LPGA rookie Yealimi Noh was hit with a $10,000 slow-play fine from last week’s Kia Classic.
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Yealimi Noh tied for 61st at the Kia Classic and took home a $4,247 paycheck. But she actually lost money on the week after a $10,000 slow-play fine.
Noh, 19, said a rules official showed up mid-way through the front nine and hung around for nine holes. She received bad times on Nos. 10 and 12.
“I can’t appeal because it’s obviously my fault,” said Noh as she walked to the 1st tee during a practice round at this week’s ANA Inspiration.
Noh received her first pace-of-play fine in her first event as a rookie in 2020, the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio where she tied for 35th.
“A couple rookies got fines,” said Noh. “Like OK, it’s a heads-up for us rookies to catch up or whatever.”
Because Noh received a pace-of-play fine in 2020, the fine doubled for 2021. If she has a clean slate in 2022, it will revert back to the original price of $2,500. (Because COVID-19 limited the number of events in 2020, the rookies from last year are still considered rookies this year.)
Noh, who is ranked 47th in the world, had a new caddie last week in Carlsbad, California, and said the she was taking extra time on her approach shots on Saturday because she didn’t hit the ball great in the second round. She forgot the official was even there.
It was especially difficult for the teenager to explain the lost wages to mom and dad.
“As much as I think about it’s a good learning experience,” said Noh, “obviously now I’m never going to do that again hopefully, which is good. It’s hard to get over; that’s a lot of money.”
The LPGA also handed out its first two-stroke penalty of 2020 to Robynn Ree for being out of position at least week’s Kia Classic. Ree missed the cut.
Park led by as many as seven strokes at the Kia, ultimately topping the field by five at 14-under 272.
The first round of the Kia Classic was cold, wet and windy, and Inbee Park, playing her first competitive round in three months, cruised to a bogey-free 66. Park played her best golf of the week on the toughest day, and it set the tone for the rest of the week.
Lydia Ko loved what Park had to say after that first round: “I’m just warming up.”
“I was like ‘Oh yeah, she’s back,’ ” Ko said, laughing.
Park led by as many as seven strokes at the Kia, ultimately topping the field by five at 14-under 272. Americans Amy Olson and Lexi Thompson finished tied for second at 9 under. World No. 1 Jin Young Ko placed solo fourth, six strokes back.
Ko has long admired Park’s consistently even-keel demeanor and attitude on the golf course. She believes it accounts for much of her long-term success on the LPGA.
“That nickname of ‘silent assistant’ doesn’t come from nowhere,” Ko added.
Longtime caddie Brad Beecher said Park’s laid-back attitude keeps her from overpreparing for anything, including majors.
Inbee Park tees off the 3rd hole during the final round of the Kia Classic at the Aviara Golf Club on March 28, 2021, in Carlsbad, California. (Photo: Donald Miralle-Getty Images)
“She knows she’s got the game,” he said. “She knows she doesn’t need to overdo it. She hasn’t for years.”
The Kia marked Park’s 21st career title and her first since February 2020. She joins LPGA Founder Marilynn Smith with 21 wins and moves within four victories of Se Ri Pak’s mark as the winningest Korean player in tour history.
The seven-time major winner now has $17,003,925 in career earnings and becomes just the fourth player in LPGA Tour history to cross the $17 million threshold.
“It was my first week back out in three months or so, and I played so good,” said Park. I mean, I couldn’t believe how I was doing out there this week.”
This was supposed to just be sharpening session for next week’s ANA Inspiration. But Park has such a good record at Aviara Golf Club, including two previous runner-up showings, that the good vibes come naturally. Even she was surprised with how well everything came together, saying it’s a mystery even she can’t solve.
Trying to sharpen up her game though, she said, might have helped her to work a little harder under pressure and not feel too comfortable.
Her lead grew so big though, she could certainly afford to relax.
“I did not really think much about Inbee,” said Olson. “She was kind of doing her own thing and playing her own golf course. She obviously played phenomenal this week.”
