Players stay busy in first week of offseason
The season may be over, but that doesn’t mean the action has stopped for LPGA players.
It has been a week of reflection for some, rest for others and one to celebrate Thanksgiving for most as life shifts back outside the ropes for a while. As usual, social media has been players’ avenue for sharing their lives, and there have been a number of interesting posts for fans to enjoy.
Michelle Wie was spotlighted while attending the Miami Heat game on Tuesday night, while Paula Creamer’s family spent the Thanksgiving week in Las Vegas, where they visited the Bellagio, the world’s largest chocolate fountain and saw a huge pumpkin. Becky Morgan spent the week in the lovely Maldives, Rebecca Lee-Bentham got some golf in on Wednesday before a huge storm hit in Florida, and Karin Sjodin enjoyed a morning beverage in front of this breathtaking view.
Azahara Munoz exhausted herself in a workout on Wednesday, Nicole Castrale was glad to have family with her in sunny California, and Kristy McPherson went Christmas tree shopping. Hall of Famer Juli Inkster had a nice lunch with her mother, Alison Walshe saw one heck of a sunset, and Jodi Ewart Shadoff began her offseason recovery by spending some time in a hyperbaric chamber.
Lexi Thompson spent some hours in the kitchen, Laura Diaz did some TV for ESPN during a college hoops game, and Natalie Gulbis spent time with some of her favorite people at the Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas. Bentham’s Thanksgiving morning began with this great view of Daytona Beach, Fla., Jessica Korda started a road trip with some java, and Sandra Gal had some tasty banana bread to enjoy.
Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam showed off her baking skills, Angela Stanford participated in the Turkey Trot with friends, and Dottie Pepper’s Bogey Ballton wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Gulbis and family also ran in a Turkey Trot, Wie couldn’t stay away from pumpkin pie on her way to visit family, and Jane Park enjoyed a feast.
Sarah Kemp had a blast exploring the Great Barrier Reef, Gulbis took a page out of Justin Rose’s book and used head covers as oven mitts, and Danielle Kang got some acupuncture treatment. Jennifer Johnson’s family had a competitive Thanksgiving, Hall of Famer Karrie Webb showed off her culinary skills, and Nicole Hage spent a beautiful day in Dallas.
Anna Nordqvist enjoyed a run with some new wireless headphones, Thompson did her best to sweat out a head cold, and Carlota Ciganda had an all-star foursome on Friday. Morgan Pressel loved her time with these juniors at a Friday kids clinic, Johnson did an interesting “ladders hike” with her cousin, and Nordqvist enjoyed the beauty of Florida.
Cristie Kerr found some tasty wine, Christina Kim and Tiffany Joh bonded while wearing the same jackets, and Creamer bowled with, yes, a pink ball. Larry Bohannan of The Desert Sun wrote this interesting season recap piece to sum up the 2014 campaign, while USA Today’s Steve DiMeglio wrote one of his own.
This will be my final “Social Scene” of the year, as duty calls elsewhere, but I likely will be writing other articles for LPGA.com in the coming weeks and during the offseason. It’s been one heck of a year chronicling the LPGA’s best and brightest as they share their lives with the world through the vehicle of social media, and I’m sure there will be plenty to report when I check in again.
Until next year….
Ko, Lewis big winners during huge weekend in Florida
Sunday was one of the most monumental days in LPGA history, with 17-year-old Lydia Ko winning a total of $1.5 million for claiming both the inaugural Race to the CME Globe bonus and CME Globe Tour Championship title and Stacy Lewis claiming Rolex Player of the Year and Vare Trophy honors.
Ko had numerous reasons to be happy after out-dueling Carlota Ciganda and Julieta Granada in a playoff on the 18th hole and taking home the biggest payout in the history of women’s golf, and she received a champagne shower from friends. Lewis won her second Rolex Player of the Year title in three years and also earned the LPGA money title and got a nice hug from her Solheim Cup captain from last year, Meg Mallon.
