CN Canadian Women’s Open
St. Charles Country Club
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Third-round notes and interviews
Aug. 28, 2010
Rolex Rankings No. 12 Michelle Wie and Rolex Rankings No. 2 Jiyai Shin are tied for the lead at 10-under-par 206 entering the final round of play at the CN Canadian Women’s Open. Wie, the first- and second-round leader, shot even-par 72 on Saturday in rainy conditions at St. Charles Country Club. The 20-year-old has held the lead or a share of the lead at LPGA events three previous times, including the 2009 Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Corona Light, where she became a Rolex First-Time Winner.
Shin started the day three shots back of Wie, but overcame the deficit with a five-birdie, two-bogey effort on Saturday. The 22-year-old carded birdies at three of her final six holes to catch Wie and guarantee a spot in the final pairing on Sunday afternoon. Shin, who has won three of four times she has entered the final round with the lead or share of the lead, has the opportunity for an eighth LPGA Tour victory tomorrow.
Its raining, it’s pouring! The sunny skies of rounds one and two quickly faded as rain continually fell throughout the third round. Rain suits were the outfit of choice for many golfers on a day when wet conditions softened up the golf course and made for favorable scoring conditions. A total of 34 players were under par in the third round.
Michelle Wie quote of the day. “I'm not thinking about winning or losing tomorrow,” Michelle Wie said. “I'm just thinking about doing better than today.”
Jiyai Shin quote of the day. In reference to the mosquitoes on the course today… “Yes, actually they tried to kill me.”
Suzann Pettersen still has the opportunity to defend her 2009 CN Canadian Women’s Open title. Just four shots back after struggling to an even-par 72 on Saturday, the 29-year-old Norwegian is tied with Na Yeon Choi, aka NYC, and Jee Young Lee for third place after 54 holes.
Not rain, wind, an injured thumb, mosquitoes or a 24-hour stomach bug can stop Paula Creamer from giving the Winnipeg fans what they came to see. The reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion woke up feeling ill on Saturday, but managed to card her best round of the week – a 2-under-par 70 – in dreary weather conditions at St. Charles Country Club. Creamer, seen in obvious discomfort on the course all day, is six strokes off the lead heading into tomorrow’s final round. “I've played through a lot of pain and I've played through being sick a bunch, but this was a hard one,” she said after the round.
The local gal! Canadian and log-time LPGA member Lorie Kane posted an impressive third-round 68 to take a leap up the leader board on moving day. Kane went into Saturday’s round in a tie for 59th and now sits in a tie for 26th place heading into the final day of play. Fellow Canadians Lisa Meldrum shot a one-under par 71 and Adrienne White followed up a second-round 68 and with a third-round 75.
Rolex Rankings No. 2 Cristie Kerr took advantage of the soft course conditions and decreasing wind gusts with a third-round 67. Kerr recorded seven birdies and two bogeys during Saturday’s round to move her into a tie for 11th at 5-under-par 213.
St. Charles Country Club
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Third-round notes and interviews
Aug. 28, 2010
Rolex Rankings No. 12 Michelle Wie and Rolex Rankings No. 2 Jiyai Shin are tied for the lead at 10-under-par 206 entering the final round of play at the CN Canadian Women’s Open. Wie, the first- and second-round leader, shot even-par 72 on Saturday in rainy conditions at St. Charles Country Club. The 20-year-old has held the lead or a share of the lead at LPGA events three previous times, including the 2009 Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Corona Light, where she became a Rolex First-Time Winner.
Shin started the day three shots back of Wie, but overcame the deficit with a five-birdie, two-bogey effort on Saturday. The 22-year-old carded birdies at three of her final six holes to catch Wie and guarantee a spot in the final pairing on Sunday afternoon. Shin, who has won three of four times she has entered the final round with the lead or share of the lead, has the opportunity for an eighth LPGA Tour victory tomorrow.
Its raining, it’s pouring! The sunny skies of rounds one and two quickly faded as rain continually fell throughout the third round. Rain suits were the outfit of choice for many golfers on a day when wet conditions softened up the golf course and made for favorable scoring conditions. A total of 34 players were under par in the third round.
Michelle Wie quote of the day. “I'm not thinking about winning or losing tomorrow,” Michelle Wie said. “I'm just thinking about doing better than today.”
Jiyai Shin quote of the day. In reference to the mosquitoes on the course today… “Yes, actually they tried to kill me.”
Suzann Pettersen still has the opportunity to defend her 2009 CN Canadian Women’s Open title. Just four shots back after struggling to an even-par 72 on Saturday, the 29-year-old Norwegian is tied with Na Yeon Choi, aka NYC, and Jee Young Lee for third place after 54 holes.
Not rain, wind, an injured thumb, mosquitoes or a 24-hour stomach bug can stop Paula Creamer from giving the Winnipeg fans what they came to see. The reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion woke up feeling ill on Saturday, but managed to card her best round of the week – a 2-under-par 70 – in dreary weather conditions at St. Charles Country Club. Creamer, seen in obvious discomfort on the course all day, is six strokes off the lead heading into tomorrow’s final round. “I've played through a lot of pain and I've played through being sick a bunch, but this was a hard one,” she said after the round.
