BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The rough at U.S. Open courses is notorious for its difficulty and it's no different at Saucon Valley. Since the women don't have the brute strength to advance the ball from grass that's anywhere from three inches to four-and-a-half inches, they're seeking help from the latest technology.
Players are adding hybrids and rescue clubs in place of their long irons this week. Several are carrying the adjustable R9 series by TaylorMade or Ping's recently introduced G-15 and I-15 hybrids. Pat Hurst hits her G-15 about 190 yards and finds it more effective from the deep rough than her 4-iron.
If players need help adjusting these clubs or regripping clubs they use regularly, Paul Boehmer, the LPGA Club Repair Technician, is their man. He's been especially busy this week helping out mini-tour players and amateurs. "Some haven't changed their grips since Dad bought them the clubs," observes Boehmer.
He also resets player's equipment to their specs, returning the loft and lie to their original intention. This may be no more than a one-degree adjustment. But as Boehmer explains, "Many people don't think one degree is much to worry about, but one degree at the hosel translates to the width of the butt cap at the end of the club.
The LPGA club trailer where Boemer does his work is a popular spot with the players. They may come for the big jar of candy he keeps on the counter. "Only chewy candy," he confesses. "They're chewing, so they can't talk. I do it self-defense."
Boehmer has aided many a player in distress. He doesn't have much call for a 1-iron so when Laura Davies came to him for one, he had to use his resourcefulness. He took the 2-iron from his bag, reshafted, regripped and bent it and presto Davies had the 1-iron she needed. She used it to win her 19th LPGA Tour victory and her 60th professional career win at the Philips Invitational Honoring Harvey Penick.
How did Boehmer come to his job? "I have a really bad temper on the course and got tired of paying other people to fix my clubs," he admits.
-- Topsy Siderowf
The Kids Are Alright
BETHLEHEM, Pa - The grandstands at the U.S. Women's Open have signs saying, "Kids Get a Front Row Seat."
But Alexis Thompson and Allison Lee, who don't need a ticket, are the youngsters with the best views at Saucon Valley CC. The two 14-year-olds led seven amateurs in making the 36-hole cut Friday. Thompson is solidly in contention, tied for eighth place at two-over 144, five strokes behind leader Cristie Kerr. Lee birdied her final hole to go into the weekend T-28 at five-over 147.
Both teens were born in February 1995, but Lee, a Californian, is 16 days younger than her Florida counterpart. The youngest golfer to complete a U.S. Women's Open is Marlene Bauer, who was 13 years, four months and 10 days when she finished 14th in 1947. In the modern era, Michelle Wie was 13 years, eight months and 22 days old when she made the cut and finished T-39 in 2003.
Naree Wongluekiet and Kimberly Kim made the cut in the U.S. Women's Open as 14-year-olds in 2000 and 2006, respectively.
-- Bill Fields
But Alexis Thompson and Allison Lee, who don't need a ticket, are the youngsters with the best views at Saucon Valley CC. The two 14-year-olds led seven amateurs in making the 36-hole cut Friday. Thompson is solidly in contention, tied for eighth place at two-over 144, five strokes behind leader Cristie Kerr. Lee birdied her final hole to go into the weekend T-28 at five-over 147.
Both teens were born in February 1995, but Lee, a Californian, is 16 days younger than her Florida counterpart. The youngest golfer to complete a U.S. Women's Open is Marlene Bauer, who was 13 years, four months and 10 days when she finished 14th in 1947. In the modern era, Michelle Wie was 13 years, eight months and 22 days old when she made the cut and finished T-39 in 2003.
Naree Wongluekiet and Kimberly Kim made the cut in the U.S. Women's Open as 14-year-olds in 2000 and 2006, respectively.
-- Bill Fields
Hey, Wild Thing, scotch the 'pyjama-trousers'
"Christ, I was aghast when I saw him!" rasped a Scottish marshall on the 9th tee after seeing the insouciant Daly lumbering towards him.
So reports Graham Spiers in the Times this morning, on the garish pants worn by John Daly in the Scottish Open.
Yet the Scots generally approved of his trousers, described by Spiers as "a bonfire of colour, at least six different shades of polka-dot, from his rear to his ankles."
"Strangely for a sometimes disapproving, Presbyterian nation, the Scots really took to this sight at the Barclays Scottish Open," he writes. "They tend not to like exhibitionism in these parts, and certainly not on a golf course, from which this nation gave this game to the world, along with a code of conduct. And that code clearly states that pyjama-trousers are out."
