July 3, 2006
Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl
OK, so today was not the suspenseful affair that we had yesterday, when there was a solid handful of golfers with a chance to win in the final holes. But we do have a great champion, and a classy champion, in Annika Sorenstam. We were lucky to have her playing here in Newport.
It's going to be hard to go back to the office on Wednesday after being out in all this idyllic scenery with so much to write about. Such is life. Thanks for joining us, and pick up tomorrow's Providence Journal for more. Pick up the next day's too. Check out more tournament photos at projo.com. C'est fin.
-Mike McDermott
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Journal photo / John Freidah
Pat Hurst smiles after her improbable birdie putt on hole 18.
Pat Hurst says that she would have rather settled her tie with Annika Sorenstam last night, in a three- or six-hole playoff format, rather than coming back today for the full 18 holes.
"I wish we would have played last night," Hurst said. "The competitive juices weren't flowing quite as good today as they were yesterday."
She said her putting, which she felt had been her strongest trait before yesterday, let her down today; she just couldn't get the ball to the hole.
Asked by The Journal's Kevin McNamara what she did last night after her 36 holes of golf, Hurst answered, "I went to McDonald's." She said she tried to call around for takeout, but there was a wait, so she ended up at the fast-food joint.
Hurst was once again gracious today, even as she answered questions that once again sometimes had an edge to them. When someone asked if anyone knew who she was at any of the restaurants where she tried to get takeout, she just laughed and said, "I don't know if they know who I was." But she made it clear that she wasn't one to play the "Don't you know who I am..." card to get faster service.
- Mike McDermott
-Mike McDermott
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Annika Sorenstam's championship may be extra special because she just became a United States citizen last month. Sorenstam maintains dual citizenship in her native Sweden, but she says that she plans on spending most of the rest of her life here.
-Mike McDermott
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Annika Sorenstam is sitting in the interview room with her winner's medal around her neck, next to her brand-new championship trophy, and her words are as measured and unemotional as they've been all week. The only subject she appears somewhat uncomfortable addressing is her legacy; she may go down as the best women's golfer ever, but she doesn't have any interest in talking about that.
She did talk about a lot of other things. For example, walking up to the 18th green today alongside Pat Hurst -- Annika waited for Hurst to hit her approach so that they could walk together.
"We walked up to 18 and she said, 'I'm getting gooesebumps.' And I said, 'I agree, this is pretty cool.' "
She was asked about Hurst's 18th-green request for an autograph ball.
"I said, 'God you can ask for anything at any time; why do you have to ask at the 18th hole of the U.S. Open?' "
Sorenstam says this week has been one of the most draining of her career. She says she couldn't practice on Monday because of a sore neck. Then her practice was curtailed on Wednesday because of the poor weather. The best thing that happened to her may have been the fog on Thursday, which gave her the chance to get some extra sleep with a late tee time on Friday. She then got an early tee on Saturday, so she could get some extra rest again before going 36 holes on Sunday.
Still, she said: "I've never grinded so hard in my life. Every shot had a purpose, and every shot had a thought to it."
Annika says she also received encouragement from Tiger Woods, who has called her every day during the tournament.
"He's on vacation, so for him to be watching women's golf says something," Sorenstam said.
-Mike McDermott
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Annika Sorenstam, speaking immediately after today's U.S. Women's Open win, said she found Newport a beautiful place, and she wants to come back to hang out and do some shopping at some future, less stressful time.
Meanwhile, Pat Hurst, who just spoke to the media, said she asked Annika at the end of today's match for a signed ball, like everyone else. She hasn't gotten it yet.
-Mike McDermott
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Early Friday afternoon, 19-year-old Jane Park spoke to a small group of reporters about her 2-under par 69 on the first round of the U.S. Women's Open. Hers was the first threesome to complete play in the first round of the tournament.
Park called the course "very playable" and said she was sure someone would come up with a better score. Park herself never came close again. Eventual champion Annika Sorenstam did not post a 2-under. In fact, it turned out that Park was wrong -- no one did better than 69. Annika Sorenstam's 1-under par in today's playoff was just the 19th below-par performance of the entire weekend.
The worst score of the weekend was a first-round 89 -- 18 over par -- by American player Nicole Hage.
- Mike McDermott
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
An exhausted-looking Annika Sorenstam celebrates her U.S. Women's Open title on the 18th green.
As if there were any doubt about the outcome of this playoff, Annika Sorenstam made a tremendous approach shot to the 18th green, putting her in a commanding position to make par. Pat Hurst's approach skidded, coming to rest far away from the pin, back at the front edge of a distant fringe.
As the two golfers approached, walking next to each other in their matching canary-yellow polos, the people in the bleachers mostly stood to applaud. Sorenstam and Hurst, who are both gracious people in their own, very different ways, each acknowledged the cheers. People wearing red shirts had carted out a table and some large flower pots to use as props for the Annika coronation ceremony.
Someone screamed Annika's first name, as they have been wont to do here. Then came more yelling: "Great show ladies!" and "Thank you ladies for the great golf!"
Silence again. And then Hurst, who was treated very warmly today by the spectators, gave the people one last thing to cheer about. She made her best shot of the day, a remarkable birdie putt from way back on that fringe -- I'm not sure how far away it is; I'll tell you later. She gave a pump of her fist, then gave her caddie, Dan Wilson, a high five one last time. The crowd went nuts.
Then Annika stepped up for her birdie attempt, which came up maybe 2 feet short. At this point she had a four-stroke advantage. And yet this very precise professional picked up her ball, set it down again, sized up the hole, backed up and sized up the hole some more, even swinging her club a couple of times to get the rhythm. And she made the putt. In celebration, she looked up at the sky, as if exhausted, lifted her club over her shoulders, and stood stone still for a moment. No more questions about droughts.
-Mike McDermott
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The official attendance for today's playoff was 4,655. By comparison, there were 12,710 people here for the fogged-out round on Thursday; 18,718 on Friday; 19,980 on Saturday; and 20,564 on Sunday.
- Mike McDermott
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Annika Sorenstam shot a 70, 1 under par, to win her third U.S. Women's Open title by four strokes over Pat Hurst. More to come, including the players' reactions.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:25 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst walk together during their 18-hole playoff today, the third playoff in which the two have faced off.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:11 PM | Permalink
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Yesterday afternoon, at the end of the third round, people were crushing against each other for a peek at the action on the 18th hole, as such celebrity players as Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie and Annika Sorenstam were wrapping up their rounds. A teenager asked me how much he could pay me for my media pass -- which gives me the chance to get up close to the action.
Today, as Sorenstam and Pat Hurst near the finish line, there are not many people gathered in the bleachers or around the ropes that surround the 18th green -- and a lot of the people who are here seem to know each other. Last night as I was going home, a woman from New Jersey was telling me how disappointed she was to be heading home without knowing the winner. If she's watching TV today, she probably feels better about not having extending her stay in the Ocean State.
Back in the press tent, there's no lunch out yet, and the coffee machine is out of order; it's making some strange whirring noises and its lights are flashing.
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:02 PM | Permalink
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Annika Sorenstam is just three holes from her third U.S. Women's Open championship. She has a commanding five-stroke lead as she and Pat Hurst approach hole number 16. Sorenstam has put up three birdies (on holes 1, 3 and 12) against two bogeys (on holes 6 and 13). Hurst has no birdies and bogeys on 1 and 9, with a double-bogey on 6.
- Mike McDermott
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Tom Drennan, head golf coach at the University of Rhode Island, has had a banner weekend here at Newport. As a volunteer committee chairman he has worked with members of the media -- about 400 have been credentialed from four continents -- to help facilitate our coverage of this event. He's had a great opportunity to view the action and to see the golfers answer questions about the way they've played.
"The opportunity for us to have the very best women in the world here in Newport, the chance to watch them at a course we all know so well, has been very special," Drennan said today.
He said the highlight of his weekend was the 18th hole yesterday: "Seeing the drama unfold, and then being able to see the golfers explain what happened in the interview room."
Before coaching golf, Drennan was head basketball coach at Roger Williams, and a former basketball assistant coach under Jack Kraft at URI. He's been the Rams' head golf coach since 1988, and he has led them on their current, most impressive streak of 15 straight NCAA Regional tournament appearances.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:38 AM | Permalink
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Journal photo / John Freidah
Fans cross a bridge between the seventh and eighth holes this morning at the Newport Country Club. Annika Sorenstam is at 1-under par, with a five-stroke lead, through 13 holes.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:28 AM | Permalink
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After yesterday's drama-filled action, the mood on the course, in the tent -- it is pretty flat. Sorenstam is at 1-under par, still with a five-stroke lead, and they're on the 12th hole. Nobody is talking about a comeback.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:11 AM | Permalink
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Gloria Park was never much of a threat to win here at Newport, but she had a great finish to her weekend on Sunday, going 3-under par for the last nine holes of the fourth round, including one of only three eagles registered for the whole tournament. This put her 12-over for the tournament, good for a four-way tie for 20th place. Big deal.
Except that it is a big deal to Park's wallet. If she had just played par over the back nine, she would have been in a five-way tie for 36th place. The four women who finished at 15-over each received $17,647 for their work at Newport. Park, by getting to 20th, takes home $41,654, more than doubling her paycheck.
Compare that to English golfer Karen Stupples, who went 4-over par over her back nine and ended up in that same 20th-place tie. If she had held par and stayed at 8-over for the tournament, she would have been in a three-way tie for eighth place. Rachel Hetherington and Shi Hyun Ahn got $82,460 at eighth place, so Stupples' payoff was basically cut in half because of her poor finish.
Likewise, Juli Inkster's bogey on the 16th hole yesterday meant more money for Stacy Prammanasudh, Se Ri Pak and Michelle Wie, who tied for third and each got $156,038. Inkster, who finished sixth, one shot behind those three players, gets $103,575.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:08 AM | Permalink
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The nation's sporting press is wrapping up its coverage in Newport today. Most have been thrilled with a week in Rhode Island's prettiest locale, even if it lasted one day too long.
Some writers have held back on the difference in physical stature between Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst. Others, however, have not. Consider this passage from a Sports Illustrated.com missive by writer E.M. Swift, which was posted on Saturday night in preview of Sunday's 36-hole marathon....``The 36-hole final doesn't bode well for Hurst, an unmade bed of a woman who doesn't seem to be in training for a marathon, or perhaps even a jog around the block. Her best hope is to play 18 and summon her remaining reserves to do a rain dance.''