Olson was quite pleased with her own personal best – a terrific turnaround on Friday that took her from 6 over with 11 holes to go to birdieing six coming in to make the cut. The momentum continued into the weekend with rounds of 67-68.
What sparked the shift?
“Ron (Stockton) and I were talking about that today,” said Olson. “I’m like, I don’t know, like I definitely got mad and I’m like, I don’t know if that’s a good way for me to play or something.”
Thompson is also happy with the state of her game heading into ANA, saying that she’s most pleased with her mental state.
“You know, I could have gotten downhill on a few holes,” said Thompson.
Park was ready to jump into Poppie’s Pond after her Kia victory to clean up after a celebratory champagne bath.
The 32-year-old entered the week No. 4 in the world and strengthened her chances of returning to the Olympics in 2021. The LPGA Hall of Famer has long said that were it not for the Olympics, she might not still be playing. Winning the 2016 gold medal renewed Park’s vigor for competition and gave her a new goal – repeating.
But in order to repeat, she’d first have to qualify. She’ll need to one of four South Koreans in the Rolex Rankings – all inside the top 15 – to punch her ticket to the Summer Games.
“I am pretty much eligible for pretty much anything in the game of golf,” said Park, “but it was quite different obviously. Plus, I am defending champion of that event and I’m not qualified. It’s just a very different approach. … It’s getting close. I wouldn’t say I’m safe, but I’m getting close.”
Inbee Park opened a huge lead on a day when there were 11 eagles at the Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, California.
Inbee Park shot a second straight 69 and her third round in the 60s this week to race out to a five-shot lead heading into the final round of the Kia Classic.
Park, who has 20 wins in her LPGA career, had four birdies and a bogey on Saturday at the Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, California.
Mel Reid, Minjee Lee and Mi Jung Hur are all at 7 under, five back.
Madelene Sagstrom doubled the first hole on Saturday but then ripped off birdies on seven of her next eight holes, made the turn with a 31 and went on to post the best round of the week so far with a 64. She definitely found something after posting scores of 72 and 74 the first two days. Sagstrom is in a three-way tie in 5th with World No. 1 Jin Young Ko and Lexi Thompson.
After a struggling to an 81 on Thursday, Michelle Wie West had a better day on Friday in Carlsbad, California.
Michelle Wie West spotted a first aid cart following her around at the Kia Classic these past two days. Needless to say, she was glad that she didn’t have to call them over.
That alone is a victory for Wie West, whose wrist injuries have caused plenty of pain and heartache over the years.
When asked if everything felt good after the round, Wie West said, “Yeah, I mean, knock on wood. I do a lot of PT and stuff afterwards.”
After a struggling to an 81 on Thursday, her first competitive round since June 2019, Wie West posted a 2-over 74 on a much more pleasant Day 2 at Aviara Golf Club. She hit nine fairways, 10 greens and took 30 putts. She’ll now have the weekend off to prepare for next week’s ANA Inspiration, a place that’s always given her good vibes.
The cold, rainy conditions on Thursday in Carlsbad, California, didn’t make it any easier for the new mom to get back into competition mode. Wie West felt her game was much more consistent on Friday.
“Obviously still not where I want it to be,” she said, “but a lot of progress, and that’s the best thing. If I can improve by seven strokes every single day, I’ll take it.”
Meanwhile at the top of the board, seven-time major winner Inbee Park maintains her one-shot lead after a carding a second-round 69 to move to 9-under 135 for the tournament. Park, who hadn’t played competitive golf in three months prior to this week, said she still felt awkward at times.
Overall, Park said she’s pleased with her ball-striking and the number of opportunities she has given herself each round.
“You know, I hit good shots,” said Park, “and it’s just weird on these greens, because I hit the shots really close and I don’t make the birdie putt, but I kind of hit it to 15, 20 feet and I make those birdie putts.
“The holes I made today is pretty much I made probably 10- to 20-footers. But coming in last three holes I missed probably inside 5, 6 feet. So it’s just greens that really need patience.”
