The LPGA Tour had too many highlights this season to mention all of them in this column. We all cheered for Annika at the PGA Colonial in May 2003 as she arrived on stage with the men pros for the first time that a woman had competed with the men in almost fifty years. That event was followed by Suzy Whaley, Michelle Wie, Laura Davies, Jan Stephenson, and Se Ri Pak all getting into the mix with the men. Just this past weekend, Annika finished second to Freddie Couples in the annual Skin's Game, winning five skins and $225,000. Obviously, the women have set a new standard for professional golf this season.

 Worth Blackwelder
I wish to announce my personal superlatives and disappointments from this LPGA season in the following paragraph. I caddied for Cristie Kerr in 23 events in 2003 and in my tour travels, I feel these players deserve recognition for good or for bad in 2003.

The "Big 3" award: Annika, Se Ri Pak, Grace Park – winners of 10 combined LPGA events and over 4 million in official money in 2003.

Rookie of the Year award: Hands down to Lorena Ochoa finishing 9^th on the money list with $823,740 in official money without a victory.

Surprise Player of 2003: Candie Kung, a winner of three events, and $938,000 of official earnings in her second season.

Most Improved: Angela Stanford, with one win and a close second in an 18-hole playoff for the US Women's Open. Angela improved from 45^th on the 2002 money list to 17^th in 2003 with $643,192 in official earnings.

Ms. Consistent award: Hee-Won Han, followed a great year in 2002 with her first win, second win, and $1,111,860 in official earnings, good for 4^th on the money list. She was 8^th in rounds under par, 4^th in birdies, and 7^th in greens hit in regulation in 2003. Hee-Won had three second place finishes as well a two thirds in 2003 with only one missed cut in 27 events.

Ms. "Fortysomething" award: Beth Daniel, won the Canadian LPGA event for her first victory in almost a decade, had ten additional top ten's, finished 8^th on the 2003 money list with earnings of $917,654. Always being a great ball striker, Beth has found her putting touch again and is using the long putter to show the young players she is still a force to be reckoned with.

Now for some of the 2003 disappointments……

Toughest season for a top ten player: Mi Hyun Kim. "Kimmie" has never been out of the top eight of the year ending money list in three previous seasons, but fell to 20^th this season, with no wins, only 5 top ten's, and $511,188 in winnings. She had only one top ten in statistics, second in driving accuracy. Her putting average for 2003 fell to 30^th on tour. Putting is normally her strongest suit.

Toughest season for a sophomore player: Beth Bauer, the 2002 rookie of the year went from 17^th on the 2002 money list to 65^th in 2003. Beth had only one top ten finish, was ranked 128^th in driving accuracy, 143^rd in greens in regulation, 99^th in rounds under par (19 of 76 rounds) with her only saving grace being tied for 8^th in putting average, with 29.17 putts per round.

Biggest One Week Wonder: Hilary Lunke, our 2003 US Women's Open champion had one of the most unusual seasons that I have ever witnessed on tour. Hilary is a deserving US Open champ, yet how does one explain how she achieved that accomplishment and missed 13 cuts in 2003? Six of those cuts missed came in the seven weeks after winning the Open. Hilary shot only 15 rounds under par in 2003, and was 164^th in driving distance (232 yards avg.), and was 158^th in greens in regulation. Hilary gets it in the hole with the putter though, finishing 4^th in putting average, 28.88 putts per round.

Biggest Fall from Past success: TIE – Maria Hjorth falling from 18^th in 2002 money list to 70^th in 2003, and Charlotta Sorenstam, falling from 53^rd in 2002 to 103^rd in 2003.

In summary, the year ending ADT Tour Championship held at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach Florida was won by Meg Mallon. Meg shot an incredible five under par 31 on the tough back nine at Trump International, to pass Annika and my player Cristie Kerr and win her only event of 2003. Annika bogied the eighteenth hole to lose by one at 6 under par and Cristie shot 74-69-71-71 to finish the event 3 under par, winning $86,000 for sole possession of third place.

May all of my readers have a wonderful Christmas season, a Happy New Year in 2004, and may all of your games continue to improve. Until next year,

Worth Blackwelder

* Statistics recorded in this column are courtesy of LPGATOUR.com. Log onto LPGATOUR.com to stay abreast of schedules and statistics of your favorite LPGA players.

from Ladies Golf Journey - Dec 2003

 

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