Brittany Lincicome signed autographs on Saturday and got support from the First Tee of St. Pete on Sunday, Sandra Gal awoke to a beautiful morning on the same day, and Paula Creamer gave a shout-out to her caddie of 10 years, Colin Cann. A big crowd watched Lewis play on Sunday, Suzann Pettersen showed her putter how she felt about it, and here’s the hardware that was doled out on Sunday.
Morgan Pressel also had a big week and did this Flipagram to sum up her year, Mariajo Uribe enjoyed herself in Florida, and Brittany Lang added her signature to this fan’s hat. These gentlemen helped carry standards at the ISPS Handa Heroes event on Monday, Ko appeared on Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive” program and stopped by the channel’s newsroom, and Lang was happy to be home with an empty suitcase for once.
Lincicome and Mo Martin took part in the Champions For Girls Golf event on Monday, Dottie Pepper offered her thoughts on the 2014 season in this article for ESPNW.com, and LPGA Chief Communications Officer Kraig Kann gave thanks to last week’s host, the Ritz-Carlton. GolfChannel.com writers weighed in on who they would have voted as Player of the Year, Michelle Wie took part in a photo shoot for Sports Illustrated, and here is a great shot of the last three American Vare Trophy and Player of the Year award winners.
Gal reflected on having the chance to meet Greg Norman last week, Anna Nordqvist looked back at her 2014 season that included two wins, here is a nice Golf Digest piece on Ko, and new Golf Channel star Sara Brown celebrated a birthday on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, 2015 European Solheim Cup Captain Carin Koch checked out the Race to Dubai, Hall of Famer Juli Inkster attended the San Francicso 49ers game, and Mina Harigae enjoyed scenery like this while playing in the Callaway Invitational. Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam painted her face with her daughter, Annika Academy golfers were hard at work in the gym, and the LPGA T&CP Division announced a pair of Hall of Fame inductees for next fall.
Awards abound at season finale in Naples
News has been flying out of Naples, Fla., all week, as the LPGA Tour concludes a monumental 2014 season at the CME Group Tour Championship.
A number of players have taken home big awards this week, including Michelle Wie taking home the inaugural Annika Major Award, and action on the course has heated up as the first two rounds are in the books. The Rolex Awards banquet was held on Thursday night, with Morgan Pressel helping interview players on the red carpet, Lexi Thompson dressed to the nines and a group of rookies took in the festivities.
Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas walked the red carpet together, Wie and Sandra Gal also looked great, and Gal and Pressel interviewed LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. The season’s Rolex First-Time Winners were honored during the gala dinner, Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Lydia Ko had a great time, and Austin Ernst’s parents attended the dinner with their tournament champion daughter.
Wie wore some “flash tattoos” at the dinner, the always hard-working LPGA Communications Department crew was also decked out. Those weren’t the only awards doled out this week.
Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Stacy Lewis and Pressel received new Kia cars after winning Kia Performance Awards on Wednesday, and area media was excited to cover the ceremony at its outdoor locale. The tournament held a gala dinner on Tuesday night, and Creamer and Pressel were all smiles there, and birthday girl Azahara Munoz and her caddie were bundled up on a chilly Wednesday morning for the pro-am before she talked to Golf Channel’s Damon Hack on the “Morning Drive” program.
Thompson hit a ball through a protective net and had to use a blanket to stay warm during a photo shoot on a football field on a Wednesday, last week’s event champion Christina Kim did a media roundtable, and Epson Tour grads visited with Kelly Thesier of the LPGA Communications Department in the tournament media center. Jessica Korda also put on winter gear on Wednesday, Pressel dressed in layers on the dreary-looking day, and Suzann Pettersen’s pro-am group gave her a lift.
Thompson met some wounded warriors during Wednesday’s pro-am who were part of the Caddies for a Cure program, Naples gave players a great sunset later that day, and Mariajo Uribe enjoyed the scenery during a late-afternoon practice session.
Only 36 holes remain in the LPGA’s season, and year-end races are shaping up to be epic. Creamer had to hit a shot out of the water on Friday, the same day co-leader Carlota Ciganda talked to Golf Channel after her round.
