Tuesday, November 21, 2017

 

CME Golf Championship 2017



The weather has been perfect the past four days in South-West Florida for the final event of the year of the LPGA Women's Golf Tour. It takes place in Naples, just south of Fort Myers, at the fabulous Tiburon course at the Ritz-Carlton.

I am certain that course preparation was a challenge this year. The course was affected by Hurricane Irma. There were many trees down once the storm had passed, and conditions were soggy. But the crew worked hard, and the course is in perfect condition. Mind you, golfers still face those nasty bunkers with the three foot lips, similar to the pot bunkers in Great Britain. Quite often, players must hit away from the hole in those bunkers, to get the ball in play.

Brooke Henderson entered the week with a decent shot at the tournament title. If she had won, she would also receive the CME Globe bonus prize of one million dollars. She played consistently all week, recording the score of 70 on her first three rounds; however, the competition is fierce at this level, and Brooke's game was not quite good enough to bag the big prize. Please remember that this girl is but twenty years old, and undoubtedly will retire some day as Canada's best female golfer, ever.

Michelle Wie entered the last round tied for first with Kim Kaufman, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Suzann Pettersen. Wie had missed several weeks on the tour, after an appendicitis attack at the Canadian Open. “It was a shock. I was in contention in Canada, and then it happened. I didn't expect to be out six weeks.” Incidentally, Wie is a member of the “P2 Putting Army”. Translation? She is using the P2 Putter grip which comes out of the Quinte Area, from Steve Auger and company!

All told, there were 14 golfers within two strokes of the lead going into Sunday's final round. The CME company announced that they had extended their endorsement of the event at least until 2023, which is exciting for those of us who are in the area.

Brooke finished the tournament at six under, and the other Canadian in the event, Alena Sharp finished at one under.

As the golfers entered the final stretch, the wheat began to separate from the chaff. S. H. Park took the title as the “Rookie of the Year”, but was out of contention following a disastrous round of 75 on Saturday. The Korda sisters, daughters of Peter Korda, a long-time tennis professional, played well up to the final holes.

But it was Floridian Lexi Thompson, with a strong contingent of fans on hand, who entered the final holes in the driver's seat. She birdied the 17th to take a one stroke lead on the field. She played the 18th hole well, and rolled a long putt to within 18 inches. The crowd hushed as she tapped in the short putt to sew up the victory. There was a group gasp as the putt rolled past the hole.

Moriya Jutanugarn is Ariya's sister. She was waiting patiently for her sister at the 18th green. Ariya shocked the crowd by rolling in a 20 foot putt to birdie the final hole and take the championship. Thompson had to settle for second place. She also was the winner of the CME globe, with the million dollar bonus.

All the ladies now take a break until the next season rolls around. Not quite as much pressure in the off-season!!!


James Hurst
November 19, 2017.



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