Golfgal on GFW

Big Break Ka'anapali Episode 10: Kim Kicks Butt

Throughout The Big Break Ka'anapali, the forums have debated who will win this series.  Now that some of the long shot "hopefuls" have taken the walk of shame, one name now stands out as the favorite going into the final 3-some...Kim Welch.

Kim has lots of fans and lots of talent - a nice combination if you can get it.  Last week we missed Kim as she was busy traveling and doing what she does best - play golf.  This week, she's focused on one thing - winning the Duramed Futures Tour Championship that carries a winning purse of $15,000, but she took the time to talk to us.  Thanks Kim!

Let's find out from Kim how she felt about this week's show.

Hmmm...so Sophie's a "goof ball".  Haha...I love that!  I just wish there had been more goof ball moments on this series.  I really really don't think we ever saw the "real ladies" of BB Ka'anapali.  I'm thinking I may just stalk them with my video camera now that the show is over so I can show you who they really are - anyone care to pay my travel costs???? :)

Well, we're down to the last 3 players --  Kim, Lori and Sophie.  We are already scheduled to talk to Lori and Kim next week, which I know will be entertaining.  BUT...message to Sophie...get in the game!  The audience wants to hear from you.  Call me!  I'm already up until 3 AM working on the posts after the show, so I can stay up a little longer.  Timezones are no problem.

I think we'll see a tiny bit of melodrama -- it wouldn't be BB without it.  But I expect that it will be overshadowed by good golf (for a change).  So all of you who were planning on turning it off - DON'T!  You'll miss a really really great finale. I hope to see you there.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Big Break Ka'anapali Episode 10: Christina Finally Cracks

Well... The Big Break Ka'anapali has just finished it's 10th episode and I'm sad to say that the woman who launched GFW's Big Break Ka'anapali Central is sadly going home. 

For those of you who joined the GFW BB party later in the series, you might not know that Christina Lecuyer was the first Big Break Ka'anapali contestant to agree to be interviewed after every show, every week. 

Given what she knew about her trials and tribulations during the tapings, I have to say I'm pretty impressed that she was willing to share her ups and downs (and letdowns) with us each week. 

I'm not sure I could have done it (No, I take that back - I KNOW I couldn't have done it).

From the grudge match with Lori to the elimination round with Sophie who chose to keep tightening the etiquette screws (maybe Sophie should watch Padraig Harrington's new movie on golf etiquette), today was the final "choke-hold" on Christina that finally made her break.  Let's hear what she has to say about her final day on BB Ka'anapali...

Thank you Christina for your willingess to share your challenges on this show so openly with all the BB fans.  I personally want to thank you for your generousity and ongoing support of this blog series.  It would never have happened without you.

I wish you the very best of luck in your golfing future.  Hope to see you win your LPGA card at Q School in September so you won't need the exemptions this series had to offer anyway.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Big Break Ka'anapali Episode 10: Lori glad for grudge match

So, we're now down to just three contestants on The Big Break Ka'anapali.  Christina Lecuyer was given her walking papers tonight.

It was quite the immunity challenge tonight, don't you think?  One might almost think it was rigged, but I know it wasn't.  But boy oh boy...they couldn't have planned it any better... Lori against Christina in a head to head battle.  Wow!

Lori said at the beginning of the show that Christina was going to "beat herself".  And in the end, even Christina admitted it was true - she wasn't beat by anyone but herself tonight.  Anyway, let's hear what Lori has to say about tonight's club to club combat...

Well, I guess we should be happy that next week should be just about golf - we did get to see some good shots by Lori, Kim and Sophie tonight.  And it would appear that those three are pretty buddy-buddy, so we won't be seeing any serious drama -- or will we? Hmmm....

With these ladies and their head games, you just never know what's going to happen.  I'm not taking any bets, that's for sure!

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com 

Big Break Ka'anapali - Episode 9 - Tina's advice to the ladies

Well, we've heard from Christina, Lori and Susan on The Big Break Ka'anapali Episode 9 - "Rules are Rules!". 

Each had a unique perspective on what really happened this week.  Think that's all there is?  Think again, because Tina Miller has a view of her own that may surprise you...

Well, we've heard from just about everyone now, except Kim Welch.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to connect with Kim for her thoughts, but hopefully she'll be back next week. 

So... we're down to 4 pretty spirited competitors to say the least.  The "peacemaker" Tina left the show a while ago so she can't tame them, and now with Ms. Congeniality, Susan Choi, gone, it's really going to be an unrefereed fight to the end. 

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking this show is starting to look more like Roller Derby :)

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Big Break Ka'anapali 9: From Dippen Dots to "Short Game Wizard"

....Susan "Oh Sugar!" Choi has come a long way...