Lewis is among the leading contenders for the tournament’s $1 million bonus, but was too superstitious to touch the money before the event began. Cristie Kerr’s son got in on the golf action, the weather was windy, but beautiful on Thursday, and Belen Mozo had a nice first day with a 3-under 69.
In other locales, Brooke Pancake had the pleasure of teeing it up on this beautiful course for the Callaway Golf Invitational and found a rainbow to boot, Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam had some support from home as she also played at Pebble Beach in California, and Nicole Castrale enjoyed a beautiful day in the California desert. Hall of Famer Juli Inkster, who is a big San Francisco Giants fan, got to check out the World Series championship trophy and hear Dave Righetti speak, and her 2015 U.S. Solheim Cup Assistant Captain Pat Hurst was there as well.
In two days, the golf world will know who the Rolex Player of the Year is for 2014, as well as the Vare Trophy winner and who the $1 million bonus will go to, and it will be amazing theater to watch it all unfold. From here on, every shot matters.
Until next time….
Kim’s joyous victory previews LPGA’s visit to South Florida
A person would be hard pressed to find a tournament champion other players were more happy for than Christina Kim in Mexico on Sunday.
Kim’s playoff triumph over Shanshan Feng at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex ended a nearly 10-year winless drought for the friendly extrovert who is one of the most beloved players in the LPGA. Kim celebrated after sinking the winning putt, shed tears of joy and relief, posed with tournament volunteers, couldn’t stop smiling and took a great “selfie” after her much sought-after victory.
GOLF.com gave Kim this nice tribute, Kim gave a passionate speech after the win, and to put Kim’s win in perspective, here is Beth Ann Nichols’ 2012 piece for Golfweek about Kim’s battle with depression. Players enjoyed themselves in Mexico, and Brittany Lincicome gained a couple of new fans.
Karen Stupples captured this shot of the final group getting ready to tee off and this one of them approaching the second green on Sunday, Natalie Gulbis posed for a photo with the tournament host, and Lexi Thompson got in a post-round workout.
So Yeon Ryu had colorful shoes and luggage during her travel day on Monday, Beatriz Recari played a CME Group Tour Championship practice round in beautiful weather in Naples, Fla., and Paula Creamer was part of a Titleist commercial shoot along with Azahara Munoz and Ryu. Here’s a cool view of this week’s leaderboard at the course, Julieta Granada celebrated a birthday on Monday, and Creamer made some young fans’ day.
The Ritz Carlton rolled out the blue carpet for the Tour this week, Kim bought Tiffany Joh a new onesie, and Recari had fun in Tuesday’s pro-am. Michelle Wie and Suzann Pettersen had fun during a photo shoot for the LPGA, Morgan Pressel putted in the cool weather on Tuesday, and Laura Diaz played in the pro-am with guys from the Caddie for a Cure charity.
Lincicome and Munoz also sat down to shoot video spots for the LPGA, Pressel was ready for a great night on Tuesday, Kim and friends were there too, and Sandra Gal took her mother to the dinner.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Hall of Famer Karrie Webb enjoyed the view in South Florida on Sunday, Sophie Gustafson attended the New Orleans Saints’ game and Nicole Castrale went to the Arizona Cardinals’ game. Earlier this week, Brooke Pancake played some great courses in California, Mina Harigae practiced at lovely Spyglass and Belen Mozo was dolled up and looking great for a professional photo shoot.
It’s a huge week for the LPGA, and here is a great Q&A with Commissioner Mike Whan, along with Randy Mell’s impressive GolfChannel.com piece on Whan’s impact on the Tour. The LPGA announced its 2015 schedule and a new title sponsor for the Tour’s first major at a cool press conference on Tuesday, and all numbers are up for next year, which is a great sign of things to come.
Until next time….
Kim leads in festive atmosphere in Mexico
It’s been a fun and festive week for LPGA Tour players in Mexico for the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex, and one of the association’s most popular and boisterous players leads the way through 54 holes.
Christina Kim has birdied her way to a five-stroke lead over Shanshan Feng heading into the final round. If Kim can hold on for her first career victory since 2005, there will no doubt be waterworks and a huge champagne shower on the 18th green.
