Contenders and Sleepers for the Players Championship

Contenders and Sleepers for the Players Championship











Travis Mewhirter May 7, 2013 3:40 PM




COMMENTARY | The Players Championship tees off on Thursday and, as always, it provides one of the best fields of any tournament of the season. In this little list here, I provide my three favorite (fairly obvious) contenders and two relative sleepers who could be expected
do a little damage at TPC Sawgrass this weekend.



The Obvious

Tiger Woods

Tiger remains the No. 1 player in the world. Tiger is in the field. There's not much left to do but put him on top. Even if he weren't the best golfer on the planet, he'd still be No. 1 because he's Tiger Woods, and any time Tiger is in the field, post-fire-hydrant era or not, he will always be the presumed favorite until Rory McIlroy assumes the throne for good.

Aside from Tiger just being Tiger, he is also playing some ridiculous golf. He's No. 1 in strokes gained-putting, No. 1 in scoring average, and No. 1 in percentage of holes under par -- he's birdied or eagled 97 of 360 holes on the year.

Sure, he hasn't won at the Players in 12 years, but that might actually turn out to be a blessing. After all, there has never been a repeat champ in the tournament's existence which dates back to 1974 and which is also why Matt Kuchar, the 2012 winner, is subsequently absent from this list. Woods might just be due.

Adam Scott

Winning the Masters goes a long way in my -- or anybody's -- book, especially the manner in which he won it. Scott did it after he proved he could contend in a major -- and then collapse down the finish. This time was different. We got a glimpse of Adam Scott the major champion, not Adam Scott the guy with the best swing on Tour who couldn't put it all together in the biggies. He held off Angel Cabrera breathing down his neck with air-tight 7-irons and pressure-proof putting. It was his first major, his first green jacket and became the first of his country to break the Masters curse. It was momentous, and it shouldn't surprise anybody when he's lurking somewhere at the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.

The Players, as I wrote in a previous column, is not a major, but it certainly has the closest feel to one of any non-major championship. The Stadium Course is an awesome venue for the fans and the players with a nerve-tingling final three holes that favors those who have proven they have the gumption to handle it. Scott proved he could do that when he won in 2004 and since has logged three top 15s here at TPC.

This is a quirky course, with three monsters of finishing holes, and experience here goes a long way, and experience is something that Scott has at TPC.

Justin Rose

When will this guy just become the breakout star we all know him to be? Seriously, Rose is 6-for-6 this year in Top 25s, was the runner-up at Bay Hill, is second on Tour in both scoring average and total driving, third in all-around ranking, and in the top 10 in Greens in Regulation.

His putting has been the issue -- he is 147th in strokes gained-putting -- which might help explain why he breaks par far less than Tiger despite hitting greens at a much higher clip. And this is a tournament that is won by players who go fairly low. Greg Norman won it back in '94 with a 24-under which, as the tournament record, is not to be expected, but that does put it in perspective at least a little bit. The highest score in the past 12 years to win it was a 5-under from Sergio Garcia in 2008, and the average in that time period is just shy of 13-under.

So, if Rose can capitalize on all those fairways and greens he hits with a little help from his flat stick, he should have as good a chance as any.

The Sleepers

Bo Van Pelt

Here's why I like Bo: He plays all the time. Already, just a few months into the season, the guy has played 11 times, nearly double that of Rose, picked up four top 25s and a top 10. Any rust or kinks in his swing are bound to have been worked out by now. More importantly, his top 10 came at the Wells Fargo last week where he finished T6, a nice confidence booster coming into a course where confidence can easily be shaken.

Now, Van Pelt's record here at Sawgrass is far from gaudy: In eight starts he has made the cut but three times. However -- and here comes the silver lining -- Van Pelt has finished in the top 10 every time he has made the cut.

A guarantee? Not at all. But a solid sleeper if he can put together a solid opening 36? Definitely.

Ryan Moore

Moore is never spectacular at Sawgrass (he has never cracked the top 25 here) but he's never awful, either (he's never missed a cut). He's also very similar to Rose, though perhaps the poor man's version. He strikes the ball remarkably well -- he hit all 18 greens in the opening round at Quail Hollow last weekend -- but has trouble getting his putter to cooperate.

Much like Rose, if Moore can just coax his putter into helping him out a bit, he should be OK. Look at what happens when he buries a few: At the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February, he went 66, 66, 65, 65 for a 22-under.

Scottsdale is no Sawgrass, but you don't go 22-under without putting at torrid rate. He's shown he can do it, he's just got to get it down consistently.



Travis Mewhirter has been working in the golf industry since 2007, when he was a bag room manager at Piney Branch Golf Club in Carroll County, Maryland, and has been involved, as a player, since 2004. Since then, he has worked at Hayfields Country Club, where the Constellation Energy Classic was formerly held, and has covered golf at the high school, college, and professional levels.

The Curse of Winning the Players Championship

The Curse of Winning the Players Championship











Ryan Ballengee May 7, 2013 4:50 PM


COMMENTARY | Winning The Players Championship affords a champion a lot of perks: the game's largest first-place check at $1.71 million, five-year exemptions on the PGA Tour and into The Players and, now, a three-year invitation to the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship.



What it hasn't
afforded its winners in the last five years, however, is a slew of follow-up PGA Tour wins.





Since The Players moved to May in 2007, and Phil MIckelson captured the crown, the next five winners of the proverbial "fifth major" have won a combined two times on the PGA Tour.



Sergio Garcia won in 2008 in a playoff over Paul Goydos. He slipped so low that he eventually took a few months away from professional golf in 2010 before winning in consecutive weeks in Spain almost a year later on the European Tour and finally taking the PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship last season.



A year after Sergio kissed his putter after victory, the Europeans kept on rolling with Henrik Stenson taking the Players crown. The powerful Swede seemed destined for more than faux-major glory. So far, he has not been. In fact, he sunk as low as No. 230 in the Official World Golf Ranking in 2012 before beginning the long climb back now inside the top 40. His only win since The Players was the South African Open a year ago.



Then there's Tim Clark who, unfortunately, was plagued by injury. An elbow problem sidelined him for the second two-thirds of 2011, but Clark has been close to another PGA Tour win. He was solo second earlier this season at the Sony Open in Hawaii, won by rookie Russell Henley and is 29th in FedEx Cup points.