For those of you who have been watching The Big Break Ka'anapali regularly, you'll probably agree with me that the biggest surprise (and probably the most pleasant) was watching the youngest player, who just turned pro in order to be in this show, hit some really clutch shots (especially around the green) when she really needed them.  I love how she shocked the other veterans of the game over and over again.  Even Stina and Andrew stood in awe at this sweet young thing's ability to pull off shots when others struggled.

Who can forget that chip-in off the green that left jaws dropping in the BMW zone?  Even Brittany Lincicome said that both Kim and Susan had great golf swings.  I doubt at the beginning of this series anyone would have thought an LPGA player would have picked out Susan when asked what players impressed her.  Kim, sure, but Susan?  I don't think so.  She is arguably the most underestimated player the BB has seen.

She's just so fresh and so "fearless" as Lori said. How could you not love a gal who loves elimination challenges?  LOL! 

Well, sadly, the "Short Game Wizard's" magic just wasn't quite up to par this week and Susan's going home.  Let's hear from her on her experience with the BB and her final day on the show...

Such a friendly, talented and lovely young woman!  I have no doubt she'll make the LPGA someday (I've seen her play and she is good!).  I heard from the other girls that Dana helped boost Susan's confidence in the early shows, but something tells me there is an inner strength in this golfgal that's been there a long time.

I can imagine that watching Susan leave the show was pretty painful for someone else too.  Now that Susan's gone, Christina Lecuyer is really "on her own" in the final fearsome foursome.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Big Break Ka'anapali 9:Bend but don't break

So did you miss a week without The Big Break Ka'anapali?  I have to say I did.  As much as I loved the US Open and its drama, the ads for this week's BB definitely peaked my interest. 

Sure looked like these ladies were heading for a showdown!  And all guns were loaded and pointing straight at that target on Christina Lecuyer's back.  Let's hear what she had to say about tonight's endurance challenges, starting with breakfast (I bet she lost her appetite)...

Few would argue that tonight's episode was tense, emotional and somewhat disturbing.    And when you think about it, next week's episode is only a day away for these gals.  Something tells me things won't have quieted down much with only 4 ladies left and LPGA tour exemptions and BMW so close they can almost touch them.

Meet you here next week?  Don't forget to check out Lori's interview this week and Susan Choi's BB Ka'anapali Central debut coming up Wed. Tina Miller will also be joining us later in the week and let's hope we can get Kim Welch to come back and give us her two cents on this $20,000 show.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Big Break Ka'anapali 9: "Queen of Mean" Makes a Mint

Imagine 5 minutes before your first Big Break Ka'anapali challenge of the day, you discover that $20,000 is on the line.

How would you feel given it is the largest check you've ever received? Imagine what it would mean to win that money with just one chip, putt or pitch? How would you play under that kind of pressure?

Probably NOT your best...

Certainly Susan "Short Game Wizard" Choi missed some shots that she'd proven time and again she could pull off under pressure.  But tonight just may have been too much for her - Susan is going home...

Another player who was feeling the pressure was the winner of the big purse, Lori Atsedes.  She knows exactly how it felt then to "play for dough" and also how it felt today to watch the show months later and discover the winner was also pegged as the "Queen of Mean" by one of the shows hosts. Was she expecting to see what she saw tonight?

Let's hear it from her...

I want to apologize for some of the less than clear audio in the middle of Lori's interview. At one point I lost sound completely, so I couldn't share part that in the video.

But to summarize what she said, so you don't miss some great commentary...

When I asked Lori about her "I wasn't thinking straight" comment before the 5th chip shot challenge, she said, "At that point I was thinking, Oh my gosh, I could win $20,000!!! I've got to get my head in the right place. Instead of getting caught up in the prize and caught up in the money, I still had a job to do. It's like rehearsing your acceptance speech on the first hole and you haven't played the17 in between. That's a big chunk of money for any of us - you can get caught up in the prize."

On the elimination challenge, we heard Lori say, "I'm not going to let this chance to beat Christina go by the wayside." I asked her if it was because she felt Christina was the toughest competitor or something more personal. Well...I was pretty surprised to find out from Lori that she said those words in a previous show and they were taken out of that context and put in this show, Well well....that's very sneaky, don't you think?

Finally when I asked her what it was like later that night after such as stressful day, she shared this, "It was uncomfortable, and as much as everyone off camera tried to make it right, tried to get through the situation and not have everyone mad at everybody, it wasn't working. Nobody could say anything that was going to make the situation better. It was a situation that escalated and the snowball had turned into a snowman. And no matter what anyone says at this point, it's not going to help. So everyone was really sticking to themselves."