Sophia Popov tees off the 10th hole during the first round of the KIA Classic at the Aviara Golf Club on March 25, 2021 in Carlsbad, California. (Photo: Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
Last year’s AIG Women’s British Open champ Sophia Popov considers Park one her golf idols, and after a second consecutive 68, Popov is at 8 under and just might have a tee time with the LPGA Hall of Famer over the weekend.
“I think the nice thing is that I played with her in Portland last year and she’s just a very calm person to be around,” said Popov.
“I really enjoy it because it almost gets me relaxed. Even though she’s out there making a lot birdies and shooting low, I think it’s something that I’m more comfortable or someone I’m more comfortable playing with because she’s very – she goes about her job very quietly and I like that. I enjoy it.”
In a previous life, Michelle Wie West would’ve headed over to the practice green after an opening 81 at the Kia Classic. Instead, she was headed to bath time with daughter Makenna.
As far as comebacks go, it was a rough day given the cold and rainy conditions in Carlsbad, California. Wie West birdied the first hole at Aviara Golf Club and then a slew of bogeys followed.
“I hit a lot of great shots today,” said Wie West, who last competed on the LPGA in June of 2019. “Just felt like I had a couple unlucky bounces here and there that could have made a big difference.
“At the same time, just couldn’t get my putter going.”
Hall of Famer Judy Rankin said there have been many times after a round when Wie West talked about hitting a lot of good shots and Rankin was left shaking her head. This time, however, it rang true.
“I’m going to tell you she hit a lot of good shots today,” said Rankin, who raved about Wie West’s swing throughout the broadcast.
Coupled with a good attitude, Rankin seemed quite positive about what the future might hold for Wie West, noting that it’s hard to remember how to score after a long break.
“I had a big smile on my face all day today,” said Wie West, “because life is good. I’m out here playing again; I have a beautiful daughter.
“Life is great.”
While most of the day’s attention was focused on Wie West’s return, there was another player making her 2021 debut who made it all look rather effortless. Hall of Famer Inbee Park carded a bogey-free 66 to top compatriot Hyo Joo Kim by a stroke.
Because the fairways were not overseeded at Aviara, officials opted to institute preferred lies for all four rounds due to poor course conditions.
Inbee Park tees off the 10th hole during the first round of the 2021 KIA Classic at the Aviara Golf Club on March 25, 2021 in Carlsbad, California. (Photo: Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
“I know it’s going to be, you know, test of some patience this week with the putting green and obviously being my first week out I am probably a little bit rusty,” said Park, “so I’m just trying to get the tournament feeling going for next three days.
“If the results are good it’s great, but if not, I mean, I’m just warming up. It’s a good warmup for a first day.”
This marked Kim’s first tournament on the LPGA since November 2019. Kim, currently No. 8 in the world, said her transition back to the U.S. has been frustrating and awkward at times because she hadn’t communicated much in English for well over a year. She won twice while competing on the Korean LPGA in 2020.
“Actually before coming here during the pandemic,” said Kim, “I didn’t really go out other than for workouts or practice, and so when I started packing to finally come to the U.S. my mom was a little bit flustered and asked me, ‘Where are you going?’ I told her, LPGA, most of the tournaments are overseas, so I should go now.
“So I packed my bags and I’m here, and happy to be here.”
Sophia Popov, In Gee Chun, Stephanie Meadow and Mel Reid hold a share of third at 4 under.
“I haven’t seen the sun in a while,” said Popov, who had two of her five college wins come in San Diego. “It was kind of brutal. The back nine was pretty rainy and windy; the front nine was kind of a roller coaster back and forth, birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey.”
A number of PGA Tour events have welcomed a limited number of fans for several months, but it will be some time before the LPGA follows.
Michelle Wie West returns to the LPGA this week for the first time in nearly two years, but it will be a quiet affair. There will be no spectators at the 2021 Kia Classic in Carlsbad, California, due to strict local guidelines. Players aren’t even allowed to bring one guest onsite.
Likewise, there will be no fans at the ANA Inspiration, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Players are allowed one guest for the year’s first major, and dining out at restaurants is still prohibited.
