August 2010: Golf Digest Woman: Golf Digest

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Results for August 2010 Back to Golf Digest Woman Index

Hall-of-Famer Mann stirs up controversy

Saturday, August 28, 2010

As first reported by Stephanie Wei on WeiUnderPar.com, 69-year-old LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member Carol Mann got herself into political hot water after posting an anti-muslim rant on her public Facebook page last week. In it, she said:

"I am against the Muslim worship center at Ground Zero because it's too much of a flagrant demonstration of our own 'tolerance' out of control. I do not believe the Muslims are the children of the God I know, the one who sacrificed His only Son, Jesus, to provide forgiveness and salvation for us without earning it by 'works.' All we have to do is believe in Christ and we gain His Kingdom. The United States is a Christian country, founded on Christian principles and with an expectation of Christian behavior. Let the Muslims erect their worship centers in other countries that are not Christian. Go away -- soon!"

The statement has sent ripples through the golf blogosphere. The question raised by everyone from Sports by Brooks to MSNBC.com is whether a special ambassador for the World Golf Hall of Fame should be allowed to express such an exclusionary view. Mann has since put up a privacy wall on her Facebook page.

This isn't the first time the statuesque Texan has flirted with controversy; as Sports by Brooks reports, in 2009, after then-commissioner Carolyn Bivens publicly discussed instituting mandatory English-language testing for international players on the LPGA Tour, Mann had this to say to Fox Sports in support of the fiercely opposed proposal:

"I have friends who will turn the TV off or find other things to watch if Koreans are in the lead -- a couple of weeks ago, there were seven or eight of them. (The LPGA) has to protect the business of the future and the television package ... so I think it is terrific."

Wei contacted World Golf Hall of Fame COO Jack Peter for a comment on Mann's statement on muslims, and he said, "It's Carol's personal website, so we're not going to comment."

--Stina Sternberg

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Finally, Elin speaks

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Elin Nordegren, who reclaimed her maiden name when her divorce from Tiger Woods was finalized earlier this week, has never once agreed to an interview -- not before Woods' sex scandal broke nine months ago, and certainly not after. Until now.

In a 12-page spread in People magazine, out this Friday, the famously private Swedish psychology student opens up about her life in a surprisingly candid way. It is, she says, the first and last time she will do so. "For my kids, I felt that [remaining private] was the only normalcy I could give them, since they have a very famous dad. But after everything that happened and everything that was written and speculated--what I did or didn't do--I felt like setting some things straight."

People writer Sandra Sobieraj Westfall, who was given 19 hours of access to Nordegren in her rented home in Orlando over the course of four days, confirmed in an interview on the Today Show this morning that Nordegren's people had reached out to the magazine, not the other way around. "She was interested in just once getting her side of the story out and maybe telling a little bit of who she was," said Sobieraj Westfall.

According to the article, Nordegren set careful ground rules for the interview, discussing Q&A questions in person but responding in writing to make sure she got her thoughts expressed correctly in English. The feature is chock-full of new images of the beautiful Swede shot at her home by famed photographer Nigel Parry, but Nordegren would not let her kids, three-year-old Sam and 19-month-old Charlie, be photographed. "I want to shelter them as much as I can," she says. She did, however, provide People with photographs from her wedding, her own childhood and fishing and scuba-diving trips she took with her ex-husband.

In the interview, Nordegren declines to go into details about the divorce settlement or specifics regarding last Thanksgiving, the night the scandal broke. The only thing she wants to make perfectly clear about that night is that she never tried to physically harm her husband: "The speculation that I would have used a golf club to hit him is truly ridiculous. Tiger left the house that night, and after a while when he didn't return, I got worried and decided to go look for him. That's when I found him in the car. I did everything I could to get him out of the locked car. To think anything else is absolutely wrong."

Among detailed revelations about her childhood and learning to live as a celebrity in the U.S., these are some of the other things that stand out in the article:

-Nordegren claims she had absolutely no idea her husband was having affairs. She describes her emotions following the revelations as "absolute shock and despair. I felt stupid as more things were revealed--how could I not have known anything? The word betrayal isn't strong enough. I felt embarrassed for having been so deceived. I felt betrayed by many people around me."

-She says her mother's December collapse in the Woods home and subsequent trip to the emergency room was due to a stomach bug and low blood pressure. Contrary to what media reported at the time, it was Nordegren herself who called 911, not her identical twin sister Josefin Lonnborg.