The local gal! Canadian and log-time LPGA member Lorie Kane posted an impressive third-round 68 to take a leap up the leader board on moving day. Kane went into Saturday’s round in a tie for 59th and now sits in a tie for 26th place heading into the final day of play. Fellow Canadians Lisa Meldrum shot a one-under par 71 and Adrienne White followed up a second-round 68 and with a third-round 75.
Rolex Rankings No. 2 Cristie Kerr took advantage of the soft course conditions and decreasing wind gusts with a third-round 67. Kerr recorded seven birdies and two bogeys during Saturday’s round to move her into a tie for 11th at 5-under-par 213.
Top LPGA talent is on display this week as four of the top-5 players on the leader board are in the top-15 on the Rolex Rankings.
THE MODERATOR: All right, Michelle. Thanks for coming in. Third day in a row. This time you're tied for the lead going into the final round. Tell us about your day.
MICHELLE WIE: I felt like I left a lot of putts out there. I felt like I could have made a lot of them. But hopefully tomorrow I can make all of them.
Q. Elements were very difficult all day, from the rain to mosquitoes to maybe a back injury. How did you stay focused and play as well as you did?
MICHELLE WIE: I have to say of everything, the mosquitoes were the hardest to concentrate. They were pretty bad. But I found out they were a little better on the greens than on the fairways. They were very bad on the rough. So I'll try to avoid that tomorrow.
But you know, a little tough out there today. I think Jiyai played awesome today, and it was fun today playing with her, so hopefully tomorrow I can make a lot more putts and see where things go.
Q. Have you had a lot of experience with mosquitoes prior to this? Do they have them in Hawaii?
MICHELLE WIE: Oh, yeah. We have a lot. At least you guys don't have flying cockroaches. (Laughs).
Q. Is there something you need to work on or is it just one of those days?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I just think it was just one of those days. I just couldn't get the ball to the hole on most of them, so I'm just going to work on putting a little bit, and hopefully tomorrow they'll all go in.
Q. Michelle, have you noticed the course any softer today and how much? If you could talk about that a little bit.
MICHELLE WIE: Oh, yeah. The course is definitely a lot softer. The fairways were running a lot yesterday and the day before. But you know, it rained. It'll probably rain a lot tonight, probably tomorrow, hopefully not, but the course is definitely playing softer.
Q. Would you rather have it softer tomorrow?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I really don't it doesn't really matter. You definitely want to play on the same conditions. You know, you always have to go out there and play the elements.
Q. I noticed you were grabbing your back a lot today. Was it because of the weather or is it getting worse?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, it's hard to say. I have to say missing the fairways and trying to muscle it out of the rough did not really help the situation much. So hopefully I'll be in the short stuff tomorrow.
Q. Could you kind of describe your mindset, then, Michelle, as you go on to the final round and then for a chance to win this big event?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I'm not thinking about winning or losing tomorrow. I'm just thinking about doing better than today. There's a couple of things that I want to do better. I'm just going to go out there and just play. You know, it's not up to me if I win or lose. It's not up to anyone. You know, if I try to go out there and play my own game and I shoot a score that I'm happy about and if someone shoots a really low round, there's nothing I can do about it. I can only control myself out there. So I'm going to focus on that tomorrow and just focus on my game and not focus on anyone else because I can't control them. I can't do anything.
MICHELLE WIE: I felt like I left a lot of putts out there. I felt like I could have made a lot of them. But hopefully tomorrow I can make all of them.
Q. Elements were very difficult all day, from the rain to mosquitoes to maybe a back injury. How did you stay focused and play as well as you did?
MICHELLE WIE: I have to say of everything, the mosquitoes were the hardest to concentrate. They were pretty bad. But I found out they were a little better on the greens than on the fairways. They were very bad on the rough. So I'll try to avoid that tomorrow.
But you know, a little tough out there today. I think Jiyai played awesome today, and it was fun today playing with her, so hopefully tomorrow I can make a lot more putts and see where things go.
Q. Have you had a lot of experience with mosquitoes prior to this? Do they have them in Hawaii?
MICHELLE WIE: Oh, yeah. We have a lot. At least you guys don't have flying cockroaches. (Laughs).
Q. Is there something you need to work on or is it just one of those days?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I just think it was just one of those days. I just couldn't get the ball to the hole on most of them, so I'm just going to work on putting a little bit, and hopefully tomorrow they'll all go in.
Q. Michelle, have you noticed the course any softer today and how much? If you could talk about that a little bit.
MICHELLE WIE: Oh, yeah. The course is definitely a lot softer. The fairways were running a lot yesterday and the day before. But you know, it rained. It'll probably rain a lot tonight, probably tomorrow, hopefully not, but the course is definitely playing softer.
