So, how does Michelle Wie, at the age of 24, finally live up to the expectations she started generating as a 12-year-old, when she played with the boys at the Sony Open and dazzled us all? Here are a few pointers why she became only the fourth player in two weeks to be in red numbers at Pinehurst No2 in winning the Women’s US Open…
Staying with her much-criticised putting style:
Going slow with the driver: Compared to her average driving distance of 274.5 yards in 2012, Wie is now down to 262.3 yards- a deliberate move to help her become more consistent and find more fairways off the tee.
Inspiration: On the previous Sunday, during the final round of the men’s US Open, Wie walked almost all 18 holes with eventual champion Martin Kaymer. And when she was walking down the 18th hole, she soaked in the cheers that rained on the German, and told herself: “This is where I want to be next Sunday.”
Preparation: Wie thanked Keegan Bradley and Rickie Fowler for lending her their yardage books at the start of the week, and she spent almost the whole of Monday going through their notes. But that wasn’t all. She also has been putting in long hours at the range. When she was picked as a wildcard for Solheim Cup last August, US Captain Meg Mallon revealed Wie told her that she was working hard, but felt her best form was still six months away. That turned out to be prophetic as she started her run of great results from February this year.
Lewis’ amazing numbers:And while Wie is deservedly hogging all the limelight, there cannot be any argument on who is the best golfer in the world right now – that’s got to be ladies world No.1 Stacy Lewis. A stunning round of four-under par 66 on the final day at Pinehurst No2, when the rest of the field was failing to cope up with the demanding greens, helped her finish second in the US Women’s Open.
Here are some amazing stats on the 29-year-old which is guaranteed to boggle your mind… Since last year’s US Women’s Open, Lewis has had 23 top-10s in 25 starts. She has won thrice, including the Ricoh Women’s British Open, and was runner-up eight times, including the Dubai Ladies Masters. In 2014, she leads the world rankings, and also leads the LPGA Tour’s Race to CME Globe. She comfortably leads the scoring average at 69.07, with Wie second at 69.31. She has had the most number of sub-par rounds in 2013 – 44 in 55 played. Naturally, she also has the most numbers of rounds in the 60s – 31 out of the 55. That would imply that she is making a bunch of birdies, and she is leading that list too – 245 made at an average of 4.45. She is second in greens in regulation – considered by most as the most important stat showing a player’s form – at 78.6 per cent. I think I should rest my case.
Kevin, the ‘Man of Streel’: There are ways of winning a golf tournament, and then there is the Kevin Streelman way. The 35-year-old American bulldozed his way into the record books of the game when he won the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands last week, making seven birdies in his last seven holes, and even more remarkably, closing with 10 single putts in his last 10 holes. Streelman shot a six-under par 64 to finish one ahead of Sergio Garcia and KJ Choi at 14-under par. Streelman came into the tournament after missing four cuts in a row, and revealed that his thought process as he closed in on the win had nothing to do with golf.
“I didn’t have too many expectations coming here,” said Streelman. “I was thinking about Sophie (his sixmonth- old daughter) on those last few putts. I was thinking, ‘You know what? If these go in, great. If not, great. She’s going to love me either way and we have a nice family vacation coming up either way.”
It was a sensational weekend as earlier on Saturday, Argentina’s Miguel Angel Carballo became only the second player to make three eagles in a round on the PGA Tour this season on his way to a 63.