Wow. Nice guy.
Posted by Kevin at 11:02 AM | Permalink
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After opening with a birdie, Annika Sorenstam is playing mistake-free golf while her opponent, Pat Hurst, just can't seem to get anything going. Sorenstam has a five-shot lead halfway through the 18-hole playoff, after Hurst bogeyed on nine.
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 10:49 AM | Permalink
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It was slim pickings at the merchandise tent at Newport Country Club but shoppers were greeted with a chance to save. All hats, visors and accessories like ball markers and cups were marked down by 30 percent. The few remaining golf shirts and tee shirts remained at full price and selection was quite limited.
The USGA runs the merchandise tent for the U.S. Open. Under its contract with Newport, club pro Barry Westall basically closes his shop for the week and lets the USGA push its wares.
- Kevin McNamara
Posted by Kevin at 10:38 AM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Annika Sorenstam, shown celebrating her birdie on the par-4 third hole, has a four stroke lead on Pat Hurst through six holes.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 10:23 AM | Permalink
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After following the players for the first few holes, it is clear that conditions are easier than they have been all week.
Most tees have been moved up a bit, or at least kept where they had been. Nothing is back to the tips. What's more, flags that hang over the grandstands are limp for the first time all week.
The bottom line is that the USGA seems to be going the kinder, gentler route, and even the weather is making for much more manageable conditions for Sorenstam and Hurst.
The two, both of whom play quickly, also are flying around. This will not be a 5:15 or 5:30 round as was the case all week. Seveny five minutes in the two players are on the seventh green.
- Paul Kenyon
Posted by Mike McDermott at 10:17 AM | Permalink
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Much has been made about the difference between Sorenstam and Hurst, two veteran players, in terms of glamour and name recognition. Here's something that puts it into some perspective: Out of several corporate logos on Sorenstam's outfit, the casual fan will instantly recognize Lexus, the car maker, and Kraft, the food company. The logo you might notice on Hurst's polo shirt is for a less-glitzy product: Band-Aid.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 9:54 AM | Permalink
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Journal photo / John Freidah
Annika Sorenstam, left, and Pat Hurst get ready to tee off at the start of today's 18-hole playoff at the Newport Country Club.
Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst got their 18-hole playoff started with drives off the first tee just after nine o'clock this morning. The golfers, who were tied at the end of the first, second and third days of action, are even dressed alike today; each has a yellow polo shirt and a white visor. Sorenstam is sporting knee-length gray shorts, while Hurst is wearing black shorts.
The crowd, which has been solidly behind Sorenstam the entire weekend, really gave Hurst a big ovation this morning. Her engaging personality and gritty play seem to be winning people over. But Sorenstam established a two-stroke lead right away with a birdie on the first hole, while Hurst, who has lost two playoffs to Sorenstam in the past, bogeyed.
The winds today are calmer than they have been in the tournament to this point. The USGA is expecting the winds to stay light, and the temperature to top out around 82 degrees about noon.
Both of these women are quick players, so the action today should move at a brisk pace. We may be able to report a winner soon after 1. Unless they tie again after 18 holes.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 9:51 AM | Permalink
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The USGA announced the crowd for yesterday's 36 holes of action at 20,564. That equals attendance of 59,262 so far for the three days in which golf was actually played, not an overwhelming number. Today, a workday for most people, the crowd is quite sparse at the start. So if you want to see some golf, it might be a good day to come down here.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 9:28 AM | Permalink
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July 2, 2006
There's a sign-up sheet in the media room that invites us, the privileged members of the press, to play a round at the Newport Country Club tomorrow. But Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst just KO'd our chance to get out on the links. Rather than playing ourselves, we'll be back covering the action, as two players who are much better than we are battle for the top tournament in women's golf. We'll start the blog up again tomorrow, probably not right at 9, but not too long after. You can check projo.com throughout the day tomorrow for updates. You should most definitely pick up The Providence Journal for better, more thorough commentary than I can provide.
Over and out.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 8:31 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Pat Hurst celebrates her birdie on the 14th hole.
Pat Hurst sat forward in her chair in the interview room. She said she "can't wait for tomorrow."
"My arm is hurting from carrying my daughter," Hurst said. "It's cramping, I guess, from being so tired. But out there I felt fine. I'm ready to go one more round, of course. I'd die for this. This is what we live for, and I've got that opportunity."
Hurst has been called an underdog by a lot of people this weekend (including me), but she shakes off the label by saying sensibly that all that matters is what she does with her clubs. Someone in the media room asked her a strange question about whether she has felt like an underdog for much of her life. She chuckled a bit and said, no, she has a husband and a family, she has a good life, and she does not feel like an underdog.
Another reporter asked Hurst the same question about Annika that he had earlier asked Sorenstam about Hurst: What is she like as a person, what is she like to play with? Hurst got a roar from the crowd when she said, "Well, first of all, what did she say?"
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 8:13 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Annika Sorenstam can't believe her near-winner on the 18th didn't find its way home.
Annika Sorenstam says she's never done anything like the 18-hole playoff that she'll have tomorrow, starting at 9 a.m., with Pat Hurst. And she allows that playing the Newport course is not an easy way to spend a day.
"It was funny, I was out there [today] and said, 'I won't play this hole anymore,' but I guess I will play it again."
It's going to be a different mindset. I've never been in a playoff like this before. I'm happy with who I'm playing and I'm looking forward to it."
Sorenstam says the toughest thing about this course is "the wind, obviously."
"It's really long. I've never hit so many long irons into the par-4s. I've never hit so many long irons or woods to par-3s; it just makes it really difficult."
Back in the media tent, Sorenstam was stoic, precise in her words. She sat back in her chair and acknowledged the emotions that ran through her mind when she narrowly missed the winner on 18. She says she's hungry and determined to get a victory.
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 8:06 PM | Permalink
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A few names that we haven't talked much about are included in our wrapup of the top scores for round 4:
1. Pat Hurst -2
Se Ri Pak -2
3. Annika Sorenstam, Even
4. Stacy Prammanasudh, +1
Sherri Turner, +1
Gloria Park, +1
Amy Hung, +1
Aree Song, +1
Posted by Mike McDermott at 7:31 PM | Permalink
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Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst are tied atop the leaderboard at even par through 72 holes. The fans on 18 really thought Annika had the win with her long birdie putt on the 18. But they gave Pat Hurst a very warm ovation when she made her pressure-packed four-footer to seal the tie.
As the crowd rushed to the exits, there was laughter, there was cursing and there was some head-shaking. "She's going to be seeing that one in her sleep," someone said, presumably talking about Sorenstam's near miss on the 18. Stay tuned to the blog tonight for reaction from Sorenstam and Hurst.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 7:24 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Annika Sorenstam drives during fourth-round play today.
A big roar just went up among the spectators gathered at hole 18, as the scoreboard posted Annika Sorenstam's birdie on hole 16. It's getting chilly out there, and the crowd on 18 is much smaller than it was at the end of the third round. There is a building police presence, though.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 6:50 PM | Permalink
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At the end of the first round, Pat Hurst and Annika Sorenstam were tied. At the end of the second round, Pat Hurst and Annika Sorenstam were tied. And here we are, after they've played 15 holes side-by-side over 10 hours, and Pat Hurst and Annika Sorenstam are tied. If it does indeed come down to these two at the end, that seems perfectly appropriate.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 6:30 PM | Permalink
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Here's a sure sign the action is winding down: They just removed all the information from the main leaderboard at the entrance of the golf course.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 6:08 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Se Ri Pak is shooting at a 2-under par pace through 14 holes of the fourth round, putting her just one stroke off the lead.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:54 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Pat Hurst has a share of the lead with six holes left to play. Here she celebrates a good shot on hole number five with her caddie, Dan Wilson.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:43 PM | Permalink
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Sophia Sheridan, a 22-year-old native of Guadalajara, Mexico, who now lives in California, bowed out of the tournament after the second round after finishing 13-over par. But some of Sheridan's band of fans, dressed to stand out in matching green T-shirts with Mexican flags in the front and "Sophia" written on the back, are still here watching the action. They may just make up the most colorful cheering section we have here.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:40 PM | Permalink
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Here's how our top six players compare when you look at their average drives, through all rounds of the tournament.
1. Michelle Wie, 265.3 yards
2. Pat Hurst, 253.1 yards
3. Se Ri Pak, 246.9 yards
4. Annika Sorenstam, 240.3 yards
5. Juli Inkster, 233.7 yards
6. Stacy Prammanasudh, 230.7 yards
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:31 PM | Permalink
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Michelle Wie's birdie on hole number 12 not only ties her with Pat Hurst and Annika Sorenstam for the lead, it breaks a personal streak of 21 holes without a birdie.
- Kevin McNamara
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:26 PM | Permalink
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I guess merchandise sales are going well, despite the pretty prices. Paul Kenyon just pointed out that the mannequins in the window of the merchandise tent are almost all naked.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:20 PM | Permalink
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Men or women, the true mark of a United States Open are golfers making mistakes they normally would not most any other week. That's why, after 9 holes, it's clear the tournament has officially begun.
When Annika Sorenstam double bogeyed the 7th hole by hitting an 8-iron into the pond in front of the green, she started leaking oil. When she hit her chip shot into the 8th green, she made a cardinal error and left the ball above the pin and missed the par putt. On the ninth, she again was short of the green in a sand bunker. A 5-foot miss on the par putt made it another bogey and loss of four strokes on holes 7-8-9. Welcome to the Open.
Up two strokes after chipping in for birdie on the 8th hole, Pat Hurst caught Open Fever. At the ninth hole she 3-putted from just off the green, giving back a shot and bringing even more golfers into the mix.
As the experts often say, the Open doesn't begin until the back 9 on Sunday. That old axiom is once again holding true.
- Kevin McNamara
Posted by Kevin at 5:05 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
Members of the media watch from the lunchroom of the press tent as Michelle Wie plays a hole.
I've said a few things in past days about the folks in the media tent occasionally having their attention elsewhere. Today is a whole different story.
For the first time I can think of, every television in here (and there are a lot of TVs) is tuned into golf. And there is something like emotion in the air as well. There were big groans just recently when Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst narrowly missed birdie putts.
Now that Annika has double-bogeyed to knot up the leaderboard, things are likely to get a lot more tense in here, as well as out there.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:02 PM | Permalink
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The crowd on par-4 hole nine almost went into despair when Annika Sorenstam's second shot failed to come close to the elevated green.
