Sorenstam, Pak Lead After First Round
LPGA
Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak are tied with two others for the lead after round 1 at the U.S. Women’s Open in Rhode Island. Sorenstam awoke from season-long funk and played very solid all day. Se Ri Pak is slowly startging to resemble the Se Ri from the “old days” when she battled Annika and Karrie Webb for the majors.
It’s very early in the tournament but Michelle Wie is only 1 back with Paula Creamer and Lorena Ochoa two back. American teen phenom Morgan Pressel shot a 76 and finds herself 7 back already. Pressel has been struggling with her putter as of late and just can’t seem to stay consistent with her stroke.
PGA
Tom Watson made some very candid comments in an interview the other day when asked about the PGA’s new FedEx Cup for next year. To paraphrase, he said that all that money on the PGA tour is corrupting American players to the point that they’re just not as competitive as their international counterparts.Watson very accurately pointed out that 20 out of the top 30 finishers at the U.S. Open were foreign-born players and that currently they are better golfers. I have to whole-heartedly agree with Watson as I’ve said the same thing here. There is virtually no incentive (save the Woods’, Mickelson’s, Els’, Goosen’s) for the tour players to push themselves week after week because the money is just too good.
Now, I don’t begrudge any of the PGA tour players, as I’d stand in line as well to collect those checks for playing average golf every week. And if you think about it, save for Tiger Woods, who on the tour (American or international) has come out and said that winning majors is what drives them? No one comes to mind. Sure, they all say it during majors week, but look at their performance in non-majors.