Hyo Joo Kim looked to be in control of the Evian Championship for much of the final round, despite charges by Na Yeon Choi and Ha Na Jang, and an eagle-par-birdie run by Mi Jung Hur, but right about the time Golf Channel coverage switched over to NBC, things changed dramatically. Even as Karrie Webb's birdie barrage in the middle of her round--5 birdies between the 9th and 15th holes that got the LPGA legend to -11--put the pressure on the 19-year-old KLPGA superstar, Kim bogeyed both par 3s on the back to drop from -12 to -10. And even as Choi, Jang, and Hur faltered down the stretch, the tournament came down to the 72nd hole.
Not that I got to see any of it. I was behind on my DVRed Golf Channel coverage and only found out about the switch to network tv a half-hour after its coverage had ended. So I didn't get to see how Kim stuck her approach on the final hole and sank her 12-foot birdie attempt while Webb's approach failed to fade and she failed to get up and down from the fringe to force a playoff. I didn't get to see the look on Webb's face down the home stretch as she was trying to become the 1st golfer to ever win 6 different major championships. I didn't get to see Kim's body language as she was trying to become the 3rd youngest winner of an LPGA major. At least I'll have highlights--some time.
But on a day the Buffalo Bills went 2-0 and my entire neighborhood was cheerful, I spent most of the afternoon annoyed at myself that I never double-checked LPGA.com or my tv listings. That's what I get for purposely staying off the web (after posting on 20-year-old Ai Suzuki's record-breaking major victory on the JLPGA, that is!) so that I could savor the final-round drama!
1 comment:
You would think after winning 41 career victories Karrie Webb would be gracious enough in the post match interview with Jerry Foltz to at least acknowledge or congratulate Hyo Joo Kim on her fine win even if she did do it on the back of one freak round. She sounded like she was about to have a good cry... Stacy probably needs a couple of weeks off is she worried about defending her stats and ranking? Only missed one tournament so far and straight back to play again this week. Her main opposition Queen Bee, Lyds and Suzann are all taking time out this week.
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