Paula Creamer got in a pre-round workout in her future bride gear and worked on her short game on Wednesday, So Yeon Ryu’s pro-am group was full of fun, and Hall of Famer Juli Inkster’s group also was in a comedic mood. Kim received a cool gift after her Wednesday pro-am, here’s a great photo of Ochoa with her children, and defending champion Lexi Thompson smashed a drive during her practice round.
Suzann Pettersen found a new buddy between holes during the pro-am and met Ochoa’s daughter, Brittany Lincicome signed autographs, and Michelle Wie showed how happy she was to be playing in Ochoa’s tournament with this post. Here’s a great collage of all of the past champions from Ochoa’s event, and newly crowned Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Lydia Ko was jazzed about meeting Ochoa.
Ochoa posed for a photo with tournament volunteers, Thompson received a blue rose from a fan in Mexico, and Lincicome also met Jack and contemplated a putt. Pettersen got a rubdown after her round on Friday, here’s a shot of Morgan Pressel in action, and Ochoa celebrated her birthday on Saturday.
Ochoa has a new eBook available for fans to enjoy, one of Lincicome’s fans caught her in action, and Kim talked about having a chance to win on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Sandra Gal got dolled up for a photo shoot for Golf.com for which she wore a striking blue dress, Beatriz Recari was decked out in all black, and Belen Mozo was all smiles after an early morning cycling class, tested clubs and was announced as a member of Callaway Golf’s LPGA pro staff. Jessica Korda worked on her putting at home in Sarasota, Fla., some lucky elementary kids learned about Dottie Pepper’s Bogey Ballton books, and Nicole Castrale attended an Atlanta Hawks basketball game.
Hall of Famer Karrie Webb was at the Miami Dolphins’ game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, Anna Nordqvist got another new cell phone case from a fan, and Gal hit some wedges at sunset.
The Tour announced a new partnership with Life Fitness on Friday, continuing a year of amazing news for the association.
Until next time….
Zany finish in Japan sets up Mexican visit for LPGA’s best
It turned out that 54 holes wasn’t enough at the Mizuno Classic in Japan, so Mi Hyang Lee, Kotono Kozuma and Ilhee Lee decided to play five more on Sunday.
Mi Hyang Lee emerged victorious after the tense and exciting playoff to become a Rolex First-Time Winner and kiss and take home a nice piece of hardware along with $180,000. The playoff trio finished knotted in a tie at 11-under-par, with nine players coming up just one stroke short of the playoff in the tightly contested tournament.
Also over the weekend, Beatriz Recari got her nails done up special and kicked back on a train ride in Japan, Sandra Gal said her thank-yous to the tournament with this Tweet, and Jennifer Johnson left with some great memories of her own. Sydnee Michaels made some friends after her round on Sunday, Jessica Korda had a nice seat on the flight back from Japan, and Morgan Pressel had this view from her seat.
The intense conclusion to the event wrapped up a busy and entertaining week in Japan for the LPGA’s best and set the table for this week’s 36-player limited-field event south of the border. The elite group has enjoyed the hospitality of future Hall of Famer Lorena Ochoa this week, and social media has been buzzing from the get-go as players prepare to battle for this trophy.
Ochoa talks about her life after golf here, and the following is a look at the highlights of “Twitter Theater” from so far this week.
Michelle Wie met some firefighters, got to play around with friends on firefighting equipment at a chili cook-off and was wearing seven-inch heels on Monday. Pressel had great weather for a Tuesday practice round, Mariajo Uribe enjoyed some tasty-looking tacos, and Brittany Lincicome was colorful during a practice round of her own.
Elsewhere over the weekend, Maria Hjorth worked on some swing changes, Uribe employed the services of a 3-year-old hair stylist, and Julieta Granada attended a Miami Heat basketball game. Natalie Gulbis had a good time in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Hall of Famer Patty Sheehan had this great view from her housing for the week at the Legends Tour event, and Lincicome got a food fix on the way to Mexico on Sunday.
