Who do you want to watch in future versions of The Match?
Over the last five years, The Match has featured everyone from Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson to stars from other sports such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Charles Barkley and Steph Curry.
With eight editions of the made-for-tv charity golf event now in the books – Curry and Golden State Warriors teammate Klay Thompson lost to the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl-winning tandem of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce on Thursday night – we got to thinking … who should be next?
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Check out who else we think would be fun to see in future versions of The Match.
The U.S. will take on Sweden in the consolation match.
Ariya Jutanugarn buried a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to give Thailand control of the last match on the course at the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown. It proved a dagger to Team USA.
Sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn took down World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Danielle Kang, 1 up, thanks to birdies over the last two holes. It was the second point Thailand needed to advance to Sunday afternoon’s final match against Australia at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. Neither of the finalists have ever won the Crown, now in its fourth edition.
The U.S. will take on Sweden in the consolation match Sunday.
CLUTCH 💥
Ariya Jutanugarn gives a Thailand a 1UP lead heading to the 18th tee
Former No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul defeated Lexi Thompson, 3 and 2, in singles play. Lilia Vu posted the only point for Team USA, defeating fellow UCLA Bruin and Chevron champion Patty Tavatanakit, 1 up. It marked the only match Thailand has lost the entire week.
The format for the semifinals and finals consists of two singles matches and one foursomes match. With no team captains, the players determine the lineups.
Anna Nordqvist, a three-time major champion and Solheim Cup stalwart, played impeccable golf at the Crown on Saturday but then fell to Stephanie Kyriacou, No. 118 in the world, in semifinal singles, 4 and 3. Match play never fails to deliver a few shockers.
“I think I play my best when I’m aggressive,” said Kyriacou, “and in match play you only need to beat one person so there’s not as much pressure. But yeah, I played pretty aggressive all day. All week actually.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr8-FIuvDcz/?hl=en
Veteran Sarah Kemp wasn’t at all surprised to see her Aussie team sweep Sweden.
“Not in a cocky way,” said Kemp, “just because of the way we are around each other and the team that we’ve built from the beginning. We’ve had lunch together, we’ve had breakfast together every day, we’ve had dinner together, we do everything together, and we’ve just come together really well, and it’s paying off as you can see on the course.”
Hannah Green, who won on the LPGA exactly one week ago, defeated Caroline Hedwall, 3 and 2, in singles play. Kemp and Minjee Lee took down Madelene Sagstrom and Maja Stark in foursomes play.
“I think we should be proud of ourselves,” said Nordqvist. “We still have a match for third. Obviously, it was a little bit of a rougher morning than we hoped for, but Australia played great, and there’s not much you can do then.”
Sagstrom, looking ahead to this year’s Solheim Cup in Spain, felt it was a meaningful week for young Stark.
“We all knew her game was good,” said Sagstrom. “This is kind of her first entree to professional team events, so it was nice to have her under my wing and try to help out with whatever experience that I have. She played awesome.”
The Suns mascot wore a Masters caddie suit while presenting Rahm with a No. 23 jersey.
A couple of golf’s biggest names were taking in the sights and sounds of other pro sports Friday night.
Jon Rahm was enjoying some NBA playoff basketball, while Danielle Kang visited a Major League Baseball game.
Rahm, who five days ago in Mexico came up just short of his 12th PGA Tour win, has been enjoying some family time in his adopted home of Arizona. Friday, he was courtside for Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference semifinal playoff game between the host Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets.
The Suns started the game Friday night down 0-2 in the best-of-seven series, and “Rahmbo” was looking to bring some good luck to the purple and orange.
Rahm was presented a No. 23 jersey from the Gorilla, the Suns mascot, who was wearing a white Masters caddie jumpsuit with Rahm’s name across the back.
The Gorilla also gave Rahm a set of plastic golf clubs. Guessing those are going to Kepa, Rahm’s two-year-old son.
Jon Rahm is in the building. And the proud owner of a new Suns jersey + some plastic golf clubs, maybe. pic.twitter.com/9MGN18SJKd
Meanwhile, about 750 miles northwest of Phoenix, LPGA standout Danielle Kang, just hours after helping Team USA eliminate England at the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown at TPC Harding Park, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers. Kang was born in San Francisco.
Kang posted on Instagram about a “visit to the ER for respiratory infection and severe nausea.”
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN, Ariz. — Danielle Kang, 13th in the Rolex Rankings and playing in her third LPGA event of 2023, withdrew during the first round of the LPGA Drive On Championship on Thursday.
The LPGA reported it was due to illness.
Kang later posted a message on Instagram stating she took a “visit to the ER for respiratory infection and severe nausea.”
She went on to say she was taking medication and planned to play through it but “now I see that it was a bit too ambitious,” she wrote, with a photo of an IV in her arm underneath the text of her Instagram message.
