SB Nation User Blog: Bill Jempty

State Farm to Continue as LPGA Tournament Sponsor

Bill Jempty — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:09:07 -0000

State Farm to Continue as LPGA Tournament Sponsor

This is some great news. The tournament's purse will not decrease also.

Man Drowns Diving for Golf Balls

Bill Jempty — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:38:59 -0000

Man Drowns Diving for Golf Balls

RIP Jerry Gunderson.

LPGA's Michelob Ultra Open Will Not Return in 2010

Bill Jempty — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:41:58 -0000

A few years ago this tournament was being talked up as perhaps being given major championship status, but now will not be on next year's schedule.

From the Daily Press:

The LPGA's Michelob Ultra Open -- the largest professional sporting event in Hampton Roads -- will not return to Kingsmill, it was announced at noon today at the James City County resort.

Kingsmill has hosted the Michelob Ultra Open each May since 2003, to rave reviews from players and spectators. But the economic downturn and the merger of sponsoring Anheuser-Busch with Belgium-based InBev led to the tournament's demise.

Anheuser-Busch has bankrolled a professional tournament at Kingsmill each year since 1981. The PGA Tour played there for 22 consecutive years, ending in 2002, when the brewery opted to support the less expensive LPGA Tour.

"The decision was very, very difficult, but it was done with due diligence," said Dan McHugh, Anheuser-Busch vice president of media sponsorship and activation. "We analyzed the past tournament and storied history at Kingsmill over the last 29 years."

Eric Albrecht, the LPGA's vice president of marketing, called the decision "very disappointing."

All parties did not rule out Kingsmill hosting a tournament in the future with a different sponsor. But it won't happen in 2010.

This news shows the LPGA is still on shaky footing despite the recent good news concerning Wegmans and the Jamie Farr. Acting Commissioner Evans still has a lot of work to do.

As an aside, here's something I noticed in the article:

The Michelob quickly earned the label "fifth major" among LPGA players for the quality of course and organization. The event produced marquee champions such as Se Ri Pak, Karrie Webb, Annika Sorenstam, Suzann Pettersen and Crisite Kerr (twice).

Why isn't Grace Park listed as a marquee champion? She has six LPGA wins, including a major. That is exactly the same record for Suzann Pettersen. Pettersen was once #2 in the world. Park was in the top 5 - 3rd or 4th at least. Park won the Vare Trophy, Pettersen did not. The case is clear: Park and Pettersen are equals.

Retired 64 Year Old Woman Shoots 2 Holes-in-One

Bill Jempty — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:41:41 -0000

Retired 64 Year Old Woman Shoots 2 Holes-in-One

Rick Reilly must be having a fit about now.

The Reason for Jiyai Shin's Mid-summer Slump? A Broken Heart

Bill Jempty — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:32:17 -0000

Golf World's Beth Ann Baldry has the scoop:

Shin said the last couple of months she lost her focus. Part of that might have been due to mending a broken heart after her longtime boyfriend ended their relationship over the summer. Some “girl talk” on tour helped her to move on. (It always does.)

So Shin is over her personal problems. I think my prediction of Shin being both player and rookie of the year is looking better.

The Sky is falling- Jiyai Shin wins in Arkansas

Bill Jempty — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:52:26 -0000

In so doing the final 'Final Round Queen' displaced Cristie Kerr from the #1 spot on both the money list and Player of the Year points list. There are still two months to go for the LPGA in 2009 and the POY and money list race is more fluid this year than at any other time in the last 10 years.

Shin's victory is the 9th by an Asian golfer in the last 12 events. Seven of those were South Korean. Over all the South Koreans have eight wins in 2009, 3 of those by Shin.

No American has won list Cristie's Kerr's Michelob triumph in early May at Michelob. Factor that with Kerr getting knocked off the top of the lists, and I almost expect some member of the media to lament all those Korean winners very soon if not this week when the tour is in Southern California. Calling Mark Whicker?

Anyone who does would awfully stupid. For the 2009 LPGA season has been very exciting. I won't repeat the case for what I said, but refer you to my recent post. This weekend was another excellent example of golf. Two of top 10 money winners go to sudden death. A playoff that was won by a birdie and had four birdies in all. The final round had at least 6 different leaders during the round(Shin, Stanford, Yoo, Ahn, Song Hee Kim, Jane Park, and I think Pat Hurst got to #1 for a few brief moments but I'm not sure). If today's LPGA golf wasn't exciting, I don't know what is. The BMW was a snooze festival after Tiger's 62 on Saturday.

Johnny Miller- Freudian Slip or padding his resume?

Bill Jempty — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:02:22 -0000

The NBC announcer does his best George O'Leary impression in the book 'I call the shots'.

On page 224, Miller writes-

"I also won the San Francisco City Championship, the biggest local amateur tournament there was."

The SF City Amateur is quite prestigious but someone tell me where Johnny Miller's name is in this list of past winners-

1956 Ken Venturi 1957 Tal Smith 1958 Bill McCool Angie Vote 1959 Bob Sylvestri Dorothy Stamps 1960 Bob Sylvestri Linda Collins 1961 Verne Callison Jane Thomas 1962 Tom Dixon Jan Ferraris 1963 George Archer Jan Ferraris 1964 Ken Towns Jan Ferraris 1965 Walt Gilliam Jan Ferraris 1966 Larry Anderson Marie Strand 1967 Bob E. Smith Linda Collins Maurer

Go check the whole list of past champions. Miller's name is no where to be found. If anyone doesn't recall who George was, he was the Notre Dame football coach who resigned after it was learned he lied on his resume.

Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic to return in 2010

Bill Jempty — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:02:33 -0000

Some great news for the LPGA-

Toledo Classic, Inc., which operates the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon at which time an extension of its agreement with the LPGA Tour is expected to be announced.

A source familiar with the negotiations indicated it will be a one-year contract that will assure the tournament will be staged in 2010. No details on playing dates or purse were made available.

Next up- Will Michelob be saved? Is it possible the Corning Classic isn't dead yet? A change of commissioner has brought the LPGA some good news.

If the Jamie Farr is around another ten years, I expect Se Ri Pak to get her record breaking 6th win there. As Farr said once, Se Ri owns Toledo. She won there in 98,99, 01, 03, 07, and finished one shot out of the lead in 2000 and 2004.

Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic to Return in 2010

Bill Jempty — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:55:31 -0000

Some great news for the LPGA. From the Toledo Blade:

Toledo Classic, Inc., which operates the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon at which time an extension of its agreement with the LPGA Tour is expected to be announced.

A source familiar with the negotiations indicated it will be a one-year contract that will assure the tournament will be staged in 2010. No details on playing dates or purse were made available.

Now, will Michelob be saved? Is it possible the Corning Classic isn't dead yet? A change of commissioner has brought the LPGA some good news.

If the Jamie Farr is around another ten years, I expect Se Ri Pak to get her record breaking 6th win there. As Farr said once, Se Ri owns Toledo. She has won there in '98, '99, '01, '03, '07, and finished one shot out of the lead in 2000 and 2004.

How long before a member of the golf media writes about Annika Sorenstam making a comeback?

Bill Jempty — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:53:52 -0000

How long before a member of the golf media writes about Annika Sorenstam making a comeback?

Use this post to make your prediction. I think it won't be long considering ~~the lack of originality the golf media shows on a frequent basis~~how boring LPGA golf has been this year. My prediction- No later than next Sunday.