Congrats to Lydia Ko - Major Win #2

[boogielicious]

9 hours ago, Pendragon said:

You make a fair point, but who's to say that Wie would have gone to Stanford and stayed to graduate if she'd stuck to playing with the women and had won 2 or 3 majors by the time she was 17? I think most would agree that what Lydia Ko has accomplished is pretty much what B.J. Wie had in mind for his daughter before he pushed her to compete against the men. Perhaps the dose of reality that provided made the idea of a college education look much more sensible. I guess we'll never know. Maybe she'll figure it out and put together some really good years on the LPGA, although 2016 isn't off to a very good start. She'll be an interesting story to follow this year and in the future.

 

I didn't get that vibe in her Feherty interview. It seemed college was very important and the comp against the men was for fun because it was at her home course. Ko on the other hand has a specific time-table goal. She wants to be done by 30. Overall skill wise (entire game) she is better than Wie ever was. Wie was longer off the tee, like Lexi, an sponsors jumped on that. Maybe early on, Wie had those goals, but once she decided to go to college, things changed. That was very mature of her.

[jsgolfer]

On 4/4/2016 at 7:27 AM, Scotsclaff said:

And she hammers the shit out of Tiger,her record is incredible.

Come ahead and play with the boys,Lydia!

As others have said, she has no chance against the guys.  Not sure what you mean by hammering the shit out of Tiger?  Totally different game between the men and ladies.  Great accomplishment, but better than Tiger, ah...No.

[ScouseJohnny]

Does everything in golf have to be measured against Tiger Woods? Even the performance of players on the LPGA?

[Ric]

I think Lydia is a typical person with a strong golf talent. I belong to Gulf Harbour CC in New Zealand and was at the club Saturday morning watching the Masters and one of our club pros joined us and commented on Lydia who practiced here for years as a young teen and the pro and all at our table agreed that she was a typical teen age girl just like most of the rest of girls in their early teens. She would generally think about things other than golf, typical teen things and was laid back, as she walked the course but when she came to her ball she completely golf focused in a very relaxed way. Another guy at the table commented on what past PGA Tour player John Lister (John played the PGA Tour in the early 70s and early 80s and plays Gulf Harbour quite a bit) said about Lydia as he watched her on the practice range one day. John said Lydia hit a pin 90 meters out 3 times in a row and he personally hadn't seen anyone do that before and kind of knew she was special. Anyway, I think it's best to think of her as just like anyone else except she just has an exceptional talent for golf. Most people who are at the top of their profession just simply have a knack for it. I may be wrong but I don't think there's any magic formula or magic practice routine, you're either born that way or not.

[natureboy]

On 4/8/2016 at 9:01 PM, Ric said:

I think Lydia is a typical person with a strong golf talent. I belong to Gulf Harbour CC in New Zealand and was at the club Saturday morning watching the Masters and one of our club pros joined us and commented on Lydia who practiced here for years as a young teen and the pro and all at our table agreed that she was a typical teen age girl just like most of the rest of girls in their early teens. She would generally think about things other than golf, typical teen things and was laid back, as she walked the course but when she came to her ball she completely golf focused in a very relaxed way. Another guy at the table commented on what past PGA Tour player John Lister (John played the PGA Tour in the early 70s and early 80s and plays Gulf Harbour quite a bit) said about Lydia as he watched her on the practice range one day. John said Lydia hit a pin 90 meters out 3 times in a row and he personally hadn't seen anyone do that before and kind of knew she was special. Anyway, I think it's best to think of her as just like anyone else except she just has an exceptional talent for golf. Most people who are at the top of their profession just simply have a knack for it. I may be wrong but I don't think there's any magic formula or magic practice routine, you're either born that way or not.

For exceptional talent like hers, sure it's innate. But some born with less talent can out-work or outlearn those with more physical talent in golf. She couldn't have rolled out of bed and performed like she has. The 'grind' mentality or enjoying practice is kind of its own talent.

The bit I highlighted is interesting as I think knocking down pins from range on approach is how she does so well. A bit like Tiger per Broadie, despite what commentators say about her putting being her standout skill based on her PPGIR stats.

In 2015 Lydia ranked 60th in distance and 43rd in fairways, both a bit above average, but not hugely so. But she ranked 2nd in GIR despite her distance disadvantage to the longest hitters. Now it could be that her high GIR is from picking safer targets and not going at pins and putting lights out from long range, but I expect that she's more of an average LPGA putter (in terms of Strokes Gained), but consistently hits great approaches. She may make more than her share of 'important' / pressure putts, though.

[gregsandiego]

On 4/4/2016 at 4:27 AM, Scotsclaff said:

And she hammers the shit out of Tiger,her record is incredible.

Come ahead and play with the boys,Lydia!

Michelle Wie tired that remember?

http://golf.about.com/od/golferswomen/p/michelle_wie.htm

 

[DrvFrShow]

Lydia is not long enough off the tee to play on the PGA tour. End of story. She averages 254 yds with her driver. She could probably beat a good portion of the male pros out there, but not the ones on the tour. 

 

 

 

[boogielicious]

Another reason to like Lydia Ko. Very mature for a 19 year old.

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/lydia-kos-group-was-put-on-the-clock-she-blames-herself

Quote

When asked about the incident after the round, Ko noted that being put on the clock came after her double bogey.

"It was tough to even get back in position," said Ko. "I feel bad because I feel like it was my fault."

Obviously, you’re going to take extra time when you’re looking for a ball lost in a hazard, taking a drop, and hitting another shot. But getting put on the clock comes from more than just one bad hole. It’s honorable of Ko to take the blame for her group’s slow play, but the group’s play during their first eight holes is just as responsible for the group getting put on the clock.