Kang, who tied for third at the 2023 HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore and and tied for 38th at the Honda LPGA Thailand, birdied the 10th hole to get back to even par Thursday at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club on Thursday. She then had bogeys on Nos. 12 and 14 before calling it a day.
Her playing partners, In Gee Chun and Jennifer Kupcho, finished the day without her, and Kang acknowledged them in her post for “being patient with me on the course as well.”
Kang finished her message stating “hopefully the nausea will subside and will be back to playing some golf again.”
“I think it took days for him to make these molds.”
Danielle Kang rode a hot custom putter to the 36-hole lead at the 2023 HSBC Women’s World Championship. The six-time winner hit 14 fairways and 16 greens and took 25 putts in a second-round 63 that lifted her to 10-under 134 for the tournament. It’s the first time she’s topped the board at the halfway point since the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio last season.
Kang said she took an idea to famed club designer Scotty Cameron and then watched excitedly as that idea came to life.
“I think it took days for him to make these molds,” said Kang. “And then I was with him for seven hours straight, grinding them, making it, buffering, lie lofting. It was incredible for me to watch. And I absolutely love that putter. And people keep asking me what it is, and he stamped it “DK Special” on the bottom, so that’s the name of it.”
Kang’s bogey-free 63 at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong Course ties her career-low round on the LPGA, which she has now posted five times. She holds a one-stroke lead over a trio of players in Singapore, including former HSBC champion Hyo Joo Kim, Allisen Corpuz and Elizabeth Szokol.
“My putter has been really hot for a while,” said Kang. “So thank you, Mr. Scotty. It’s working.”
The second round in Singapore included a rain delay that lasted more than three hours. Kang said she used much of the time to meditate.
“I just close my eyes and try and listen to all the noise,” she said. “I try and kind of see things I didn’t realize. Like it’s like experiencing the five senses type of deal.”
The rest of the time was spent catching up with friends on tour. When Kang met with press after the round, she hadn’t looked at her phone since she left the hotel.
Szokol, the first-round leader who is playing on a medical exemption, wasn’t as sharp after that opening 64 but managed to stay well in the mix for the weekend. Szokol dealt with a herniated disc in her back last year that kept her from touching a club for 12 weeks. She played the second half of last year.
“So it was a really long day,” said Szokol, who played college golf at Northwestern and Virginia. “So just happy with how I battled today.”
Nelly Korda at the 2023 HSBC Women’s World Championship at Como Dempsey in Singapore. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Defending champion Jin Young Ko posted a 65 on Friday and sits three shots back. World No. 2 Nelly Korda trails by two after carding her second consecutive 68. Ko said her calm personality helps her to shine in poor conditions.
Korda spent time in the gym during the long delay to keep loose.
“That’s the beauty of golf,” she said of staying patient. “I feel like you endure different types of weather. And you just kind of repeat to yourself that you love golf, and you love what you’re doing.
“These long days are hard, and a lot of people don’t really … viewers don’t really know about our days like these. You know, I think I was with my caddie for over 12 hours today, and many people don’t really see that side of our life.”
One of the most fun events on the LPGA is underway in Orlando.
The LPGA 2023 opener is here.
The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions doesn’t just feature stars like Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang and Brooke Henderson, but also a slew of celebrities including Derek Lowe, John Smoltz and the GOAT, Annika Sorenstam.
Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando is the host and will play as a par-72 track measuring 6,617 yards this week.
At last year’s event, Kang used a final-round 68 to take home the title. Lowe took down Sorenstam in a playoff to claim the amateur division.
Check out some of the best photos from the fun week in Florida below.
The LPGA’s 1-in-4 rule stipulates that top players compete in a domestic event once every four years.
A couple of top-tier LPGA players are subject to a $25,000 fine for skipping this year’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. The LPGA’s 1-in-4 requirement stipulates that players in the top 80 of the CME points list compete in a domestic event once every four years.
Both Minjee Lee and Jin Young Ko have been absent from the TOC field in recent years and would need to compete in 2023 to avoid penalty. Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana, VP of tour operations for the LPGA, said that both players have the right to appeal, and the decision would go to the commissioner. Ko had signed up for the event but withdrew.
This year’s season-opening TOC is on an island on the 2023 schedule, with a full month off before the second event of the season in Thailand. For players like Ko and Lee, it’s much easier to take more time to rest and prepare for the upcoming season near home before starting the Asian swing.
Jin Young Ko of Korea plays her shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the Pelican Women’s Championship at Pelican Golf Club on November 12, 2022, in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Ko, of course, battled a wrist injury at season’s end and no doubt needed an extended period of rest over the offseason. Lee’s 2022 season extended into December as she competed in the Australian Open to close out her year. It’s a 24,000-mile round-trip hike for Lee to come from Perth, Australia, to Orlando for one event, a costly journey in more ways than one.