Never a dull moment pretty well wraps up tonight's episode. I can't wait to see what next week brings! Come back a bit later and see how Susan felt about her elimination this week and what Christina has to say about her "endurance challenges" in just another day in paradise.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Rocco Mediate - CinderFella personified

2008's US Open was arguably the most exciting golf I've ever seen.  It started with Tiger's double bogey on the first hole on day one (shock #1) and ending with double overtime with golf world's most unlikely challenger - Rocky Rocco Mediate (shock #...I lost count!). 

What made it so exciting, besides the fact that the world's number one was in a playoff with someone who had to qualify even to get into this major, was the fact that there were so many instances when you sat up or stood up in front of the TV and said, "DID YOU SEE THAT!"

Here are just a few things that made it the best US Open ever!

1.  Torrey Pines provided a fabulous venue - what spectacular views!  I sure hope they bring it back there again.  I know one thing - I plan to play that course next January when I'm in San Diego before my cruise.  I watched Tiger play there in February and was blown away by the course and that man's scary talent.  I can't wait to reignite the feelings of this weekend by playing there myself.

2.  Rocco took Tiger to 90 holes!  He's 45 years old and if he would have won, he would have been the oldest player ever to win a major.   He was 158 in the world's rankings.  He was 126th on the money list.  He hasn't won in the last 138 starts (I guess it's 139 now).   His last win was 6 years ago.  And what was really cool, was that the audience was cheering for him over Tiger! (according to The Golf Channel's poll).

3. Emotions were coming through the TV set. We really felt the pain of players - Tiger's knee pain (made me feel sick to watch him double over) - Phil's quad-bogey pain (my mouth went dry - I had to turn away) - Els's triple-bogey pain (I wanted to cry) - Westwood's final putt pain to miss the playoff (and Britain's chances for a win since Tony Jacklin).  And we felt their joy - Tiger's joy on making it into the playoff - Els chipping it in when he couldn't make a putt all day - Rocco's joy at just being there! 

4.  It was anyone's tournament - the scores were so close through the entire weekend.  At one point I was sure Jimenez was going to jump to the top of the leader board, then Els had many great chances (if he had just holed a few putts), then Westwood appeared to have it in the bag on Sunday. And of course, CinderFella himself, seemed to have a "leg up" on Tiger  going into the 18th playoff hole 1 shot ahead. Who would have ever guessed it would come so close? 

5.  The Golf Digest US Open Challenge was a fun addition to the event.  I had hoped for a little better outcome and more real golf, but it was still a great idea and Atkinson should be proud of the way he handled himself.  I sure hope we see a ladies event like this someday soon (wink wink GFW :))

6. For the first time, I watched a PGA event and chatted online to all the fanatics out there in golf forum land at the same time.  After every shot, someone was giving their two cents on the tournament or player.  It was like a huge chat room - very exciting - very aggravating - very tense - but lots of fun!  I felt connected with golfers all over the world.  At one point there were 192 members on the US Open thread.  That was cool!

7.  But the best thing of all was "The Hug" - Tiger and Rocco in a bear hug.  I felt like I was watching Tiger and his dad at the Masters or Tiger and Stevie when he won the Open after his dad had passed away.  Brought tears to my eyes...

Well, it's good that majors don't happen every week. I don't think my nerves could stand it. 

Congratulations to the 2 US Open champions - Tiger who now holds the trophy for the 3rd time and Rocco who captured our hearts forever.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Never say never again...the Michelle Wie story

Two years ago, at the age of 16, Michelle Wie finished in the top five of three women’s majors, including a tie for 3rd at the U.S. Women’s Open. She was on the top of the world until a landslide hit and she tumbled down down down, until many people felt she would never gain ground again. I have to admit, I was one of those people. I hoped for the best, but deep inside I felt it was hopeless. But like all things in golf, you just never know...

Today, Michelle is starting to show some of her old spirit, perhaps due to a new love in her life or perhaps being a bit further from the iron apron strings of her parents or maybe it's just that Michelle Wie is growing up.

In two weeks, Michelle heads to Edina for the U.S. Women’s Open and she can hold her head up high again after finishing 6th in Germany two weeks ago and then second at a 36 hole sectional this past week with a score of -4.

“It feels really good to be playing well again,” Wie said on Monday. “It feels good to have confidence in my shots again. I feel like my distance is coming back. I’m pretty pleased, and I’m really happy to be playing at the U.S. Open.”

“I’ve put in a lot of hard work and I’m really glad to see that the results are starting to show heading into the U.S. Open,” Michelle continued. “I want to be in contention again. I want to feel the confidence. I want to feel like I’m the best player out there. I want to win.”

