Monday, June 24, 2013

IBP: Rise of the Machines

Yesterday world number one golfer Inbee "IBP" Park won for the fifth time this year on the LPGA, reaffirming the emergence of yet another Asian as the runaway best player in women's golf.

This week is the U.S. Women's Open on Long Island NY, and here she'll be attempting to win a third "major" event consecutively. Just how "major" these women's events are is open to debate, but IBP has now won 7 of her last 23 starts, and that is indisputably pretty excellent.

As of today, there are just three white women in the top ten of the world rankings, only one of them American. Make of that what you will.

Many will see the rise of IBP as another blow to an already-flagging LPGA product. In the other half of the golf world though, many more will view her success as a triumph of hard work, steady nerves, quiet self-confidence and more importantly some kick-ass putting. (Park is ranked first and second in both putting stats available on LPGA.com).

I say "Why not?" I caught a bit of the end of yesterday's tourney and was pretty darned impressed with IBP's play over the last couple holes. She swung with confidence, putted with conviction and if you look closely, seems to have developed the stare of a real tournament killer. (If there was a putt to save the world I think that an Asian woman, either IBP or Ai Miyazato, would probably represent mankind's best hope.)

No matter how boring a player seems, winning golf tournaments in bunches demands attention. So it'll be interesting to see how this week's U.S. Women's Open, i.e. far and away the biggest tournament in the women's game, plays out and what kind of fanfare will accompany IBP's bid for major championship immortality.

7 comments:

  1. "If there was a putt to save the world I think that an Asian woman, either IBP or Ai Miyazato, would probably represent mankind's best hope."

    I know it wouldn't be Michelle Wie. If her putter was all that stood in the way of alien conquest, I would be booking a seat on the next space shuttle.

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  2. Another thought - it has been a long time since an American woman was considered the dominant player. True, Stacy Lewis got into the # 1 position for a couple months but that hardly represented dominance. Sorenstam, Webb, Ochoa, Tseng - those ladies all dominated for a time. Not one was from the USA. You have to go back to the early 90's or later before one could say an American dominated.

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  3. Jeez Brian that was a little gratuitous, dragging poor Michelle Wie's name through the mud. Leave her alone, she knows she's terrible. She's working on it!!!

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    1. Yes, I understand that you have a small crush on Michelle but you must admit she appears to be clueless about how to putt. When she stops by NYC for the Women's Open, offer your services on putting and gritty up & downs.

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    2. Pshaw, I'm too lowly for her to mingle with. She is practically royalty. Great idea though!

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  4. If this would be IK Kim I'd be watching all LPGA coverage.

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Don't spam me bro.