The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - 3/6/09
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 6, 2009 9:49 AM EST
10 comments
Twice a week (or so), Waggle Room takes a look at the last few days in professional golf through the lens of the classic Western film.
The Good
- Stewart Cink - Cink came back from a thrilling finish to grab 3rd at the Accenture Match Play to fire 67 (-3) and sit T2. Cink played fairly well in Florida last year, particularly choking away the now Transitions Championship to Sean O'Hair.
- Paula Creamer - On The 19th Hole this week, I questioned whether Paula's game is hindering her development as a player. Through two rounds in Singapore, Creamer seems over the disappointing loss to Lorena Ochoa last week. She is tied for the lead with Jane Park.
- Erik Compton - This guy is on his THIRD HEART! He is -1 early in his second round and is currently T7. What a wonderful story. Everyone should root for this guy.
The Bad
- Camilo Villegas - Hey, thanks for shooting 73 and making everyone who thought you were a contender look bad. I would expect a later tee time today to help him score and make the cut.
- Lorena Ochoa - In a relative sense, Ochoa was bad yesterday. She was one over and is four out of the lead in Singapore. She is defending champion in this event. At least her title defense is going way better than Suzann Pettersen's last week - T42 out of 60 players and +6 overall.
The Ugly
- Mathias Gronberg - On his back nine yesterday, he made two double bogeys and three triples. In Phil Mickelson's win at Riviera, he made no score worse than bogey all week. He was +15 on the back nine en route to 89. His best round this year so far? 71 at Mayakoba. Yuck.
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Suzann Pettersen deserves the negative headline more than Lorena. Pettersen would rather be hanging out with the Norwegian Ski Team in February and March. Instead, she has to go earn her guaranteed money. I don’t think she gets her head and heart into golf until June.
Isn’t it kind of silly to berate a player for not leading a tournament after the second round of a four round event? She’s only four shots back, not +19, 25 shots out of the lead like Vicky Hurst.
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
by dianemarie on Mar 6, 2009 10:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hmm, touche
But that’s the whole point of the post – to get good folks like you to tell me where I’m wrong :)
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 6, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
19th Hole
I have not listened to your program yet. However, I would point out that on her 24th birthday, Annika Sorenstam had not yet won on the LPGA. Lorena Ochoa had 3 victories by her 24th birthday. Paula Creamer has 8 victories and will not be 23 for a little over 5 months and is working on the deficiencies in her game. The numbers say Creamer has been the third best woman player in the world during the last four years. It is a little early to speculate on Creamer’s development given her age.
by tatkins on Mar 6, 2009 12:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I could also point out
Annika and Ochoa went to college. Creamer joined t he tour at age 18.
Carry on
by Bill Jempty on Mar 6, 2009 12:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not saying that Creamer isn’t great by any stretch. She’s definitely been huge successful. And, as Bill points out, she didn’t have the benefit of any collegiate golf time. (She did have great experience at the Leadbetter Academy, though.) I do think, though, that she gets a little mentally spooked at times.
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 6, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hut two....three...four
Ryan,
You’re forgetting something. If you believe the way the press reports Paula’s days at the Leadbetter Academy they were t he equivalent of miltary boot camp.
Bill
by Bill Jempty on Mar 6, 2009 1:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The days are very structured there, at least according to Kevin Cook’s book Driven.
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 6, 2009 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The point was...
I obviously did not make the point I wanted to make. Annika and Ochoa are two of the most dominate players of all time in womens golf. However, they did not develop their physical and mental games to become dominate until after they turned 24. At 22 we do not know how Creamer will develop.
by tatkins on Mar 6, 2009 2:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I gotcha, much clearer. You’re absolutely right that Paula has plenty of time until what one would consider the golf “prime.” In my mind, the kicker for her will be developing that mental side of the game to become the killer that Annika and Lorena have.
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 6, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Personal good...
…yep – sunny and 70 this weekend – FINALLY !! Played hookie half a day Friday and playing Saturday afternoon – YES YES YES YES YES !!! :-) (no offense intended to you in the colder climates) :-D
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Mar 6, 2009 7:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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