When Sorenstam followed up with a beautiful chip that put her in good position to save par, the crowd erupted. Someone screamed Annika's name, and she gave a little wave. But people were bummed again when Sorenstam misfired and ended up with a bogey.
As Sorenstam made the walk from 9 to 10, you could see some stress in her face. Nine holes to make up two shots. This time, as the cheers came, there was no wave of acknowledgment.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:58 PM | Permalink
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Meg Mallon was walking off the eighth hole when a photographer asked her whom she was rooting for. "The Red Sox," she joked. When pressed, she said, "I'm rooting for the one who is closest to my age." In other words, the 43-year-old Mallon is behind her friend, 46-year-old Juli Inkster.
- John Freidah
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:54 PM | Permalink
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Catriona Matthew, 36, is one of two players in this tournament from Scotland, which bills itself as the home of golf. The other Scot, Mhairi McKay, did not make the cut. Matthew has not been mentioned until now in this blog, and she has no chance of winning. But she's playing a great fourth round so far, with three birdies through her first seven holes. Only Pat Hurst, who just surged into sole possession of the lead, is doing better than Ms. Matthew in this round.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:21 PM | Permalink
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Gloria Park, who was under par after the first round but struggled to a 7-over yesterday, came up with the tournament's third eagle, scoring a 3 on the par-5 first hole. The 26-year-old from Seoul, South Korea, remains 15 shots off Annika Sorenstam's lead.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:55 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Stacy Prammanasudh sizes up the par-3 hole four today at Newport.
Stacy Prammanasudh, the 26-year-old player from Tulsa, Okla., may not get a victory today. But she's had a real fine and consistent tournament, and that has made her name a fixture near the top of the leaderboard. Prammanasudh shot one over par in the first round before matching par in the second and third rounds.
Right by her side all the way is her father and caddie, Lou, whom Stacy Prammanasudh calls one of her greatest supporters.
Prammanasudh's name has had some tongues wagging in the press tent. But it is not the longest one in this championship. That honor would go to the Thai player Virada Nirapathpongporn, who failed to make the cut.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:51 PM | Permalink
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As is the case at most televised sporting events, the people who produce the pictures everyone gets to see at home get first choice on how and where to set up their equipment.
If you're watching at home and wondering about the gorgeous scene behind announcers Dan Hicks, Johnny Miller and Dottie Pepper, the setup is an ideal one selected by NBC.
The television booth is adjacent to the 18th green, giving the announcers a great view. Even better, it is on the far side of the green, away from the clubhouse, tucked between a large section of grandstands and the end of the luxury suites that line the fairway. The on-screen pictures from the booth are shown with the classic Newport clubhouse as the backdrop.
- Paul Kenyon
Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:38 PM | Permalink
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The television cameras, as they should, will keep you clearly focused on what's going on with the leaders in this tournament. For that reason, TV is probably a superior way to observe the competition than seeing it live. But if you are here, you get a chance to see some pretty big stars, who happen to have fallen out of contention, play out their rounds -- something TV will not show you.
Here are some of the star golfers who have made the cut, but are out of contention, and so only will be seen today by those who have come to Newport: Natalie Gulbis, Lorena Ochoa, Cristie Kerr, Karrie Webb, Gloria Park, Morgan Pressel. Of course, any one of these golfers is good enough to make an unbelievable shot at any time, as Becky Iverson proved earlier in the weekend.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:25 PM | Permalink
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When you've just played 18 holes of golf, and you have just a half-hour or so before you go out for another round, you might take the time to change clothes. Maybe for comfort; maybe for sponsorship reasons. Then again, maybe you head right back out for some more golf. In the second round, Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie, Juli Inkster and Paula Creamer, to name a few, opted for new outfits. Pat Hurst and Brittany Lincicome, on the other hand, are staying in the same clothes.
The most radical change probably goes to Jeong Jang, who changed from powder blue to fire-engine red.
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:16 PM | Permalink
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TV is about to restart its coverage after an hour delay. Here's where the leaders stand now, and what hole each is on in Round 4.
1. Annika Sorenstam, -2 through 2 holes
2. Juli Inkster, Even through 4 holes
Michelle Wie, Even through 3 holes
Pat Hurst, Even through 2 holes
5. Brittany Lincicome, +1 through 6 holes
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:58 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Annika Sorenstam is wearing blue today, like a lot of other players, but her golf is standing head-and-shoulders above right now.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:55 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / John Freidah
Teenagers Michelle Wie, left, and Jane Park have exhibited a certain camaraderie while playing together today. While Wie remains in the thick of things, Park has fallen off to 4-over par for the tournament. In the photo above, the 6-foot Wie hugs the 5-4 Park at the end of the third round.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:53 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / John Freidah
Nineteen-year-old Paula Creamer came into today's action with a fighting chance, but she is virtually out of contention now after going 5-over par for the third round. Above, Creamer tries in vain to urge on a birdie putt on hole number 17.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:48 PM | Permalink
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Annika Sorenstam must be able to smell victory now. She birdied on hole number two to start the fourth round with consecutive birdies, and she now has opened up a two-shot lead. Pat Hurst, playing alongside Annika, has also opened the fourth with consecutive birdies.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:43 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Pat Hurst chips out of a sandtrap below the 17th green. Hurst, who entered the day tied with Annika Sorenstam for the lead, fell off with a 2-over par performance in this morning's third round. But she scored a birdie on the first hole of the fourth round and hopes to steal her way back into the thick of things.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:41 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Michelle Wie, shown reacting to a missed birdie putt on the 16th, has had an interesting morning. She had to receive medical treatment after being either bitten or stung by an insect near her elbow. She said yesterday that her wrist is not bothering her, although it has appeared at times that she is injured. But she played a solid, even-par third round and is very much in contention for her first professional title.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:34 PM | Permalink
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Annika Sorenstam just took sole possession of the lead with a birdie on the first hole of the fourth round.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:30 PM | Permalink
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Here's your leader board.
1. Juli Inkster - Even through one hole of round 4
Michele Wie - Even through 3 rounds
Annika Sorenstam - Even through 3 rounds
4. Brittany Lincicome - +1 through three holes of round 4
Stacy Prammanasudh - +1 through one hole of round 4
6. Sophie Gustafson, +2 through two holes of round 4
Pat Hurst, +2 through 3 rounds
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:13 PM | Permalink
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The USGA always used to test its Open champions with 36 holes in the final day. From 1953-64, the Women's Open was a 36-hole finale. The men's Open was 36 holes from 1926-64. The four-day format was embraced thereafter, no doubt mostly for money-making reasons. Pushing golf shirts, hot dogs and beer for an extra day means a lot more coin for the USGA and a more manageable final day for the competitors.
Posted by Kevin at 2:09 PM | Permalink
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Here are the best scores for the third round:
1. Brittany Lincicome, 69 (-2)
2. Ai Miyazato, 70 (-1)
Jee Young Lee, 70 (-1)
4. Juli Inkster, 71 (even)
Sophie Gustafson, 71 (even)
Stacy Prammanasudh, 71 (even)
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:08 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Our vote for the best view on the Newport Country Club course belongs to hole number 13, nicknamed "Ocean," for obvious reasons. Above, Brittany Lincicome acknowledges the crowd's cheers after parring on the hole.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:00 PM | Permalink
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Balancing the stiff winds and the pressure of the final round of the U.S. Open, the USGA shifts the tee markers on the course wisely. The markers are moved on all four par threes, mostly depending on the wind. For the final round, the USGA helped the players on two holes and hurt them on two others.
The 4th and 5th holes are difficult par threes but even more so with the 20-30 mile an hour winds blowing today. The 4th hole is playing at 139 yards, nine more than this morning's round. The 5th, which plays directly into the wind, is at 155 this afternoon after stretching to 177 this morning.
On the back side, the oceanside 13th hole is playing as long as it has all wekk at 187 yards. It was 173 this morning. The 17th is moved from 195 yards to 179 this afternoon.
Posted by Kevin at 1:58 PM | Permalink
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When American player Pat Hurst was asked yesterday whether she would win the crowd's favor over Annika Sorenstam, a Swede, she said that the crowd would probably be behind Annika. She was right.
Everybody gets applause at Newport, but Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie are treated like royalty. When Wie and Sorenstam make putts that approach the hole, the people yell: "Get in the hole!" When the players they're paired with putt and miss, people comment about why they missed.
As Sorenstam, Hurst and Shi Hyun Ahn left hole 18 together, the crowd was yelling Annika's name. People barely seemed to cast their glances at Hurst and Ahn.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:57 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
As the threesome of Michelle Wie, Jane Park and Jeong Jang finishes their third round of play, the crowd swells around hole number 18.
Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst just finished their third round on hole 18, and what followed was a massive pedestrian traffic jam on the main roadway onto the course. It looks like the fans here will have to endure quite a bit of hassle to catch a glimpse of the big stars. The people who stake out a prime spot on one of the granstands are probably in the best position, as long as they don't mind long periods of inactivity.
Even those who get right up against the ropes are not guaranteed a clear view of the action. I just heard a few people trying to order one of the volunteers, whose job it is to stand and call for quiet before each putt, to kneel down so that they could see.
Right near all this commotion, however, young Brittany Lincicome, who has put herself in a great position, tied atop the leaderboard, was getting her fourth round off on the first tee in front of a sparse crowd. With her short, violent spring he might be one to watch. She has a short, violent swing on her drive that gets impressive results.
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:49 PM | Permalink
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Sophie Gustafson, a native of Sweden who lives in Ponte Vedra, Fla., recorded the tournament's second eagle on the par-5 10th hole. Gustafson scored an even-par 71 for the round, leaving her within striking distance of the lead at 2-over par for the tournament.
Gustafson, 32, has four LPGA victories to her credit, the last one in 2003. The tournament's only other eagle was made yesterday by Becky Iverson, who did not make the cut, on her very last shot at the par-4 hole number nine.
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:55 PM | Permalink
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Although some top performers are struggling today, as many women have already finished round 3 below par as we had all day yesterday. And that's with 68 golfers, as opposed to 156 in the second round.
Brittany Lincicome, the hard-hitting 20-year-old from Seminole, Fla., put herself into position to challenge for her first tour title by shooting 2-under par this morning. She had three birdies for the day to go along with a single bogey. The 5-foot-10 Lincicome is fifth in this tournament with an average drive of 252.3 yards.