The history of the 1-in-4 rule dates back a little more than 20 years and originally applied to domestic events only, as those made up the bulk of the schedule. With names like Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb and Se Ri Pak dominating headlines, it was important for tournament directors to get those LPGA Hall of Famers into their fields. The rule was put in place, said Tangtiphaiboontana, to protect title sponsors.
As the tour grew more international, former commissioner Mike Whan extended the rule to apply to international events as well, before switching back to domestic only in 2016. The reason the rule no longer applies to international events, said Tangtiphaiboontana, is because the tour doesn’t supply the same level of service overseas. There’s no childcare, for example, and no physio. Players who might have dietary concerns, security concerns or travel restrictions aren’t forced to go.
Ko and Lee have the option of applying their one-time exemption from the 1-in-4 to the TOC.
In time, there is long-term relief. Once a player competes in 230 official LPGA tournaments as a member, she will be exempt from the 1-in-4 rule for the rest of her career, beginning the following season.
If she receives a $25,000 fine and doesn’t compete in that event in the next two years (if eligible), the fine goes up to $35,000.
Players must win to be eligible for the TOC. When asked why the rule applied to this event in particular, a tournament that’s essentially a reward for excellence, Tangtiphaiboontana said to protect the sponsor.
Minjee Lee pretends to take a selfie while holding the trophy after winning the 77th U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club on June 5, 2022, in Southern Pines, North Carolina. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Lee and Ko aren’t the only players skipping this year, though other top players have competed in recent editions. The field will be missing World No. 1 Lydia Ko, who has been on her honeymoon. Ko also happens to have a house at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, where the tournament is hosted.
In Gee Chun won’t be there. In fact, seven of the top 10 players in the Rolex Rankings won’t be in Orlando this week. Atthaya Thitikul, last year’s Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year, didn’t sign up. Neither did No. 9 Hyo Joo Kim.
Lexi Thompson, currently No. 6, didn’t qualify for the event as she hasn’t won on the LPGA since 2019.
While the schedule this year makes it extremely tough for international players to come back for the TOC, it’s been a tough sell even when there’s another event in Florida, given how short the offseason often feels to top players and how long the travel is for Asian and Australian players in particular, who’d rather begin their season in Asia.
The field of 30 will compete for a purse of $1.5 million this week alongside a host of celebrities. A substantial purse hike, along the lines of what was done at the CME Group Tour Championship, would certainly do more to draw players from the other side of the world.
No. 2 Nelly Korda currently headlines the TOC, which takes place Jan. 19-22, along with No. 7 Brooke Henderson and defending champion Danielle Kang. Korda won the 2021 Gainbridge LPGA at Lake Nona.
The PGA Tour has a policy that stipulates that players who don’t compete in 25 events in a season must add an event they had not played the previous four seasons to their schedule the following year. Players who are in the Player Impact Program, however, are now not required to do so given that have already committed to up to 17 designated events plus three non-designated events.
The two-time U.S. Amateur Champion, six-time LPGA Tour winner and 2017 Women’s PGA Championship winner is celebrating a milestone.
Two-time U.S. Amateur Champion, six-time LPGA Tour winner and 2017 Women’s PGA Championship winner Danielle Kang turned 30 on October 20, 2022.
Kang’s rookie year on the LPGA Tour came in 2012 after gaining status through Q-School. After five seasons, Kang finally broke through in a big way when she won the 2017 Women’s PGA Championship.
Getting her first LPGA win and first major out of the way in one fell swoop, the floodgates seemingly opened for Kang. She won events in 2018, 2019 and 2020 — even taking home the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average during the latter season.
After a title drought in 2021, Kang returned to her winning ways at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Losing on the second playoff hole to Atthaya Thitikul, Kang left the tournament with tears of joy. After nearly losing the game she so loved, she competed with the world’s best.
Steve Stricker said there is nothing like this little-known California gem on the PGA Tour schedule.
SOMIS, Calif. — Ventura County’s hidden jewel is finally being shared with the world.
The Saticoy Club, Ventura County’s oldest private golf club, ended a century’s wait this week by hosting its first professional event, the LPGA Mediheal Championship.
Lee Martin, who served as the club’s head golf professional from 1979 to 1999, couldn’t wait for the historic occasion.
“We’re finally going to have a tournament that’s going to validate the golf course,” Martin said.
For more than a century, the club has been the playground of Ventura County’s elite, who have shared it with A-Listers like Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and, more recently, Michael Jordan.
Those who have had access to it marvel at its beauty, as well as its challenges.
“It’s the toughest golf course probably on a day-to-day basis between Riviera and Pebble Beach,” Martin said. “It’s the best-kept secret in Southern California. … People who have never played it before don’t realize the gem they’re playing until after they finish.”