-Nordegren says she has "been through hell" and has been going through intensive therapy. She is also finishing her own bachelor's degree in psychology at Rollins College in Orlando and plans to start a career as a counselor for children from broken homes after she earns her master's degree.

-In the wake of the scandal, she claims the couple tried "for months and months" to repair the damage before she finally concluded that the marriage was beyond salvation. "If there is no trust between the parents, it's better for the children that the parents split up. I am now going to do my very best to show them that alone and happy is better than being in a relationship where there is no trust."

-She and the kids have a new home in Sweden but will continue to spend the majority of their time in the U.S., and will move from Orlando to southern Florida within the year to be close to Woods once he occupies his new compound on Jupiter Island. She's excited to find her own place: "I have visions of a great pool with slides. A house you really live in--modern but cozy--and where all the kids want to play."

-When asked if she has forgiven--or will ever be able to forgive--Woods, she says "Forgiveness takes time. It is the last step in the grieving process. I am going to be completely honest and tell you that I am working on it. I wish him all the best in the future, as a person and as an athlete. I feel privileged to have witnessed part of his golfing career."

Still, Nordegren also confesses that since the scandal broke, she has "not watched one minute of golf."

--Stina Sternberg

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Inkster gets DQ'd from Safeway for using a training device

Sunday, August 22, 2010

NORTH PLAINS, Ore. (AP) -- Juli Inkster was disqualified from the LPGA Safeway Classic for using a weighted training aid on her club while waiting on the No. 10 hole on the Ghost Creek Course. After the 50-year-old Hall of Famer finished her round and was told of the disqualification, Inkster passed quickly by autograph seekers and reporters without comment. She quickly left in a course shuttle.

It was heartbreaking for Inkster, who shot a 67 and was 8 under after the first two rounds. She was in a group just three strokes behind leader Ai Miyazato. Inkster, who had a 30 minute wait for the No. 10 hole, apparently used a "doughnut" weight on her 9-iron to stay loose. LPGA Director of Tournament Competitions Sue Witters said a viewer noticed the device from the television broadcast of the event and contacted tournament officials. Inkster was already on the 17th hole of the course at Pumpkin Ridge when officials determined she had indeed used the device. She was told when she came off the course after the final hole, Witters said.

Witters said Inkster was surprised and unaware she had broken the rule. "The rules staff here made the decision on the rule and we took it one step further and called the USGA," Witters said. "We would have loved to have some wiggle room on that. But it's pretty cut and dried. "Being the professional she is, there wasn't much to say once the decision was read."

Inkster issued a brief statement. "I had a 30-minute wait and I needed to loosen up," she said. "It had no effect on my game whatsoever, but it is what it is. I'm very disappointed."

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The Intern Diaries: What I learned in my summer internship

Thursday, August 19, 2010

All good things must come to an end. So the trite saying goes. Having finished my stint as a summer intern at Golf Digest, it is time for me to bid you all adieu. A few months ago, upon leaving my home in Phoenix, I had never been to Connecticut. I had no idea what to expect working at Golf Digest. At the very least I can say I was pleasantly surprised. Hopefully my career in golf journalism is just beginning. I've come to find there are far worse professions.

I was intimidated and nervous before I started. Expecting to be met with criticism and skyscraper-high standards, instead, I was greeted with kindness, patience and instructional criticism that I can only hope, will improve my writing skills. There are too many highlights to list a sole one as my favorite -- assisting with photo shoots, helping with an instructional "How To Play With A Woman" video, interviewing PGA Tour players at the Travelers Championship, blogging for the Golf Digest Woman website, sitting in on meetings, and participating in a Hot List tester for grip. Let's just say I did a little of everything.

What I enjoyed most was discovering the faces and personalities behind the black and white bylines I used to see in the magazine. At one point, I had the chance to speak with CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Golf Digest, Jerry Tarde. He had the comfortable approachability of a fatherly friend. Tarde shared with me his vision for the magazine in a transitioning industry. Before I left, he reminded me of his humble beginning, starting at Golf Digest as an intern leaving college.

I was surrounded by golf and golf addicts for two months. Their enthusiasm and passion for not only their career but the game as well, only stirred within me a love that I thought had already blossomed. I now have a new appreciation and understanding for the immense collaborative effort it takes to create a monthly issue of the magazine. From instructional pieces, to feature stories, to equipment, to the woman's section, to the fashion section, to breaking news online, to artistic photography and page design, everyone's role is pivotal in putting together each issue. Trust me, it's not all wine and roses. I did glimpse a few spats pushing the close of our last issue.

