Lorena Ochoa Invitational Questions
by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 17, 2008 11:10 AM EST
25 comments
I really enjoyed catching the Lorena Ochoa event in Guadalajara this past weekend. I enjoyed Guadalajara GC, although some of the holes were kind of ridiculous. I walked away from the event with a number of questions.
1. Is Angela Stanford now considered one of the top 10 players in the world?
Sure, the WWGR indicates that, but is it realistic to make that claim? Angela just keeps finishing in the top 5 - five for her last five, with two wins. Certainly that could put her into the discussion for the top 10 right now.
We could compare with Stanford is doing to what Suzann Pettersen achieved last year at the end of the season. Pettersen started from a better place in the world rankings, but peaked at #2 on the back of a six tournament finale that resulted in 3 wins and all top 10s.
With a win at the last ADT Championship, perhaps Stanford could climb into the top 7.
2. Is Annika really ready to walk away - even if temporarily?
The passion that Annika displayed down the stretch is something that has really been a trademark of the last years of her professional career. For a player that spent so much time bottling up emotion, we have seen the joy that she has in playing tournament golf in the past five or six months. Her fiery body language down the stretch really came across to me as speaking for someone who couldn't wait to get into a position to win again. Perhaps it was the emotion of knowing that this could very well be the last time for a long time that she could compete for a LPGA title. But, it also could be the feelings of someone whose emotions grow more mixed by the day.
3. How long until Brittany Lang wins?
Brittany was speaking with Val Skinner - who had no idea that Lang had finished in runner-up position previously - and said she was more comfortable now at the top of the leaderboard. With a second place at Sybase and now a Stanford-esque five straight top 10 finishes, her comfort level at the top must be surging. Unfortunately, though, she is an alternate at the ADT. We will have to wait unitl next year to know how much of an impact this great finish will have.
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ummm...
- - I’m guessing you would rather have just said “how ’bout them Terps !??!!!” than ask that question. She’s earned the spot – of COURSE she’s a top 10 player.
- - Annika has earned the choice to go out however she wants. What I found funny was xxx Golf Channel running “ANNIKA’S DONE – GONE FOREVER – BREAK OUT THE WHEELCHAIR” ads during the tournament, and also saying that she may not be done just yet during the broadcasts. How embarrassing. Make up your mind XGC.
- - I hate that question. Nobody knows how long it will be before ANYbody wins. She hasn’t done it yet – she may NEVER do it – or she may go on a Lorena Ochoa/Annika Sorenstam run. Nobody knows – watch and see. There are a ton of talented golfers out there with no wins. Whoever thought that David Duval would fall off the planet after winning the British Open ? It’s a silly question.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Nov 17, 2008 11:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
A couple of replies
I don’t think this kind of stretch makes her a top 10 player at a macro level. It does make her a top 10 player right now, obviously.
I was definitely unhappy with how TGC made this event seem for Annika. In the previews, they made it seem like her last. On 18 green, Hammons made it sound like she might never ever ever win again – even though she very well could this week. And then the Post Game show parts on the LPGA were almost a post mortem on Annika.
I’m sorry that you don’t like the question, but it’s a totally valid one. Brittany is very talented and is admittedly now ready to win. As a fan of hers (even though she is a Dukie), I think it’ll be pretty early on next season.
Don’t know what happened to your numbers, though. Sorry!
by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 17, 2008 12:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
it's a useless question...
…unless you make it part of a bet, nobody knows when anybody will win. why not ask when the radio show will make it into the broadcast hall of fame, or which one of us will win a Pulitzer first ? Lang isn’t running around beating her chest like some members of the Detroit Lions making yet another unspectacular tackle or catch on a 5 yard out on 3rd and 40. She’s going about her business, putting up good numbers and good finishes.
Winning is special. Finishing second only gets a decent check and some ranking points. Routing for her to win, or saying that she’ll win in 2009 is different than asking WHEN someone will win. It’s not a valid question – it’s arrogant and cliche. She doesn’t owe it to anybody but herself to win. She doesn’t owe it to the media – and that is the tone of the question.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Nov 17, 2008 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't mean it as a question of
“owing” a win to anybody. I don’t think that’s the point of the question at all. I think it’s a matter of time for her – not that she won’t win. So, as a fan, I’m excited and hopeful that she’ll break through soon.
by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 17, 2008 1:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well SAY that...