Anna Nordqvist had to bundle up on the putting green in Florida on Sunday, Paula Creamer shared this great view of her “office,” and these legends got together for some fun in Florida during the Legends Tour event. Rebecca Lee-Bentham participated in a pro-am at Isleworth Golf & Country Club, Ryann O’Toole is in the new issue of OC South magazine, and Christina Kim had to get creative while packing luggage.
Nicole Castrale had this sweet view in California on Monday, Recari found some Hulk juice, and Gerina Piller found a new fan. In addition, Belen Mozo enjoyed this sunset outside Los Angeles and took in the Clippers-Spurs basketball game while on a quick visit there.
The LPGA and its sister tours made this awesome announcement on Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive” program on Tuesday about a new event that will join players from the Epson and Legends tours in a one-of-a-kind tournament. It’s a very progressive and unique idea that should add a great deal to the women’s game.
It’s hard to believe there are only two more events in the LPGA’s 2014 season, and the next 11 days should be quite a ride.
Until next time….
Players enjoying Japan at iconic Mizuno Classic
The Mizuno Classic is one of the LPGA’s most storied international events, and players have been treated to great hospitality this week at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Shima-Shi, Mie, Japan.
Morgan Pressel’s 5-under 67 led the way after Day One, with Dame Laura Davies and Chella Choi following a stroke behind. It has been another fun and festive week for Tour players in an exotic foreign locale, and they have enjoyed their time in Japan.
Hall of Famer Karrie Webb likes her new golf bag quite a bit, Danielle Kang and Mina Harigae chose vastly different ways to kill time at the hotel, and Pressel captured this beautiful picture of the clouds over the course on Wednesday. Beatriz Recari had new shafts to put into play this week, Christina Kim took a photo of someone photographing Stacy Lewis on the course and got goofy with Jane Park and Tiffany Joh, and Harigae got in a shrine visit on Wednesday.
Sandra Gal showed off her photography skills with this sunset shot from Japan, this group had a great dinner together, and Amelia Lewis found a pretty neat yardage marker at the course.
Elsewhere, Brittany Lincicome shared this inspiring scenic photo, Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam’s little man was dressed to the nines, and Azahara Munoz played in the Lexus Cup in amazingly beautiful Bali. Natalie Gulbis is featured in a local laser spine center’s billboard ad and practiced bunker shots, Lexi Thompson practiced with coach Jim McLean at Trump National Doral Miami, and Rebecca Lee-Bentham captured a great sunrise shot from Daytona Beach, Fla.
Jane Crafter ran into posters featuring Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez in Delray Beach, Fla., Lincicome and Anna Nordqvist got together for a round of golf at Lake Nona, and Gulbis did some putting drills on Thursday. Mariajo Uribe worked on her balance during a practice session, Michelle Wie was sporting corn rows during a tough workout on Thursday, and Munoz and the PGA Tour’s Zach Johnson gave a golf clinic for their sponsor, Transamerica, here.
Congratulations are in order for Heather Drew, this year’s winner of the Legends Tour’s Colleen Walker Spirit Award for her fight against MS.
Golf Channel’s Randy Mell wrote a nice piece about Julieta Granada, the first $1 million winner in 2006 at the LPGA Playoffs at ADT, and Granada appeared as a guest on the channel’s “Morning Drive” program on Thursday.
Until next time….
Park wins No. 3 in Taiwan, Tour moves on to Japan
It was one heck of a weekend for the LPGA Tour in Taiwan, with world No. 1 Inbee Park outdueling second-ranked Stacy Lewis and No. 3 Lydia Ko in the wind to claim her third tournament title of the 2014 season.
It was a dream leaderboard for the Tour, and fans were treated to quite the finale on Sunday. Park closed the gap on Lewis in the race for the Rolex Player of the Year award and was all smiles as she celebrated in kind.
Mina Harigae celebrated her 25th birthday with friends, Ko enjoyed the fans’ enthusiasm in Taiwan, and Michelle Wie visited Taipei on Sunday.
This week, Japan plays host to the Mizuno Classic in Shima-Shi, Mie, and players have enjoyed returning to the scenic Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club. Hall of Famer Karrie Webb dined with friends at her favorite restaurant in Tokyo, Morgan Pressel provided this scenic shot from Japan, and Beatriz Recari was sporting a new pair of pearl earrings that were courtesy of the tournament.
