Congrats to Stacy Lewis on winning at St. Andrews

[Tom_Doak]

I didn't see it live ... it was even hard to find online ... but Stacy Lewis won the British Women's Open at The Old Course this afternoon, making birdies on the 17th & 18th holes for a two-shot victory over Na Yeon Choi.  She knocked her approach to three feet on the Road hole (!) for an easy three, and then two-putted from 40 yards through the Valley of Sin at 18, making about a 20-foot comebacker for her three there.

I know she was looking forward to playing in St. Andrews where she'd had a perfect record in the Curtis Cup Matches a few years ago.

Inbee Park finished a distant 42nd, not really playing well at all this week after her incredible run this summer.  It didn't help her that she had to play quite a few holes on Saturday in high winds before play was suspended ... I thought the R & A had fixed the greens to stop that, but apparently they need more flattening.

[Ronald Montesano]

Stacy Lewis credited Tom Doak's walkabout at Sebonack for her victory...said being in the presence of the great one immediately transformed her game...oh, wait, that's my quote, after walking a few holes with Tom at the Women's Open. Seriously, Tom was very patient with my tyro questions and was most courteous.

Whether undulating or not, no greens would withstand 50 mph gusts, so no blaming the weather on the R&A. That would be God's doing. the comment against the R and A, true or not, comes off as smarmy.

Inbee got the same bummer weather that sabotaged Sergio one year and Tiger another. It happens, she got derailed, life goes on.

Anyway, when she wins Evian, she'll still have four majors in one year.

[Garland Bayley]

The approach on 17 was a sight to behold. Good on her.

Unfortunately you could see the wheels coming off NYC on the way in. Stacy put the coals to the fire and they burned NYC.

[Mac Plumart]

Seeing The Old Course on tv again was great.

When I saw Stacy Lewis hit that approach into 17, I felt she won The Open at that moment.  Then when she birdied 18 the was no doubt.

Great day of golf watching.

[William_G]

great birdies on 17 and 18!!

watched most of the ESPN2 coverage, great to see the course  

just wish the coverage was better, because I thought it sucked

[Brian_Ewen]

Inbee got the same bummer weather that sabotaged Sergio one year and Tiger another. It happens, she got derailed, life goes on.

I have lost count how many times I have read this as the excuse for Inbee not winning this past week.

But she was not the course alone during this time, others coped and finished high on the leaderboard.

[Ronald Montesano]

Brian,  you are correct...she was not on her game after round one...when you're off your game AND have bad weather, no hope is yours. It's part but not parcel.

[Joel_Stewart]

Seeing The Old Course on tv again was great.

When I saw Stacy Lewis hit that approach into 17, I felt she won The Open at that moment.  Then when she birdied 18 the was no doubt.

Great day of golf watching.

Agreed.  I liked the fact the R&A didn't bury it in rough like they did for the men. 

I was disappointed in the choice of Michelle Wie for the Solheim Cup.   Talk about not deserving. Ridiculous.

[Mac Plumart]

I haven't seen a better test of shot making and golfing intelligence.

Agreed 100%!

[Ronald Montesano]

Brian, not every course can be st.a. To attempt to replicate it on western ny farmland would be ridiculous. I think you are being unfair (most polite term I could conjure) by going on this rager. I suspect all will be surprised with oak hill's fairness this week.

[Carl Rogers]

If you get them to play faster, you would have something.

[William_G]

The BBC coverage was exceptional. I can't get over how much more interesting it was to watch the architecture play out at the Old Course for this tournament versus at Muirfield. The ground game appeared to be utilised because it was the wisest course of action and there was just enough friction to be a sensible test - not a crap shoot as to whether you could come close to judging the correct bounce.

The other thing was how many bogeys and doubles were made from greens in reg.

I haven't seen a better test of shot making and golfing intelligence.

no BBC coverage in the US that I could find 

[David_Tepper]

"If you get them to play faster, you would have something."

Carl R. -

Yes, faster play would be nice. On the other hand, many (if not most) of the ladies were playing a course they had never seen or played before and were playing it under some very windy conditions. In addition, many of the ladies had likely played a minimal amount of links golf in their lives.

While not desirable, the pace of play could be tolerated/understood.

DT

[Garland Bayley]

...

While not desirable, the pace of play could be tolerated/understood.

DT

Except that it is always the same glacial pace whether they've played the course a dozen times or none.

[Scott Weersing]

It was great to see the Old Course on TV. I was not impressed with the new bunker on 17 but we may forget what it once was.

I was impressed that Stacy Lewis took a putter when she was 40 yards out. I wonder how many times she practiced a putt from the fairway when she was in Scotland.

The wind is the biggest defense for the Old Course. Without the wind, players had rounds under par in the third round. But then wind came up and no one scored well. It was a great finish for Lewis. It seemed like a Mickelson finish.

I am looking forward to the Lewis vs. Peteron singles match during the Solheim Cup.

If you don't like deliberate, slow play, watch two players look at a putt followed by two caddies look at putt during foursomes at the Solheim Cup..

[John Cowden]

Stacy's tee shot on 17 on Sunday was what surprised me.  Wasn't it almost over the 'L' in Hotel?  Jeez, it just missed landing in the first cut right.  Playing to win?  Awesome!  

[Tom Ferrell]

For me, the most interesting thing about the telecast was seeing the Valley of Sin play as a real and in-play feature.  There were pitches over it, bump and runs through it, and a 40-yard putt that set up the winner.  For the men, the Valley of Sin seems to have become a non-feature.  This weekend, it cast a shadow, and I loved it.

[Niall C]

Seeing The Old Course on tv again was great.

When I saw Stacy Lewis hit that approach into 17, I felt she won The Open at that moment.  Then when she birdied 18 the was no doubt.

Great day of golf watching.

Agreed.  I liked the fact the R&A didn't bury it in rough like they did for the men. 

I was disappointed in the choice of Michelle Wie for the Solheim Cup.   Talk about not deserving. Ridiculous.

Joel

I could be wrong but I think you'll find the R&A had nothing to do with this particular tournament. With regards to the set-up, the weather plays a large part in that. As the summer wears on, and this year we've actually had a summer, the grass gets less lush as it dries out and therefore you've got half a chance in the rough.

Niall

[Pete Lavallee]

I was under the impression the the Ladies Golfing Union set up the course, not the R&A. Am I wrong there?

[David Bartman]

I was under the impression the the Ladies Golfing Union set up the course, not the R&A. Am I wrong there?

Nope, you are entirely correct , the LGU runs the Ladies British.  They have a very very limited leader but I don't think that showed itself this week.