Finishing their days at 1-under par, but farther back on the leaderboard, are Jee Young Lee (+3 for the tournament) and Ai Miyazato (at +6, and possibly enjoying being out of the spotlight after being paired earlier with Annika Sorenstam and Natalie Gulbis).
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:48 PM | Permalink
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There is no cheering in the press box in any sport, and that includes the big tent that serves as the media headquarters for the Open. Still, there is no hiding the fact that more than a few people would be happy if Juli Inkster did well.
Inkster, a two-time Open champion, just moved to the top of the leaderboard with a chip-in birdie on 15. She is one of the most popular players on tour and I had a firsthand lesson why earlier this week.
We were doing profiles on the top players and needed to chase players down during the preactice rounds. Inkster had just finished her play and practice when I asked, as she was heading up the clubhouse steps, if she had a few minutes for a story for The Providence Journal. She responded, `I only have a minute. Is that OK?'' She had an appointment and clearly was in a rush.
When I said maybe we should wait until the next day because I needed a bit more time, she turned briefly and obviously thought about what to do. She was in a rush. But she paused and said, ``That's OK, let's do it now.''
She was outstanding as she told stories not only about her play and about her impressions of the course but also about how her parents and her husband and two children were going to spend the week with her.
It was a classy move by a classy person.
- Paul Kenyon
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:32 PM | Permalink
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The United States Golf Association said earlier this week that it would probably not have time to re-pair the players following today's third round, and it made that official when it announced tee times for both the third and fourth round early this morning.
The last group to finish at hole number 18 will feature the co-leaders coming into today, Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst, along with Shi Hyun Ahn, who is one of three players who came in at even par. The last players to finish playing today will actually be Dina Ammaccapane, Karine Icher and Diana Luna on hole number nine.
But the winner could be decided before the Sorenstam group. Ahn has been fading in this third round, and Annika has lost two shots to return to even par -- tied with Michelle Wie and youngster Brittany Lincicome. Meanwhile, Juli Inkster, who will finish two groups ahead of Sorenstam, has just birdied to tie Hurst for the lead at 1-under for the tournament.
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:18 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
Earlier arrivers Abby Mastriano and Joe Neri, both from South Winsor, Conn., take a nap around noon today after lunch. They got up around 4 a.m. to see today's action.
What's a fan to do?
Because of the double round today, it meant there would be about 13 hours of golf to be played. That's too much for most. So, do you arrive early and leave early? Or arrive later and hope to stay around for the finish even it does mean staying until close to dark?
Apparently, people are split, which is why there are good crowds here this morning, but no one is crowded in.
``It's been steady,'' Joe Butz, the tournanment director said just before noon. ``I think it will be more of a late arriving crowd, which is not unusual for a Sunday and especially in this case with the 36 holes.''
Indeed, the traffic in downtown Newport around 11 a.m. was much heavier today than yesterday, and there were groups of people waiting to be picked up at shuttle bus stops around the downtown. So that could be our late-arriving crowd right there.
The USGA estimates yesterday's crowd at 19,980.
- Paul Kenyon and Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:07 PM | Permalink
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July 1, 2006
Michelle Wie, who rebounded from her double-bogey on number 17 to shoot par for the rest of the day, just told the media that she's going to return for tomorrow's 36 holes and: "not going to take it too seriously."
You have to believe that the 16-year-old star -- who speaks much too quickly for anyone to honestly write down her words with precision -- will do just as she says. When asked about hole 17, she laughed before explaining what, in her view, had happened. When someone commented that she had only 13 hours to rest before beginning tomorrow's marathon, Wie looked surprised and said: "Thirteen hours? God, I better go home quick."
Wie, 19-year-old Jane Park and 21-year-old Shi Hyun Ahn will represent the next generation's challenge to the thirtysomethings Sorenstam and Hurst tomorrow. We'll see if it's youth or experience that will be served.
Thanks for being with us today. We'll sign on tomorrow again around noon, and we'll stay with you until after a champion is crowned. Good night once again.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 7:38 PM | Permalink
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Best round of today goes to South Korea's Young Kim, at 2-under par, putting her 2-over for the tournament. Juli Inkster and Candie Kung were the only two players to beat par today. Kung is at 2-over for the tournament; Inkster is at 1-over, and within definite striking distance of the lead.
Here are the top names on the leader board. First score is total through two rounds, second figure is today's result.
1. Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) -2, Even
Pat Hurst (USA), -2, Even
3. Shi Hyun Ahn (South Korea), Even, Even
Jane Park (USA), Even, +2
Michelle Wie (USA), Even, +1
6. Jeong Jang (South Korea), +1, Even
Paula Creamer (USA), +1, +1
Se Ri Pak (South Korea), +1, +3
Juli Inkster (USA), +1, -1
Stacy Prammasudh (USA), +1, Even
Posted by Mike McDermott at 7:21 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / John Freidah
Pat Hurst gets started today with her drive off the first tee.
Pat Hurst, who will enter tomorrow tied with Annika Sorenstam for the lead at 2-under par, is a 37-year-old veteran player born in California and now living in Scottsdale, Ariz. She captured her share of the lead by birdying on 16 today. Hurst is a four-time LPGA tournament winner, her most recent victory coming in the 2005 State Farm Classic.
It's striking that in a tournament where youth has really been very prominent, two players well into their 30s will have it be theirs to lose.
Hurst acknowledges that being paired with Annika makes her automatically the underdog tomorrow. But she says she has confidence in her ability to roll with the challenge. She says a tough course like Newport plays to her advantage, while acknowledging that she's not the most consistent player in the world: "I'm known to make a lot of birdies, but I'm also known to make a lot of bogeys."
As for tonight, Hurst plans on relaxing with her husband and her two young children, ages 4 and 7, who are here in Rhode Island with her. "They really don't know what the U.S. Women's Open is, which is probably a good thing," Hurst says of the kids. They do, however, know that their mom plays golf, and they want her to win.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 7:14 PM | Permalink
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Annika Sorenstam will have a co-leader when play starts tomorrow. It will be Pat Hurst, who, like Sorenstam, went even par today to finish at 2-under for the tournament. I'll have more on her in a few moments ...
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 6:51 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / John Freidah
Paula Creamer waves to the crowd on the fourth hole, where she birdied. In the foreground is Christina Kim, who finished the second round at 10-over par for the tournament.
Paula Creamer finished at 1-over par for the day after bogeying on 18. It was a somewhat disappointing finish for Creamer, who had flirted with the lead for much of the day.
She said that she swung too hard today on some of the longer par 4s and made some other mistakes, but said that she is close to where she wants to be heading into the final rounds.
As for the topic of the night, playing 36 holes, Creamer says it will be a battle of mental toughness.
She acknowledges that the scheduling right now doesn't work in her favor. (Annika, keep in mind, has been relaxing for six hours now.) "It kind of stinks having the late tee time [today] because the bounce back is going to be kind of short."
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 6:49 PM | Permalink
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Here are your top five average drives, along with each player's total tournament score.
1. Karin Sjodin (Sweden), 259.5 yards, +8
2. Michelle Wie (USA), 256.8 yards, Even
3. Jee Young Lee (South Korea), 256.0 yards, +2
4. Brittany Lincicome (USA), 254.0 yards, +2
5. Charlotte Mayorkas (USA), 252.7 yards, +6
Pattern: big drives do not equal great scores.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 6:38 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl
Jane Park chips a shot onto the 15th green, where she ended up with one of her two bogeys on the day.
As Jane Park walked up to a podium for an interview after finishing her round today, she shot a banana peel toward a trash receptacle and missed. But she hasn't missed many other shots so far this weekend, and that's why the 19-year-old from UCLA is at even par through the second round, just two shots behind leader Annika Sorenstam.
"I came out here, and I have nothing to lose," Park said. "So I came out here and I'm having fun; this is just a ball for me. ... Before I would never think, you know, I want to win the tournament, but I came out here and I'm playing well, so, you know, why not?"
Park said the winds today were much stronger than yesterday, when she finished her round at 2-under par, making for difficult conditions. But she said she was able to "rescue" par on a few occasions. At the same time, she was disappointed about missing a couple of birdie opportunities on holes one and two.
Park said she thinks the 36-hole format for tomorrow will be manageable for her.
"I feel good about it; I've done it a couple of times ... I'm just going to eat a lot tomorrow. That's what you've got to do on those long days."
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 6:15 PM | Permalink
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The MetLife (sorry about the free plug) Blimp hovered over the proceedings today. But it hovered loudly. While Michelle Wie was negotiating the difficult 5th hole, the dominating sound was not the large crowd or the 50 or so camera people flicking their shutters so often you had to wonder how many pictures anyone could possibly need of one player.
Anyways, the blimp's cameras must be strong. Get the machine higher in the sky and lower the noise factor.
Posted by Kevin at 5:37 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl
Michelle Wie attempts to get the ball out of the bunker on the 17th hole.
Michelle Wie's championship hopes just took a major stab on the 17th hole. She hit the right greenside bunker off the tee on the par-3 hole and stayed in the bunker on her firts sand shot. Her third shot barely flew up and out of the trap, leaving her with a tough chip shot for bogey. She missed the chip and settled for a double bogey 5 on the hole. She's now at Even par for the tourney through her first 8 holes today.
Update: Wie has recovered with a birdie on hole number three;; she's at even par for the day and still one-under for the tournament.
- Kevin McNamara
Posted by Kevin at 4:59 PM | Permalink
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It's a brisk 10-minute walk to the front gate from the bus depot where the spectators are dropped off from Middletown. Along the way, there are blue signs that talk about the history of the Newport Country Club, and acquaint out-of-state visitors with Rhode Island. My favorite is a "Did You Know" sign that tells people what a quahog is. There is also this helpful reminder: After the day of golf is done, downtown Newport is a good place to shop and eat.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:53 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Mary Murphy
People squeeze in to watch Annika Sorenstam and Natalie Gulbis finish their day on the ninth hole, with the historic Newport Country Club clubhouse in the background.
