Jamie Farr (spoilers)

[dynarider]

It is the one and only Klinger

So how did he end up getting a tournament named after himself?

 

[Harry Longshanks]

Rather than lengthening courses, they should begin by narrowing the fairways. Too many are just wide open.

I guess that was the ultra-rare "drive by posting" from Claire.

 

[JB]

So how did he end up getting a tournament named after himself?

He is the host and has been since the mid 80s.

 

[Harry Longshanks]

I'm still p.o.'d that they took Dinah Shore's name off her tournament. Talk about someone who elevated the stature of women's golf!

 

[JB]

^^^^
Agreed. After everything that has come out this week about losing tournies and that their are right now possibly less than 10 full field events in the US, this organization could be in major trouble. I keep assuming that because of the TV contract, it will work next year, but now I am just not sure.

 

[Harry Longshanks]

Third round photos:

Spoiler

Morgan Pressel:

Suzann Pettersen:

Michelle Wie:

Laura Diaz:

Natalie Gulbis:

Eunjung Yi:

Sarah Kemp:

 

[Harry Longshanks]

Third round photos, part 2:

Spoiler

Seon Hwa Lee:

Song-Hee Kim:

Lorena:

Mikaela Parmlid:

 

[soxngolf]

I was going to say the same, JB. I was suprised at the vehemence from the Grey Goose 19th Hole guys last night about only one of Inkster and Wie having substance and the other being all show or something (i.e., Inkster has the substance). Have they looked at Wie's results this year? You tell me which player is the substantive golfer here (clearly neither is a flash in the pan, as suggested by what's his name):

Player A 2009 stats:
STARTS: 10 VICTORIES: 0 TOP 10 FINISHES: 0 EARNINGS: $130,210.00

Player B 2009 stats:
STARTS: 10 VICTORIES: 0 TOP 10 FINISHES: 4 EARNINGS: $361,960.00

Hint: Wie is Player B. I realize Inkster brings experience and a moderating presence of some sort for the girls. But you also need someone who can play, and right now Wie is playing better than Inkster despite the huge gulf in golf experience.

Inkster career stats:
Total wins: 37 (6 non LPGA) Total Majors Won: 7 Member of the World Golf Hall of Fame: in 2000 Total Career Earnings: $12,562,990 Total Solheim Cups: 7 Solheim Cups Won: 4 Career in Soheim Cup: 14-8-5

Wie Career Stats:
Total Wins: 0 Total Majors Won: 0 Career Total Earnings:#361,960 Total Solheim Cups: 0

Now I am not disputing that Michelle has played better than Juli this year, but I don't think it is my a huge margin (4 top tens, Juli has a T11 and a T15) I just don't think it is fair to put a statistic discussion about the substance of a player without showing their career statistics. You can make an argument that we don't know what kind of player Wie will be until we see compete on tour and win. We know what kind of player Juli Inkster is and what she will bring to the Solhiem Cup.

WSE:Because Diaz also comes with experience, I'd say the choice should not be Inkster or Wie, but Inkster or Diaz.

I don't think the choice is between the two of them, it is not an either or situation between Inkster and Wie, there are two captain's picks, it should be both of them.

 

[JB]

Soxy,
I strongly disagree. David Duval should not be considered for a Ryder Cup, however his career numbers show otherwise according to that logic. And 4 top 10s compared to zero but having a 11th and a 15th is a big difference. Inkster for the most part has not really been relevent yet Wie has contended into the weekend at least.

I think career stats should mean nothing when deciding, and unfortunately they do and that is why she will most likely make the team.

 

[soxngolf]

I am not talking only about her career stats for the Solheim, I am just saying that if you are discussing the substance of a player their career statistics should be included. As far as the Solheim Cup, lets remember that Inkster is ranked #14 in Solheim Cup points over the last two years. That is why she is in the discussion. She is just 40 points from the top 10. Duval isn't a good argument because his record in the last two years wouldn't put him near the qualifying points.

 

[JB]

However your thoughts were that career stats should be a part of it, but in my mind, they should really not be. You have to choose the player that makes your team better and it is better for the sport. Inkster is a true legend and one of the best ever, but IMHO she does not make this team better at all and does absolutely nothing for the sport at this point in terms of the Solheim.

We are talking about something at this point that is much bigger than just the competition and that is the state of ladies golf. They need attention and they need it badly. The tour is on the verge of going away it seems (atleast as we know it) and if you have a choice between two players that are equal, one that will give you tremendous media coverage and the other gives you nothing more than experience, you have to go with the "savior".

To me it is completely irresponsible to do anything other than that.

 

[JB]

THis sentence was was taken from an article on Yahoo.

“You look at how amazing Tiger Woods has been and what a draw he is. Of our players, Michelle Wie has that quality,” Higdon said.

David Higdon is the LPGA Tour Spokeman

 

[soxngolf]

What I think should happen is that both should be picked. I think we are forgetting that there are two picks. I do think you are under estimating what Inkster's experience in the Solheim Cup can bring. Every golfer who participates in the Cup talks about how it is the most intense pressure and a totally different experience then they have ever have. If you look at the ten there are not a lot of Solheims between the ten of them. I really think that having Inkster there will be a big help to the team. But it doesn't have to be over Michelle, here are the players 11-20, you can pick any two:

11 Laura Diaz 177.0
12 Stacy Prammanasudh 170.0
13 Pat Hurst 164.0
14 Juli Inkster 152.0
15 Jane Park 141.0
16 Wendy Ward 117.5
17 Michelle Wie 105.0
18 Meaghan Francella 102.5
19 Irene Cho 90.5
20 Michele Redman 82.0
T21 Stacy Lewis 69.0

If you don't pick Inkster, who are you picking?

