April 19, 2011

March Madness on the LPGA starts the 2011 domestic swing with the newly formed Founders Cup in Phoenix AZ to the Kia Classic in LA,  then on to the First Major Championship, The Kraft Nabisco in Palm Springs, CA!

The LPGA gets things started as they host the The RR Donnelly’s Founders Cup in Phoenix, AZ,  new and exciting tournament honoring the Founders of the LPGA and giving the LPGA and players the opportunity to give back to the future of the sport by raising over a Million $’s for several charities close to their heart as well as key organizations aimed to benefit those Junior Golfers in America.  Top of the leader board were many great Americans as they fought their way against Hall of Fame Member Karrie Webb to claim all the status, points, and glory, but not the money.  All proceeds went to their favorite charities including those in need from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Next up for the Tour and sometimes a special motivator for those players in line for the Solheim Cup was the Kia in LA, CA where both Antigua and Sunice were on site to take measurements and sizes of the Top 20 USA point makers.  This in it’s self is pretty exciting for those experienced players getting an early look at our 2011 outfits, but especially for those players still out there on the bubble.  This little task of trying on cloths is just the little reminder and/or kick in the butt, that the Solheim Cup is only 5 ½ months away and they need to get busy and make some points.

Later that weekend, doing just that was several players as they stacked up nicely going into Sunday’s final round, but the big winner of the week was Germany’s Sandra Gal who took home the trophy.  The big question as sports reporters gathered that following Monday at the Kraft was, how does Europe’s Captain Alison Nicholas find a way to bring Sandra Gal into the mix since she was not officially a member of the European Tour?  Rumor is: she will be in the running for Team Europe since they have a couple of special clauses for exceptional performance in the rules that would allow the LET to invite Sandra Gal onto automatic membership on to this year’s tour.  Actually, I was surprised she wasn’t a member of the LET tour but of course welcome any justifiable and worthy player to the opportunity.  I feel Alison should be able to build her team any way she can with in the rules of their organization, the LET and The Solheim Cup.

So, on to Palm Springs and nothing beats playing at the Kraft Nabisco for the first LPGA Major Championship at the most beautiful course of the year; Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage.  Just a reminder:  Major Championships are always worth double points and this being Solheim Cup year, the points are bloated to award good play coming into the event.  The week started out unseasonably hot so I was certainly getting lots of use out of my Peak Vision Sunglasses as I followed several of my USA Players the first two days of the tourney.  Funny how time flies when there is lots to catch up with players on the practice tee as well as those couple of appointments I had with friends of Team USA helping us with the details of the big dance in Sept.  I’m just glad I’m retired from the LPGA and now playing on the Legends Tour, because this baby is starting to heat up.  Thanks for the enthusiasm I share with Sheex and The Orange Whip and their generosity towards Team USA as it comes down to the final countdown in August.

Who would of thought Stacy Lewis would make her big debut in the winner circle this week taking on # 1 in the world Yani Tseng as the tournament unfolds into final Sunday.  Early on in the week over dinner with her and potential teammate, and past champion of the Nabisco Brittany Lincicome, I’m thinking Stacy is a pretty solid 7^th spot point holder on the SC list.  But later we watch what unfolds to some really exciting golf as Stacy meets the challenge on the back nine at Mission Hills to win her first event and the First Major of the Year.  Pretty Cool! Great Winn Stacy!

Stacy wasn’t the only story of the week, 8 more Americans were in the mix going into Final Sunday and watching it all unfold was pretty fun and heart wrenching as the players made their way around the back nine.  Morgan Pressel and Michelle Wie turn some gut wrenching holes into learning lessons for the bold and patient player.  US veteran Angela Stanford cards 68 to finish T3 to strengthen her position and young player Katie Future makes her big splash although not in the pond as she finished her career best T3 with a fantastic round of 68, pushing her in to the top 15 of Solheim Cup points.

All this fantastic golf plus, a good sit down with both of my Assistants Juli Inkster and Sherri Steinhauer on how we will plot our way for the next couple of months and how fast can we nail Top Solheim Cup point maker, and Hall Of Fame Member Juli Inkster down to saying Yes to playing her 9^th   Solheim Cup in Ireland.  Word is still up in the air, don’t ask, we have plenty of time to see.  Ha ha!  Juli has a plan, let’s watch it pan out.  That’s my take, I’m sticking to it.  You should too.  It’s working!

Next up The Captains Blog:    “Sweet 16 Practice Session At Pine Valley”

Next Month is our first Team USA Domestic Practice Session at Pine Valley CC in New Jersey!

Stay tuned as we give you all the up dates to Team USA as we head into the final 5 months to Ireland!

That’s it for now, Relax but Attack!

Go Team USA!

                   Captain RoJo,