K.J. Choi outlasted David Toms in 2011 to win The Players in a playoff, making a par on the first hole of sudden-death to capture the most significant of his eight on the PGA Tour. Again, however, the Korean who was rallied by Choi's Bois that week at the Stadium Course has been unable to notch a ninth Tour title. At nearly 43 years old, maybe that's expecting a bit much.



Matt Kuchar may, in fact, be the exception to this trend of precipitous Players drops. T he year as reigning champion has barely ended for Kuchar, who was outstanding amid the torrent of greats challenging for The Players last year to earn the trophy.



In blustery conditions in Arizona back in February, Kuchar captured the WGC-Accenture Match Play title. He has three other top-10 finishes this season, including a T-8 effort at the Masters as a follow on his T-3 from the year prior at Augusta National. Kooch is nowhere near a downturn. He's a slumpbuster.



Kuchar's brilliance this season doesn't portend a successful defense of his title this week. No one has ever won consecutive Players titles. However, if one player could manage to end that anomaly, it would be the Georgia Tech product.



For whatever reason, the Stadium Course does seem to identify the best player that week, but does not seem to always identify the most talented among the field.



By comparison, it seems Augusta National does allow the best of the best -- not just for those four days in April -- to contend for a green jacket.



Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have enjoyed tremendous success amid the blooming azaleas. Lee Westwood and Ernie Els, whose games do have flaws, have been able to get painstakingly close by flexing their strengths as much as the Jones-Mackenzie test will allow. Rory McIlroy seems to love the home of the Masters and feel the antithesis for Pete Dye's Stadium Course.



It is that dichotomy that perhaps makes Fred Couples such an interesting case. Couples is one of four to win multiple Players crowns (1984 and '96) at TPC Sawgrass and, even at 53, can still manage to contend on seemingly an annual basis at the Masters more than two decades after his lone major breakthrough.



What is it about the now-Hall-of-Famer's game, then, that has crossover appeal to two very starkly contrasting courses? At his best, Couples putted well enough, but the strongest facets of his game were effortless power and ballstriking, as well as the knowledge of when to step on the gas and when to throttle back a bit.



Greg Norman had the two pegged as well, with Norman winning a couples of Players titles. He also had three runner-up finishes at Augusta, including the painful '96 meltdown clearing the way for a third Nick Faldo title.



How about Hal Sutton and Davis Love III, the other multiple-time winners at Sawgrass? They could have been so much more, too, each only winning a PGA Championship in their careers.



So maybe it's not in the best interest of a player to have truly figured out TPC Sawgrass. For the ones that did, they arguably never reached their true potential. For the likes of Woods and Mickelson, just one win was enough -- they had more major business to handle.



Ryan Ballengee is a Washington, D.C.-based golf writer. His work has appeared on multiple digital outlets, including NBC Sports and Golf Channel. Follow him on Twitter @RyanBallengee.

PGA of America names Dawes Marlatt Senior Director, Education and Employment Departments

PGA of America names Dawes Marlatt Senior Director, Education and Employment Departments











PGA of America May 8, 2013 8:19 AM



PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. --PGA Master Professional Dawes Marlatt has been promoted to Senior Director, Education and Employment, following his four-and-a-half year stint as The PGA of America's Director of Education.

During his tenure overseeing The PGA's Education Department, Marlatt led several significant enhancements and new program additions to the Association's educational services, including: Professional Golf Management curriculum, Certified Professional Program 2.0, and Golf 2.0/Player Development education.

Marlatt will now take charge of The PGA's Education and Employment departments, both vital to the delivery of important programs and services to PGA Professionals and the golf industry. His expanded role will include working closely with the 12 PGA Employment Consultants who are regionally based throughout the country to assist PGA Professionals and employers in filling key positions at both the green grass and administrative levels.

"I am honored that The PGA of America would entrust me to take on this expanded role of leading the Employment department as well as the Education department," said Marlatt, 41, a PGA member since 1997. "I believe it is truly a testament to all the dedicated individuals whom I have had the pleasure of working closely with over the past several years as we strived to enhance the education services The PGA provides to its member professionals."

"We are thrilled to elevate Dawes Marlatt to the position of Senior Director, Education and Employment," said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Pete Bevacqua. "His track record of taking the lead on enhancing The PGA's educational offerings provides us with great confidence that he will have similar success with enhancing the employment services that our more than 27,000 PGA Professionals have come to rely upon."

About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

Sergio Garcia Doesn’t Deserve a Pass for Racial Comments About Tiger Woods

Sergio Garcia Doesn’t Deserve a Pass for Racial Comments About Tiger Woods
Racially Charged Comments Muddy Already Murky Waters











Chris Chaney May 22, 2013 10:47 AM




COMMENTARY | The latest punch thrown in the Sergio Garcia-Tiger Woods feud was levied Tuesday night by the Spaniard at the European Tour's Players' Award dinner. And when the dust settled, it was Garcia who came out bloodied and rightful
ly so.



On stage along with his European Ryder Cup teammates, Garcia was asked by event co-host Steve Sands, tongue firmly in cheek, whether he would have Tiger Woods over during US Open week to break bread, making light of their recent public spat.

Garcia answered, "We will have him round every night. We will serve fried chicken."

The racial undertones of Garcia's comments do not need to be rehashed. The familiarity in the golfing community with the fried chicken barb goes back to the 1997 Masters when Fuzzy Zoeller made a similar comment about Woods, referencing the dinner menu the soon-to-be youngest Masters champion would serve the following year at the Champion's Dinner.

"He's doing everything it takes to win," Zoeller said when asked about Woods' play. "So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations, enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year."

The comment was shocking and off-putting in 1997 and following the backlash, Zoeller wasn't heard from much again, his reputation tarnished and legacy usurped by one off-handed comment.

16 years later, Garcia's comment comes with a similar, if not more surprising, sting. More surprising in the sense that we like to think with each passing day, racism is dying. More surprising in the sense that on a public level, personal prejudices shouldn't be levied through jokes. More surprising in the sense that someone as media-aware as Garcia would make such an off-color comment.



