Sorry folks...Temporary Leave due to passing of my cousin Shelly

Next up...HanaBank LPGA Championship from Incheon, S.Korea

The SKY 72 GOLF & RESORT Ocean Course will be host to this week's LPGA HanaBank Championship in Yeonjongdo, Incheon. This resort proudly boasts the world's largest driving range known as "Dream Golf Range" in the Guiness Book of World Records! It is known as Korea's largest Golf Club, with four 18-hole golf courses.

This weeks tournament will be the 9th for HanaBank. Na Yeon Choi is the defending champion, who is also taking a climb up into the top 6 of the Rolex Rankings!

Na Yeon Choi won on the 18th hole last year, when Maria Hjorth dropped her ball into the water. This season, Na Yeon Choi has had 11 Top Ten finishes and one victory. She's had 19 starts in 2010 with only 1 missed cut. Her driving average in 254.2 and scoring avg 69.94.


Se Ri Pak was winner of the innaugural tournament, Grace Park won #3 and Suzann Pettersen was winner of #6.

You can go to the official tournament site and click on the "course" heading and then "course strategy", to see each and every hole. It's really one of the best tournament sites I've ever reviewed! This Ocean course plays 7,275 yds and was designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Here is the link to get you started http://www.hanabankgolf.com/english/index.asp

Television coverage will be on the GC, Oct. 29th-31st from 12:00 - 2:00 PM ET.

Juli Inkster is listed in the final field for this weeks tourney; I will be rooting for her to get the WIN after her great play in Malaysia at Sime Darby, when it came down to the final hole and her pitch out of the sand took her too many feet from the pin for a par, to get her into a playoff spot with Jimin Kang.

Now, Go Hit Some Balls...............

Cristie Kerr takes back No. 1 spot from Ai Miyazato!

Cristie Kerr has regained the No.1 spot in the Rolex Rankings that came out yesterday. To say she is elated would be putting it midly. Being No.1 & maintaining No.1 have been her goal this season. 

She held the spot for 4 weeks earlier this season before Ai Miyazato reclaimed it. Ai has since held onto it for 9 weeks, until now. 

Cristie has had 11 Top Ten finishes this season, with 2 WINS. She's had 41 rounds under par and 28 of those in the 60's! She is ranked #2 in Birdies, with 266. At No.1 in the rankings, her scoring avg is 69.89.


Ai has had 8 Top Ten finishes this season, with 5 WINS. She's had 38 rounds under par and 23 of which were in the 60's. She's had 238 birdies and is currently ranked at #3.


In the last 3 tournaments that both participated in, here's how they compared with their finishes and rounds....

       Cristie                                   Ai

P&G NW Arkansas Championship       T32, 72, 71, 70                  T09,  71, 69, 67
Navistar LPGA Classic                       T03, 65, 67, 67, 72             T27,  70, 69, 68, 72
Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia                 08,  72, 71, 67                  T28,  76, 70, 69

The remaining in the Rolex Rankings are as follows behind our leader Cristie Kerr; Jiyai Shin, Ai Miyazato, Suzann Pettersen, Yani Tseng & Na Yeon Choi. You can follow the rankings as each tournament passes, via http://www.rolexrankings.com/ . And, don't forget to follow your individual players stats, etc. at LPGA.com via http://www.lpga.com .

From pc hackers to a hole-in-one......

Who says the PGA isn't exciting?

With John Daly's recent report of someone "hacking" into his private computer and deleting his social network accounts, to Jonathan Byrd winning on the fourth playoff hole with a hole-in-one, can only be topped by Fred Couples winning by 7!

Jonathan Byrd was the winner of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. He went into a playoff with Martin Laird and Percy Cameron to get to the 4th playoff and sink a hole-in-one! He had only 4 birdies & one bogey carded on his final round of 68. Prior rounds were 66, 63 & 68. A South Carolina native and a graduate of Clemson University, he joined the Tour in 2000. He's missed the cut 9 times this season out of 26 events, and this was his 1st win of the year! I'd say he did that with panache'! Congrats Jonathan!!

