Why Pro Golfers Should Think Twice Before Hitting Send, Vol. 347
/Stephanie Wei on the latest gem from Natalie Gulbis.
Read MoreWhen you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
"I sure wish we had gotten to see her play a little longer."
/Shane Bacon remembers his friend Erica Blasberg.
Lorena Retirement Clippings, Vol. 1**
/Or is it an indefinite leave? We'll find out Friday.
Read More"But at least I don't look like an idiot out there"
/Cat fight alert!
Read MoreSay It Ain't So: Lorena Ochoa Retiring
/Wow.
Alan Shipnuck explains in a series of tweets what he's seen with Ochoa in the last year that makes this only a minor surprise to him.
Update on 2010-04-20 16:06 by Geoff
**Beth Ann Baldry talks to a friend of Lorena who says she hasn't been having much fun.
"Their disqualification on the eve of the first women’s major of the year before the first official shot had been struck was another spoonful of bad publicity for the L.P.G.A. Tour."
/I'm not sure I can buy that take from the New York Times' Karen Crouse regarding the disqualification of Helen Alfredsson, Maria Hjorth and Sangsang Feng from the Nabisco for missing their pro-am times. While Alfredsson's situation as an alternate does sound a bit more unusual, I don't see anything wrong with the LPGA's policy. In fact, it sounds like they make it a pretty simple set-up for alternates like Alfredsson.
Read More"If Wie was lying, she’d be the one to have to look in the mirror when she puts on her makeup and know she did."
/Thanks to reader Tom for John Vander Borght's follow up to his original post on Michelle Wie and her questionable explanation for grounding her club, which he's apparently caught a little flak for defending. I think he makes a fair rebuttal point even though I find her explanation dubious.
Read More"Wie has certainly had her share of rules issues since she started playing out on the LPGA Tour. Most have been her fault." **
/Thanks to Twitter I was able to catch the bizarre scene when Michelle Wie was in the TV truck discussing a ruling that cost her two shots and solo second at La Costa, five shots behind winner Hee Kyung Seo.
Read More"Quite frankly, one of the things I think we learned in 2008 and ’09 is to really respect that.”
/
Beth Ann Baldry reports on Mike Whan's first LPGA player meeting. It sounds like the Commish has learned that Plan 2010, or whatever it was the Brand Lady tried to shove down sponsor throats, is best kept on the shelf until times are better.
When Whan was asked how he’d describe the tour these days, he said “re-emerging.” They’re in the business of renewals, and he’s reaching out to all the partners who parted ways in the past several years.
“We’re tied to the business partners we’re with,” he said. “If they’re hurting, we’re hurting. Quite frankly, one of the things I think we learned in 2008 and ’09 is to really respect that.”
LPGA Lightens PGA Tour VP Load By One
/Interesting timing for Jon "Ironclad" Podany to be leaving his PGA Tour job in business development for the floundering LPGA Tour.
Read More“When he left, there was a noticable buzz in the room."
/Jim Achenbach tries to read into Tim Finchem's absence from the USGA Annual Meeting and it sounds like the LPGA's Mike Whan made up for any missed encounters with the PGA Tour head:
Read More"I can't fathom the idea of taking six hours to play golf."
/Randy Youngman profiles new LPGA Commish Mike Whan, who had a good day today in announcing a new/old event addition to the schedule (and in the U.S.!), according to Stephanie Wei.
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