I learned that deadlines are negotiable, that several cups of coffee and then tea are necessary, and whether you finish the 18th hole with a birdie or a bogey, any round still beats a day at the office... except maybe at Golf Digest. It's not a bad gig they have going in Wilton, Conn.

What was the worst part? I still don't know...leaving, maybe? Although, I did have to make a few copies once...

-- Kathryn Stafford

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Kerr spends time with juniors in Brooklyn

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Cristie Kerr somehow manages to dedicate time to charitable work while fighting for the No. 1 spot on the Rolex Rankings. (She held that spot atop the rankings for three weeks after winning the LPGA Championship in June.)

On Tuesday, Kerr answered questions and gave a clinic to 50 junior golfers, ages 7-17, at the CityParks Junior Golf Center, located next to the Dyker Beach Golf Course in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

"Golf is a great game for kids to learn life lessons, discipline, fair play, competition," said Kerr, to the 50 kids who were invited for having the best attendance records at the CityParks center. "You can work hard and see the returns from it. It's a place you can go and be with your friends or escape from the everyday stress of life."

The CityParks Junior Golf Center is a new high-end facility that offers free golf instruction to juniors only. It has a 6-hole golf course, practice putting and chipping greens, a covered driving range and a clubhouse with classroom space. More than 800 juniors currently participate in the junior golf programs held at the facility.

"I would never be where I am today if I had not had the opportunity to learn the game in the city of Miami," said Kerr.

While this is the first time she has worked with CityParks, Kerr expressed interest in becoming more involved with the center, since she and her husband now live part-time in New York City.

"I always try to follow what my father instilled in me," said Kerr. "If you work hard and make it fun, it doesn't matter what the results are. He also taught me that grades and school are just as important as golf."

Kerr will play again at the Safeway Classic next week in Oregon, followed by the CN Canadian Women's Open in Winnipeg.

-- Ashley Mayo

(Photos: Courtesy of the LPGA)

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The Intern Diaries: Strike a pose

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

How do you produce a great photo for a magazine article? Is it the subject? The photographer? The post-production retouching? All of the above? More importantly: how do you create a great conceptual golf image that's visually engaging while staying true to the game?

This little hurdle is something Golf Digest's art department and editors are constantly grazing over; the elusive balance between creativity and golf accuracy. The other day, I was invited to a photo shoot for an upcoming putting package in Golf Digest's October issue. I brought along my own camera to show you what took place (you can thank me later). I can't reveal any details of the story -- you'll just have to wait for the magazine to come out for that (and trust me, you'll want to check it out) -- but I can at least tell you about the shoot.

A great magazine photo requires a lot of preparation -- and a big staff.

To create the best conceptual images for this project, GD art director Ken DeLago and director of photography Christian Iooss hired NYC photographer Hugh Kretschmer, a true golf-art aficionado they've worked with before. The shoot took place at Aspetuck CC in Weston, Conn. (managing editor Roger Schiffman's home course), and Kretschmer and his team arrived from Brooklyn in a van filled with models, make-up artists, equipment and props. The models looked less Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and more chess-tournament participants: in other words, they were perfect golf subjects. The 10th hole's putting green was turned into our photo-shoot set, with rolling hills and sloping fairways as the quintessential golf background. Fashion director Marty Hackel (a.k.a. Mr. Style) was also on hand to make sure a golf-fashion faux pas didn't occur.

These models weren't exactly about to have their swing sequences put on film, but the editors had still gone to great lengths to make sure they actually played golf. Sure, some of them may have embellished the amount of golf knowledge they possessed, but a little is better than nothing. In general, even if it's for a GD fashion shoot, models have to at least know how to address the ball and grip the club. We asked our models to strike a few poses -- or more accurately, proper set-ups -- and they worked hard for a good four hours. From a distance, it may have looked like a GQ shoot, but up close, it was nothing like it. Instead of feeding the models' egos with typical outbursts of "work it" and "gorgeous," GD's team was instructing with "reverse grip" and "bend at the waist, with a straight back." When all was said and done, the editorial department, photo department and art department were all very pleased with the results, models' grips and lighting included.

Yup, just another day at the office. Not a paper or computer in sight. Just sunshine, green grass, and putters.

--Kathryn Stafford

The Rolex-ranking tango continues on LPGA

Monday, August 2, 2010

No, there's not a new No. 1 player in the Rolex Women's World Golf Ranking as a result of the Ricoh Women's British Open, but there is a new No 2.