Fred Couples was another exciting finish on the Champions Tour in Woodlands, Texas yesterday. He shot a final round of 9 under to finish at 63 in the Administaff Small Business Classic. With only 24 putts in the final round, he considers it likely his best! His final 8 holes resulted in an EAGLE and 5 birdies! After his first 10 holes, he still sat 2 strokes behind recent Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin. That didn't take long to change when he put it into drive and didn't look back for his final 8 holes. He will be taking a week off and foregoing the AT&T Championship in San Antonio. He wants to be ready for the Schwab Cup the following week. Freddy admits that he is physically drained after this win at Woodlands. Great Play Freddy, and enjoy your week off....well deserved!

On the European Tour, Matteo Manassero became the youngest player to win on the Tour at 17 y.o. After just making his professional debut in May of this year, he has come on board ablaze! He shot a 4 under, 67 in the final round to win at 16 under par to take home the trophy! He has broken the previous record held by 18 y.o. Danny Lee of New Zealand. Breaking records by winning big is not completely new to this youngster. He also broke a record at age 16 when he won the British Amateur Championship last year! While at a loss for words following his big WIN, Matteo replied to reporters that he was both too young to drink or drive a car and also noted that he did not have a girlfriend to buy a gift for, so he was unsure just what he would be spending his winnings on. Spoken from the mouths of babes eh? Congrats Matteo, I know we'll be hearing alot more about you in the years to come!

And well, last but not least....John Daly. He's not in the news for any flamboyant partying that may have gotten him noticed in the past. Now, he tells GC that his personal email along with Facebook and Twitter accounts were hacked into. Hmmmmm, I won't even delve into this much except to say that his girlfriend and  her 2 daughters were said to be receiving threats from the "hacker". While his email and Facebook accounts had been deactivated, reportedly his Twitter account was open yet only had 6 followers and no recent tweets as of earlier today.



In other Tidbits.......

Wayne Perske, an Australian golfer was arrested in Japan for allegedly having cocaine on his person while out at a bar. In Japan, this charge can bring a sentence of up to 7 yrs! Perske has admitted to this being for his own consumption. Perske who hails from Brisbane in Queensland, Australia has played professionally since 2000 with most of that being on the Japan Tour. All I can say is....You play, you pay.

Do you ever get irritated on those playing up on you too closely or are you always on the look out for stray flying balls. If not, you should be!  Hiroshi Tango of Brea has died 9 days after being hit by a golf ball while playing at Los Serranous Country Club in Chino, when he was hit in the head. Initially, Hiroshi reported neck and head pain and was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center. Sadly, he has died of his injuries. My condolances go out to his family! GODSPEED to Hiroshi for doing what he loved.

Now, Go Hit Some Balls...............

From car accidents to turned down application, to withdrawal, to a WIN!

Monty survives a crash without injury, Anthony Kim gets turned down after submitting an application for the 2011 European Tour (when he was hoping to get a medical exemption), and AK parties it up in Vegas and withdraws from tourney the following day, and an "alternate" gets the Grand Slam Title. To say this has been a wild week, would be putting it midly! But, that happens all over the world regardless of the career path any of us choose to take.

Ernie Els wins the Grandslam of Golf by defeating David Toms by 1 stroke, without winning even 1 major this season! He turned a 3 shot deficit into a 1 shot win after carding 3 consecutive birdies on the back 9 wednesday! All this, after he was an alternate who filled in for Phil Mickelson. David Toms was also an alternate, who was filling in the place left by Louis Oosthuizen.

At the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Martin Laird in currently in 1st place. Cameron Percy and Jonathan Byrd are tied for 2nd followed by John Senden and Webb Simpson in 4th.

It just goes to show you that no matter what career or sport you're in; there's always going to be something or someone taking the headlines. And while it may not always be for their shortcomings, the accolades take a back seat to any antics that the media can get their hands on. All the more reason for me to say I commend the men and women who are working hard on their respective Tours and staying focused and avoiding being in the headlines for the "wrong" reasons!

Now, Go Hit Some Balls..............