…that has become one of the most cliche, accusatory questions in the media. “When are you going to win” either asks for a date…hmmmm – a date with BL – not a bad thought…or it degrades someone by saying that they should have won by now.
Not saying that was your intention – just relaying the connotation that question carries these days.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Nov 17, 2008 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
really?
although some of the holes were kind of ridiculous.
Which?
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
by dianemarie on Nov 17, 2008 12:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
My biggest peeves
were the lengthy par 3 17th and the green at 18. Reminded me of a green I played all the time in high school competitive golf.
by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 17, 2008 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
that 17th was just a warm-up...
for the 17th at Trump International this week. If you want to call THAT one ridiculous, I’ll agree with you!
by hound dog on Nov 17, 2008 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Touche
I will not miss Trump International on the LPGA Tour schedule.
by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 17, 2008 1:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
agreed
But even with those two, it’s on my list of courses that I’ll never get to play but wish I could. I really enjoy playing tree-lined fairways.
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
by dianemarie on Nov 17, 2008 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
a list ?
the Guadalahara CC is on your list of course you’ll never get to play ? have you ever heard of it before last week ? Are you sure you wouldn’t be allowed to play if you called and said you were vacationing in Mexico and would like to see it ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Nov 17, 2008 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
vacation
Yes, I’d heard of it before, but this weekend was my first opportunity to see it. Almost any article about Lorena will talk about where she learned the game. I thought the layout was pretty appealing.
I won’t say I’ll never get to Guadalajara on vacation, but it’s really unlikely. I’d never schedule it as a destination just to play that course — it’s not St. Andrews.
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
by dianemarie on Nov 17, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Other than those
I liked it a lot. There are few courses that don’t have a ridiculous hole or two.
by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 17, 2008 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
By the way
This can be a totally open question thread – don’t just have to go with mine. Let’s get the chatter going on any insights you had about the event. Also, I’m going to delay The 19th Hole this week until Commissioner BIvens announces the schedule.
by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 17, 2008 12:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Stanford
Over the last two months, she’s the best player in the world. Over the entire season, she’s about #8 (behind Shin, Kerr, Pettersen – ahead of SH Lee, NY Choi, IB Park and Jang). You could even put her ahead of Pettersen and I wouldn’t argue too much.
by hound dog on Nov 17, 2008 12:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Really?
I certainly am not going to argue with you since you have a much better grasp of this than I do. JJ has had a very nice year, though. So how far ahead would you put Angela? And what is the gap between say, Shin, and Angela?
by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 17, 2008 1:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
the two wins make most of Stanford's Top 10 case
She’s also ninth on the money list, 12th in scoring, and T7 in Top 10%. The only negative is four missed cuts, which (in my estimation) keep her behind the winless Pettersen and one-timer Kerr, and far behind Shin with her two victories (one a major). Angela would need to win ADT to catch Shin and jump to #5.
JJ’s year is good and her season looks the same as Pettersen’s with no wins, but Jang has earned less money with a lower Top 10% and one more missed cut than Suzann.
I’ll be ranking them all next week and will follow that up with player profiles explaining why each is ranked where.
by hound dog on Nov 18, 2008 7:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
something else to consider
the rankings aren’t just for this season. Petterssen’s ranking is also based on her 2007 season – not just 2008. She was way up after 2007, so she has been drifting south little by little this year with no wins.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Nov 18, 2008 9:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Right, right
HD, I’m assuming your rankings are annualized, right? That would also make a significant difference.
by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 18, 2008 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was rooting for Angela the entire week. Her ability to maintain her cool, making putts as needed to keep Annika, and everyone else from catching her down the stretch was fun to watch.
HD, I expect you’ll have her as no worse than a CYA at the ADT, right?
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
by dianemarie on Nov 17, 2008 2:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
???
a CYA ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Nov 17, 2008 3:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
CYA = HD-speak for "secondary choices to win this week"
by hound dog on Nov 18, 2008 6:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
of course !
how could I have missed that ? :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Nov 18, 2008 9:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
xxx Golf Channel - grasp of stats
I got a kick out of the coverage of the women’s final round. They were showing Meena Lee getting ready for a second shot and started discussing how her lack of length was keeping her from winning on tour – while one of her playing partners had a huge advantage because of her length. After Lee hit her shot, they switched to the “bomber”…one pace closer to the green.
You gotta love it.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Nov 17, 2008 2:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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