While a number of PGA Tour events have welcomed a limited number of fans for several months now, it will likely be some time before the LPGA brings fans back to any U.S.-based events, especially with three of the next four events on the LPGA schedule to be played in California and one in Hawaii.
The tour hopes to have a limited number of spectators at the Pure Silk Championship at Kingsmill in late May but, as a tour official noted, it will be with guidance from the local health authorities.
The LPGA is moving forward with plans to compete in Singapore and Thailand in late April and early May under strict health and safety guidelines for players. The LPGA created a similar bubble last August when the tour spent two weeks in Scotland.
After Kingsmill, the LPGA returns to the West Coast for the new match-play event in Las Vegas followed by the U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club. A decision has not yet been made on fans at the USWO but on Tuesday, San Francisco moved into the less-restrictive orange tier.
“It is important to have fans attend the U.S. Women’s Open,” said USWO championship director Matt Sawicki in a statement provided to Golfweek, “but health and safety protocols for all attendees remains our first priority. We are working closely with the City and County of San Francisco as well as the State of California to create the best environment possible.
Earlier this week, R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers released an open letter to fans about this year’s AIG Women’s British Open at Carnoustie. Last year’s AIG Women’s British Open at Royal Troon was the only major sporting event held in Scotland over the summer. While the event at Royal Troon was a rousing success, it did not include fans.
“We are greatly encouraged that we will be able to welcome fans at the AIG Women’s Open,” Slumbers wrote, “and I would like to assure you that we are working with the Scottish and UK governments, our health and safety advisers, agencies and our partners at AIG to progress our plans to ensure that everyone can enjoy the action at Carnoustie safely.”
Will we see Michelle Wie West return to the LPGA this spring as the tour swings through the West Coast?
It looks like Michelle Wie West might be making her return to the LPGA at next week’s Kia Classic. The 31-year-old mom last competed on tour at the 2019 KMPG Women’s PGA at Hazeltine, where she battled severe wrist pain.
So much life has happened since then for Wie West, who married Jonnie West, son of NBA legend Jerry West and an executive with the Golden State Warriors, in August of 2019. The couple welcomed daughter Makenna on June 19, 2020.
The late withdrawal period for the Kia Classic was last Friday, and Wie West is still listed in the field. The ANA field closes on Wednesday, and she’s listed there as well.
Wie has said several times that she really wants Makenna to see her compete on tour. This could be the start of a long west coast swing for Wie, as events in her native Hawaii and then Los Angeles follow the Masters.
“I just want that experience of her, of Makenna watching me play and hopefully watching me come down the stretch and win a golf tournament,” said Wie last summer. “That would just mean everything to me because I want her to grow up and be a strong woman and all the things that I value, and hopefully whatever she values.”
Michelle Wie hits her tee shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club. (Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports)
Inbee Park, Seo Yeon Ryu and Hyo Joo Kim – three top-ranked South Koreans who had yet to compete in 2021 – will also return to the tour next week. As will last year’s surprise U.S. Women’s Open winner, A Lim Kim, who will make her debut as an LPGA rookie in Carlsbad, California.
The first two rounds of the Kia Classic will be tape-delayed on Golf Channel from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.
The LPGA made another cancellation announcement on Thursday as the Kia Classic fell off the fall schedule.
The LPGA made another cancellation announcement on Thursday as the Kia Classic fell off the fall schedule. The tournament was to be played Sept. 24-27 at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, California. It would have fallen two weeks after the ANA Inspiration, a major, and right between the Cambia Portland Classic and ShopRite LPGA Classic.
The Kia originally should have taken place in March. It was one of the initial postponements of the spring portion of the season.
The LPGA and Kia jointly announced Thursday that the event would return in its original March date in 2021 at Aviara.
“We appreciate all of the efforts by Kia to try and make this event happen this year and we look forward to playing again at beautiful Aviara Golf Club in 2021,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan in a release.
Most recently, the LPGA canceled two events on its fall Asian swing, the Buick LPGA Shanghai and Taiwan Swinging Skirts.
