News
Navistar LPGA Classic: Alabama Slammin’
By Vince Robitaille
GolfWRX Staff Writer
When one discusses Bobby Jones and sweeps, it’s usually in reference to the Georgian’s 1930 Grand Slam. But Stacey Lewis successfully added herself to the potential subjects when such a conversation comes up last weekend. The American forerunner, with her third win of the season, made it three in a row on Alabama’s soil and three in a row on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
In a tournament that seemingly had Lexi Thompson written all over it coming out of Thursday’s round – Puma’s flag bearer shooting the lights out by way of 9-under 63 on a course that she has made her own in recent memory – Lewis simply wasn’t going to roll over and let an opportunity to slip by, not only vault above Inbee Park in the Rolex World Rankings, but complete the proverbial Alabama Slam. With Thompson, the defending champion, widening her lead to four strokes on Day 2, however, Lewis needed to make something happen quickly, to push every edge she could find… and so she did.
The fun thing with applying pressure in golf is that, while the course won’t ever falter – it might let you have one for the day, but assuming that it’ll fold in the long run is simply ludicrous – your opponents just might. One couldn’t overlook this potential consequence on Saturday in Prattville; Thompson seemingly collapsing – her 2-over tally fairing quite disastrously in comparison to the field’s upper portion – under her Solheim Cup teammate’s assault. Moreover, the Rolex Player of the Year leader wasn’t the only member of last year’s unit that ventured deep in Ireland happening to make a charge upon the leaderboard during the third loop, as Angela Stanford’s 68 had her comfortably sitting in 2nd place behind Lewis heading into the 55th hole.
Fortunately for the Texan and the Arkansan, being paired together didn’t yield the same dreadful results as their alternate shot partnership of a year ago; both golfers recording rounds in the red numbers this time, as Stanford finished in a quandary over third place. As for Lewis, her birdies around the turn created enough of a cushion to palliate any comeback attempt from her pursers and, specifically, from Lexi Thompson; the latter clawing herself back within a lone stroke of Lewis before a birdie on 16th from the former Razorback would effectively nail the defending champion’s coffin.
The victory on Capitol Hill’s Senator course carries huge implications for Steady Stacey as she gets ever closer to ending the Player of the Year drought for the Americans; the last recipient being Beth Daniel, 18 years ago. With Lewis’ top-10 finish efficiency, only a win by Inbee Park, Ai Miyazato or Jiyai Shin within the next month could shake things up atop the rankings. Until then, assume that The Stars and Stripes will be planted upon the LPGA Tour in December.
Click here for more discussion in the “LPGA/ladies golf talk” forum.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Morning 9: 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour | Rory on possible return to policy board
|
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- LIKE5
- LEGIT3
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
News
Morning 9: Tiger’s TGL teammates | Woosnam’s criticism of Cantlay | Rory’s return to tour policy board
|
- LIKE4
- LEGIT0
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK2
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole4 days ago
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole4 days ago
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why