The crowds here today are certainly large, and it can get very crowded when notable players step up to play. But it's not the disaster that some of us expected it might be, given the tight confines here at Newport. And it's still a great day to watch golf.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:26 PM | Permalink
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Stacy Prammanasudh, 26, from Tulsa, Okla., has birdied four of her first eight holes today and has reached 2-under par for the tournament. That puts her one behind leader Pat Hurst, who is at 3-under for the Open after nine holes today.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:19 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / John Freidah
Paula Creamer lumbers up at the first tee just before starting her day. She's at 1-under through nine holes, which also puts her at 1-under for the tournament, a good place for the youngster to be. Her chips have been terrific today, but she's struggled with the putting.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:02 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Natalie Gulbis fights out of the rough on hole number six, where she bogeyed this morning.
There are worse assignments in sportswriting than watching Annika Sorenstam and Natalie Gulbis play golf together at Newport C.C.
Such was my plight in life Saturday morning with the U.S. Open champ Sorenstam fighting her way to an even-par 71 and maintaining a 2-under score for the tournament. Gulbis birdied her first two holes and four of her first eight overall (the group began on the back nine) before sliding back and playing the back nine with three bogies to finish at even par 71.
But forget about the birdies and the bogies. These two players can't be more different, on or off the course. Sorenstam is the Grand Champion, perhaps the greatest women's player ever. She's a 2-time Open champ and is the model of consistency, hitting fairways and greens and rarely getting herself in any semblence of trouble.
While a fan favorite, she's subdued and never flashy. She'll flash a smile and pump her fist after a birdie but she's all business.
Natalie Gulbis is flashy without trying, stunning without fretting over which colorful outfit to wear. Yesterday her color was lime green, from head to toe, and she heard more than a few hoots and hollers from the crowd both for her shot-making skills and her looks. Such is life when you're a 23-year old pro golfer with your very own swimsuit calendar.
Gulbis could learn a thing or two from Sorenstam the last two days. While a deep hitter off the tee like the veteran star, Gulbis finds herself in shaky spots too often. She also needs to revamp her putting stroke. She putts with a version of the claw grip on a long putter, an acceptable style if the ball goes in. But missed putts have been her downfall through the first two rounds.
After two rounds, Sorenstam and Gulbis were even in one major category: birdies made. Both had five. Bogies, however, were another matter and the reason Annika is fighting for the title and Gulbis is just happy to make the cut and stay in Newport for another day.
- Kevin McNamara
Posted by Kevin at 3:55 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / John Freidah
The advantages of being accredited media: Free lunch in the press tent. A chance to enjoy the outdoors, and also to come out of the sun when needed. And with nice restrooms in our own trailer, I never have to go here.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:45 PM | Permalink
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The toughest spot on the golf course for drainage has been a greenside bunker on the sixth hole. No matter how often the crews at Newport C.C. pump out the bunker, it quickly fills again with water. So much water remains in the bunker that there is no spot for a player to take relief in the trap. At this point, it's almost a a waste of time. Any golfer whose ball lands in the hazard gets relief outside the trap.
Posted by Kevin at 3:45 PM | Permalink
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Kristina Tucker, a 26-year-old native of Sweden who now lives in Pageland, S.C., quadruple-bogeyed on the par-4 hole number three today. (May Wood had an 8 on the same hole yesterday.) But she recovered with the help of four birdies during the course of the day to finish at just 3-over par. Combined with a solid 1-over par in the first round, Tucker is a solid bet to make the cut.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:31 PM | Permalink
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With two full rounds of golf on tap for tomorrow, the first tee times could be moved up to 6:30 tomorrow morning, depending on how many golfers make the cut for the third round.
- Paul Kenyon
Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:16 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Birdie Kim didn't think her style would fit in at Newport. And she was right.
Earlier this week, Birdie Kim, the defending U.S. Women's Open championship, said the length of the course and the wet conditions at Newport did not play into her hands, and would leave her at a disadvantage.
The lean and lanky Kim proved to be correct -- probably more than she had ever hoped. She had a terrible time here, and finishes her first two rounds at 12-over par, not nearly enough to make the cut. Another leading player in Kim's threesome -- Morgan Pressel, is teetering on the edge of the cut at 8-over par. That's 10 shots off the lead, which is usually the point where the cut is made.
The third member of the threesome, South Korean Jeong Jang, easily was the best of the group, coming in at 1-over. Jang already has an LPGA victory this year at the Wegmans tournament; she won the Weetabix Women's British Open last year.
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:08 PM | Permalink
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One of Annika Sorenstam's closest pursuers is 16-year-old sensation Michelle Wie, who entered the day at 1-under par and one off the lead. Wie, who started today on hole number 10, birdied on the 12 and is now tied for the lead through five holes of the second round. I would guess that the thought of a Sorenstam-Wie showdown in the end has a lot of people very excited.
Meanwhile, Amanda Bloomenherst has double-bogeyed on par-4 hole six and has fallen back to par for the tournament.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:55 PM | Permalink
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Becky Iverson just closed her day with an eagle on the par-4 hole nine, which has played as the most difficult hole of the tournament so far. It's the first eagle of the tournament. The 38-year-old from Gladstone, Mich., still does not figure to make the cut, though; she is finishing the second round at 11-over par.
I have to admit that I just missed this shot, which must have been unbelievable. Iverson was in the threesome following Annika Sorenstam, Natalie Gulbis and Ai Miyazato, and I (along with many others) was gone by the time Iverson approached alongside Minea Blomqvist and Kris Tschetter.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:39 PM | Permalink
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Mike Davis, the United States Golf Association's senior director of rules and competition, says that the course has dried up, but it is not dry.
Once again today, six tees have been shortened to compensate for the conditions. That means the course is playing a total of 6,510 yards, against the 6,564 that had been originally planned.
The USGA had expected to use two back tees for the final two rounds on the par-3 five and 13 holes. This would have added 22 yards to number five and 30 yards to number 13. But because the plan is to play 36 holes tomorrow, the USGA will only use the back tees for the third round, Davis says.
- Paul Kenyon
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:33 PM | Permalink
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Amateurs Jane Park and Amanda Blumenherst are playing well again. Blumenherst birdied her first hole to move to 2-under par for the tournament, matching the leading pace, and she is still there through four holes. Park just bogeyed on hole 15, her sixth hole of the day, and she is at one-under par.
Se Ri Pak remains at 2-under par through four holes; she has one birdie and one bogey today. Pat Hurst, who is also at 2-under, has played her first two holes of the day at par.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:12 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Sophie Gustafson, of Sweden, shot 1-over par this morning, the same as yesterday.
Here's a selective leader board featuring only those who have completed two rounds of golf. The listing includes everyone in the top seven, and then lists notables farther back.
Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) -2
Shi Hyn Ahn (South Korea) Par
Jeong Jang (South Korea) +1
Candie Kung (Taiwan) +2
Lorena Ochoa (Mexico) +2
Young Kim (South Korea) +2
Sophie Gustafson (Sweden) +2
Cristie Kerr (USA) +5
Natalie Gulbis (USA) +5
Karrie Webb (Australia) +7
Morgan Pressel (USA) +8
Birdie Kim (South Korea) +12
- Mike McDermott
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Lorena Ochoa, the leading money winner on tour this year, had a very different finish than most.
She was on the verge of playing herself out of contention before finishing birdie-birdie. That was all the more impressive because Ochoa had made only one bird in her first 34 holes.
She had 16 pars, one birdie and one bogey in her opening 71. Yeserday, she had 11 pars and one bogey in her first 12 holes before making three straight bogeys beginning at 13.
``That putt made my day,'' she said of her long birdie putt on the 17th. ``It feels good to finish in a good position.''
-Paul Kenyon
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Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Natalie Gulbis is all smiles after her birdie putt on the 15th hole.
Natalie Gulbis ended at par for the day, the same as Annika Sorenstam, with whom she was paired. Gulbis is now at 5-over par for the tournament; she seems safe to make the cut.
That said, it was a pretty frustrating day for Gulbis in the end. She was at 4-under at one point this morning, but her day began unravelling with consecutive bogeys on 18 and one. She came to the final hole, number nine, still one-under, but her second shot missed horribly, falling in the brown grass well below the green. She was fortunate in the end to come away with a 5 on the par 4.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:49 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Annika Sorenstsam tees off on the 14th hole this morning. She started the day by making par on her first 13 holes before finishing out on a roller-coaster with two birdies and two bogeys.
Annika Sorenstam entered her final hole of the day, number nine, at three-under par, having birdied on number seven. Her second shot nearly did not clear the bunker, but it managed to slash through the tall grass on the edge of the ridge and came to rest on the edge of the fringe.
The fans who crowded on the grandstands and outside the clubhouse gave Annika a warm welcome when she approached for her third shot. After acknowledging the crowd, she let loose a nice chip shot that came to rest just five feet in back of the pin. But she ended up missing just to the right on her putt for par.
When Annika came into the media tent to be interviewed, a volunteer walked right up and handed her a hat to be autographed. Someone official scolded the volunteer, telling her there were no autographs allowed, but Sorenstam signed the hat anyway.
Rhonda Glenn, the retired former player who moderates the interviews for the USGA, commented to the greatest woman golf player in the world that the fans have shown this weekend that they love her. With a sheepish smile, Sorenstam replied: "Well that's very nice, thank you."
Meanwhile, outside the interview room, there are an awful lot of people watching England and Portugal in the World Cup, and not paying attention to the legend in the room right next to them.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:42 PM | Permalink
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Annika Sorenstam missed a five-foot putt on the dreaded ninth hole and ended up bogeying. She finished at par for the day, which means the mark to beat remains two-under par.
More to come...
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:13 PM | Permalink
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Annika Sorenstam just bogeyed on hole number six to come back to 2-under par. There are only seven players who are at under par for the tournament, and the scores today are pretty similar overall to what they were yesterday. (Although some people have made some dramatic improvements. Witness Kris Tschetter, of Sioux Falls, S.D., who shot 80 yesterday but is eight shots ahead of that pace this morning, with four holes to go.)
Yesterday's crowd is being estimated at 18,718. There are many more people today, not surprisingly. The course is drying out, but the smell that we mentioned yesterday is apparently a little worse in areas, according to some of my colleagues who have been out and around the course.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:15 PM | Permalink
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How about being the man in charge of a 1,100-member work force and having some of your workers call and ask to work extra?
That is what Dick Harlow was going through yesterday. Harlow is the man in charge of the biggest committee at the Open, the marshals who help with crowd control. He has had 1,100 people, all volunteers, working for him this week.
Because players will be competing over 36 holes in today's finale, workers are needed for 12 hours, not the planned eight. For marshals, the schedule called for two, 292-person work crews.