This is what Daly does best -- making a spectacle of himself, one way or another.
-- John Strege
Heather's Many Hats
Heather Daly-Donofrio is not exactly a household name in golf despite an impressive resume. She's played at the amateur level and at college as a member of the Yale women's golf team, which she then coached. She's won twice on the LPGA Tour -- in 2001 at the Betsy King Classic and in 2004 at the Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions. Besides that she was president of the LPGA Board from 2005-2006 and currently serves as Player Liaison, employed by the LPGA Tour.In her role as Player Liaison, she sees herself as a dispenser of information -- clearing up misinformation. She also mediates issues between players and between players and caddies and pays special attention to the rookies on tour. Through her LPGA involvement, she has worked with Carolyn Bivens. When asked to comment about the controversy surrounding the commissioner she declined because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Heather's at Saucon Valley this week and competing in her ninth U.S. Women's Open. She earned her place by qualifying at a regional site. But she hasn't played much competitive golf lately. Her first priority is her family -- husband Ray Howell and daughter Hannah, almost three.
With the responsibility of raising her daughter, she's shifted her focus from competitive golf to her job as Player Liaison. This involves about 18 weeks on the road, but she brings Hannah with her. And she's able to spend time at home. It's a job she truly enjoys and a lifestyle that accommodates her many interests.
-- Topsy Siderowf
(Photo credit: Melissa Farrell Paglieri)
Marquee Names Pop Up On First Morning
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - So far, so good, for two of the LPGA's star players through the early going in the first round of the U.S. Women's Open.
Cristie Kerr, the 2007 Women's Open champion, and Lorena Ochoa, who is still looking for her first Open victory, were tied for the clubhouse lead with Duramed Futures Tour player Jean Reynolds at two-under 69 at Saucon Valley CC.
Playing on a crisp, beautiful morning that felt more like May than July, Kerr and Ochoa put themselves right in the mix with solid play. "Today I did about as good as anybody is going to do," said Kerr, a winner at the Michelob Open earlier this season. "I played really well to shoot two-under. The greens were really firm for the morning rounds."
Ochoa, who counts two 2009 wins among her 26 career LPGA triumphs, was sparked by a long, breaking birdie putt on No. 2. "You know, anything in red numbers to start a U.S. Open, I will always take it," said Ochoa, who tried to go back to basics on the greens.
"I think I've been a little bit too stressed out on the technique and getting the right line," said Ochoa, who was T-12 and T-23 in the year's two previous majors. "I made sure today that it was more about seeing the line and just trying to make them."
-- Bill Fields
There's a winner already at the U.S. Women's Open
It's only Day One of the competition, but the winner of this year's U.S. Women's Open has already been declared -- Saucon Valley's Old Course gets that honor.
Built in 1922, the Old Course is part of a 60-hole complex that includes two other 18-hole tracks, the Grace Course and the Weyhill Course, both worthy of holding national championships according to Mike Davis, Senior Director, Rules and Competitions for the USGA. There's also a six-hole beauty.
(Photo Credit: Stephen Szurlej)Saucon Valley, the preferred club for Bethlehem Steel executives in the heyday of the corporate giant, has a world-class tennis facility, Olympic swimming pools and indoor squash and racquet courts. But the star today is the newly renovated Old Course, recognized as Best New Remodel for 2008 by Golf Digest. The original Herbert Strong design, tweaked in the late 1930s by Perry Maxwell, underwent a facelift, in preparation for this Open, under the direction of Tom Marzolf, an associate of Tom Fazio. The Marzolf renovation involved a redo of the bunkers, adjustments to five greens and extensive drainage work.
The course is long, playing at 6,740 yards, par 71, and the greens are tricky and undulating. "And probably the biggest thing, if we're lucky, and we have been so far, to get firm conditions. It's so wonderful when we can dial in how firm the conditions are versus letting Mother Nature influence them," comments Davis. He is obviously referencing the staggering rains that plagued the Open at Bethpage.
There's universal respect for the course by the players. "You have to really think your way around the golf course. That's what U.S. Open golf is all about. And yes, the greens are difficult," says Cristie Kerr, winner of the 2007 Open at Pine Needles.
Anna Nordqvist, a rookie who recently won the LPGA Championship, chimes in, "It's a really good setup, pretty long. You have to put it on the right spots on the green."
