2020 U.S. Women's Open Preview

[BIG STU]

41 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

I give Amy credit for holding it together and ending up in 2nd pl. - it had to be a major shock for her to hear about her FIL. She'll be back in the game.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

I felt so sorry for them in the cold weather. 

[BIG STU]

1 hour ago, 2puttbogey said:

Congratulations to A Lim Kim she closed it out!! Crazy how the last 3 holes of play won the whole tournament for her, and Olsen’s hole in one kept her place though the weekend


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

Oh yeah she more than deserved it made birdies on the last 3 holes in those conditions

[Middler]

1 hour ago, 2puttbogey said:

Congratulations to A Lim Kim she closed it out!! Crazy how the last 3 holes of play won the whole tournament for her, and Olsen’s hole in one kept her place though the weekend.

Kim did what she had to do, that’s clutch stringing together 3 straight birdies to close. Major winners are almost always the players who rise to the challenge. I’m surprised Olson and Shibuno didn’t finish stronger, but it was a good tournament despite conditions.

[2puttbogey]

1 hour ago, tony@CIC said:

I give Amy credit for holding it together and ending up in 2nd pl. - it had to be a major shock for her to hear about her FIL. She'll be back in the game.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

Going to play the devil here. I think this may have been her chance. She hasn't won on tour yet, and it's golf so she might not get an opportunity like this again.

[Kenny B]

4 hours ago, 2puttbogey said:

Going to play the devil here. I think this may have been her chance. She hasn't won on tour yet, and it's golf so she might not get an opportunity like this again.

She placed 2nd at the Evian Championship in 2018, so she has 2 seconds in majors now.  I think she will finally win, but she seems to do better when the courses are tough rather than the typical every week birdie fests.  

[tony@CIC]

8 hours ago, Kenny B said:

She placed 2nd at the Evian Championship in 2018, so she has 2 seconds in majors now.  I think she will finally win, but she seems to do better when the courses are tough rather than the typical every week birdie fests.  

Given the scores, this Ladies Open wasn't a cakewalk. My hats off to all the players that made it though the weather and course conditions. 

[Mr. 82]

On 12/10/2020 at 7:21 PM, Kenny B said:

Why does Golf Channel refer to this major as the U.S. Women's Open, but it was the AIG Women's British Open?

Sponsorship.

[Mr. 82]

On 12/10/2020 at 3:56 PM, Kenny B said:

Not much attention here on the forum for the 2020 Women's U.S. Open.  Nobody picking winners like a PGA event, let alone a major championship.  Why is that?

I've asked this very question in my head for a LONG time.  It's not just here, but in general golf circles.  Everyone talks about the PGA Tour, but no one seems to care about the women's game.

[Mr. 82]

I was so disappointed that Amy Olson couldn't finish it off.  To me it looked like she just played a little bit too conservative once she saw Shibuno bogey back to even par.  Perhaps maybe Olson was just trying to stay at -2 and thinking that no one would catch her.  Olson's ball striking and length off the tee definitely showed all week, and if nothing else, she's got a memory of a lifetime with that hole in one from Thursday's round.  

All the other players wearing multiple jackets, ear muffs and mittens, etc, and there's Amy with a long sleeve shirt, and a pullover, like it's just another day on the golf course.  But I guess compared to North Dakota this was like spring to her.

My other take away from this tournament that Kaitlyn Papp would have lost $1 million if she had won this as an amateur.  I'm not sure how you take that, living in her shoes?   Still, it was interesting to see several amateurs so close to the top of the leaderboard, even through the final round.  Why is it that the women's game always seems to produce such high finishes by amateurs in majors like this, and in the men's game the amateurs are just happy to make the cut?

[Kenny B]

4 minutes ago, Mr. 82 said:

Sponsorship.

Welcome back!  Haven't seen you here for awhile.

I was referring to the order of the title, not lack of sponsorship.  The Golf Channel lists it as the AIG Women's British Open, but this major is the  U.S. Women's Open.  Seems like it should be Women's U.S. Open.  For the Men, it's just the U.S. Open.