Jiyai Shin, who won the Evian Masters the week before the WBO, held on to the top spot by the narrowest of margins (one hundredth of a point) over Cristie Kerr, who's back in second place after being dropped to third right after the Evian and losing pole position to Ai Miyazato the week before, despite neither player hitting a shot that week. Confusing? Damn right it is.

What about Yani Tseng, who managed to score her second major triumph of the year over in England, shouldn't she be in the top-3 mix at this point? Under normal circumstances, absolutely. But since it's such a tight race and no fewer than five players are in the hunt for the top spot every week, the double points scored by Tseng for her British win weren't enough to take over the throne as most of her four rivals finished high in the same event. (Shin ended up tied for 14th -- as did Suzanne Pettersen, who's currently ranked 4th in the world -- while Kerr tied for 5th and Miyazato tied for 9th. Na Yeon Choi, 6th in the rankings, finished T-3). In fact, Tseng didn't climb a single step from her fifth-place ranking, despite her win.

These six ladies are now so close together that a mere stroke here and there can mean the difference between leading the race and being three or four back week in and week out:

Case in point (no pun intended): had Kerr finished alone in 5th at Royal Birkdale, rather than tied with Amy Yang and Hee Kyung Seo, she'd have reclaimed the top spot this week.

Whoever does the math on these rankings for the LPGA is certainly earning his keep right now.

--Stina Sternberg

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With win, Tseng is youngest with three majors

Sunday, August 1, 2010

SOUTHPORT, England -- When it comes to artistic merit, not even the most sympathetic of judges could have given this effort high marks. But all that mattered was what it said on the scorecard, and when the numbers were added up Sunday at Royal Birkdale, Yani Tseng won the Ricoh Women's British Open by one stroke over Katherine Hull.

After playing nearly flawless golf for 54 holes -- missing only six greens --Tseng pitched out sideways from pot bunkers, scraped it out of the rough and horseshoed out enough putts in the final round to break a dozen hearts. But she closed with a 73 -- after three consecutive rounds of 68 -- and finished at 11-under-par 277, edging Hull, who turned in a solid 70.

"The last four holes today were really tough," Tseng said, "not like the last two days when I was making birdies and eagles. It was really tough and Katherine was pressuring me."

Hull, who made a mess of the final hole when she half-chunked a chip, was at 278 with I.K. Kim and Na Yeon Choi at 281. After Tseng drove into a pot bunker on the par-5 18th and had to pitch out, Hull was 60 feet from the hole in two but managed to get her third shot barely more than halfway to the hole.

"It's bittersweet, I guess, right now," Hull said. "I'll be working twice as hard on my short game after that last hole. Still, there are a lot of positives I can take from the week, so I'm very happy."

The closing stretch was a bit painful to watch as Tseng failed to make a birdie after the sixth hole and Hull was shut out after her birdie on No. 13 pulled her within one stroke. The birdie drought was a huge surprise since Birkdale ends with three par-5 among the last four holes, with Nos. 17 and 18 being very reachable in two shots when playing downwind -- as they were on Sunday.

But perhaps that was the key word: "Sunday." That day at a major championship is a different animal altogether. Both players showed some frayed nerves, but when it came down to the decisive stroke, Tseng rolled in a four-footer for par -- fittingly enough -- after Hull's 30-footer for a birdie grazed the left edge.

The 21-year-old from Taiwan is the youngest women to have three major championships and is now only the U.S. Women's Open short of the career grand Slam. Se Ri Pak won two majors when she was 20 but didn't get her third until she was 24. It was Tseng's fourth career LPGA victory.

Tseng, who won the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April, is the first player to win two LPGA majors in the same season since Annika Sorenstam in 2005, which was fitting because Yani purchased Annika's house last year and received an inspirational message from her before the final round.

"She's my big idol," Tseng said of Sorenstam. "She said 'just trust your ability and have fun.' I wrote that in my yardage book so I would remember it."

The victory also ended a two-major run by the Americans after Cristie Kerr won the LPGA Championship and Paula Creamer grabbed the U.S. Women's Open. Kerr was the best of the Americans at Birkdale, finishing T-5 at 282. Morgan Pressel was at 284, Christina Kim and Brittany Lincicome at 286, with Michelle Wie T-17 at 288 and Creamer at 290.

If Tseng wants to get more inspiration from Sorenstam, she should consider this: The Swede did not get her first LPGA victory untl she was 24 years old, and it was the U.S. Women's Open, the first of her 10 major championships among 72 LPGA titles.

Those are two numbers Tseng might want to write in her yardage book. They are good goals to remember. She should also remember that all those trophies count, even when getting the job done was not an artistic success.

-- Ron Sirak

(Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)

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