Brent: I, too, have mixed feelings on the "Aimpoint Express" green-reading method that she put into play recently--especially on short putts, which, as you note, she appears to be be missing more frequently this year. In fact, the Golf Channel's Karen Stupples, at my prompting via Twitter, was planning to ask Lydia after her round yesterday about the use of Aimpoint Express on short putts--during the third round and during previous tournaments, Stupples has audibly wondered whether it wasn't overkill--but of course Lydia then won the tournament, so the question never got asked. I'm guessing the answer will have something to do with consistency of pre-shot routine, which I understand and appreciate. As for her overall performance, she stated that she hit the ball better this year than last, but made more putts last year than this. That, of course, is how it always goes in golf.
David: Both events at Lake Merced have indeed had a "major" feel to them--which is why Lydia's pre-tournament revelation not only that the majors "give me butterflies," but also that she feels her game "isn't up to the standard" at the majors was so perplexing. She IS the standard. I hope the major-itis doesn't get too much in her head, because she clearly has a major-like game to compete anywhere. Amazing to think that it's already an "issue" for her at age 18!
Jeff: I think we all know the reasons why Michelle received more attention at the same age: She's American, she sought out the attention (by playing against the men as opposed to trying to beat the girls/women), and she both looks flashier and plays a more flashy game. Of course, she's a horrific putter and, at least relative to Lydia, not much of a "winner." Thankfully, the coverage of Lydia has skyrocketed since she became World No. 1 at the beginning of the year. It must be demoralizing for Michelle and Lexi--another poor putter--to constantly get paired with Lydia, hit it way past her on every hole, yet end up many strokes behind her at the end of the day.
Tim: I could not agree more. Although the courses (with a few exceptions, such as Royal Melbourne, Lake Merced, Westchester CC, and the U.S. Women's Open host course) are weaker, the finishes are better and almost always involve the top players. I'm not so sure that's because the men's tour is "deeper"--to me, it's instead because the best men are not that much better than the average men, while the best women (like Tiger was) are much better than the average women--but whatever the reason, the results are hard to argue with. They deserve far more TV coverage, and I am infinitely frustrated when the Golf Channel, as they did yesterday, lets the Champions Tour coverage bleed into the women's coverage.
David: If Lydia keeps at this pace, her career stats will be better than anyone else's in history. A big "if," to be sure, and she needs to get the major out of the way, but she's already done FAR more at her age than anyone in history.