[Mr. 82]

Just now, Kenny B said:

Welcome back!  Haven't seen you here for awhile.

I was referring to the order of the title, not lack of sponsorship.  The Golf Channel lists it as the AIG Women's British Open, but this major is the  U.S. Women's Open.  Seems like it should be Women's U.S. Open.  For the Men, it's just the U.S. Open.

Because that's the way the tournament hosts name them?  

[cnosil]

Welcome back!  Haven't seen you here for awhile.
I was referring to the order of the title, not lack of sponsorship.  The Golf Channel lists it as the AIG Women's British Open, but this major is the  U.S. Women's Open.  Seems like it should be Women's U.S. Open.  For the Men, it's just the U.S. Open.

Just the way the USGA names them. Based on the
Naming convention, they all start with U. S., then they add the qualifiers, and then the event. They make the assumption that it is men’s unless specified.

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/golf-schedule-scores-tickets.html

I could post other opinions, but that would probably violate the moral codes.

[Golfspy_CG2]

16 hours ago, tony@CIC said:

I give Amy credit for holding it together and ending up in 2nd pl. - it had to be a major shock for her to hear about her FIL. She'll be back in the game.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

Not going to lie, I was pulling for her for a number of reasons, first and foremost coming from NDSU, which plays football in the FCS Division--well they don't play football there, they dominate it there..ha--I follow FCS pretty well as one of the local teams here Towson plays in that level and is pretty good.    

Then of course the story of her FIL is just tragic.   The way she kept composed during her round is something I can identify with.  My father passed away 8 years ago, it was on my birthday, and I was in the parking lot of a golf course and I was getting ready to play a 'birthday round" with a couple friends.  Now my father was sick and under Hospice care and we knew he was in his final days, so it wasn't a "shock"   But I went ahead and played, knowing there was nothing I could do in the next 4 hours to really change anything, I wouldn't fly out until the next day for service.   

In any case, it was one of the more calm rounds I have ever played.  I didn't get upset at any bad shots, and just filled the morning with memories of him.  I didn't mention it to my playing partners as I didn't want them to feel like they had to say the "right thing" or walk on egg shells, etc.   I told them after the round.

So in her press conference the comments Amy made about realizing things more important than golf and having a long list of things to be grateful for.   Wow!!  What perspective, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't get a little dusty in my office watching that. 

What a tremendous talent, but more so what a wonderful young woman she is.  Hopefully a mainstay for US Woman's Golf for many years to come. 

[Kenny B]

54 minutes ago, Mr. 82 said:

Why is it that the women's game always seems to produce such high finishes by amateurs in majors like this, and in the men's game the amateurs are just happy to make the cut?

Here's my thought...  All non-major tournaments are birdie fests.  The pros are just that good when conditions are easy and consistent week-to-week.  The ams can't compete because when they make a mistake, it costs them too much and usually miss the cut.  With USGA setup, which the top ams are more used to, everyone makes mistakes or has bad shots so the ams don't fall back in the standings as far when they have a bad hole.  Also, the pros tend to be very aggressive with putts, which on USGA greens means more 3-putts.  Lexi putted horribly.

[fixyurdivot]

On 12/14/2020 at 5:03 PM, 2puttbogey said:

Going to play the devil here. I think this may have been her chance. She hasn't won on tour yet, and it's golf so she might not get an opportunity like this again.

I see your point but I think Amy will continue to gain standing in the LPGA events, including the majors.  She has a great game and, at least as important, attitude.

 

10 hours ago, Mr. 82 said:

My other take away from this tournament that Kaitlyn Papp would have lost $1 million if she had won this as an amateur.

I wonder what happens to the $$$ when an am wins?  In any case, more to your comment, having your name forever etched into the chronicles of women's professional golf is, well, priceless to most.  Plus, presuming she moves gets onto the tour, that street cred will bear fruit down the line in sponsors.  