Jimin Kang claims her 2nd LPGA WIN at the innagural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia!

Jimin Kang heard the sounds of the crowd behind her as she finished up on #18, and had to wonder just how close Juli Inkster was to making a playoff a possibility. She anxiously awaited for Juli's finish before she would know if she would tout the trophy for the innaugural Sime Darby LPGA tournament in Malaysia.

Juli just missed becoming the oldest women to win in LPGA history. That in itself sounds rather brash considering Juli is only 50 yrs old. Juli kept a bounce in her step right to the finish at 18, when she bogeyed the hole after she pitched it out of the sand and rolled several feet past the pin. This set up for a very long par putt, which did not drop. While her playing partners finished, Juli sat on her golf bag and you could see the dejection on her face. Juli played a great tournament with rounds of 71, 67 & 67.

Jimin had rounds of 70, 69 & 65 respectively, with her final round consisting of 7 birdies and only 1 bogey. Once she saw that Juli bogeyed the hole, tears began to flow while near the scoring tent and watching it on TV.  She had her rookie year in 2003 after college at Arizona State. Today was just her 2nd win on tour, with the first in 2005 at the LPGA Corning Classic. That was also where she carded her first hole-in-one! She has a career low round of 62, which came the week following her 1st win. This year, she had not finished higher than a tie for 7th place.

A tip of the visor to Christina Kim for her 6th place finish, a tie with Jiyai Shin. Cristie Kerr finished in 8th place, and there was a 3 way tie for 9th, with Beatriz Recari, Jee Young Lee and Song-Hee Kim. Maria Hjorth was also a contender today and finished in a tie for 3rd, with Mika Miyazato, behind Juli's 2nd place. Meena Lee took 5th place on her own.

Recent winner Katherine Hull finished in a tie for 23rd, after a final round of 70 today. Two others in the top 6 in world rankings had the following finishes; Suzann Pettersen in a tie for 16th place and Yani Tseng in a tie for 41st.

A great innaugural tournament for Sime Darby indeed!

Now, Go Hit Some Balls................

2011 U.S. Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle, Ireland "Battle at The Castle"

Well, the 2010 season is flying by us which means that the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup will be hear before you know it. Afterall, we are only 9 1/2 weeks away from Christmas! And, 337 days away from the "Battle at The Castle" but who's counting? hehe

This year's Captain, Rosie Jones and her Assistant Captains Juli Inkster & Sheri Steinhauer agree. After the RICOH Women's British Open, they took a looksee at the course, the accomodations, everything that will soon surround them at the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup. Anything from the room sizes, the locker room, the food, the bus routes, the furniture, TV, computers, etc.

Whilst there, the Captains were able able to see the course in tournament conditions since the Ladies European Tour was hosting the Ladies Irish Open. Playing in that tournament were Christina Kim, Brittany Lincicome, Kristy McPherson, Brittany Lang and Angela Stanford. All five were members of the 2009 U.S. Solheim Cup Team at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, IL.

I have attached the table below, showing the 2011 U.S. Solheim Point Standings and the European Team Standings. As you will note, the U.S. uses the top 10 in point standings and 2 Captains picks. Europe uses the top 4 on Europe Standings, top 4 on Rolex Standings and 4 Captains picks.

The European Team will be Captained by Allison Nicholas and Assistants Annika Sorenstam and Joanne Morley, all shown below. Yes, Allison was able to convince Annika to come out of retirement to be her right hand lady, her Vice Captain! She will be a great asset to the European Team and Allison will count on her to be the "mastermind on course strategy". I think that's a job Annika can certainly excel at.

It's not too early to start planning your travel accomodations if you are fortunate to be going. You can check out Solheim Cup Travel link or go to  The Solheim Cup site by clicking on this link provided. You can find The Solheim Cup on Facebook as well.

U.S. AND EUROPEAN SOLHEIM CUP POINTS STANDINGS

2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Points Standings - 10/15/2010 2011 European Solheim Cup Points Standings - 10/15/2010 Rank Name Points Rank Name Points 1 Cristie Kerr 363.0 1 Laura Davies 150.33 2 Michelle Wie 213.0 2 Melissa Reid 81.83 3 Morgan Pressel 211.0 3 Virginie Lagoutte-Clement 79.25 4 Angela Stanford 168.0 4 Suzann Pettersen 68.50 5 Paula Creamer 163.0 5 Trish Johnson 63.17 6 Brittany Lang 142.0 6 Marianne Skarpnord 55.67 7 Brittany Lincicome 138.0 7 Iben Tinning 54.58 8 Kristy McPherson 110.0 Rolex Rankings 9 Christina Kim 107.0 1 Anna Nordqvist 11 10 Stacy Lewis 91.0 2 Catriona Matthew 27 11 Vicky Hurst 77.0 3 Sophie Gustafson 28 12 Juli Inkster 63.0 4 Maria Hjorth 41 13 Stacy Prammanasudh 52.0 5 Azahara Munoz 42 14 Natalie Gulbis 43.0 6 Karine Icher 74 15 Wendy Ward 42.0 7 Karen Stupples 78 Top-10 automatically qualify and the captain has two picks. Top-4 on European points list and top-4 on Rolex Rankings qualify along with four captain picks.

2011 European Solheim Cup Points Standings - 10/15/2010
Rank	Name	Points
1	Laura Davies	150.33
2	Melissa Reid	81.83
3	Virginie Lagoutte-Clement	79.25
4	Suzann Pettersen	68.50
5	Trish Johnson	63.17
6	Marianne Skarpnord	55.67
7	Iben Tinning	54.58
Rolex Rankings
1	Anna Nordqvist	11
2	Catriona Matthew	27
3	Sophie Gustafson	28
4	Maria Hjorth	41
5	Azahara Munoz	42
6	Karine Icher	74
7	Karen Stupples	78
Top-4 on European points list and top-4 on Rolex Rankings qualify along with four captain picks.

So, now you have the first U.S. Solheim Cup update from The Fore Report!

Now, Go Hit Some Balls...........

How a few of our LPGA players help against Breast Cancer

October 4th was when the 12th Annual American Cancer Society Cobb County Pink Ribbon Classic Ladies Golf Tournament in Marietta, Ga. The event was able to reach it's goal of $70,000, which supports several local programs.

One of the nicest gals on tour, Jean Reynolds was the celebrity guest the eve before the tourney at the "Get Tee'd Off at Breast Cancer Party". Jean was not only the speaker, she also conducted a putting and sand clinic before she was auctioned off to play with a lucky foursome the following day.

Cristie Kerr was proud to be part of the opening of the Cristie Kerr Women's Health Center on Sept. 15th, 2010 in Jersey City at the Jersey City Medical Center. In hopes to be one of many Centers to come, that focus on and make available to ALL patients, the rapid diagnosis and treatment of Breast Cancer and related medical issues. Her mother was on hand to hear all of the accolades government officials, physicians, hospital administrators and researchers given to her daughter. She is Cristie's biggest fan and a Breast Cancer Survivor herself. Cristie founded her Birdies for Breast Cancer charity shortly after her mother was diagnosed and she hosts an annual Cristie Kerr Birdies for Breast Cancer Charity Classic. Cristie is truly a humanitarian! You can check out more at  http://www.cristiekerrgolf.com/birdies-for-breast-cancer/

Morgan Pressel is another lady making a difference in the fight against Breast Cancer. She too became involved after her mother was first diagnosed with the disease. She has helped crusade for the saving of lives through early detection. She, along with the support of her friends & neighbors at St. Andrews established the "Morgan & Friends Fight Breast Cancer Tournament" at St. Andrews. The innaugural event was in 2008, which was also just a year after she became the youngest player in LPGA history to win an LPGA major (the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship). She is also raising funds through the partnership with Polo/Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Shirt and has donated more than $750,000 to Boca Raton Regional Hospital's Christine E. Lynn Women's Health & Wellness Institute and it's Center for Breast Care. Sadly, it was at that hospital that the late Kathryn Krickstein Pressel lost her multi-year battle against Breast Cancer. At this years 2010 Morgan & Friends tournament, Pressel unveiled the state of the art Kathryn Krickstein Pressel MammoVan.

Now, Go Hit Some Balls ........& do your part to make a difference during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

LPGA descends upon Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for innaugural SimeDarby

This week the ladies have landed in Malaysia for this weeks tournament. SimeDarby LPGA Malaysia in in it's innaugural year. Hosted by the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, this week's event will be a 54 hole stroke play without a cut. The field will be made up of the top 50 players from the official money list as of 10/5/10 and there will be 10 sponsor exemptions for a maximum number of 60 players.

The KLGCC was acquired by Sime Darby in 1997, Malaysia's leading multinational conglomerate with the goal to become the ultimate destination in golf and country club experience in Asia. The KLGCC is located in the lush hilltop setting of Bukit Kiara and sits among the prime residential suburbs of the city. It was ranked 1st in Dec. 2009 for Tee Times of Malaysia's Top Ten Golf Courses.

The 4 players receiving the final four exemptions for the tournament are: last week's winner Beatriz Recari, Laura Davies, Sandra Gal and australian Frances Bondad.

Suzann Pettersen will be back playing this week as will Yani Tseng and Michelle Wie. The top 5 players, Cristie Kerr, Ai Miyazato, Jiyai Shin, Yani Tseng and Suzann will all be competing to hopefully climb in those rankings. Ai remains #1 however, Cristie Kerr is close behind and I look for Cristie to win this weeks tournament. (you heard it here first)

You can catch television coverage on the Golf Channel from 12-2:00 pm ET for all 3 days.

     

Now, Go Hit Some Balls................

Next Up....CVS/Pharmacy LPGA Challenge

This week for the LPGA, they will head to Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, CA. Situated in the San Ramon Valley, this course plays 6185 yards and is a par 72 as well as a 72 hole format event.  This event began in 1996 and has a $1,100,000 purse.

Defending champion Sophie Gustafson, defeated Lorena Ochoa by 4 strokes last year to take home the trophy! Can she get back to back wins? Only time will tell. Cristie Kerr is going to be back and come fighting to get the win and be back as the world's number one. Sophie will be going off the 1st tee at 8:30 a.m., with Lindsey Wright and Ji Young Oh.

Some additional pairings are: Brittany Lincicome off the 10th tee at 8:30 a.m. alongside Meaghan Francella and Morgan Pressel. Cristie Kerr will be off the 10th at 8:40 a.m. with Laura Davies and Angela Stanford. Last weeks winner Katherine Hull, will be off the 1st tee at 12:10 p.m. alongside M.J. Hur and Paula Creamer.

Suzann Pettersen is not listed in the final field to play this week, and continues to take time off from tournament play due to her chronic hip issue. Sponsor exemptions this week went out to Laura Diaz and Carling Coffing. One of my favorites, Christina Kim won this event in 2004 and has also been playing some great golf lately to have some good finishes in the 2nd half of the season. Keep your eyes on her. She has the Kangol hats back, which are her trademark. She will be teeing off at 12 pm on #1 tee with Juli Inkster and Azahara Munoz.

Another favorite of mine Karen Stupples, will tee off #10 at 8:20 a.m. along with Mi Hyun Kim and Jimin Kang. Michelle Wie will not be in this week's tourney either, as she has returned to Stanford University.

Look for Michelle when the ladies go overseas to Malaysia and South Korea on Oct 22-24th and Oct. 29-31 respectively. The Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia is in it's innaugural year with this years 2010 tourney and will feature a 54 hole stroke play format without a cut. It will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. I can't wait to see how beautiful this course is going to be!

The GC will provide television coverage for this week's tourney from 7:30-9:30 PM ET all four days, Oct. 14-17th. You can also follow live leaderboard scoring from either cvslpga.com/  or LPGA.com .

If you're in the San Ramon Valley and are looking to see a beautiful golf course, the BlackHawk Country Club awaits you. $15 single day tickets are still available! All Bay area CVS stores have $5 off coupons or you can purchase online via the tournament site, which I have posted their link above.