Harlow's committee debated whether to add a third shift. Instead, the members decided to ask each of the two shifts to work six hours rather than now.
``No one's complained. They say they're happy to do it. They're enjoying it,'' Harlow said. ``I'm getting calls from some who have finished their shifts for the week asking if we need them to work. They've been great. I'm proud of them.''
- Paul Kenyon
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:10 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Photographers (including The Journal's Mary Murphy, in pink hat) and fans crowd around the 16th hole to watch the threesome featuring Annika Sorenstam and Natalie Gulbis this morning.
Welcome to round 2 of the U.S. Women's Open, the day when we should find out a little bit more about who is likely to emerge from this field of 156 outstanding women players.
The action got off to an early start here, when co-leader Annika Sorenstam getting off at 7:55. Sorenstam has played 14 holes, and she was par on every single one until birdying on hole number five (she started on 10). That makes Sorenstam the pace-setter at 3-under par for the tournament. The three women with whom Sorenstam was tied after yesterday -- Se Ri Pak, Jane Park and Pat Hurst -- all get started later today.
It was another player in Sorenstam's threesome, Natalie Gulbis, who really garnered attention today. After struggling to a 5-over par for the day yesterday, Gulbis came out on fire today. She was 4-under par at one point before suffering two straight bogeys on holes nine and 10. She's recovered and now sits at two under par for the day.
The weather is warmer today, annd the winds are fairly light as they were yesterday. The USGA expects the temperature to top out at 80 degrees yesterday.
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:57 AM | Permalink
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June 30, 2006
That's all for today from Newport. There's still a lot of golf to be played, and we'll be back tomorrow around noon to bring it to you. We'll also stay online later, till 8 or so, so check back frequently for updates. Also check out tomorrow's Providence Journal for expanded coverage. Pleasant evening everyone.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 7:06 PM | Permalink
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A pleased-looking Annika Sorenstam just spoke about the play of the day -- her birdie on the ninth hole that put her on course for a strong finish.
"I hit driver, four-iron, then rolled in a putt from about 12 feet away -- not really expected."
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 7:03 PM | Permalink
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Annika Sorenstam came within inches of birdying the difficult par-4 18th hole, which would have put her alone on top of the leader board, then made par to finish the round in a tie. So it's Sorenstam, Jane Park, Se Ri Pak and Pat Hurst tied at 2-under 69.
Before Sorenstam's strong finish, Natalie Gulbis and Morgan Pressel finished disappointing days with bogeys on the 18th. That puts both at 5-over, seven shots off the lead. Pressel seemed particularly dejected, tossing her club aside after her final putt.
Ai Miyazato, who was paired with Sorenstam and Gulbis, also had a disappointing finish. She missed a spectacular eagle on the 18th by six inches, tops, then ended up rimming out the birdie putt from a few feet away.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 6:53 PM | Permalink
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One unpleasant thing about being on the Newport course today is the smell around some of the holes; it's definitely a topic of conversation. Wherever there's standing water -- around holes two, three and four, for example -- there is also a rotting, stagnant odor. There's not much that can be done about this; it's an unfortunate symptom of the unfortunate weather that has preceded this tournament.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 6:09 PM | Permalink
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Annika Sorenstam just birdied on hole 16 to tie for the lead at 2-under par, with two more holes to play in the round.
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 6:01 PM | Permalink
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Two amateurs have had very good days today. The first one, Jane Park, is tied for the lead, and we've already told you about her. The other one is Amanda Blumenherst, 19, from Scottsdale, Ariz., and Duke University.
Blumenherst finished her day with a 70, one-under par, in her U.S. Women's Open debut.
"I definitely had the first-tee butterflies," Blumenherst said. "After that I calmed down and was able to play. I had a great drive and it was a par-5, so I stuck my shot pretty close and made the putt."
"It was an amazing experience," she continued, "I had my family here, and I saw them on the sidelines and clapping. It was a great all-around experience."
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 6:01 PM | Permalink
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Morgan Pressel, who started out so well, just ended a streak of three straight bogeys, and has now bogeyed five of her last eight holes. She's at four-over par for the day through 16 holes.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:57 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
The scene couldn't be more lovely than it is today, with temperatures in the 70s and a gentle breeze coming off the Atlantic. The crowds have had to deal with some mud and some crowding, but everyone has been well-behaved and the mood is light. In the photo above, co-leader Pat Hurst picks up the ball after entering the green on the ninth hole, with the clubhouse in the background.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:44 PM | Permalink
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Cristie Kerr just double-bogeyed on hole six, her 15th hole of the day. Kerr is now at one-over par, just three shots off the lead, and she's had one of the most topsy-turvy days of anyone.
One thing that has not been topsy-turvy is the leader board. It's still Jane Park, who played in the very first threesome, tied with Se Ri Pak and Pat Hurst for the lead.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:38 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
May Wood
Players have followings for different reasons. May Wood, a 6-foot-2 native of Signal Mountain, Tenn., played her first three holes in 6-5-8, or six over par. But she's still a crowd favorite.
Very few men's golfers operate their own web sites but a large majority of the female players like to trumpet their achievements on the web. Visit May's site.
- Kevin McNamara
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Lorena Ochoa bogeyed on the par-4 sixth hole -- the 15th hole she has played today -- making her the latest player to score a bogey this round. Ochoa is now at even par.
- Jim Donaldson
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:23 PM | Permalink
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Unknown Veronica Zorzi got to 3-under par through 11 holes and was leading the tournament before a difficult blow up.
Playing the third hole (her 12th), Zorzi made a double bogey. Then on the fourth hole, her tee shot at the par-3 got hung up on a ridge and didn't fall to the hole. Her chip shot went past the hole and left her a four foot putt for par. However she missed that putt and the comebacker as well for another double bogey.
So in two holes, the Verona, Italy, native went from leading the tournament to one over par.
- Kevin McNamara
Posted by Kevin at 5:17 PM | Permalink
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Annika Sorenstam is looking very good right now. For the second hole in a row, she missed a birdie putt by less than a foot. She's now at one-under par after her triumph on the nine, just one shot off the lead.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:08 PM | Permalink
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Cristie Kerr has recovered nicely from her triple-bogey early on. She ran off a streak of three straight birdies from holes 14 through 16, the first player to go on such a run, and she now stands just one off the lead at one-under par with 13 holes complete.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 5:02 PM | Permalink
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Jee Young Lee, a 20-year-old player from South Korea who has finished for the round, has registered the longest average drive so far: 263.5 yards. Lee is at even-par 71 after the first round.
Out of the players who have finished, Michelle Wie has the second-longest drive average, at 261.0 yards. Morgan Pressel, who is still out on the course, averaged 262.0 yards through nine holes.
- Mike McDermott
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Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
Terry Wilson shows off some of his work on the scoreboard in the press tent.
Terry Wilson of Sacramento, Calif., has a very nice job. The self-trained calligraphist attends United States Golf Association tournaments and maintains the scoreboard in his beautiful, Olde English-style script. Wilson does about six tournaments a year. In Newport, he is stationed inside the press tent; for other events, he gets out on the course as well.
There is a team of volunteers who put stickers on the large boards in the press tent and near hole one, allowing people to see how all 156 golfers played all 18 holes on a given day. When a golfer has finished for the day, Wilson strolls up to the board and writes their final scores, then puts their name on a summary board located front-and-center in the tent.
"A lot of people who do golf scoreboards have their own style. I've developed a style over the years and made it my own," Wilson says.
"Some people might call it calligraphy, but calligraphy can be complicated; it can get too squiggly. I think the most important thing is to make it easy to read, to stay simple."
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:33 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / John Freidah
Pat Hurst reacts after just missing her birdie putt on hole number nine.
Hole nine is a challenging par 4 that has seen a lot of bogeys today. It plays long at 436 yards -- longer than in 1995, when Tiger Woods played at Newport -- the green is at the top of a steep embankment and it plays tougher than any other green on the course, according to club pro Barry Westall.
Morgan Pressel was playing great golf when she reached the nine, tied for the lead at 2-under par. On her third shot, she nearly lofted a birdie put home from 95 yards, finishing just four feet from the hole. But she blew the next putt two feet passed the hole, then rimmed out, and ended up with a double-bogey to come back to par through nine holes.
In the next group, both Natalie Gulbis and Annika Sorenstam positioned themselves on the fringe, about 15 feet away from the green for Sorenstam and maybe 18 feet for Gulbis. Sorenstam played her third shot perfectly and ended up with a birdie to move to one under par through nine holes. She was the first player all day to come up with a birdie on the nine.
Gulbis, who came to the hole at 2-over par, was more tentative, and she ended up short of the hole. She did convert her putt for par. That put her in the minority; so far today, 63 out of 94 players have gone over par for the hole.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:21 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl
Annika Sorenstam reacts to missing a birdie putt on the fourth hole. Sorenstam is at even par through seven holes, tied with Ai Miyazato; Natalie Gulbis is at one over.
Just before 1:30, I watched perhaps the day’s most glamourous threesome get the day started off hole one. Hundreds of people packed around the first tee – they were standing in the bleachers, shimmying between the rough branches of a pine tree, spilling down the sides of a slight hill.
They cheered loudly when Natalie Gulbis, dressed all in black, with a hat, sleeveless shirt and skirt, was introduced. Some men could be heard whooping for the blond 23-year-old from Las Vegas who is known almost as much for her swimsuit calendar as for her great golf play. Her drive drew gasps of admiration.
There was an even louder cheer – sans the whooping -- for Annika Sorenstam, dressed in white with peach-colored capris, the Swede who is not only the most dominant player in women’s golf, but one of the most dominant figures in all of sport. They cheered with delight when she let go of her drive with her easy motion.
There was less of a cheer for the third member of the group, Ai Miyazato of Japan, who just turned 21 last week. But she also proved herself to have a nice-looking drive.
“Bombs,” one fan could be heard saying from the crowd, after the three were off the tee. “Three bombs.”
- Mike McDermott
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Journal photo / John Freidah
Paula Creamer putts off a green during play this morning. She was paired today with Se Ri Pak and Christina Kim.
Paula Creamer, who is playing with bandages on her wrist because of strained ligaments, completed the day at par 71, two shots off the lead. She said she was satisfied with the result: “It could have been better; it could have been worse.”