 

[JB]

Diaz deserves the pick. She is playing well and has been most of the year.

 

[soxngolf]

Diaz deserves the pick. She is playing well and has been most of the year.

If you don't think Juli has had a good year, you can't think Laura Diaz is having a good year. Here are Laura's statistics this year:

12 starts, 7 missed cuts, best finish tied for 26th and that was back in March. Since March 29th she has missed 7 cuts and placed 60th and 46th.:confused2:

 

[JB]

Agreed, but she has been relevent and has put up good numbers just not for the entire tourny. But I do think she should have the spot over Inkster. However I would not be upset if either of them get it. As for Wie, I think it is a must that she is selected.

 

[worst_shot_ever]

There's no doubt Inkster's lifetime stats prove she has been a substantive force on the LPGA for a long time. She's not playing all that well lately, though. But I got the impression that Diaz is in, and that the debate has resolved down to Inkster or Wie for the second captain's spot -- at least that was how the premise was set up on the Grey Goose 19th Hole show. I agree that the best choice would be Inkster and Wie, no Diaz. But also, I believe that what Inkster adds is not a particularly great likelihood that she will defeat her opponent; rather I see her as a resource for the better, but younger players which may help them to defeat theirs. While I think Wie has a fair chance to beat the Euros she gets paired against, plus she brings the interest the LPGA needs so badly.

 

[MO_Hacker]

Maybe Inkster should be included as an assistant to the captain, that way they can have the benefit of her experience.

 

[Harry Longshanks]

I just don't think it is fair to put a statistic discussion about the substance of a player without showing their career statistics. You can make an argument that we don't know what kind of player Wie will be until we see compete on tour and win. We know what kind of player Juli Inkster is and what she will bring to the Solhiem Cup.

soxy-

I agree that you cannot do any sort of analysis without looking at BOTH a player's current play and their career. If you look only at their current play, you end up with players like Brett Wetterich and Vaughn Taylor, who both made the 2006 Ryder Cup because they were hot during the points period - and who, together, accounted for a whopping ½ point during the Ryder Cup.

So, when utilizing a Captain's Pick, why wouldn't you look at both career and current play?

The Wie vs. Inkster discussion is tough though. Wie is only 19, so she doesn't have the pedigree that Inkster has. And (if you compare Solheim points standings) she's only been an LPGA member for 6 months, so she's trying to qualify in a short period, whereas Inkster has had the full 2 year period to accumulate points.

Personally, I take them both and leave out Diaz. But if I have to take only one, I take Wie.

Does anyone know if there is a breakdown of points earned during 2009 only?

 

[Harry Longshanks]

This is going to be a boring broadcast if Morgan Pressel doesn't start making birdies.

Eunjung Yi is currently 5 shots ahead of the #2 score.

Suzann Pettersen has moved within 6 shots with 2 birdies today. Sarah Kemp is within 5 with 3 birdies. Lyndsey Wright is -6 today, but is running out of holes and is unlikely to catch Yi unless Yi collapses.

 

[JB]

soxy-

I agree that you cannot do any sort of analysis without looking at BOTH a player's current play and their career. If you look only at their current play, you end up with players like Brett Wetterich and Vaughn Taylor, who both made the 2006 Ryder Cup because they were hot during the points period - and who, together, accounted for a whopping ½ point during the Ryder Cup.

So, when utilizing a Captain's Pick, why wouldn't you look at both career and current play?

The Wie vs. Inkster discussion is tough though. Wie is only 19, so she doesn't have the pedigree that Inkster has. And (if you compare Solheim points standings) she's only been an LPGA member for 6 months, so she's trying to qualify in a short period, whereas Inkster has had the full 2 year period to accumulate points.

Personally, I take them both and leave out Diaz. But if I have to take only one, I take Wie.

Does anyone know if there is a breakdown of points earned during 2009 only?

Wie is way ahead of both of them Harry if IIRC from what they showed yesterday on TGC for just this year. But I am still not sure I agree about the career. Duval may have been a bad example because he other than the US Open has been plain bad. But take Davis Love or Freddy as an example. They could have been picked and if it was done based on career, they probably should have been. But it is really not the right way to do things in my opinion.

You are supposed to take players for the better of your team and Wie is the only choice that as of right now is playing well enough to win matches.

 

[Harry Longshanks]

But, for the sake of a parallel analysis, if the choice in 2006 had been between Brett Wetterich/Vaughn Taylor or Davis Love for the Captain's Pick, I would have taken DLIII without any reservations.

 

[JB]

However if the choices were this year would you really take DLIII over someone like Briney Baird? Baird has been relevent with top 10s and DLIII has been no where. I think it is a very nice comparision between the PGA and LPGA

 

[JB]

Speaking of Wie it is nice to see that she played FABULOUS today and put herself once again in a top 10... Right now top 5.

 

[GolferGal]

I LOVE Michelle Wie's outfit today.