Paula Creamer, hoping for her first major, says, "I wouldn't change anything. It's a golf course where you've got to hit great tee shots. You've got to hit it in the right part of the greens. And you have to be a good speed putter. There are a lot of putts out there where two-putt is a good score."
Will the Old Course yield to the talents of the world's greatest women golfers? It will be hard to beat Inbee Park's nine-under-par at Interlachen last year.
-- Topsy Siderowf
Another son of scribe arrives in the big leagues
David Newhan, a veteran of eight seasons in the major leagues (and currently in the Phillies organization), is known as Son of Scribe, by virtue of his father's profession; Ross Newhan was a long-time baseball writer at the Los Angeles Times.
Today, another son of scribe debuts at the highest level of his sport, Marquette All-American Mike Van Sickle, son of Sports Illustrated writer Gary Van Sickle. Mike, still an amateur and aspiring to make the U.S. Walker Cup team, makes his debut in a PGA Tour event at the John Deere Classic. His dad is his caddie.
Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the story here.
-- John Strege
The cloud over the U.S. Women's Open
On the eve of the U.S. Women's Open, the USGA can't be too pleased with the controversy in which the LPGA finds itself embroiled, given the headlines on stories advancing their showcase women's event:
"Tour's Future Clouds US Women's Open" -- New York Times
"LPGA's showcase event opening amid controversy over commissioner" -- Philadelphia Daily News
"U.S. Women's Open begins under cloud as several players call for LPGA Tour commissioner to resign" -- St. Petersburg Times
"Player revolt against commissioner Bivens latest danger for LPGA" -- USA Today
The latter appeared over Christine Brennan's column. She writes from Bethlehem, Penn., site of the Women's Open:
"The lush fairways, clear summer streams and rolling green hills of Saucon Valley, host of this year's U.S. Women's Open, are an unlikely place to find the LPGA Tour undergoing a mid-life crisis."
Prominent LPGA players calling for Commissioner Carolyn Bivens to resign, and doing so at the outset of U.S. Women's Open week, whatever its merits, probably qualifies as bad form.
-- John Strege
Nathaniel Crosby chases Bing
Golf Digest's Mark Soltau reports that Nathaniel Crosby made a hole-in-one on the seventh at Pebble Beach Golf Links Wednesday, his eighth ace.
"I'm only five behind my dad," the former U.S. Amateur champion said.
Bing Crosby had 13 aces, the most famous of which came on the famous 16th hole at Cypress Point.
-- John Strege
Team LaCrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Doug LaCrosse isn’t the only father to caddie for his daughter in a major event, but he may be the proudest. He’ll be carrying daughter Cindy’s bag this week and calls it “the highlight of my life.”
Cindy, who turned professional in May, will be playing in her first U.S. Women’s Open. A 2009 graduate of the University of Louisville, she has already distinguished herself on the Duramed Futures Tour tying for fourth at the Duramed Championship, including a career-best 65.
However, with Dad Doug on her bag this week, Cindy’s chances are enhanced. A perennial scratch golfer, he joined the pro ranks 10 years ago when he was 47. He’s competed in all the senior majors, finishing 12th at the Senior PGA Championship at Kiawah two years ago.
Like everyone in the field, Cindy would like to play well this week. She loves the course, but finds the greens tricky, especially Nos. 11 and 16. She predicts the player who putts best will win and says, “I’m a good putter most days.”
Now it’s up to Dad to read those greens.
-- Topsy Siderowf
(Photo credit: John Mummert, USGA)
Cindy, who turned professional in May, will be playing in her first U.S. Women’s Open. A 2009 graduate of the University of Louisville, she has already distinguished herself on the Duramed Futures Tour tying for fourth at the Duramed Championship, including a career-best 65.
However, with Dad Doug on her bag this week, Cindy’s chances are enhanced. A perennial scratch golfer, he joined the pro ranks 10 years ago when he was 47. He’s competed in all the senior majors, finishing 12th at the Senior PGA Championship at Kiawah two years ago.Like everyone in the field, Cindy would like to play well this week. She loves the course, but finds the greens tricky, especially Nos. 11 and 16. She predicts the player who putts best will win and says, “I’m a good putter most days.”
Now it’s up to Dad to read those greens.
-- Topsy Siderowf
(Photo credit: John Mummert, USGA)
Local Knowledge Continues