However, what we like to think is happening and what is actually taking place in the world are far different things. Garcia's comments prove that.

What's even more troubling is that for a racially charged comment to make its way into the public sphere, the likelihood is greater that Garcia has said or thought them in his private life, thus debunking any progress that is thought to have been made.

Garcia's public relations machine jumped into high gear following the comments, releasing an apology that read, "I apologize for any offence that may have been caused by my comment on stage during The European Tour Players' Awards dinner. I answered a question that was clearly made towards me as a joke with a silly remark, but in no way was the comment meant in a racist manner."

Woods, who is no stranger to racial injustice, responded with a string of tweets, not quite exonerating Garcia, but making his feelings known with an eye towards moving on.

Said Woods, "The comment that was made wasn't silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate. I'm confident that there is real regret that the remark was made. The Players (Championship) ended nearly two weeks ago and it's long past time to move on and talk about golf."

Garcia met with the media Wednesday morning, sheepishly taking the stand looking like a dog that had just soiled the carpet, apologizing profusely. He said he had talked with the commissioners of both the PGA and European Tours and felt as if they had accepted his apology.

He also said he plans to talk to Tiger directly to apologize for his comments, but calls to Woods' agent had not yet been returned.

The problem is that our culture is too quick to move on from the real problems that present themselves, especially taboo topics such as racism. The predominant thought is that racism has no place anywhere and from a PR standpoint, golf is the last business that wants to furl itself into a racial dispute given the game's poor track record in that arena.

More than likely, Woods will let the comments wash off his back; he has bigger fish to fry. If he were going to be impacted negatively by any ignoramus with a derogatory comment to make, he wouldn't be in search of his 15th major championship and on track to become the greatest player of all time. Likelier still, Woods will use Garcia's words as some kind of motivation, pushing him to even higher heights.

For those reason and many more, Garcia does not deserve a pass on this. He needs to be held accountable for his actions and words. What that entails is up to those in charge of the game, but to accept an apology and sweep the comments under the rug is to do a disservice to all those offended by the comments.

Chris Chaney is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based sportswriter. He has written for multiple outlets including WrongFairway.com, Hoopville.com, The Cincinnati (OH) Enquirer and The Clermont (OH) Sun.

Follow him on Twitter @Wrong_Fairway.

Sergio's Racial Comments Prove We Have a Long Way to Go

Sergio's Racial Comments Prove We Have a Long Way to Go











Adam Fonseca May 22, 2013 11:12 AM


COMMENTARY | The recent feud between Sergio Garciaand Tiger Woods has turned ugly. While Garcia's recent comments at a press conference prior to the 2013 BMA PGA Championship were a mere two sentences, his words speak volumes on how far we have come as a society in terms of eradicating racism in our culture.





Unfortunately, for Garci
a, professional sports provide the grandest of stages and the brightest spotlight when mistakes are made and poor judgment is displayed.



Golf hasn't exactly been the poster child for equality and fairness over its history. It is a creature that, at one time, thrived on its own organic exclusivity. Golf was originally meant to be enjoyed by society's elite, which at one time was defined by the number of sheep you owned. It was a pastime meant to be enjoyed by few yet heralded by many. It was all very disgusting, to be honest.

As a result, the idea of an African-American golfer playing in what was once considered to be a "white man's sport" was downright unspeakable. This mentality continued well past the Civil Rights movement in America, albeit in less pronounced ways. Make no mistake: Even if people weren't talking about it, racism in golf remained alive and breathing.

In 1990, the New York Times ran a story about Shoal Creek Country Club -- an all-white private country club -- that was the site of that year's PGA Championship. Club founder Hall W. Thompson issued a statement that "we don't discriminate in every other area except the blacks." Thompson's statement sparked one of the more inflammatory and socially polarizing events that professional golf had ever seen. The PGA of America quickly became the subject of scorn and protest, most notably from Rev. Joseph Lowery, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

''To cooperate with evil is to affirm it,'' Lowery said at the time. "'Golf is deceptive, because it seems like only plush clubhouses and green fairways. It looks very decent. But this blatant admission that we don't want black folks uncovered a hidden agenda that really isn't hidden anymore.''

Less than a decade later, Tiger Woods happened. Barriers were broken down and professional golf received a much-needed wake-up call. Thankfully, golf has never been the same since.

At least, that is until Garcia's comments earlier this week.

What is most disappointing about Garcia's poor taste in humor -- other than his carefully contrived "I didn't mean it to come out that way" apology -- is that fact that he should know better when speaking publicly. Garcia's suggestion that he was "caught off guard" by the question is laughable. This is a man who has been a professional athlete in the public eye for 14 years. I'm going to guess he has been asked odd questions in the past. Call it a hunch.

It is clear that Garcia attempted to answer a playful question in a way to insult Woods, regardless of what he said after the fact. All Garcia did in the process was prove that he was more interested in throwing fuel on the bonfire separating him and Woods than taking the high road and moving on.

Who would have thought the road Garcia preferred to take would be so low?



Adam Fonseca has been writing and blogging about golf since 2005. His work has appeared on numerous digital outlets including the Back9Network and SB Nation. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife. Follow Adam on Twitter @chicagoduffer.com.

Flooding reduces LPGA event to 54 holes

Flooding reduces LPGA event to 54 holes










The Sports Xchange May 22, 2013 4:10 PMThe SportsXchange



Torrential rains forced the LPGA to reduce this week's inaugural Pure Silk Bahamas Classic to 54 holes beginning Friday.

Even that schedule sounds tenuous based on the excess rainfall in the forecast and dreary course conditions with measurable standing water on nearly half of the fairways on the Atlantis, Paradise Island, course.

Nearly a foot of rain fell on the Ocean Club Golf Course in an eight-hour period on Tuesday.

In the wake of violent storms, significant amounts of standing water remain on at least seven holes with the ninth and 18th fairways completely flooded. Crews are working around the clock to abate water with additional efforts to clear debris and make the golf course playable ongoing.

First and second-round pairings will remain the same with a 36-hole cut made on Saturday night.

"Mentally, you're still in it although physically you can't do anything today at the course," said Suzann Pettersen. "I'm happy I got 18 holes of practice in yesterday. We will play whenever we can."

