It's a beautiful day for NYC

For those wondering why I didn’t cover the U.S. Women’s Open, please see the explanation at the bottom of the page. Since I wasn’t there–and truly wish I had been–I’ll leave most of the commentary on the tournament to my colleagues who were. 

Heading into the final round with a six-shot lead, Na Yeon Choi was lapping the field and seemingly cruising to her first major victory at Blackwolf Run, the same venue where Se Ri Pak won the legendary ’98 U.S. Women’s Open in a playoff, inspiring thousands of girls in her native South Korea (and beyond, in my opinion) to pick up the game and sparking the popularity and rise of the dominance we’re seeing today on the LPGA. (continue reading…)

Just wasn't Yani's day...

World No. 1 golfer Yani Tseng started slow in the first round of the season-ending CME Group Titleholders, but rallied to card birdies in three of the final four holes. Yani, who is having one of the best seasons in LPGA history, shot a ho-hum two-under 70, leaving her four shots behind the first-round leader Na Yeon Choi.

Yani actually played much better than she scored. (continue reading…)

Now that's a ride for a champion!

World’s No. 1 Yani Tseng notched her sixth LPGA victory of the season at the LPGA Hana Bank Championship in South Korea. She shot 67 in the final round to beat Na Yeon Choi by a stroke. It was also Tseng’s 10th title worldwide of the year. I’ve got one word in Twitter-speak: #dominant (continue reading…)

Maria Hjorth accepts first-prize check at the LPGA Tour Championship

Maria Hjorth sank a clutch downhill eight-foot slider to capture the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship at Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, FL. She dropped her putter and lifted her arms with joy before her baby daughter Emily gave her a congratulatory hug. (Kodak moment!)

Hjorth shot a final round even-par 72, five-under 283 for the tournament to edge out Amy Yang, who held the 36-hole lead, by one shot. Yang drained a huge 20-footer on 18 for birdie to put the pressure on Hjorth, forcing her to make her par putt.

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LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan, Na Yeon Choi, LPGA Foundation President Carol Corcoran

Na Yeon Choi announced on the eve of the season-finale LPGA Tour Championship that she will make a donation of $30,000 to LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, a program of the LPGA Foundation. Choi, perhaps better known as “NYC,” wanted to celebrate the realization of her dream to play on the LPGA Tour by giving bck to the community.

NYC is ranked first on the LPGA official money list as of November 29,2010, with approximately $1,8 million in earnings.

Choi is the second LPGA star in less than a month to make voluntary donations. Three weeks ago, In-Kyung Kim donated her $220,00 first-prize earnings at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational to charity. Kim’s big-hearted gesture,was one of the most inspiring stories of the year (which didn’t garner the coverage it deserved because pure goodwill isn’t sexy enough sometimes).

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The LPGA's Top-6: Na Yeon Choi, Jiyai Shin, Yani Tseng, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen and Ai Miyazat0

There’s more on the line than the prize awarded to the winner of this week’s season-ending LPGA Tour Championship. Five players — Yani Tseng, Ai Miyazato, Na Yeon Choi, Cristie Kerr and Jiyai Shin — are in a tight battle to capture player of the year honors.

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What are the chances that if you have three Kims and one Choi in a playoff, Choi wins? In just about any other game, the probability is bad. But in golf, well, it’s impossible to rely on odds; predicting the outcome is like a roll of the dice.

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