Old Golfers Never Die - Nancy Lopez May Want to Come Back

by Bill Jempty on May 19, 2009 3:36 PM EDT Comment 11 comments

I guess Nancy wants to proves she can break 80 consistently on the LPGA Tour.

From ESPN:

Nancy Lopez, 52 and the mother of three daughters, is preparing for empty-nest syndrome by plotting to make her competitive presence more visible on the LPGA Tour, according to The (Nashville) Tennessean.

Lopez, who curtailed her playing schedule and had her "Nancy Lopez Farewell Tour" in 2002 in order to focus on raising her children, was in Nashville on Sunday for Vince Gill's annual pro-am tournament. She told the Tennessean that she has an 18-month plan for her comeback, which includes foot surgery.

"I miss it," she said, according to the newspaper. "I've got that competitive spirit."

Nancy, you were a great player, but not anymore. It's clear that you can't compete with other top female golfers in the world. As proof of that:

You haven't made a cut in over 6 years
Your LPGA stroke average for 2007 and 2008 was 81. 83 and 81.33

Last year, you shot a 91 at the Stanford International. Conditions were tough - I know because I covered that tournament. Still, your opening round was 6 strokes worse than anyone else out there.

In two more years, you'll be 54 years old. How many 54-year-olds are active on the LPGA right now? How many are able to compete with today's level of play?

Professional athletes who continue to play well past their prime embarass themselves. Nancy, I think you're smarter than to fall into the same trap many others have.

FanPosts are written by Waggle Room members. Viewpoints expressed do not necessarily reflect those of WaggleRoom.com and its editor, Ryan Ballengee. The Waggle Room member whose byline appears with the FanPost is solely responsible for its content.

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Comments

I think she’s jealous of Juli Inkster, who isn’t that much younger, but who has managed to stay healthy, in shape and very competitive. Nancy “stepped away” (sorry Annika). She can still make huge contributions to women’s golf outside the ropes.

On the other hand, Nancy knocked .5 off her stroke average last year. Maybe she is primed for a comeback. Look out Brittany Lincicome. 8-)

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on May 19, 2009 3:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Haha, RADICAL improvement. Saw this the other day and just shook my head. But people need to know about this so that they can stop her.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on May 19, 2009 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

why shouldn’t she ? the LPGA has invited several players regularly who were older than Lopez – even into their 60’s.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on May 19, 2009 11:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Invitations are one thing. Trying to make a full-fledged comeback is another. Just don’t ever bill it as a farewell tour again.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on May 20, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There are women who keep their cards year in and year out who can’t drive the ball 240 yards. If she gets herself in shape, I’ll put her at least 10 or 15 yards longer than that, maybe more with the new technology. After that, it’s going to be rounding her short game into shape. I would never say that she’ll win – but she is STILL a huge draw and I wouldn’t count her out of a couple of top 20 finishes.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on May 20, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you saying the 91 last year in Miami was a fluke? I suppose I’m wondering what a realistic expectation could be for a comeback. And there has to be some kind of expectation. Otherwise, there’s no point in playing.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on May 20, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

very much so – she has not been playing very much – and that was the most miserable pro/celeb tournament of all time. Six+ hours is impossible enough to concentrate through, much less having to entertain a bunch of half baked celebrities.

I’m just saying that she has the talent to come back and perform halfway decently on the LPGA Tour – IF she gets in shape, builds up her strength, and practices – and she’s not the kind to take something like a comeback lightly.

These “greats of old” still draw a lot of fans – especially Lopez.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on May 20, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There’s no doubt that she has a fan draw. I just would hate for it to be consistently bad. That’s just awkward to watch.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on May 20, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you can’t really believe that she would play more than a handful of events if she knew she couldn’t shoot around par. this is a true champion with a champion’s heart and a champion’s drive. she isn’t going to try to play the tour seriously if she’s going to embarrass herself.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on May 20, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will agree with that. Nancy strikes me as someone who has the good sense to know when to say when.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on May 20, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I say Good For Her! If making a “comeback” is something that motivates her and in turn can motivate others (I imagine she still has a following of fans), then why not? If she fails, she fails – and will probably get beat up in the media and blogs all over, and she’d be crazy not to realize that reality, but what if she improves her game and makes a respectable showing in a couple of years? Why wouldn’t we want to celebrate the effort?

by red tees on May 20, 2009 8:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs