A fitting Father's Day for Rory McIroy at the US Open

The win that was so deserved, occurred on Father's Day when Rory McIlroy at age 22, became the youngest to claim this title within the last 80 years. While he set 11 records and tied another, he kept his focus and led throughout the tourney. He finished at -16.

With a $7 million purse, Rory McIlroy walked away with a check for $1,440,000. on a befitting Father's Day, while his father watched. While he may have received alot of flack for not holding on through the Masters, it is but a distant memory now. Rory learned from his past play about himself and the game he stated. Now, perhaps people will give this young man a break from that flack!


Rory led the entire tournament and he wasn't about to let this one slip away. Like he said on Sunday, it was "his to lose". And lose he did not! It almost appeared that he was awestruck whilst walking to the 18th green. The crowd roared and the applause was endless. Meanwhile Rory, was humbled and focused to finish his last hole. To say this young man has the charisma, humility, professionalism and athleticism to be a Champion is putting it mildly. He already is a true Champion! Congrats again Rors!! WEll DESERVED!

I don't know many who didn't have a tear well up in their eyes or fall onto their cheek, when this moment occurred. Twitter was all abuzz and he was the trendy topic of the evening, as he should have been!

When his dad Jerry got to him, Rory said "Happy Father's Day Dad". Then they embraced and he started his walk to sign his scorecard and get ready to accept the trophy! Greeted also just off the green, was Graeme McDowell who won last years US Open. Also hailing from Northern Ireland and giving them back to back wins. It seemed everyone had the sincerest of wishes of Congratulations to Rors.

Another phenomenal player in this year's Open was Jason Day, who finished in 2nd place solely, at -8. Jason had 45 consequetive holes played without a BOGEY! He has a perfect swing and he's another young man who keeps a calm about him while playing. Behind Jason in 3rd place was a four-way tie consisting of: Lee Westwood, Robert Garrigus, Kevin Chappell and YE Yang. Sergio Garcia also played some great golf and posted one of his highest finishes of the season in a tie for 7th at -5.

One thing's for sure; there are ALOT of young men entering the PGA Tour and bringing ALOT of talent and poise with them. It's kind of refreshing to see a new young face with the chance to win each tourney.

Next, it's off to the Travelers Championship beginning Thursday, June 23rd. The first 2 rounds will be televised by the Golf Channel, while Sat and Sunday coverage will be on CBS.  To check out the Fed Ex Cup standings, follow this link Fed Ex Cup points/standings .

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

The StateFarm Classic to the men's US Open

Yani Tseng, already the world's #1 golfer on the LPGA tour hoisted the trophy in Springfield, IL. She held on throughout the tourney and defeated Cristie Kerr by 3 strokes.

Yani played some great golf at Panther Creek, with all four rounds in the 60's. She carded a 67-66-66-68 for a -21 total of 267.

Second place was up for grabs, with Brittany Lincicome trying to keep hold of those reigns right up until the final 2 holes, when Cristie Kerr took over. Cristie came out on fire Sunday, with a focus and determination that could not be stopped. She finished at -18. While it wasn't enough to catch Yani, it was enough to take 2nd place soley. Third place was then shared by Brittany Lincicome and Paula Creamer at -16.

I volunteered again at this year's tourney in Springfield. It was great fun and I enjoyed every minute of it except the 4:30 am wake up calls @ my hotel. I take some time away from the 'ol job, to travel to Springfield and volunteer. While the days are quite long and arduous with the heat (which was over 100 heat index wed and thursday), the enjoyment surpassed it all.

I was able to speak with Yani and get photos with her, as well as Karen Stupples and Amanda Blumenhurst. I have met many of the ladies of the LPGA through volunteering at this event. Yani is very kind and soft spoken and always willing to speak to or have a photo with her fans. Karen Stupples was hitting her Wilson irons like nobody's business on the driving range when I met up with her. I was also able to meet Mary, the wilson rep who was there.

Another favorite, Christina Kim was walking from the range to the putting green before Sunday's final round, when a very nice gentleman in a wheelchair offered her his silver good luck penny. He stated that this had brought his father great luck and he wanted Christina to carry this for her final round. She was very touched by the gesture and met up with him after the round to return it. He only wished it would've given her better luck. Christina had a great following and the welcome on the 18th hole was huge to say the least. Although she ended up finishing in a tie for 35th, she was a winner in the fan department!

The only sadness over the tournament, is the fact that StateFarm was pulling their sponsorship of this event, after this year's tourney. To date, there is not another sponsor known. I hope that there will be one found, as Mike Whan was in town for the event and I'm sure to attend some meetings regarding this. Panther Creek is a great course. Ideally, a sponsor will be found in hopes to keep the tourney at Panther Creek. The people living on the course are so welcoming and actually house several of the players throughout the tourney. The tourney started at Panther Creek in 2007, after being played at The Rail (also in Springfield), from 1976-2006. Keep your fingers crossed that the ladies will return to Springfield next year!

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

LPGA State Farm Classic

Well after the first 3 days at the State farm classic (wednesday-fri), it's another yr in the books of volunteering. While wednesday's temp (heat index over 100 degrees), thursday was again warm. The  family of volunteers is  an amazing  group of individuals who are there to support not only the sport they love, but to meet their favorite players and form friendships with others volunteers and fans. It's an experience that any golf lover would enjoy and I highly recommend it! One thing that has a cloud over it at this years tourney, is that State Farm will not be the sponsor and the StateFarm Classic as we know it will end after this weekend. That in itself, is sad. I only hope that one of Illinois large cities gives the LPGA what it deserves, and that's to keep a tourney in Illinois (the good 'ol Midwest).

Days as a volunteer can be long and arduous, but your there to help make the tournament be successful. My mornings started with waking up by 4:30 and being on the course by 6:00 am. My days ended wed and thursday, when the pro am and tourney subsequently ended. Friday was a shortened day for me, with working all am and enjoying the afternoon watching and meeting additional players. One such player whom I had a nice meet & greet with, was Brittany Lincicome.

As alot  of you may know, I was chosen as a finalist for the "Scavenger for Solheim" game that was sponsored during the month of may. Four additional cities along with Springfield, each had a "player representative" per se. You simply found the secret codes and entered them online in hopes of being randomly chosen as a finalist for that city. Well, I was chosen as a finalist for the city which Brittany Lincicome represents.

Now, all of you know that Brittany Lincicome just won the LPGA ShopRite Classic last week. She had a round of 67 thursday and a 69 on friday. She finished in a tie for 6 after friday's round. She is such a talented golfer and a very sweet young lady. I was fortunate to have a special meet and greet with her after her round friday. The other players representing cities are; Cristie Kerr, Kristy McPherson, Christina Kim and Morgan Pressel. The grand prize for the finalist whose player finishes better than the other players, is an expense paid trip to Ireland for the Solheim Cup. Brittany has birdied has birdied 3 of her first 4 holes today to sit alone in 4th place! She is playing some of her best golf lately! I was able to watch her come through the 18th hole yesterday (she started on #10), and stood next to her father.

The defending Champ Cristie Kerr hasn't had her best rounds however, she will stay focused and anything is possible. She started today in a tie for 9th place and currently sits in a tie for 15th after being only -1 through the first 5 holes.

One of my favorites is Karen Stupples, whom I had the chance to chat with this week. Karen hails from England and her husband is on the bag for her. She was awesome to watch in her warm up yesterday. She had rounds of 69 and 68 and is even for the day thru 6 holes. Please excuse the squinting, my visor wasn't pulled down as much as Karen's Pukka Headwear she was styling with her Quagmire clothes and KentWool sox!

So, while today is a day off, I will travel back to the LPGA StateFarm Classic on Sunday for the final round!   
And for that final round, I will be joined by my friend @Ouchieee via Twitter. I met MaryAnn at last year's tourney in Springfield, after we had been tweeting. She'll actually be coming into town later this aftn and we have seafood on tap for this eve! Yum Yum!

And, it isn't every day that you get to meet and talk with the World's #1 LPGA player Yani Tseng. She was so nice and posed for pics, plus signed my visor, whilst wearing it!

Currently, after the first two rounds, Mindy Kim is in a tie for the lead She had rounds of 64 and 67 respectively. She is +1 through 2 holes, while Tseng and Feng are -1 through the first 2 holes today!  The Kraft Nabisco champ Stacy Lewis had a 3rd round 64, which moved her from within a tie in 52nd place after rounds 1 & 2, into a tie for 5th currently, at -8.

If you can't make it to the tourney, you can follow along the scoring via Real Time Scoring . The Golf Channel will have delayed televised coverage Sat. from 6:30-9:30 CT and 7:00-9:30 Sunday!

Below, you'll see Morgan Pressel warming up on the range friday am before her round. It was a pretty cool/cloudy start to the day, which quickly warmed up once the clouds left! Also, Yani Tseng on friday at the range warming up.

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

ShopRite LPGA Classic

Well, the ladies of the LPGA are back in NJ, for the ShopRite Classic. Galloway, New Jersey is the home of the Seaview - A Dolce Resort. The ladies will be playing on the Bay Course this week. Last year's champion Ai Miyazato will be there to try and defend her title.

There is also a Pines Course, and they both are some of the most sought after on the East Coast. The course plays 6,247 yards and is a Par 71. This tournament is a 54 hole format, stroke play and consists of 150 players.

Part of this same course the ladies are playing, was home to Sam Sneed's win in 1942 at which he claimed his first major championship! The resort is not far from the Gambling mecca of Atlanta City, NJ. It is known for it's challenges. Those of which include deep pot and high faced bunkers as well as the classic mounds and subtle undulations on the greens. Another challenge is the Seashore winds, which were said to be blowing however, the rains have held off. Some showers are expected on Sunday and the temps have been steady at about 78 degrees each day.

One lady on a mission this week is Jiyai Shin, who is in a tie at 2nd place alongside Amy Yang and Crisite Kerr. Currently in 1st is Catriona Matthew, who started the day in 3rd. 5th place is Shi Hyun Ahn. There is a four way tie for 6th place consisting of; Karen Stupples, Katie Futcher, I.K. Kim, and Brittany Lincicome.

You can catch tomorrow's final round coverage on the Golf Channel from 4:30 - 7:30 pm ET.


Next week, the ladies will be in Springfield, Illinois for the LPGA StateFarm Classic. Plagued by severe storms that hit at last year's tournament, many fingers (including mine) will be crossed so we don't have a repeat of such. I recall it well, since it is a tournament I volunteer for and was caught far out on the course. We gathered in a garage of one of the beautiful homes along the course, and then were later transported back to the clubhouse basement due to Tornado Warnings. It was a hot and sticky tournament for sure! This year may not be much different temperature wise. The start to the week is expected to be at 95 and then slowly decrease to 90 on thursday for the first round.

Cristie Kerr won last year on Monday after storms delayed Sunday's round. She won by 1 stroke over Anna Nordqvist and Na Yeon Choi, with a -22. The Panter Creek Country Club has been home to the StateFarm Classic since it's move from "The Rail" Course, which was home to this event from 1976-2006. Panther Creek was designed by Hale Irwin and develped in 1990. Currently playing 6,746 yards and has a Par 72. The members purchased the course in 1993. The tournament had it's first year at Panther Creek in 2007. The first winner at the new tournament home in 2007, was Sherri Steinhauer who shot a 271, -17. In 2008, Ji Young Oh won with a -18 and 2009 was In-Kyung Kim at -17. The tournament record is held by Hee-Won Han who had a 61 in her 3rd round in 2008.

Coverage for the LPGA StateFarm Classic will be via the Golf Channel. Thurs through Sat coverage will be from 6:30-8:30 pm ET and final round coverage 7:00-9:30 pm ET on Sunday.

An exciting contest was run from May 1st - May 31 and was called the Scavenger Fore Soheim. There were 5 cities and each is represented by an LPGA Player. You merely picked the city nearest you. It involved finding clues via the website and twitter, and entering those codes. Then, at the end of the contest, one finalist was chosen from each of the 5 cities. I happened to get lucky and win as a finalist of one of the cities. By doing so, we each won a TV, and 2 LRS Championship Club Memberships for the entire tournament. A Grand Prize will go to one of the 5 finalists, whose player finishes better than the other four. That Grand Prize is a trip for two, to the 2011 Solheim Cup in Ireland. Airfare, hotel and tickets for the Solheim included. Now, my player is Brittany Lincicome. She must finish better than: M. Pressel, K. McPherson, C. Kim and Crisite Kerr.

So, as I am volunteering (which I do every year) and working 3 days of the tourney, I will be rooting for BamBam! I will be enjoying the LRS Champion Club Membership when possible through the week and then meeting up with Mary Ann (@Ouchieee via twitter), to enjoy Sunday's final round being pampered in the special club seating at the 9th or 18th holes (or a little while at both)!

So, my hopes will be that Brittany finishes better than the other four players representing the other cities. She doesn't have to win (but that would be doubly awesome), but needs to finish better than Kristy, Christina, Morgan and Crisite. Cross your fingers for me!

And remember, you can always catch LIVE SCORING via the LPGA.COM website at Real Time Scoring

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