Evian Masters: Creating & Reassigning LPGA Nicknames

The Evian Masters - the LPGA's lead-in to the Women's British Open - produced a great finish in which four players had a legitimate chance to win.  Lexi Thompson wrapped up first with birdies on the 71st and 72nd holes to post -13 and temporarily hold the lead.  Na Yeon Choi was next - coming home in 66 to tie Thompson.

The final pairing on Jiyai Shin and Morgan Pressel were languishing along in the back nine of the final round.  Pressel had made nothing but pars since a bogey at ten.  With an opportunity for bird at 17, Pressel missed the neighborhood to own the lead.  Each came to the par 5 finisher with a chance to win with birdie or better.  Both got to the green in three, inside of ten feet.  Shin made her birdie putt (cross-handed, so it does work).  Pressel clipped the edge to miss, lose by a shot, and turn on the water works.

Shin went out and simply won her first LPGA event in ten months.  She earned it with a flawless final round fitting of her moniker "Final Round Queen."  But maybe Na Yeon Choi deserves equal billing for the title.  Choi - like she did in the final day of the US Women's Open - had a stunning final round to position her near the top of the leaderboard.

Lexi Thompson got into the Evian Masters this past week by virtue of a sponsor invite.  Her and Marijo Uribe were named tournament "wild cards" and given entry into the 111 player field.  Both players took advantage, making the cut.  Thompson, though, is quickly reminiscent of that distinction.  She finished very strongly in the US Women's Open and has a runner-up finish to her credit in her short stint as a pro.

Meanwhile, Pressel unraveled yet again after a loss.  Earlier in the week, she was rumored to have told a rules official to do something that sounds really unpleasant to a tree.  Then she wouldn't speak to reporters after the loss.  She even had to wear sunglasses while signing autographs to hold back the tears from the loss.  Pressel hasn't won since the one-and-done Kapalua LPGA Classic in October '08.  With now a handful of medal stand finishes since then, it seems melodramatic to turn each loss into a Shakespearean death scene.

Shin won, Pressel lost.  It's that simple.  Winning golf tournaments at any level boils down to forgetting the surroundings and executing your game plan well enough to finish first.  And if it doesn't work, then it's time to retool it.