[tony@CIC]

Here's my thought...  All non-major tournaments are birdie fests.  The pros are just that good when conditions are easy and consistent week-to-week.  The ams can't compete because when they make a mistake, it costs them too much and usually miss the cut.  With USGA setup, which the top ams are more used to, everyone makes mistakes or has bad shots so the ams don't fall back in the standings as far when they have a bad hole.  Also, the pros tend to be very aggressive with putts, which on USGA greens means more 3-putts.  Lexi putted horribly.

Kenny tell me more. What is the difference with the USGA setup - inquiring minds want to know.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

[Kenny B]

14 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

Kenny tell me more. What is the difference with the USGA setup - inquiring minds want to know.
 

The USGA typically sets up courses longer than non-major tournaments, usually about 200-300y longer for the women.  I think this course played over 6700y on the CC course.  It requires longer clubs into hard, fast greens so more greens missed.  The green speed is faster than usual; I'm sure they probably narrowed the fairways a little bit.  If it's a difficult course anyway, it just got harder.  The top ams see similar conditions at the U.S. Women's Amateur.

[tony@CIC]

The USGA typically sets up courses longer than non-major tournaments, usually about 200-300y longer for the women.  I think this course played over 6700y on the CC course.  It requires longer clubs into hard, fast greens so more greens missed.  The green speed is faster than usual; I'm sure they probably narrowed the fairways a little bit.  If it's a difficult course anyway, it just got harder.  The top ams see similar conditions at the U.S. Women's Amateur.

Thanks! It was obvious from the scores that it was set up harder and the weather didn't help also. Except for the Masters, I always prefer to watch the LPGA tournaments.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

[Kenny B]

Just now, tony@CIC said:

Thanks! It was obvious from the scores that it was set up harder and the weather didn't help also. Except for the Masters, I always prefer to watch the LPGA tournaments.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

Sometimes the USGA will get carried away with their course setups, but it seems that they have done a better job recently.  I like to see the pros struggle a little bit.  Reminds me of how the rest of us play under much easier conditions!  

I've attended two PGA Tour events; the Waste Management Phoenix Open and whatever they are calling the Bob Hope Desert Classic this week.  While they were fun, I much preferred the two LPGA majors I watched: the old Dinah Shore Kraft-Nabisco and the Women's PGA Championship held at Sahalee.  The women are awesome to watch. 

[tony@CIC]

.  While they were fun, I much preferred the two LPGA majors I watched: the old Dinah Shore Kraft-Nabisco and the Women's PGA Championship held at Sahalee.  The women are awesome to watch. 

Not to mention that you can get up close and personal and also not have to deal with a rowdy crowd like at waste management. Every year we go to the Marathon Classic in Toledo. As an added attraction the 2021 Solheim Cup will be held at Inverness just outside Toledo . Sure hope this covid situation will be over by then.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

[Kenny B]

1 hour ago, tony@CIC said:

Not to mention that you can get up close and personal and also not have to deal with a rowdy crowd like at waste management. Every year we go to the Marathon Classic in Toledo. As an added attraction the 2021 Solheim Cup will be held at Inverness just outside Toledo . Sure hope this covid situation will be over by then.
 

I hope so too!!  This last summer My wife and I played golf at Circling Raven GC on the south end of Lake Coeur d'Alene with @fixyurdivot and @Thin2win for our PNW MGS gathering.  The Symetra Tour was supposed to play there this summer, but it was canceled.  It's scheduled again for 2021, and since it's only a 3 hour drive I'd like to go; play after the women.

[Shapotomous]

13 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

.........I wonder what happens to the $$$ when an am wins?  In any case, more to your comment, having your name forever etched into the chronicles of women's professional golf is, well, priceless to most.  Plus, presuming she moves gets onto the tour, that street cred will bear fruit down the line in sponsors.  

I believe the money for the spot the am wins rolls into the next spot that pays a pro.  So if the am wins first place then the second place finisher gets the first place money.  Or if the am wins 3rd place the 4th place pro gets the 3rd place money and 5th place pro gets 4th place money, etc.