GWD_MAY_16

TALKING POINT
Why we love women’s golf
Their first major of 2016 takes place this month – and the women’s game deserves your viewing.
Five major championships
The ANA Inspiration begins in Rancho Mirage, California on March 31, the KPMG
Women’s PGA Championship is in Sammamish, Washington from June 9, the US
Women’s Open takes place in San Martin, California from July 7, the Ricoh Women’s
British Open is at Woburn from July 28, and the Evian Championship unfolds in
Evian-les-Bains, France from September 15.
60 Olympic
spots
After a gap of 112 years, golf is back in
the Olympics. Strangely, some of the
world’s top male golfers seem to view
it as a scheduling nuisance. Happily,
the world’s elite female golfers are
displaying an extremely different
attitude. “I’m super-excited to play,”
says World No.1 Lydia Ko, while
America’s Michelle Wie reveals she
has dreamed about competing in
the Olympics “since I was a little girl.”
290-yard drives
Think big hitting is just for blokes? Think
again. Over the course of 2015, American
20-year-old Lexi Thompson averaged
290.4 yards from the tee,
meaning she drives it further
than Ian Poulter, Matt
Kuchar and Jason Dufner.
Her secret? “As I hit the
ball, I get way up on both
of my toes, which is how
I got the nickname Tippy
Toes,” she reveals.
One Super Career
Grand Slam chase
Five majors bring confusing terminology.
According to the LPGA, females who have
won four different majors have completed a
Career Grand Slam and female golfers who
have all five majors have completed a Super
Career Grand Slam. With seven to her
name, World No.2 Inbee Park has done the
former. But because she won The Evian
Championship before it was granted major
status she has yet to offcially do the latter.
“My next goal will be leaving my name in
the history of golf,” says the 27-year-old.
Two brilliant
young Brits
Remember the names Charley Hull and
Georgia Hall. Both are young, British and
ridiculously talented. Hull, who is 20 this
month, won on the Ladies European Tour
aged just 17 and is currently ranked World
No.36. And Hall, who will turn 20 in April,
recently secured her first professional title
at the Australian Tour’s Victoria Open.
One new attitude
Michelle Wie clearly possesses the tools to
be the generation’s dominant female golfer.
Now, after 11 years of injuries and swing
changes, the 26-year-old American seems
to have the right mindset. “If your body
tells you something, you’ve got to rest,”
says Wie, while her coach David Leadbetter
reveals: “Making wholesale changes is like
an amateur approach. I’ve told her to think
simple and go with it this year.”
Nine of the
world’s top 20
are under 25
Talk about a youth movement.
Last year, 15 of the LPGA’s 31
events were won by players
aged 23 or under and, at
present, nine of the top 20
women in the Offcial Rolex
Rankings are 25 or under,
including 18-year-old World
No.1 Lydia Ko and phenomenally
talented Canadian teenager
Brooke Henderson.
16
Golf World May 2016