Q. Would you rather have it softer tomorrow?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I really don't it doesn't really matter. You definitely want to play on the same conditions. You know, you always have to go out there and play the elements.
Q. I noticed you were grabbing your back a lot today. Was it because of the weather or is it getting worse?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, it's hard to say. I have to say missing the fairways and trying to muscle it out of the rough did not really help the situation much. So hopefully I'll be in the short stuff tomorrow.
Q. Could you kind of describe your mindset, then, Michelle, as you go on to the final round and then for a chance to win this big event?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I'm not thinking about winning or losing tomorrow. I'm just thinking about doing better than today. There's a couple of things that I want to do better. I'm just going to go out there and just play. You know, it's not up to me if I win or lose. It's not up to anyone. You know, if I try to go out there and play my own game and I shoot a score that I'm happy about and if someone shoots a really low round, there's nothing I can do about it. I can only control myself out there. So I'm going to focus on that tomorrow and just focus on my game and not focus on anyone else because I can't control them. I can't do anything.
THE MODERATOR: Jiyai Shin, great round today; 3 under 69. You're tied for the lead with Michelle Wie. Can you tell us about your thoughts going into tomorrow's round?
JIYAI SHIN: Thanks for coming in. Today it was raining, so it made it really hard, very hard to play, because first my driver shot was off today, so I played really hard. But I made a good lots of good recoveries with the chipping and putts. I really had chances for birdies a couple more times because my shot was really bad. And then anyway, I'm really happy with my score.
Q. Was there one shot that really kind of got you back into it when things were struggling there? What was the one shot that you'll think back on, that one kind of saved my day?
JIYAI SHIN: Well one shot. Hmm, it's a lot. Well, No. 12. No. 12 and No. 16. My driver shot was really bad, but I made a great recovery on 16. I was happy with my chipping on 16 because the pin location was really hard, and I know that I'm close to Michelle, so I knew I have to make a par, and then Michelle was really good with a great tempo and made it.
Q. All the competitors have mentioned the mosquitoes today. Did they bother you?
JIYAI SHIN: Yes. Actually they tried to kill me. (Laughs). It was so bad, my right arm, only my right arm almost ten, so at this point my whole body. So I tried to keep long shirts, long pants, but it doesn't work. And put some spray, too. But it doesn't work. They're coming everywhere.
Q. Do you know what was going wrong there at the start of the back nine and what did you do to fix it?
JIYAI SHIN: Just my tempo, I think. My tempo was so fast because Michelle made a birdie on 10, and after that I tried to more like be aggressive. So that made my tempo faster. So after my two bogeys, I'm thinking, oh, I have a chance to get two more top 5s. So I'm thinking, oh, just focus on my tempo, tempo. And then it worked.
Q. Going into the final round tied, like how confident are you that, you know, you can earn that victory rather than being 3 back I guess?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, I think tomorrow should make a fun game because Michelle right now she has great play. And then also I have a good feeling, too. We play together all three rounds, and then we play tomorrow, too. So we really I am really comfortable with playing with Michelle right now. I know her playing, her style. So I think she knows my play, too. So maybe tomorrow we can make it fun game.
JIYAI SHIN: Thanks for coming in. Today it was raining, so it made it really hard, very hard to play, because first my driver shot was off today, so I played really hard. But I made a good lots of good recoveries with the chipping and putts. I really had chances for birdies a couple more times because my shot was really bad. And then anyway, I'm really happy with my score.
Q. Was there one shot that really kind of got you back into it when things were struggling there? What was the one shot that you'll think back on, that one kind of saved my day?
JIYAI SHIN: Well one shot. Hmm, it's a lot. Well, No. 12. No. 12 and No. 16. My driver shot was really bad, but I made a great recovery on 16. I was happy with my chipping on 16 because the pin location was really hard, and I know that I'm close to Michelle, so I knew I have to make a par, and then Michelle was really good with a great tempo and made it.
Q. All the competitors have mentioned the mosquitoes today. Did they bother you?
JIYAI SHIN: Yes. Actually they tried to kill me. (Laughs). It was so bad, my right arm, only my right arm almost ten, so at this point my whole body. So I tried to keep long shirts, long pants, but it doesn't work. And put some spray, too. But it doesn't work. They're coming everywhere.
Q. Do you know what was going wrong there at the start of the back nine and what did you do to fix it?
JIYAI SHIN: Just my tempo, I think. My tempo was so fast because Michelle made a birdie on 10, and after that I tried to more like be aggressive. So that made my tempo faster. So after my two bogeys, I'm thinking, oh, I have a chance to get two more top 5s. So I'm thinking, oh, just focus on my tempo, tempo. And then it worked.
Q. Going into the final round tied, like how confident are you that, you know, you can earn that victory rather than being 3 back I guess?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, I think tomorrow should make a fun game because Michelle right now she has great play. And then also I have a good feeling, too. We play together all three rounds, and then we play tomorrow, too. So we really I am really comfortable with playing with Michelle right now. I know her playing, her style. So I think she knows my play, too. So maybe tomorrow we can make it fun game.
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