When Bob Lowe, who has been a member of the club since 1980, brings up his beloved golf course, he is used to hearing “Where’s that?” as a response.
“They call it a hidden jewel of the West because not many people were aware the course existed,” Lowe said. “Consequently, not many have played it.”
Or even seen it, until The Golf Channel cameras arrived this week.
Prepping for the pros
The course was originally designed by Billy Bell, who also helped design Riviera, as well as Buenaventura, Olivas Park and the Ojai Valley Inn, locally.
The club has been preparing for this weekend for nearly four years, when membership was bought out by new ownership in 2018.
“It was a Rembrandt,” Saticoy Club general manager Robert Nagelberg said. “It just needed to be dusted off, polished, shined and returned to the Louvre.
“This tournament is kind of the culmination of that.”
New ownership worked with Arnold Palmer Design on a long-term plan. They reshaped and leveled 18 tee boxes, replaced sod on four greens, enhanced the irrigation system and removed or trimmed about 225 trees.
“We did a lot in a short period of time,” Nagelberg said. “If you looked at the list, it’s 200 items long.”
Although the club, an hour from Los Angeles and 15 minutes from Highway 101, is set back in the hills above Somis, Nagelberg is hoping to share the facility with more than 10,000 golf fans this week.
The Saticoy Club, founded in 1921, is hosting its first professional tournament this week — the LPGA MediHeal Championship. (Contributed photo)
Membership ‘culture’
The club opened in 1921 on Wells Road in Ventura, where Saticoy Regional Golf Course now sits. It moved to its present location in 1964.
“It was a very private club,” Martin said. “I grew up at the old club on Wells Road and they only had 300 members.”
Martin learned to golf at the old course, where members hosted the likes of Crosby, Mickey Rooney and Babe Didrikson Zaharias. He once caddied for a foursome that included Dean Martin.
Until the mid-1980s, members were required to own property in Ventura County. That meant the membership reflected the economy locally.
Members were local businessmen in oil, insurance and real estate. There were a lot of doctors and farmers, Martin said.
Julius Gius, The Star’s editor from 1960 to 1987, was also a member.
“Basically the membership was Ventura County culture,” Martin said.
There also were a few movie stars, like Cheech Marin.
“They didn’t want any notoriety at all,” Martin said. “We had a lot of really good members.”
‘Legitimate test of golf’
The course itself is known for speedway-fast greens.
“It’s mainly the greens,” Martin said. “The greens are the main defense of the golf course.
“It’s in beautiful shape, the bunkering is well done. It’ll challenge anybody. … No matter what tees you play, if you play a set of tees to your ability, you will be challenged.”
Lowe has been playing the course for more than half a century, and it still surprises him.
“It’s a legitimate test of golf,” Lowe said. “It’s not tricked up. Everything you’ve got in your bag, you better be good at.
“I’ve been a member for a great many years and I’ve been fooled now and again.”
While the course has never previously hosted a professional event, it has hosted plenty of professional golfers.
Martin tutored future PGA Tour player Duffy Waldorf during his times golfing for Taft High and UCLA. Waldorf still shares the course record from the blue tees at 64.
Fred Couples and Lanny Watkins were among the golfers who used the course to prepare for The Masters.
Steve Stricker told The Star in 2011 that he prepared for Tiger Woods’ World Challenge event at Sherwood Country Club in 2007 at Saticoy, on the suggestion of tournament director Greg McLaughlin.
“The course is harder and trickier than this one,” Stricker told the Star. “If you hit it on wrong side there, you have no chance. And the greens are as fast as these greens, so it’s a great place to get a lot of work in.”
Stricker said there was nothing like Saticoy on the PGA Tour schedule.
“You have to do everything well to play there,” Stricker said. “It’s narrow so you have to drive it well and I’ve talked about the greens. It’s difficult, but I really feel like I get a lot out of practicing there.”
A regular tour stop?
The club has often hosted USGA and Southern California Golf Association events.
It’s hosted the Pac-12 Conference and California Community College events. Rio Mesa High once hosted tournaments at the course, as Pepperdine University and Loyola Marymount University have done recently.
The big question, at least next week, will be whether the pros will return.
“That’s a good question,” Nagelberg said.
The Mediheal event was previously hosted the last four years by the Lake Merced Country Club in Daly City. That course is currently undergoing renovation.
“I think everybody’s trying to feel out how it goes the first year,” Nagelberg said. “As a property, we are intrigued and we’ve told them we want to … knock it out of the park and do it again. Does that mean we’re doing one again? I don’t know.
“But the LPGA Tour, Outlyr (event production company) and ourselves have put a lot of time, effort and resources into kind of setting the base template and getting it tournament ready. I can’t see how any of us wouldn’t want to come back and do this again.”
Joe Curley is a staff reporter for The Ventura County Star, part of the USA Today Network. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. Follow him @vcsjoecurley on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