Locals are calling the worst storm in the last 20 years and Nassau has significant flooding and home damage. But a 60 percent chance for more rain Wednesday into Thursday could cause further havoc.

"You can't feel guilty about not practicing or playing today because no one is allowed out there," said Stacy Lewis. "I certainly wish for the tournament's sake that we could have played the pro-am. First-year events have some bumps and we always get through them. This is no different."

Feng leads ShopRite field by three

Feng leads ShopRite field by three










The Sports Xchange June 1, 2013 8:10 PMThe SportsXchange



GALLOWAY, N.J. -- Shanshan Feng came sprinting out of the starting gate. Now it's up to the rest of the field to chase her down.

Feng sits atop the leaderboard at the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer at the 36-hole mark. She fired a 4-under par 67 on Saturday at the Bay Course at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club just outside Atlantic City to stand at 6-under par 136.

The 23-year old Feng is seeking her second career LPGA win; she won the Wegmans LPGA Championship in Rochester one year ago and will defend her title next week.

Feng will be three shots clear of the field when the final round gets underway Sunday morning. Haeji Kang, and first-round co-leader Moriya Jutanugarn are at 3-under par 139. Kang, who like Feng had an early tee time on Saturday, carded a 69 while Jutanugarn shot 73.

Chie Arimura and Anna Nordqvist are both at 140 while Karrie Webb, Michelle Wie, Karine Icher, Hee Young Park, and first-round co-leader Amanda Blumenherst were all at 141.

Defending champion Stacy Lewis, who was one shot off the lead when the second round started, wound up shooting 80 and fell into a tie for 49th place at 5-over par 147. She made the cut with just a shot to spare.

For most of the field, Saturday was a survival test. At times the winds blew at more than 25 mph and played havoc with the players' distance control. The winds also hardened the putting surfaces.

Feng started her round on the Bay Course's back nine and it wasn't long before her putter heated up. After starting her round with four straight pars she reeled off four consecutive birdies and made the turn at five under par after a bogey at 18. She picked up an additional stroke on par on her second nine.

Kang played her front side in even par before making two birdies on the backside.

Wie had an up-and-down round that included four straight birdies at one point. Standing on the eighth tee (her 17th hole) she was just one shot off the pace. But she finished double bogey-bogey to drop three shots.

NOTES: The cut came at 6-over par 148. Angela Stanford, a past winner, along with Natalie Gulbis and Lexi Thompson, are among the players who failed to qualify for the final round. ... Just 18 players in the 141-woman field broke par. ... Wie first played in this event 10 years ago at age 13. She tied for 52nd that year.

Feng overcomes wind to lead ShopRite

Feng overcomes wind to lead ShopRite










Rick Woelfel, The Sports Xchange June 1, 2013 9:10 PMThe SportsXchange


GALLOWAY, N.J. -- Shanshan Feng came sprinting out of the starting gate. Now it's up to the rest of the field to chase her down.

On a day when the wind made conditions brutally difficult, Feng took control of the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

She fired a 4-under par 67 on Saturday at the Bay Course at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club just outside Atlantic City to stand at 6-under par 136 for 36 holes.

The 23-year-old Feng is looking for her second LPGA win; she'll defend her title at the Wegmans LPGA Championship in Rochester next week.

Feng will be three shots clear of the field when the final round gets underway Sunday morning. Haeji Kang and first-round co-leader Moriya Jutanugarn are at 3-under par 139. Kang, who like Feng had an early tee time Saturday, carded a 69 while Jutanugarn shot 73.

Chie Arimura and Anna Nordqvist are both at 140 while Karrie Webb, Michelle Wie, Karine Icher, Hee Young Park and first-round co-leader Amanda Blumenherst all stand at 141.

Defending champion Stacy Lewis, who was one shot off the lead when the second round started, wound up shooting 80 and fell into a tie for 49th place at 5-over par 147. She made the cut with just a shot to spare.

Feng started out with a red-hot putter. After starting the round with four straight pars, she reeled off four consecutive birdies.

"I started the round with confidence," she said, "because even though I didn't have a good start yesterday I did have a really good finish. So I think after a few pars, and then I made like four birdies in a row. But then after four birdies, I was like, 'Oh, maybe I'm doing well right now.' But I think a four-under round is still a pretty good score."


Playing the back nine first, Feng did indeed bogey the 18th but still made the turn at five under par. She picked up an additional shot on par on the front side.

Feng put a new set of clubs in play this week, which she said boosted her confidence.

"This is the first week with the new clubs, and right now I'm feeling really, really good," she said. "Nothing's really different, but I think just more effort, so I like them."

While Feng was enjoying the sanctity of the clubhouse, her closest pursuers were battling the conditions.

Jutanugarn moved into a tie for the lead when she birdied the 12th hole (her third). But bogeys at the 14th, 18th and second cost her three shots and she played the rest of her round in even par.

"We had an afternoon tee time" she said, "and the wind picked up stronger. I tried to play one shot at a time, and keep calm and try to play, whatever."

At times during the afternoon the winds blew at more than 25 mph, playing havoc with the players' distance control. The winds also hardened the putting surfaces.

Paula Creamer made the cut right on the number at 148.

"Nobody has ever seen this place like this before," she said. "It's not only that it's just windy -- we've played in that before. The conditions aren't quite the best.

"The greens need some water, that's for sure. It's just getting so firm out there. But it is what it is and you just have to go about it and commit to your shot and whatever happens happens after the ball leaves the club face."

Wie, who also played the backside first, moved to within two shots of the lead when she birdied her opening hole. But a bogey at 15 and a double-bogey at 18 dropped her to one under par.

She rallied on the front side, rolling in four straight birdies to get to within two shots of the lead standing on the eighth tee. But two errant tee shots cost her three shots on the way in as she finished double bogey, bogey.

"It was a little more difficult than yesterday," she said. "This golf course, it can get you on a hole. I had two double bogeys today. It's very frustrating, but at the same time this course can do this to you."

Wie is trying to win her third LPGA title and her first since 2010.