Creamer is another one who had to wake up very early two days in a row – she says she got up at 3:45 yesterday and today. She says the thing she’s most looking forward to is sleeping in tomorrow, when she gets a later tee time.
Here are where some other notable players stand after finishing round one: Meg Mallon is at four-over par 75, six shots off the lead; Se Ri Pak at two-under par 69, tied with Jane Park and Pat Hurst for the lead; Brittany Lang is at five-over par 76, seven shots off the lead; Juli Inkster is two-over par 73, four shots off the lead; Christina Kim is seven-over at 78, nine shots off the lead.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:01 PM | Permalink
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South Korean Gloria Park looked ready to finish the day with the lead after birdying off the seventh hole, the 16th hole she has played today, but she followed with a bogey on the eighth, then another on the ninth. She ends the first round at one-under 70, a shot off the lead.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:54 PM | Permalink
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Two of the three leaders right now are named Park (Jane) and Pak (Se Ri). Throw in a Rhode Island accent, and their scores aren’t the only things that are identical.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:53 PM | Permalink
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Cristie Kerr is at four over par after just four holes, after triple-bogeying on the par-3 hole number four. Kerr sailed her second putt way over the green, then went on to miss two short shots before settling for a six.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:50 PM | Permalink
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Here is a link to Michelle Wie's brief press conference after her round.
Posted by Kevin at 2:47 PM | Permalink
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*Many media members who cover a lot of golf are blown away by Newport. Not just the night life, either. As one veteran said, ``this sure isn’t the Booz Allen Classic (last week’s stop on the PGA Tour). This place is gorgeous.’’
Posted by Kevin at 2:45 PM | Permalink
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1:30 p.m.
Just got in from following the Michelle Wie Show for her last 10 holes. Saw a lot, needless to say. Highlight was a birdie putt on the 18th hole which gave the 16-year old phenom a 1-under 70 finish on her round.
*The course is very wet in spots for the players and very, very wet nearly everywhere for spectators. Wie had a fortunate break on the 15th hole when she drove her tee shot into a bunker. The bunker was wet, with a large puddle in the middle of it, so Wie was able to get relief elsewhere in the hazard. There was little relief for fans on most of the holes. Walking along the ropes on virtually every hole all you heard was the squish-squish-squish of feet on water-logged ground. So leave the Cole Hahns and the Jimmy Choos at home if you’re coming to the golf course. Wonder if the ProJo will buy me new sneakers? Wonder if they sell socks at the concession stands?
*Wie’s downfall is clearly her putting. The golf stats say she needed just 28 putts (1.56 average) today. Not true. She missed several greens from easy spots on the fairways and was fortunate to be able to putt the ball from the fringe on some holes (Nos. 11, 15). She hit 12 of 18 greens in regulation.
*Wie finished her round with 15 pars, two birdies and a single bogey. If she can do the same for the next three rounds, she’ll be right there late Sunday. Remember, in the U.S. Open par is King.
*For the record, Wie’s color of choice today was lavender. She wore a lavender shirt with matching Nike hat. Her Nike golf shoes were also lavender.
Posted by Kevin at 2:41 PM | Permalink
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Back in the press tent, where members of the media are here from all over the world, there was a roar when the German goalkeeper saved a penalty shot in a World Cup shootout, giving the Germans a win over Argentina.
Not everyone in here is focused on golf. I overheard someone on the phone earlier today talking about his fantasy baseball team’s struggles for more than a half-hour.
No one can really complain here, though – it’s make your own taco (and strawberry shortcake) day in the lunch tent.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:45 PM | Permalink
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No one is being allowed to watch play from areas of holes seven, eight and nine because of the wet conditions.
Another tidbit: superstars Michelle Wie and Annika Sorenstam are the only two players in this tournament with their own security details.
- Jim Donaldson
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:01 PM | Permalink
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The USGA estimated that it would take 4 hours 40 minutes for each threesome to complete the 18 holes at Newport. The first groups went off this morning at 7, but they didn't finish until after 12 noon, about 35 minutes behind schedule. At that pace, the final groups, which are scheduled to start play at 2:42, might not finish until after 8 o'clock.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:48 PM | Permalink
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Today, for the second day in a row, 19-year-old amateur Jane Park awoke at 4:30 in the morning, ready to play in the first threesome to get going at Newport Country Club.
At 12:30 this afternoon, Park was a happy young woman, finishing the day with a two-under par 69, easily besting the two others in her grouping, Texan Wendy Ward and Thailand's Virada Nirapathpongporn.
Like some other players, Park warmed up on three separate occasions yesterday. But the UCLA student, who is actually appearing in her fourth U.S. Women's Open, said that she got a great night of sleep and was ready to go for real today.
On that first tee, she said there were just a few spectators ("I call them crazy," she joked), some wet conditions and a serene atmosphere. "I've never been more calm in a Women's Open before," she said.
Park said called the course "very playable," despite all the rain it has absorbed.
"All the holes are playing super-long," she said. "But thankfully [the USGA] shortened up the tees for us."
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:40 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / John Freidah
There is still plenty of mud out on the course today, and still plenty of water traps for the fans to get around. Spectators leap over a big one this morning.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:11 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
Christina Kim celebrates her putt to make par on hole 18 this morning. Kim, the flashy player from San Jose, Calif., had a disastrous triple bogey on hole 3, putting her at 6-over par for the day, and nine shots off the lead.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:04 PM | Permalink
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Meg Mallon went 3-over par on holes 10 through 18, tying her for the second-worst score so far on those holes. That's five shots off the pace set by Pat Hurst and Sung Ah Yim, who are atop the leader board right now at 3-under.
Mallon suffered another bogey on hole number four before getting a birdie on the par-3 five.
-Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:38 AM | Permalink
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Sue Musche is one of many Rhode Islanders working the Open, but she is a bit different; she works it every year.
Musche, who is from Wannamoisett, in East Providence, is a USGA rules official. She became involved handling the same job for the Rhode Island Women's Golf Association. As part of that work, she went to rules schools held by the USGA. She scored so well in the testing given at the school that the USGA asked her to work at the Women's Opens.
"I love it," Musche said. "You get to see up close and personal. You get to walk inside the ropes. I've walked with a lot of the Tour players. I walked with Annika Sorenstam one year."
Musche has worked five straight Opens. She enjoys it so much she'd love to stay, ``as long as they will have me.''
Yesterday, she was assigned to the 7:33 threesome of Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, Laura Diaz and Silvia Cavalleri.
- Paul Kenyon
Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:14 AM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
With great weather, the crowd for today's rescheduled first round has grown, but there is still room to move around. There were 12,710 people here at the Newport Country Club yesterday.
Now this is Newport in summer. The majestic span of the Newport Bridge, the surface of the ocean shimmering in the sun, at least in the places where it isn't cut to shreds by hundreds of boats.
The old town looked pretty spooky yesterday, but today is really better than anyone could have anticipated. And with the tickets for yesterday's fogged-out action good on the weekend, today might actually be the best day to get yourself down to Newport. The crowds are big but not overwhelming and the traffic is fine. Tomorrow and Sunday might be a different story.
I was going to keep track of how long it took to get from the bridge to the parking lot, but things moved so quickly that I forgot about it. I counted 11 National Guard people at intersections to keep things moving, and they were not having too stressful a time.
The temperature was 70 degrees at 9 a.m., and it is expected to climb to 76 at noon. Winds are from the west at 10 to 15 mph.
On the shuttle bus here I talked to a couple of native Rhode Islanders who were blown away by the beauty of this area, in their own backyard. I have to agree.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 10:59 AM | Permalink
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The USGA decided to be kind to the players for the first round, and the results showed up immediately.
Because of the wet conditions, which brought on fears that the course might be too long and too difficult, the tees were moved up on seven holes, cutting the course back by almost 70 yards.
The players took advantage. Brandie Burton birdied three of her first four holes. At one point at midmorning, seven players were at 2-under and 19 of the 78 players on the course were in red figures, denoting they were under par. That happens at most LPGA events, but not usually at the Open.
Two amateurs, Jane Park and Amanda Blumenherst, were among those midway through their round at 2-under. Michelle Wie was playing steadily, at 1-under through 8, with her only birdie on the par-3 fifth hole.
- Paul Kenyon
Posted by Mike McDermott at 10:34 AM | Permalink
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After four days of preparation, too many words, rain and a baffling fog, golf balls are flying this morning at Newport Country Club.
The 61st U.S. Women's Open began, on time, at bit past 7 a.m. The buzz began at 7:55 when the group of Brittany Lang, Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie stepped to the first tee. Wie blew her tee shot well past the other two players but managed only a par and the short par-5 hole. Lang, a strong candidate in the field, made a birdie.
Three hours into play, the leaders are Pat Hurst and Becky Morgan at 2-under par. Morgan, a 31-year old from Wales who played college golf in North Carolina, birdied the 10th and 12th holes to get off to her fast start.
The weather at Newport is now perfect for golf. The sun broke through clouds by 9 a.m. and winds are very tame. Expect the winds to pick up for the afternoon groups so the best chance to go low is likely over the next few hours.
Stay tuned to the projo.com Women's Open Blog for more updates.
- KEVIN McNAMARA
Posted by Kevin at 10:00 AM | Permalink
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June 29, 2006
Journal photo / John Freidah
Spectators line up along Castle Hill Avenue for shuttle buses to take them back to the main parking lots, in Middletown, this afternoon. The crowd started leaving en masse before the action was officially called off for today.
It may have been a shortened day today, but it's seemed rather long with no golf being played, to tell you the truth. The U.S. Women's Open Blog will return tomorrow, at 12 noon at the latest, and we'll hopefully have more stuff to report. One way or another, we'll be here until a champion is crowned.
We'll also have plenty more for you to read in tomorrow's edition of The Providence Journal. Cheers.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:11 PM | Permalink
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Mike Davis, senior director of rules and competition for the United States Golf Association, just declared that the USGA is committed to playing the full 72 holes of this U.S. Women's Open, despite losing a day due to the fog.
Davis said that the decision to double-up rounds on Sunday was made to satisfy spectators and television, but he said that "if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate, we'll be in to Monday." That is the day set aside for an 18-hole playoff, if one is needed.
Davis said there was hope of getting golf in today as late as 2:15, when he said the fog briefly lifted enough to dramatically improve visibility. Players were alerted to be ready, but the fog quickly returned, and play was called off about a half-hour later.
