The Sand Trap » LPGA

A Wie Little Tweak to the Rolex Women’s World Rankings

Erik J. Barzeski — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 02:51:18 +0000

The Rolex Women's World Rankings (or "The Rolex Rankings") were unveiled in February to the amusement of many - Michelle Wie was ranked third (and quickly moved up to second) ahead of four-time winner Paula Creamer, consistent performer Natalie Gulbis, multiple winner Lorena Ochoa, and others.

Since then, Michelle has finished in the top five in every LPGA event she's played in 2006, including all three women's majors played so far. Many feel this validates her spot below Annika Sorenstam in the rankings.

But that all changed yesterday when the Rolex Rankings announced a tweak to the system that will likely drop the 16-year-old phenom from second to seventh. The new rankings will be unveiled after this week's Women's British Open.
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2006 Weetabix Women’s British Open Preview

Guest Author — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 23:22:31 +0000

Only on the LPGA Tour could a major championship be sponsored by a cereal company. Weetabix, the English food company, hosts the final major championship of the year, the Women's British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England. Here's hoping the final major of the year has as much snap, crackle, and pop as last month's U.S. Women's Open.
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Sick of Wie Whiners

Erik J. Barzeski — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:30:27 +0000

Joe Ogilvie may have said it best: "She's better than Tiger was at 16. I played with Tiger, and Tiger wasn't this good. Everybody is like, 'Win, win, win.' She's 16. Chill out. Once she gets to winning, you'll get sick of her winning."

I'm not a raving, ranting Michelle Wie fan. I'd like to see her win a tournament. I'd like to see her learn to crush opponents. I'd like to see her spend some more time competing against her peers.

But don't put me in the camp of Wie detractors, either, and I'm sick of hearing from those who are.
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2006 U.S. Women’s Open Preview

Guest Author — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 13:24:12 +0000

Although there's a PGA Tour event this week, the real action may be coming from the ladies. Yes, it is their turn to compete for a USGA major championship and with the young guns on the LPGA tour including Morgan Pressel and Michelle Wie, it will surely be an interesting tournament. We can expect another media field day with young Wie this week as she attempts to secure her first professional victory and perhaps validate all the attention she's attracted attempting to compete with the men.
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Karrie Webb Wins Kraft Nabisco

Guest Author — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 21:13:32 +0000

It looked like Lorena Ochoa had it locked up, but thanks to a miraculous 116 yard pitch that found the hole Karrie Webb would have a chance to win the women's first major of the year in a playoff. Webb was so stunned by the final hour of the Kraft Nabisco Championship that she lost her way after completing an amazing comeback Sunday. Even after holing out with her wedge, Webb had to watch Michelle Wie try for an eagle chip and the win. She wound up with a par to finish one shot behind. Lorena Ochoa recovered from a back-nine collapse in time to hit a 5-wood onto the island green at the 18th, then made a six-foot eagle putt to force the first playoff at Mission Hills in 14 years. Webb won with a seven-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole.
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Pampling and Inkster Grind Out Victories

Guest Author — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 02:50:26 +0000

Australian Rod Pampling proved to be just lucky enough this St. Patrick's Day weekend to overcome a two-shot deficit with two holes to play. He started the day with a substantial four-shot lead, but quickly saw that lead collapse after carding a double-bogey six on the par-four 13th hole after shoving his drive out-of-bounds. He thought that he had handed the tournament to Greg Owen on a silver platter, the two-shot lead seemed too great to overcome in just two holes. However, Owen would take three putts to get down from 40 inches on the 17th green and would drop another stroke after a putt that looked center-cut agonizingly lipped out on the 72nd hole. "I can't believe it missed," he said afterward. "I cannot believe it missed."

Pampling used to be known as that guy who held the first-round lead of the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie only to blow up Friday and miss the cut. Now he's known as only the second non-American player to ever win the Bay Hill Invitational.
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Weekend Triplet: Triplett, Ogilvy, and Lee Win Events

Guest Author — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 02:22:13 +0000

If the audience of the 2006 World Golf Championship Accenture Match Play Tournament has learned anything, it's that match play is ridiculously unpredictable.

Play started Wednesday with a couple of tournament records. Tiger Woods (1) broke the winning differential record with a solid trouncing of Stephen Ames (64). Tiger managed to win every single hole on the front nine before letting up and halving the 10th for a 9&8 victory. Asked his reaction to Stephen Ames' comment that "Anyone can win in match play… especially where he [Tiger] is hitting it," Tiger simply responded "9 and 8." Scott Verplank and Lee Westwood tied a tournament record by playing eight extra holes for a total of 26, an exhausting day that perhaps contributed to both players' early exits in subsequent rounds.
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Wie Debuts at Third in World Rankings

Guest Author — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 21:36:41 +0000

The first comprehensive world rankings system for women has been released. As you would expect, Annika Sorenstam tops the list. Her place atop the list was a foregone conclusion, but the placement of some other gal golfers has many scratching their heads in confusion.

Most notably, rookie Michelle Wie occupies the third spot on the list with a 9.24 points Average, sandwiched between Paula Creamer (second place with 9.56) and Cristie Kerr (6.94).

Creamer and Kerr combine for eight career LPGA victories while Wie has a big goose egg in professional golf. Kerr voiced her opinion on this matter, saying "Michelle is a sweet girl, she really is, but she hasn't done anything worthy of being ranked so high." While this may seem true, the Women's World Golf Ranking doesn't rank players the same way the men's system works.
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Preview: SBS Open – Aloha Ladies!

Guest Author — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 16:00:25 +0000

I wouldn't miss the opening of LPGA golf season for the world so I am back from my brief respite to enjoy the festivities. The final field has already been chosen and viewers will have a first-hand opportunity to see both emerging golf stars as well as to welcome back some familiar faces.

In addition, the SBS Open will be played at the spectacular Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu. For readers who follow Big Break V:Hawaii, this is the same retreat that functions as the reality show's training ground. The winner of BBV will have the opportunity to challenge the top performers in the field of women's golf later in the season.
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Sorenstam and Creamer Create Buzz in South Africa

Guest Author — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:06:11 +0000

There were two reasons why Annika Sorenstam played golf at the World Cup this week. Not only was she intent upon winning her first tournament of the new year but she also had an announcement of grand proportions.

Sorenstam wasn't the only LPGA golfer to create a buzz in South Africa although her news was directly related to this small country. The number-two player in the world created headlines of her own.

Paula Creamer is now playing golf with a Precept ball. Her intent? "Everything I do, I do with the goal in mind of becoming the number-one ranked women's player in the world."

The problem is that nobody told this to Annika as she soundly trounced Team USA.
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