NOTES: The cut came at 6-over-par 148. Angela Stanford, a past winner here, along with Natalie Gulbis and Lexi Thompson, are among the players who failed to qualify. ... Just 18 players in the 141-woman field broke par. ... Wie first played in this event 10 years ago at age 13. She tied for 52nd.

Webb wins LPGA event

Webb wins LPGA event










Rick Woelfel, The Sports Xchange June 2, 2013 6:20 PMThe SportsXchange



GALLOWAY, N.J. -- Karrie Webb came from five shots off the pace on Sunday to win the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer by two shots.

Webb fired a 3-under par 68 in the final round over the Bay Course at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club near Atlantic City. She finished the 54 holes at 4-under par 209.

It was the 39th career victory for the LPGA Hall of Famer and her first since she won the inaugural RR Donnelley Founders Cup in 2011.

Shanshan Feng, who started the day with a three-shot lead, closed with a 75 to finish second at 2-under par 211. Hee Young Park carded a 71 to finish alone in third place at 212. Jenny Shin's 70 left her at 213.

Michelle Wie, who was tied with Webb when the round began, finished with a 74 to tie for ninth place at 215.

Webb started her day tied for sixth place but worked her way through the pack, while battling winds that at times blew at over 25 mph.

She jump-started her round by rolling in an uphill 25-foot birdie putt at the par-4 second hole. She followed up with a 10-foot eagle putt at the third that moved her into a tie for the lead with Feng, two groups behind her, who double bogeyed the second.

Webb stumbled with a bogey at the sixth, but her performance on the greens was the key to her round. On six different occasions, she salvaged par by rolling in putts of between four and seven feet.

After her bogey at the sixth, she ran off 11 straight pars before draining a short birdie putt at the final green.

Feng double bogeyed the fifth to fall to 3-under-par for the championship but regained the outright lead with a birdie at the eighth.

When Feng bogeyed the 11th and 13th, Webb found herself atop the leaderboard for the first time. Her birdie at the 18th extended her lead to two shots.

Feng cut the deficit in half with a birdie at the par-4 16th, but bogeyed the 17th.

Just three players, Webb, Feng, and Park, finished the 54 holes under par.

Notes: Webb's winning total tied for the highest in the history of the tournament, relative to par. Juli Inkster finished 4-under-par for the 54 holes in the inaugural event in 1986, which was also played at Seaview... Webb is the sixth LPGA Hall of Famer to win this tournament. The others: Inkster, Betsy King, Annika Sorenstam, Nancy Lopez, and Se Ri Pak.... Former world No. 1 Yani Tseng shot an 80 on Sunday to finish her week tied for 69th place at 10-over par 223.

Former PGA Tour Jim McGovern feeling dandy ahead of '13 PNC debut

Former PGA Tour Jim McGovern feeling dandy ahead of '13 PNC debut











PGA.COM June 14, 2013 2:01 PM

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PGA Professional Jim McGovern, who won the 1993Shell Houston Open , is now in his third season as the …


By Bob Denney, The PGA of America

Two decades removed from winning the Shell Houston Open, his lone victory of a 22-year PGA Tour career, Jim McGovern is at peace in a place where television doesn't shine its bright lights or draw the rapt attention of a scrutinizing national audience.

It is home, sweet home.

In his third season as the PGA head professional at White Beeches Golf and Country Club in Haworth, N.J., McGovernhas not retired from competition. He merely refined his priorities to what comes first -- his family. McGovern, 48, will be part of the 312-player field in his first PGA Professional National Championship, June 23-26, at Sunriver (Ore.) Resort. He earned his berth by finishing third in last fall's New Jersey PGA Championship.

"It's great; I like being home," says McGovern, sounding ever like a man who found Shangri-La. "I love it here. The traveling was getting to me. My kids were getting bigger and I wasn't there to see them grow up. I have even dabbled a bit as a basketball coach."

One of nine children of Howard and Terese McGovern, owners of a family trucking business, McGovern has six brothers. Brother Rob is a former NFL linebacker turned U.S. Army military attorney; and brother Bill is the linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Bill getting that job means that I might have to put on a little green, but not when they face my (New York) Giants," joked McGovern.

The McGoverns are a hard-working family, says Jim, and that stems from parents who believed in earning what comes from sound business practices and building those you care about most. "My dad made us who we are, what we are," says McGovern. "Mom is still going great at 82, and she is working in our golf shop."

A native of Teaneck, N.J., McGovern says he hurt his arm playing baseball during the same part of the season as when golf season was starting in school.

"The golf coach also was a gym teacher," says McGovern. "I was a junior in high school at the time. I remember the coach saying, 'Hey McGovern, you better try golf.'"


McGovern's path to full-time golf was later sealed when he suffered a knee injury in football at Bergen Catholic High School. Perhaps it was destiny as the McGovern brothers had grew up near the fourth hole at Hackensack Golf Club near Oradell. They would sneak on the course at twilight for any game that they could squeeze in before sunset. "It was like the biggest backyard we'd seen," says McGovern.

"Golf was a perfect challenge for me," says McGovern, who turned professional in 1988. "For me, it was facing one opponent -- the golf course. I love being tested."

The competitive side of McGovern carried over to his responsibilities as a PGA club professional. He reviews merchandise orders, trains an apprentice, coordinates junior camps and oversees details for the club's member-guest tournament.

This is the same guy who made nearly 200 PGA Tour cuts, tied for fifth at the 1994 Masters, and earned nearly $3 million. He remains just the second New Jersey native to win on the PGA Tour, following 1941 PGA Champion Vic Ghezzi, an 11-time Tour winner.

When McGovern defeated John Huston in a playoff in the rain-shortened 1993 Shell Houston Open, he became one of six first-time winners on Tour that year and pocketed $587,495. He would never win again, spending years between the PGA Tour and the former Nationwide circuit.

He regained a Tour card for the 2008 season, making just 11 cuts in 26 events. By then a lack of success and the travel away from his wife, Lauren, and their four children had taken its toll.

A disappointing 2008 season convinced McGovern it was time to consider making a career change. After playing in a handful of Tour events through 2010, McGovern interviewed successfully for the head professional job at White Beeches, a 1920 Walter Travis layout, just a few miles from his Bergen County home.

The new experience of competing against his club professional peers in The PGA of America has been a fulfilling transition. "I enjoy being with the guys that I have met in this Section," McGovern says. "They have accepted me."