"It is unusual to get fog where you can't play all day," Davis said. He said that tournament officials could not remember a day of championship golf being postponed just because of fog.
On the bright side, Davis said, the fog was ultimately better for the course than the inch of rain that had at one point been predicted to fall today. There is still a chance for up to a half-inch of rain tonight.
"If we don't get hit tonight, one way to look at this is that we're probably going to have a better golf course to play on tomorrow," Davis said. The weather forecast is much better for tomorrow afternoon, Saturday and early Sunday, although there is a chance of more showers arriving later in the afternoon or in the evening on Sunday.
Here's one twist that could result from the decision to play 36 holes of golf on Sunday. Normally, the field is re-paired before the last round so that the leading players go off last. But because of the tight schedule, the field will probably not be re-paired before the third and fourth rounds, Davis said. That means that, unusually, the winner might not be the last one off the course.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 4:00 PM | Permalink
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Just after 2:45 this afternoon, officials announced to the remaining crowd that there would be no golf played today at Newport. The new plan is to play the regularly scheduled 18 holes tomorrow and Saturday, at which point the field will be cut. Thirty-six holes of golf would then be played on Sunday.
Because of the wet conditions that are anticipated when play does begin, the USGA has adjusted the yardages of 11 holes, moving the tee markers up in many cases.
Most spectators had already left when play was canceled. Many of those that remained were gathered around the practice green, where players including Paula Creamer were practicing short, virtually automatic puts. There was some grumbling about how long it had taken to make the announcement, but club officials say they expected all day that the fog would eventually lift. It just never happened.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:57 PM | Permalink
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I just visited with Jim Boyd, general manager of Blackstone Caterers, the local company that won the $1-million contract to feed the players, the media, the tournament officials, the volunteers and the corporate types for this event. Blackstone is not preparing the food being served at the concessions for the general public.
Blackstone is a subsidiary company of the Newport Harbor Corp., which also runs Castle Hill Inn and Resort, the Admiral Fitzroy Inn, 22 Bowen's Wine Bar and Grille, The Mooring and the Smokehouse Cafe. This is the biggest job in Blackstone's 61-year history. In addition to catering at the course, it has worked some special events related to the Open, including the 800-person volunteer party and a 450-person future host dinner at Rosecliff mansion.
Boyd says that Blackstone is expecting to feed 18,000 people for this event. That means that it is prepared to make 18,000 slices of bacon; 2,500 pounds of chicken; 2,500 pounds of cold cuts; 1,000 pounds of sirloin steak; and 3,600 table-size ceasar salads.
There are separate menus being offered today for all of the different tents. Here in the media tent, we had sirloin with potatoes in gravy, chicken salad, a salad and sandwich bar, fresh fruit and warm apple crisp for dessert.
Blackstone is doing the work in two on-site kitchens inside hardwood-floored tents. One tent is 33 by 66 feet, the other is 33 by 50 feet. There are five tractor-trailers at the Newport Country Club that are being used as walk-in refrigerators. Blackstone uses golf carts to transport food to different parts of the far-flung course.
The hardest thing so far was setting up all the equipment last weekend, in the rain and mud, Boyd said. He described that work as "horrendous."
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:21 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Marianne Morris of Middletown, Ohio, lies on the practice green while she waits for a decision to be made about whether golf will be played today.
Morris is the ninth player scheduled to tee off today, which means that she should have started playing at 7:11 a.m. Throughout the day, she has warmed up three separate times.
The first tee time has been delayed again, to 2:30.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:59 PM | Permalink
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The crowd is starting to thin here, with many people heading to the exits, including Frank and Pat Foster from Harwich, Mass.
"They said it's scheduled [to start] at 2; we heard from somebody else it's going to be 2:30, and that's getting on for us," Frank Foster said. "It's going to be such a mass exodus that we might as well leave now."
The Fosters won't be seeing any golf this Open, since they won't be able to return later in the weekend; they'll give their tickets for today (which will be good Friday, Saturday or Sunday) to friends.
For those who are choosing to hang around, there's the souvenir tent, where business is brisk. The items for sale include Ashworth U.S. Open men's polo shirts for $70, ladies' handbags for $78 and sets of two martini glasses for $48.
- Mike McDermott and Paul Kenyon
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:50 PM | Permalink
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The fog is a little thicker here now, there's a light mist in the air, and the starting tee time has been delayed until 2. Awhile ago a notice was posted on the scoreboard and on the official tournament Web site reminding people that their tickets for today will also be good tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:32 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / John Freidah
Paula Creamer, who has one of the earlier tee times, has been cooped up all morning waiting to play. She took a look skyward this afternoon from the clubhouse while talking on her cell phone.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 1:22 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
With no golf to watch, the most popular TV station on the fancy flatscreens in the media tent is The Weather Channel. It's nice to see that there might be some sun ahead this weekend, and hey, at least we're not in Pennsylvania. While the writers wait for play to begin, they can also view televisions tuned to SportsCenter, Wimbledon, the Cartoon Network (?) and, of course, The Golf Channel.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:54 PM | Permalink
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United States Golf Association officials spoke at a news conference yesterday about the wet weather's effects on the course.
Click here to read what they had to say.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:31 PM | Permalink
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If and when Wendy Ward takes the first drive off the first tee, she'll be shooting over a service road about 200 yards away. For most of the morning, we have been unable to see that road. Now, the fog is lifted enough that the road is in view. Assistant club pro Chris Bushnell says he expects things to start clearing within an hour or so.
The crowd started buzzing just now when Michelle Wie, wearing a blue hat and white skirt over black spandex leggings, arrived to do some work at the practice green. Start time has been delayed again; it's now 1 o'clock.
- Mike McDermott
Posted by Mike McDermott at 12:24 PM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Mike Griffin, of Jacksonville, Fla., leans against the practice green fence while waiting for the fog to lift this morning. Minutes after this picture was taken, officials announced yet another delay in today's start time.
It seemed like a pretty decent day today around 9:30 when I left Warwick to drive down to Newport -- no rain, light winds, warm and pleasant air. I knew the start of the Open was being delayed due to fog, but by the time I reached the Jamestown Bridge, all I saw was a little bit of a gray screen on the horizon.
Then I reached the Newport Bridge and, bam, I couldn't see 50 feet in front of me. In no hurry to reach Newport Country Club (O.K., I missed the sign for my parking lot), I drove around town a little bit. There were a few scattered groups of tourists looking for something to do, and bored-looking National Guardsman and police officers on scene to direct traffic -- something that was fairly sparse.
On Memorial Boulevard at Easton's Beach, you couldn't see the water, which is just a stone's throw away.
Here at Newport Country Club, the visibility is actually better, albeit not ideal for watching long drives. The rain has stayed away, but the delays keep on coming -- last word is that the start will be at 12:30. ... We'll see.
In the meantime, the spectators who have come here, more than you might expect given the conditions, are left to mill around the souvenir tents and snack stands, trudging through the mud outside. Television reporters are outside the press tent, trying to get tournament officials to comment on the chances of playing. There's kind of an unpleasant, boggy smell in the air. Welcome to the premiere women's golf event in the United States.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:58 AM | Permalink
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The National Weather Service says showers are likely, mainly after 3 p.m.
The winds will be from the south wind between 10 mph and 14 mph with a high of 76. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch are possible.
The thunderstorms predicted for this afternoon are now not expected until this evening. But the patchy fog will remain.
Posted by Peter Phipps at 11:55 AM | Permalink
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As of midday, there was still hope of a Rhode Islander playing in the Open.
Anna Grzebien, the 2005 NCAA Champion for Duke, has been at the course all day, with her bag and ready to play. Grzebien, who is from Narragansett, was the second alternate in sectional qualifying at Rhode Island Country Club.
The first alternate, Cape Cod's Carri Wood, already is in the tournament. She got one of four spots that became available because of withdrawals, moving Grzebien up to the No. 1 alternate spot and making her eligible to be at the course as a possible replacement player. Seven others from other qualifying sites could do the same.
Because the Open is in her home state, Grzebien is at the course -- the only alternate here. Thus, if anyone withdraws, she will have a spot in the tournament.
- Journal sports writer Paul Kenyon
Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:43 AM | Permalink
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The local business community has come out in force at the Women's Open this week. The premier locations are located in the Havemeyer Village, groups of tented suites lining both sides of the 18th fairway.
Even with play suspended because of fog on Thursday, the tents are jumping. The following companies have paid up to be in the prime spots: West Village members include American Express, Amica Insurance, Bank of America, Bank Rhode Island, Copley-Fradin, Cox Business Services, F. W. Webb, Liberty Mutual, MESTEK Inc., Sovereign Bank, Carnegie Abbey Club and The Providence Journal.
The East Village members are Alpha Woods Hole Lab, Arbella Insurance, Bank Newport, CVS, Met Life, NBC 10, Newport Country Club, Palar Beverages, UBS.
Another company didn't want to be along the 18th hole. Instead, it wanted to commandeer the bar in the clubhouse. Originally told the bar was off limits, Fidelity Investments persisted and paid for use of the bar throughout the Open.
Read more about business at the Open in today's Journal Business section
- Journal sports writer Kevin McNamara
Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:25 AM | Permalink
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Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Fog shrouded the grounds of the Newport Country Club causing a delay in starting times for the players. The first delay was a 1-hour delay pushing the time from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. But the fog hung around and the starting time was pushed back again and again to 8:30, then to 9:00, then to 9:30, then to 10, then to 10:30, then to 11 a.m.
NEWPORT -- The start of the 61st U.S. Women's Open has been delayed by at least four hours by the heavy fog rolling in from the ocean.
Fog horns echoed across the course as the golfers waited for the fog to lift.
The first two threesomes are now scheduled to tee off at 11:30 a.m. today.
First round play is also threatened by a line of thunderstorms forecast to sweep across the state between noon and 3 p.m.
The National Weather Service warns that the storms could bring heavy rain and lightning.
Posted by Peter Phipps at 11:00 AM | Permalink
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From the opening round to the final day, projo.com’s blog will be your pass to all the action -- as it happens.
Check in throughout the tournament for reports, direct from the course, and commentary by Paul Kenyon, Michael McDermott, Kevin McNamara and Jim Donaldson, and photographs by Bob Breidenbach, Mary Murphy, Kathy Borchers and John Freidah.
Turn to the pages of The Providence Journal for complete coverage before, during and after the championship.
Posted by Sheila at 7:34 AM | Permalink
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