Inbee Park (click to enlarge)
Great champions rise to the challenge. 2013 was a record year for Inbee Park, a year that saw her win the first 3 Majors of the season, matching Babe Zaharias’ 1950 feat, capture 6 overall titles and claim the world #1 ranking. But after her triumph at the 2013 US Women’s Open she didn’t win again. Meanwhile, Stacy Lewis and Suzann Pettersen almost chased Queen Bee down for Player of the Year honors. They fell just short of catching Park. Lewis would continue her brilliant play in 2014, culminating in titles at the North Texas LPGA Shootout and the Shoprite LPGA Classic. At the latter event, a mere week ago, Stacy finally wrested Inbee’s grip from the #1 ranking, ending the South Korean star’s 59 week reign at the top. It was just what the doctor ordered for Park.
Inbee Park (click to enlarge)
“I think I needed a little bit of motivation. I just didn’t have any win after the U.S. Open. I was playing good but not great. So yeah, I think last week was a very good motivation and inspiration for me. So this week, I thought I needed to step it up a little bit.” – Inbee Park
A motivated Inbee Park is beautiful to behold. She built her 6-win 3-Major 2013 season on her stellar putting. That bulls-eye stroke was back as the former world #1 shot a 4th round course record 10-under 61 (par is 71 here), to win the 2014 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic with an overall 23-under total, 3 shots clear of Cristie Kerr. It was a sensational end to a spectacular tournament. How locked in was Inbee? After bogeying the 4th hole in the first round, she finished the event with 68 holes that saw her drop 24 birdies and zero bogeys. Although this is her first LPGA win in just short of a year, it couldn’t come at a better time. Inbee started her winning ways on tour with her title at the 2008 US Women’s Open. Her 2013 season reached its historical zenith at the 2013 US Women’s Open. Hmmmm…what’s the next event on the LPGA schedule? I betcha Inbee knows. 🙂
ALL PICS CLICK TO ENLARGE
1 INBEE PARK (-23)
2 CRISTIE KERR (-20)
3 SHANSHAN FENG (-18)
T4 LYDIA KO (-16)
T4 BELEN MOZO (-16)
T6 MICHELLE WIE (-15)
T6 STACY LEWIS (-16)
T8 CHELLA CHOI (-14)
T8 SUZANN PETTERSEN (-14)
T10 HEE YOUNG PARK (-13)
with Thidapa Suwannapura and her caddie
| Pos | Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Today | Total | Strokes | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inbee Park | 69 | 66 | 65 | 61 | -10 | -23 | 261 | $225,000 |
| 2 | Cristie Kerr | 67 | 69 | 65 | 63 | -8 | -20 | 264 | $136,903 |
| 3 | Shanshan Feng | 66 | 65 | 67 | 68 | -3 | -18 | 266 | $99,314 |
| T4 | Belen Mozo | 68 | 67 | 68 | 65 | -6 | -16 | 268 | $69,332 |
| T4 | Lydia Ko | 71 | 67 | 64 | 66 | -5 | -16 | 268 | $69,332 |
| T6 | Stacy Lewis | 69 | 69 | 68 | 63 | -8 | -15 | 269 | $46,471 |
| T6 | Michelle Wie | 65 | 67 | 68 | 69 | -2 | -15 | 269 | $46,471 |
| T8 | Chella Choi | 70 | 69 | 67 | 64 | -7 | -14 | 270 | $35,229 |
| T8 | Suzann Pettersen | 70 | 67 | 67 | 66 | -5 | -14 | 270 | $35,229 |
| T10 | Caroline Masson | 69 | 67 | 70 | 65 | -6 | -13 | 271 | $27,320 |
| T10 | So Yeon Ryu | 68 | 67 | 70 | 66 | -5 | -13 | 271 | $27,320 |
| T10 | Hee Young Park | 65 | 66 | 72 | 68 | -3 | -13 | 271 | $27,320 |
| T10 | Anna Nordqvist | 69 | 64 | 69 | 69 | -2 | -13 | 271 | $27,320 |
| 14 | Na Yeon Choi | 68 | 67 | 68 | 69 | -2 | -12 | 272 | $23,086 |
| T15 | Catriona Matthew | 71 | 67 | 70 | 65 | -6 | -11 | 273 | $19,638 |
| T15 | Line Vedel | 69 | 70 | 69 | 65 | -6 | -11 | 273 | $19,638 |
| T15 | Mirim Lee | 69 | 73 | 65 | 66 | -5 | -11 | 273 | $19,638 |
| T15 | Meena Lee | 70 | 67 | 68 | 68 | -3 | -11 | 273 | $19,638 |