The chance to compete at the highest level has been a part of McGovern's DNA throughout his career.

"I like being competitive. I'd rather be watching a tractor pull than a soap opera," says McGovern. "It excites me."

The 46th PGA Professional National Championship is presented by Club Car, Mercedes-Benz and OMEGA. The Championship, June 23-26, will be televised live by GOLF CHANNEL.

Tiger Woods has an injured elbow, but remains in U.S. Open contention

Tiger Woods has an injured elbow, but remains in U.S. Open contention











Eric Adelson June 14, 2013 5:24 PMYahoo Sports







ARDMORE, Pa. – What looked at first like a new ailment has been bothering Tiger Woods for a while.

Woods' left elbow, originally believed to be a wrist injury, has become one of the major storylines of this major tournament. It flared up again on Friday after nagging him as early as the second shot of the U.S. Open here on Thursday. After shooting even par for his second round, Woods admitted his elbow has been hurting since The Players Championship in early May.

Woods didn't seem to show much (if any) pain during The Memorial leading up to the U.S. Open, but his poor performance there now seems more of a source of wonder than an aberration. How badly has the elbow been hurting, how often, and how much is it affecting his game?

Woods, closed-lipped as ever, gave a snippy answer when asked how he hurt the elbow.





View gallery.

Tiger Woods grimaces after hitting his second shot on the eighth hole. (Getty Images)"Playing golf," Woods said.



Playing golf was certainly the cause of aggravation on Friday. The winces of Thursday became full-fledged grimaces as the afternoon wore on, not on every hole but especially when he was forced to escape from rough as tangled as late '80s computer wires.

The most pain seemed to come on Hole 7, when Woods tee shot veered left and left him in the tall grass behind a large tree. His ensuing shot caused him to swing his left arm behind his back in pain. Woods then flubbed his next shot, hitting a wedge no more than two feet, before carding a bogey that left him six shots off the lead at the time of the conclusion of his round.

The injury makes Woods' impressive second round even more notable, as he fought to even par and watched many of the other leaders fall away. After the end of his first round Friday morning, Woods was tied for 45th. After the end of his second round Friday afternoon, his 3-over was tied for 27th with many others still battling the course. The world's top golfer has a puncher's chance for his 15th major, bad elbow or not.

The pain doesn't seem to be weighing on Woods mentally. Keep in mind, his last U.S. Open win came on a torn ACL.

Asked if he liked his chances over the weekend, Woods simply said, "Yes."

Amateurs enjoy solid performances at US Open

Amateurs enjoy solid performances at US Open












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View gallery


Cheng-Tsung Pan shot a 2-over 72 that put him in good position to make the cut.(Getty Images)

PGA.COM June 14, 2013 8:00 PM


By Dan Gelston, Associated Press

ARDMORE, Pa. -- Cheng-tsung Pan had a pretty good day on the course. He felt even better about it when he scanned the scores.

"When I look at the scoreboard with my last name up there, it's pretty cool," he said.

The Taiwan-born Pan was one of several amateurs who had a respectable showing in Thursday's opening round of the U.S. Open. Pan shot a 2-over 72 at Merion Golf Cluband put himself in solid position to make the cut.

Kevin Phelan of Ireland topped the four amateurs who completed early rounds with a 1-over 71 that put him four shots behind clubhouse leader Phil Mickelson.

Pan and Phelan did great at No. 13: Both parred the hole and picked up a birdie or two elsewhere.

"It's always nice to be able to compare yourself to the best in the world," Phelan said. "It's the first time I've had a round anywhere close to them. It's nice, but there's a long way to go."

Pan, 21, is a junior at the University of Washington. He missed the cut in his other Open appearance in 2011, saying he was too excited and had too many distractions to play his best game.

He brought only two friends with him to Merion. And this time?

"I had it going," he said.

Pan, who also answered questions in Mandarin, wants to graduate from Washington and become the first member of his family to earn a degree. He played nine holes Wednesday with his idol, Luke Donald, but never could bring himself to say how much he admired his game.


"Nah, too embarrassing," he said.

Phelan, who failed to make the cut in the 2010 Open, plans to turn pro later this year and attend Q-School. With more rounds like Thursday, Phelan just might reach his goal of making the Great Britain-Ireland Walker Cup team.

"It certainly can't hurt," said Phelan, 22, who lives in St. Augustine, Fla.

He was nervous before his first tee, but calmed down after his first swings. He came away from a practice round with Masters champion Adam Scott with some useful advice for taming the soggy course.

Sure, it's only Thursday and the amateurs concede there's too much golf ahead to start thinking about making the cut. But perhaps history could be on their side.

Only 21, amateur Jim Simons took a two-shot lead into the final day of the 1971 Open played at -- yes, Merion. Trying to become the first amateur to win the event since 1933, Simon faded to fifth. Lee Trevino would go on to beat Jack Nicklaus in a playoff. No amateur has led again on the final day.

Bobby Jones won the U.S. Amateur in 1930 at Merion, clinching his Grand Slam.

On Thursday, Michael Kim had three birdies and shot a 3-over 73 to join Pan and Phelan as the top-three amateurs. The 19-year-old Kim was more jittery playing practice rounds than approaching his first Open tee shot.

"I didn't really feel too nervous out there, other than maybe a couple moments," he said. "I just tried to have fun. Tried not to expect too much."

Three of eight amateurs made the cut last year at Olympic Club and the best score for the tournament wasJordan Spieth at 7-over 287.

"The gap between amateur and pro, I think it's getting smaller," Pan said. "As an amateur, we're getting more chances, more opportunities to compete in professional events. We learn from those."

Four-way tie for lead at Congressional

Four-way tie for lead at Congressional










June 29, 2013 6:59 PM

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Roberto Castro of the U.S. lines up his putt on the seventh hole during the first round of The Players …


(Reuters) - A tumultuous day at the AT&T National ended with a four-way tie for the lead heading into Sunday's final round at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

Roberto Castro pitched in after hitting his approach shot into the water to save par at the 18th and complete a 71 to join the party at seven-under-par 206 along with Andres Romero of Argentina, and Americans Bill Haas and James Driscoll.

