perry's big mistake free round of 69, (280), granted him a two stroke victory over the quad of Jerry Kelly, Justin Rose, Mike Weir, and Matthew Goggin.

Bowling alley greens, dastardly winds, and rough longer than 9th grade math made the final round an arduous test of accuracy and focus. One small slip was all it took to slide down the board. Matt Goggin gained valuable experience in playing near the top of a prestigious golf tournament. He went out in 38 though and effectively heaved his lead. Give him credit though for hanging in and taking some 2nd place money. Weir, Rose, and Kelly all shot 71 today to end up where they started, tied together. None gave Perry a serious challenge, but were close enough for Average Golfer to watch some coverage, (with the sound off). I live near some woods and Ian Baker Finch's voice annoys the wildlife.

Hats off to Perry. His goal this year is to make the Ryder Cup team. This win put him in the 8th spot for selection, which is the last automatic berth now. Curiously, Perry's not playing in the US Open at Torrey Pines. He said his '08 focus was on the vents he plays well in order to make the Cup squad. Perry said that Torrey Pines wasn't one of those venues.

Next week's scheduled event, the Stanford St. Jude Championship, may look like a Nationwide Tour tournament. I can't imagine too many of the big names will play, choosing to practice and rest for the following week's US Open. Darned if I still don't the idea of golfers having to rest. Do Major League Baseball players play for four consecutive days? Yes. Do they then need a week off? Nope.

Get ready in the coming days for Average Golfer's intense 2008 US Open coverage. Something in the air says they'll be lots of story lines.

Til, next,