This week, Michelle Wie will tee it up at the Wegmans LPGA event (Lorena's defending) - a tour that Wie now says she'd be "honored" to play on. It would appear that Michelle is starting to think for herself. I would love to see Michelle in contention this week and I'd be thrilled to be in the postion of having to eat my past words when I thought her career was sadly over. 

I just love it when I'm wrong :)

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

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An ongoing quest to realize potential
By MARK CRAIG • [email protected]
Star Tribune
15 Jun 2008

Michelle Wie and Kevin Garnett are friends off the course and outside the ropes, brought together byWilliamMorrisAgency, aHollywood marketing firm that also serves, among others, tennis star SerenaWilliams, actor Russell Crowe and rapper 50 Cent. And...read more...

Tech Tags: Star Tribune newspaper Sportssunday Nba Finals

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Wie is on quest to realize potential

Star Tribune
15 Jun 2008

“I’m a big fan of Kevin Garnett’s,” Wie said. “I’ve never seen anyone with that much intensity. He just plays with so much intensity that when I see him on the court, I just think to myself, ‘I want to be like that.’ I want to make people think I have...read more...

Tech Tags: Star Tribune newspaper Sports

US Open Fever brings out the best and the worst

So...how does someone who's been off his game for weeks with knee surgery, limp up to greens that other players whine about and shoot 30 on his final 9 holes on Friday?  Amazing! We watch him start with two double bogies on day 1 and end the second day like that.  Wow!  Kind of leaves you speechless, doesn't it?

But as amazing as Tiger ended his round on Friday, what I really loved was watching him, Phil and Adam Scott play the last 2 days together and all struggle at some point in their game.

It's not like I wish anyone a bad game, but I have to say that I just love watching the pros having to really really work for a living.  Makes them look human.  Those regular tournament -20 wins are just too boring.   US Open wins coming in at just a couple under par are the best!

This week...watching Phil struggle off the tee was fun.  It allowed us to see his amazing short game, which probably wouldn't have been as exciting if he's hit more fairways.  Wasn't that flop shot/long putt combo just unbelievable on number 6? 

This is what I love about the US Open. 

1.  It's OPEN - anyone can try and qualify.  Perfect for a Cinderella story.

2.  It's hard - Look at this cut list!  I'm shocked to see names like Zach Johnson, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson on this list, especially when 3 amateurs make it into the weekend.

3.  It brings out the best and worst in players and spectators alike.

The Best: 

- Watching Jimenez shoot a 66 on day 2. 

- Watching Tiger shoot 30 on his back nine. 

- Watching Ernie finally make a top 10 going into the weekend.

- Watching Davis Love III play so well after having to qualify for this event after missing the Masters.

The Worst:

- Phil playing without a driver and altered 3 wood and missing fairway after fairway after fairway. (BTW...he's using a driver on day 3).   I liked what Judy Rankin said during the commentary - "Phil over strategizes."

- Adam Scott missing a tap-in putt by being careless.

- Adam Scott's caddie having to confront a drunken man and his son during play (and subsequently getting them arrested) - and they call this a gentleman's sport.

- Listening to the whining of some of my fave players over the poa greens. 

Stephen Ames:  "They were good this morning, but they’re going to be horrendous this afternoon."  I wonder if he watched Tiger's run at the end of the day on those 'horrendous greens' :)

Mike Weir:  “These greens are so unpredictable it’s tough to get on a real roll with your putting.  I mean, at Muirfield if you get a putt on line it just tracks right in. But here. . .’’

Give me a break!  Tiger doesn't even like poa greens and he didn't do too badly on Friday.  In fact, he doesn't play Pebble Beach in February anymore because he doesn't really like poa (or maybe he just hates 6 hour Pro-Am rounds :))

Anyway, enough of my whining :) ... it's been a great two days of play and it appears that's it's only going to get better. The leader, Stuart Appleby, is playing well and is used to these greens. Tiger's limping between shots, but there's nothing limp about his game.

It's such a tight race and anything can happen.  I wouldn't mind an upset at all - just makes the game that much more exciting.  After all...double bogeys happen more often than eagles at US Opens. 

Golfgal

www.golfgal.com   

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Poa golfers in for bumpy ride at Torrey Pines
DAVE PERKINS
Toronto Star
14 Jun 2008

LA JOLLA, CALIF. United States Open greens, by definition, are supposed to be more scary than an MLSE search committee. Their speed is likened to putting down your car hood, or in your bathtub. Every year, the putting surfaces are the subject of...read more...

Tech Tags: Toronto Star newspaper Sports