One stroke back was long-hitting Jason Kokrak, who powered a 349-yard drive at 18 on his way to finishing a 70 for 207, one stroke better than Tom Gillis and South Korea's Charlie Wi.

Wi made nine birdies, including seven on the front nine, on his way to a 65.

Jordan Spieth, a 19-year-old who began the round sharing the lead with Castro, held an early two-stroke lead after opening the third round with a pair of birdies to reach nine under par, slipped back to four under, three strokes off the pace.


Romero, who had to finish five holes early Saturday morning to complete the weather-interrupted second round, made four early birdies in the third round to reach 10 under par and seize a three-stroke lead.

But the Argentine double-bogeyed the 11th and bogeyed the 12th to set up the log jam at the top.

Haas triple-bogeyed the 11th after dumping a wedge shot into the pond right of the green as player fortunes rose and fell throughout the round as they aimed at pins often placed on the edge of trouble.

Because of a threat of stormy weather forecast for late Sunday afternoon, players will again go off both tees in groups of three beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET (1230 GMT) with the final groups teeing off two hours later.

(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York,; Editing by Gene Cherry)

No day in the Park, but Inbee leads by 4

No day in the Park, but Inbee leads by 4









Joe Pantorno, The Sports Xchange June 29, 2013 7:00 PMThe SportsXchange



SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. -- After the first round on Thursday, Inbee Park mentioned that the United States Golf Associationwas "generous" in how it they laid out Sebonack Golf Club for day one of the 68th U.S. Women's Open.

When Sebonack was done with the best women's golfers in the world on day three however, only five of the 68 players who made the cut were under par, and only Park broke the par of 72 on Saturday.

While the rain stayed away, the wind swept through making an already difficult course that much harder.

Park, the No. 1 player in the Rolex Women's Golf Rankings from South Korea, had everything going to plan until the back nine. That's when things started to go wrong.

Eight pars and a birdie on the front nine were wiped out by three straight bogeys on Nos. 11-13.

No need to panic though, as Park rebounded with on Nos. 14-15 with one more on 18 to finish at 1-under-par 71 and ended the day at 10-under for the tournament with four-stroke lead over I.K. Kim, also of South Korea, going into the final round.

Park, who has won five times on the LPGA Tour this season, is trying to match Babe Zaharias, who in 1950 became the only player to win the first three women's majors of the year.

While Park cruised the front nine, it looked like the wheels would fall off for Kim. Following rounds of 68-69 to trail Park by only two strokes, she carded three bogeys and a double bogey in the first seven holes.

Kim shot 4-over on her first seven holes, but turned things around with birdies on the eighth, ninth, 14th and 18th to salvage a 73 and remain in second place.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England, who had to finish her second round Saturday morning because of the fog suspension the evening before, birdied her final hole to shoot 74.

Shadoff is seven strokes back and will join Park and Kim in the final threesome Sunday.

Shadoff matched Park's par parade with seven in a row to start, but she fell back with four bogeys on the back nine.

So Yeon Ryu of South Korea, the 2011 U.S. Open champion, shot 73 on her 23rd birthday to follow a 69 and is tied for fourth with Angela Stanford, who followed a second-round 68 with a 74.

Lizette Salas, who came into round three five strokes off the lead, fell out of contention with four bogeys and two double bogeys en route to an 82 that dropped her to a tie for 25th.

Park takes four-stroke lead at U.S. Women's Open

Park takes four-stroke lead at U.S. Women's Open









Joe Pantorno, The Sports Xchange June 29, 2013 7:42 PMThe SportsXchange


SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. -- After the first round on Thursday, Inbee Park mentioned that the United States Golf Associationwas "generous" in how it laid out Sebonack Golf Club for Day 1 of the 68th U.S. Women's Open.



While the rain stayed away, the wind swept through, making an already difficult course that much harder.



Park, the No. 1 player in the Rolex Women's Golf Rankings, had everything going to plan until the back nine. That's when things started to go wrong.



"11 and 12 were not bad bogeys. You could make up a couple bogeys," Park said. "But 13 was a little bit disappointing. I think that actually got to me."



"Those three bogeys were tough to handle," Park said. "On 14 I thought I hit it a little too strong, but I was lucky."




"I'm just going to try and do the same things I've done the last three days," Park said. "It will be a big day, but it's just another round of golf."



"I was tired. But it was tough out there all day," Kim said. "I'm not sure it was the wind that got me, but playing conditions were very tough. I had some tough lies, tough breaks."



"I was able to stay focused," Kim said. "I mean, it's the U.S. Open. It's going to test you in every way."



"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous on the first tee," Shadoff said. "But the first couple holes steadied me down."



Shadoff matched Park's par parade with seven in a row to start, but she fell back with four bogeys on the back nine.



So Yeon Ryu of South Korea, the 2011 U.S. Open champion, shot 73 on her 23rd birthday to follow a 69 and is tied for fourth with Angela Stanford, who followed a second-round 68 with a 74.

A Lesson Learned: Play faster, play better

A Lesson Learned: Play faster, play better










Christopher Hawkins, PGA July 7, 2013 10:19 PM



Right now, one of the 'hot topics' in the golf world is pace of play - as it should be. But for all the talk about "Tee It Forward", "Time for Nine" and "While We're Young" (all great programs) - nothing makes golfers walk a little faster and get their rounds in quicker than the threat of bad weather or losing daylight.

So it didn't really surprise me when the Tour was able to finish on Sunday despite the last group not teeing off until after 5 pm and the sun scheduled to set around 8:30. It's not ideal but as the commercial says, "these guys are good." And if they (and the Tour) want to avoid a Monday finish, the reclubbing and extra reads don't appear near as often.

Of course, pace of play is never about one group. No matter how aware you are of playing faster, you can only go as fast as they group ahead of you. Isn't it amazing how they played faster too (again, no one likes the early Monday wake up to come back to play just a hole or two.) And at the local course, it's quite understandable that when you pay for 18 (or 9), you'd like to get your money's worth.

So this week's "A Lesson Learned" is a few simple tips to help you play well while playing faster.

