T1B

To even call myself a golfer at times....today was one of those times.

The U.S. Girls Junior Amateur Championship is being played at my primary course about 5 minutes from my house. I went down today and watched the first two rounds of the match play portion of the tournament.

I primarily followed Morgan Pressel and watched her absolutely dismantle the course, and trust me, it's a course that can kick your ass in a hurry. Her first match was against a girl named Aimee Neff from Indiana. At the time Morgan closed her out (on the 14th hole), she was four under--four under from a set of tees moderately closer than what we typically play, but in conditions we typically don't face. The course is set up really difficult, with the rough being about 3 inches and really thick, and already speedy greens rolling incredibly fast.

Watching her play was really amazing. One of the most fluid swings I've ever seen-man or woman. She probably averages about 250-260 yard drives, put she can put the hammer down and hit it for some distance. She's a great mid and long iron player, but her short game is astounding. And obviously a great putter.

In the second match, she won on the 13th hole and at the time, she was five under--and that was with a bogey that was really no fault of her own. Bad bounce and bad lie. It's not that the other girls played badly, it's just that Morgan is so much better than most everyone out there.

But I did follow this gal named Kimberly Kim from Hawaii, and she's another that can really play. At the time she finished her match on the 12th hole she was five under with a bogey.

Having seen Michele Wie play in the Nationwide event her in Boise, I'd say that Morgan could probably stay pretty close to Wie right now, but there is no doubt these two are going to do very well on the LPGA.

I'm hoping to make it to the finals.

Pics...Felix...Pics...

Sin

(well...uhhh...NOT Catholic Priests!)

:wink:

just kidding of course...

Morgan Pressel can golf the Hell outta a Ball!

she's gonna do quite well for herself...the LPGA not letting her become PRO 'til she's 18 (yeah, she can go through Q school and get her card)...but, she won't earn $$$$ 'til May '06.

i dunno about that.

She's ready and qualified now.

i understand about the precedent being set...to open the door for Wie...

why penalize Pressel....who HAS paid her dues through winning on the junior golf cicuit, and finished 2nd in the Open?

just throwin' it out there...

Why penalize Pressel? I guess she should be careful who she says "whatever" to at the next US Women's Open. They might wind up on the LPGA's Executive Committee and have more than a minute or two of Ty Votaw's time.

All forgotten? I don't think so.

IMO, what Votaw did was to place an unfair and unnecessary restriction upon Pressel. Here's the way Golf Central breaks it out.

Should Pressel make it through Q-School this fall, her chances to make official money next year would be significantly reduced. She could still earn money, but it wouldn’t count until after her birthday late in May and intensify pressure on her to win enough money to retain exempt status. If the schedule is as this year, she would only have 13 events after May 23 to make enough money to maintain her card – the top 90.

In other words, you can play with sponsors exemptions before your 18th birthday (and increase the LPGA's ratings and ticket sales) but none of that money counts.

Talk about a crass money making decision. If I were her I'd consider sending out some feelers to the European LPGA. Not saying that it is a viable option, but you never know. And the Euros are a lot more lax about appearance fees, so she might be able to make some good money next year and then come back strong in 2007 to take on the LPGA on a fair footing.

BTW: I don't think Pressel breaking down in tears after a few 3 putts in the first round helped her cause either.

Qbert wrote:Pics...Felix...Pics...

Sin

(well...uhhh...NOT Catholic Priests!)

I took my digital camera with me, but a sign leading to the clubhouse stated "no camera equipment permitted", so I couldn't even snap photos outside of the clubhouse.

I saw them haul one guy away for taking some snapshots.

Apparently Pressel had another meltdown (ala U.S. Open) when her opponent chipped in on the 19th hole to beat her yesterday. On her way back to the clubhouse she reportedly walked over to where her grandfather was seated in his electric mobility chair and threw her hat into the basket crying and wailing to the point where her grandfather told her to behave herself.

I've heard that she and Lee Trevino share a commonality--when they're winning they're all smiles and happy go lucky, but when they lose, they turn into giant pains in the ass.

I hope this is attributable to her youth, I'd hate to think she's going to be that way all the time.