For those TWITTER fans, you can follow along via tweets @@cvslpga

Now, Go Hit Some Balls.................

Hull wins LPGA Navistar Classic!

While last weeks tournament was right down to the last hole; Katherine Hull defeated Brittany Lincicome by one stroke. Katherine had rounds of 68-67-67-67 for a total 269. She won at -19! Hull, who had a stellar career at Pepperdine University, has come close to a win as was the case just recently when she took 2nd place. She played some great golf and maintained consistency throughout, by carding those 3 rounds of 67.

While Cristie Kerr made a valiant effort, she couldn't sustain the putting to bring her into the finish she needed. She played a great tournament with some amazing putts however, she had a couple of holes when her shots went far right and she was left without much of an approach to the green. Kerr also celebrated a birthday this week, and I won't reveal any ages, as a lady need not reveal such. Hehe

World's number one player Ai Miyazato, finished in 27th place. She maintains the spot at the top followed by Cristie Kerr, Jiyai Shin, Suzann Pettersen, Yani Tseng, and NY Choi. Had Cristie won the tourney, she would have taken that spot from Ai. I look for Cristi to come out on fire at this week's CVS tourney! Yes, I think she will regain the ranking. Pettersen, who did not play at the Navistar, took time off for an ongoing chronic hip issue. And, she is not listed in the final field for this week's CVS tourney.

Now, Go Hit Some Balls..........

Don't Forget to catch The LPGA on GC!

This week, the ladies are in Prattville Alabama for the NAVISTAR LPGA CLASSIC. television coverage is 6:30-8:30 pm ET on the GC all four days!

There is currently a tie for first place with; A. Nordqvist, D. Delasin & M. Pressel. Last years champion was the newly retired Lorena Ochoa. She defeated her nearest contenders; Michelle Wie & Brittany Lang by 4 strokes. The course this week is the RTJ Golf Trail, Capital Hill, The Senator. It plays 6460 yards and is a par 72.

Some of my favorites, Christina Kim is in a tie with several players including Ai Miyazato for 28th place. Katherine Hull is hitting well this week and is in 5th place currently. Cristie Kerr is in 13th and I look for her to finish the day in the top 10. Karen Stupples is in 29th currently. Jean Reynolds is at "even" currently and in a tie for 64th.

You can catch live scoring/leaderboard updates at LPGA.COM

Now, Go Hit Some Balls....

2010 Ryder Cup completed

First, the lack of style in the attire as some would say, then the weather delays, the Monday finish, the unsaved saves, the pressure, the excitement, the desire, the passion.......whatever we choose to complain about won't change the outcome.

Team Europe won the Ryder Cup on Monday, with their talent and strong desire to win! The heartbreak felt by Hunter Mahan in his inaugural Ryder Cup, was felt by many. His inability to hold back the tears at the post press conference, brought Lefty to run diversion from the media staying on Hunter's last hole. The guy played with his heart and was truly carrying the loss on his own shoulders. Not so though Hunter, this was a TEAM event and no 1 person lost the Cup! It takes days and many players to get the end result....the trophy.

Now, not that Team USA lacked the want to win, I just felt that they didn't show that desire as a TEAM and bring the passion and visible signs of a fight to win. Now, the LPGA Solheim Cup Team, that was a display of great will, desire, talent and excitement, and....they won the Cup last year! Of course it's always better to play on home soil however, when there is a strong desire and the players get the crowd pumped up; it just tends to give a support like no other. Perhaps they can take lessons from Christina Kim, who is always a favorite of the crowd and literally got the crowd "fired up" even more than they already were at the Solheim Cup!

It doesn't do anyone any good to look back and say would've/could've/should've. The Ryder Cup is over and Europe won with a talented field for sure! Congrats to all of them!

To Hunter Mahan, you can't carry the loss yourself, it wasn't Team USA's time to win. To Lefty, you did an awesome job of trying to run interference when Hunter was overcome at the press conference; that's what TEAM means! To all of the great players on TEAM USA, there is a next time!

Now, Go Hit Some Balls.............