In other locales, Rebecca Lee-Bentham enjoyed a beautiful run on the beach in Florida, Paula Creamer attended the Army-Air Force football game, and Natalie Gulbis gave a golf clinic in beautiful Punta Mita, Mexico. Lexi Thompson ran into someone with the same car, went to an Orlando Magic basketball game with friends on Saturday and Epcot Center on Sunday, Karin Sjodin had a blast at her first NASCAR experience, and Creamer got to hang out with 2014 Olympic bronze medalist Alex Deibold.
Gulbis played a breathtaking par 3 and got up close and personal with some whales in Mexico, Dottie Pepper made a new friend at a book fair, and Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam prepared to go on Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive” program. Sandra Gal and Brittany Lang played in an invitational in Taipei, ESPNW put together this look at the LPGA’s social media presence during Halloween, and Jennifer Song was hard at work in Seoul, South Korea.
Azahara Munoz played in the Lexus Cup in lovely Bali along with Recari, Lang showed how tough traveling can be for a touring pro, and Liselotte Neumann got in some evening golf in her native Sweden. Thompson did a photo shoot for her sponsor PUMA, Wie and friends hit the gym on Tuesday morning, and Pepper’s Bogey Ballton book character attended a reading in Virginia Beach.
The candle that is the 2014 season is burning down to its end, and every stroke counts in a big way. Who will take advantage of this week’s opportunity?
Until next time….
Park atop birdiefest in Taiwan
It may be the LPGA’s first trip to Mirimar Golf & Country Club in Taiwan, but you couldn’t tell by the scores so far this week.
Birdies have been plentiful, and world No. 1 Inbee Park has led the way this the weekend. She carded a 10-under 62 on Friday to grab a three-stroke advantage over Shanshan Feng, with second-ranked Stacy Lewis and No. 3 Lydia Ko also in the mix.
That should set up for one heck of a finale Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship on Sunday, and the tournament’s outcome should have a considerable impact on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings going forward. The Tour’s Asian swing has been an immense success so far, and a stop in Taiwan has been a great fit for the swing.
Beatriz Recari’s pro-am group admired her shot from the fairway, Sandra Gal was in good form as well, participated in a fun press conference and did a magazine photo shoot, and Michelle Wie’s pro-am partner made her some special tasty treats. Danielle Kang bonded with her brother while getting a foot massage and won her second car in as many weeks with another hole-in-one in Taiwan, while Morgan Pressel had some Halloween-themed golf accessories for the occasion.
Elsewhere, Lexi Thompson relaxed and got some reading done at home, Jessica Korda vacationed, visited a temple and played golf in Bali, and Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam was high up in Seoul, South Korea, to discuss gender equality, among other things, on Wednesday. Rebecca Lee-Bentham snapped this cool photo in Daytona Beach, Fla., Cristie Kerr attended a wine tasting, and Sara Brown continues to do a great job on Golf Channel’s Academy.
Natalie Gulbis hit the range and practiced chipping on Thursday in Las Vegas, Nicole Castrale baked some muffins for her daughter’s preschool class, and Dottie Pepper has a new mascot to help promote her third Bogey Ballton children’s book. Hall of Famer Karrie Webb visited the Nippon golf factory on Friday, Thompson hit the beach to soak in some sun, and Paula Creamer saw an Army hockey game and mingled with some troops at West Point.
Seeing all of the top contenders for the LPGA’s major season-ending awards all in the mix and atop the leaderboard is mouth-watering for the Tour’s fans, and it should be great drama for Golf Channel viewers as well. If each of the LPGA’s final four events are this interesting, one of the most memorable and epic seasons in the association’s history very well could end with fireworks.
Until next time….
Neal Reid is a full-time freelance writer based in Colorado Springs, Colo., who just spent nine weeks covering the Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, as a sports writer for the Olympic News Service. The Auburn University graduate spent six years as an LPGA media relations coordinator from 1998-2004. Follow him on Twitter @NealReid21.
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