* Playing faster does not mean swinging faster. Picking up the pace means everything that goes on between shots. Your swing tempo does not change.
* Keep your focus on your shot. Don't let the race against the sunset or coming rain distract you from your objective.
* Go through all your proper preparations and pre-shot routines. However, do them while your partner(s) are hititng their shots. When it's time for you to hit, you should be ready.
* Between shots; as you walk to your next shot, the cart or to the next tee, that is the time that a faster walk or even a jog might be in order.

I recently readthe story about the foursome who played four rounds in four time zones- all in one day. Amazingly, as a foursome walking, they played each round in under two hours!

An added bonus is that when you spend less time looking at other golfers and what they are doing, and you spend that time focusing on your game and your pace of play, you will be surprised at how much better you tend to play.

Obviously, we can't have a setting sun or a looming deadline on every group on every course, but the lessons learned from golfers when they are looking at time issues can apply for all of us for all our rounds.

Christopher Hawkins is a PGA instructor at John A. White Golf Course in Atlanta, GA. You can follow him on twitter at@chrishawkinsPGA

Inside the Ropes: Abbreviated schedule suits Stricker

Inside the Ropes: Abbreviated schedule suits Stricker









Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange July 7, 2013 11:30 PMThe SportsXchange


For Steve Stricker, the John Deere Classic this week probably will be one of his four majors in a season that's shaping up as semi-retirement.



That's because he's not playing in the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield.



When Stricker, 46, announced his abbreviated schedule at the start of the year, he said was tired of all the travel and would play only the majors and the three World Golf Championships that are contested in the United States.



Stricker probably doesn't believe he is missing much of a chance to claim his elusive first major title because a tie for seventh in 2008 at Royal Birkdale and a tie for eighth in 2007 at Carnoustie are his only top-10 finishes in 13 appearances at the oldest championship in the world.



"It's always fun to come here," Stricker said last year at TPC Deere Run, which is less than a three-hour drive from his home in Madison, Wis. He also is a University of Illinois alumnus. "And I get a lot of support here, and (I've) kind of been adopted by the local community here as one of their own.




The John Deere will be Stricker's eighth tournament of the season, so if he sticks with his plan to play only 11 events, he has the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the PGA Championship and one other start remaining this season.



The chances of his playing in the fall seem slim because he has an elk hunting trip scheduled for September.



"Golf is not the thing in my life as it once was. That was the reason why I scaled back. So I'm excited to go home. I'm excited to do some different things at home and get some time away again and ... (be) ready to play when I come back."



In addition, he has created a charitable foundation with the help of American Family Insurance that also keeps him busy.



"What I told Nicki was if I could just make enough money to pay our yearly expenses as a family, I'm fine with that," said Stricker, who has earned $2,187,146 on the PGA Tour this season, plus endorsement money.



I wanted to not have it be about me anymore."



Stricker was tied for second, one stroke out of the lead, headed to the final round in the U.S. Open at Merion before he hit two balls out of bounds on the second hole and carded a triple-bogey 8. He wound up with a 6-over-par 76 that left him in a tie for eighth.



"Not the (Sunday) start I was looking for. I felt good, felt relaxed. I was excited for the day. Just the nature of the game, I guess. It puts you in your place rather quickly at times. I'm not over this yet, but it won't take me long."

Golf glance

Golf glance









Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange July 7, 2013 11:30 PMThe SportsXchange



COMING UP

PGA TOUR: John Deere Classic at TPC John Deere in Silvis, Ill., Thursday through Sunday.

TV: Thursday and Friday, 3-6 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel; Saturday and Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel and 3-6 p.m. EDT on CBS.

LAST YEAR: Zach Johnson hit his approach shot from 193 yards with a 6-iron to within inches of the hole for a birdie on the second hole of a playoff to defeat Troy Matteson. Johnson, who grew up not far away in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and considers the John Deere his hometown event, claimed his ninth victory on the PGA Tour after tying for third at TPC Deere Run in 2011 and tying for second in 2009. It appeared that Johnson would win in regulation after two-putting for a birdie on the par-5 17th hole, but Matteson holed a 60-foot eagle putt on the same hole to tie for the lead and missed a 15-footer to win in the 72nd hole. Johnson missed his own 15-footer from the fringe on the final hole of regulation. On the first extra hole, both players drove into the same bunker and hit their approach shots into the water to card bogey 6s. Matteson missed a 43-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole.



CHAMPIONS TOUR: The 34th United States Senior Open Championship at Omaha Country Club, Omaha, Neb., Thursday through Sunday.

TV: Thursday and Friday, 4-8 p.m. EDT on ESPN2; Saturday and Sunday, 3-6 p.m. EDT on NBC.

LAST YEAR: Roger Chapman of England, who claimed his first victory on the Champions Tour two months earlier in the Senior PGA Championship, came from four strokes down in the final round to win by two shots over Corey Pavin, Bernhard Langer, Fred Funk and Tom Lehman at Indianwood Golf and Country Club in Lake Orion, Mich. The 53-year-old Chapman joined Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Hale Irwin as the only players to win the U.S. Senior Open and Senior PGA Championship in the same year. Langer, who won two majors on the PGA Tour and has two more on the Champions Tour, entered the final round with a four-stroke lead, but he closed with a 2-over-par 72. That opened the door for Chapman, who followed three 68s with a 66 in the final round, taking charge with four birdies in the last 11 holes.



LPGA TOUR: Manulife Financial LPGA Classic at Grey Silo Golf Course in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, Thursday through Sunday.

TV: Thursday and Friday, 12:30-2:30 p.m. EDT; Saturday and Sunday, 2:30-5:30 p.m. EDT, on the Golf Channel each day.

LAST YEAR: Brittany Lang earned her first victory on the LPGA Tour in the inaugural event by holing a six-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to defeat Hee Kyung Seo of South Korea. Lang made birdie on all three extra holes, while Chella Choi of South Korea dropped out with a par on the first playoff hole and Inbee Park of South Korea was finished after a par on the second. Lang, who closed with a 67, had a chance to win in regulation but missed a birdie putt, as did Choi (63), Park (69) and Seo (67). It took the 26-year-old Lang, who left Duke after her sophomore season, seven years to win on the LPGA Tour, and she also became the first former Blue Devil to win on the circuit.