| T15 | Angela Stanford | 71 | 67 | 67 | 68 | -3 | -11 | 273 | $19,638 |
| T20 | Austin Ernst | 69 | 69 | 70 | 66 | -5 | -10 | 274 | $16,340 |
| T20 | Julieta Granada | 72 | 69 | 67 | 66 | -5 | -10 | 274 | $16,340 |
| T20 | Marina Alex | 68 | 68 | 71 | 67 | -4 | -10 | 274 | $16,340 |
| T20 | Candie Kung | 70 | 68 | 65 | 71 | E | -10 | 274 | $16,340 |
| T24 | Jaye Marie Green | 70 | 68 | 70 | 67 | -4 | -9 | 275 | $12,320 |
| T24 | Paz Echeverria | 68 | 71 | 68 | 68 | -3 | -9 | 275 | $12,320 |
| T24 | Jennifer Johnson | 70 | 68 | 69 | 68 | -3 | -9 | 275 | $12,320 |
| T24 | M.J. Hur | 73 | 68 | 66 | 68 | -3 | -9 | 275 | $12,320 |
| T24 | Joanna Klatten | 70 | 70 | 70 | 65 | -6 | -9 | 275 | $12,320 |
| T24 | Louise Friberg | 72 | 69 | 70 | 64 | -7 | -9 | 275 | $12,320 |
| T24 | Danielle Kang | 71 | 68 | 67 | 69 | -2 | -9 | 275 | $12,320 |
| T24 | Jennifer Rosales | 69 | 72 | 65 | 69 | -2 | -9 | 275 | $12,320 |
| T24 | Jee Young Lee | 68 | 68 | 69 | 70 | -1 | -9 | 275 | $12,320 |
| T24 | Thidapa Suwannapura | 72 | 66 | 67 | 70 | -1 | -9 | 275 | $12,320 |
| T24 | Karine Icher | 69 | 71 | 72 | 63 | -8 | -9 | 275 | $12,320 |
| T35 | Sue Kim | 71 | 70 | 67 | 68 | -3 | -8 | 276 | $9,032 |
| T35 | Alejandra Llaneza | 68 | 71 | 70 | 67 | -4 | -8 | 276 | $9,032 |
| T35 | Anya Alvarez | 71 | 66 | 70 | 69 | -2 | -8 | 276 | $9,032 |
| T35 | Gerina Piller | 73 | 70 | 69 | 64 | -7 | -8 | 276 | $9,032 |
| T39 | Christel Boeljon | 75 | 68 | 66 | 68 | -3 | -7 | 277 | $7,345 |
| T39 | Jane Park | 70 | 68 | 71 | 68 | -3 | -7 | 277 | $7,345 |
| T39 | Kris Tamulis | 69 | 73 | 66 | 69 | -2 | -7 | 277 | $7,345 |
| T39 | Tiffany Joh | 72 | 68 | 67 | 70 | -1 | -7 | 277 | $7,345 |
| T39 | Xiyu Lin | 67 | 67 | 71 | 72 | +1 | -7 | 277 | $7,345 |
| T39 | Katie Burnett | 73 | 69 | 70 | 65 | -6 | -7 | 277 | $7,345 |
| T45 | Laura Davies | 71 | 71 | 67 | 69 | -2 | -6 | 278 | $5,921 |
| T45 | Haru Nomura | 68 | 70 | 71 | 69 | -2 | -6 | 278 | $5,921 |
| T45 | Morgan Pressel | 71 | 68 | 69 | 70 | -1 | -6 | 278 | $5,921 |
| T45 | Brooke Henderson | 70 | 71 | 69 | 68 | -3 | -6 | 278 | – |
| T45 | Alena Sharp | 73 | 69 | 65 | 71 | E | -6 | 278 | $5,921 |
| T45 | Giulia Molinaro | 71 | 70 | 70 | 67 | -4 | -6 | 278 | $5,921 |
| T51 | Katie Futcher | 72 | 66 | 70 | 71 | E | -5 | 279 | $5,022 |
| T51 | Megan McChrystal | 70 | 71 | 66 | 72 | +1 | -5 | 279 | $5,022 |
| T51 | Jacqui Concolino | 68 | 68 | 74 | 69 | -2 | -5 | 279 | $5,022 |
| T51 | P.K. Kongkraphan | 72 | 67 | 76 | 64 | -7 | -5 | 279 | $5,022 |
| T55 | Mi Hyang Lee | 70 | 71 | 68 | 71 | E | -4 | 280 | $4,422 |
| T55 | Ilhee Lee | 69 | 73 | 68 | 70 | -1 | -4 | 280 | $4,422 |
| T55 | Kristy McPherson | 68 | 68 | 73 | 71 | E | -4 | 280 | $4,422 |
| T55 | Jennifer Kirby | 71 | 70 | 69 | 70 | -1 | -4 | 280 | $4,422 |
| T59 | Jeong Jang | 70 | 72 | 68 | 71 | E | -3 | 281 | $3,663 |
| T59 | Sydnee Michaels | 70 | 71 | 66 | 74 | +3 | -3 | 281 | $3,663 |
| T59 | Dewi Claire Schreefel | 69 | 71 | 70 | 71 | E | -3 | 281 | $3,663 |
| T59 | Pernilla Lindberg | 78 | 64 | 69 | 70 | -1 | -3 | 281 | $3,663 |
| T59 | Moira Dunn | 68 | 71 | 72 | 70 | -1 | -3 | 281 | $3,663 |
| T59 | Ji Young Oh | 72 | 68 | 71 | 70 | -1 | -3 | 281 | $3,663 |
| T59 | Brittany Lang | 72 | 71 | 69 | 69 | -2 | -3 | 281 | $3,663 |
| T59 | Maria Hernandez | 72 | 71 | 69 | 69 | -2 | -3 | 281 | $3,663 |
| T67 | I.K. Kim | 69 | 73 | 68 | 72 | +1 | -2 | 282 | $3,223 |
| T67 | Brooke Pancake | 70 | 69 | 71 | 72 | +1 | -2 | 282 | $3,223 |
| T67 | Ayako Uehara | 69 | 72 | 71 | 70 | -1 | -2 | 282 | $3,223 |
| 70 | Felicity Johnson | 74 | 69 | 71 | 69 | -2 | -1 | 283 | $3,073 |
| T71 | Sarah Kemp | 68 | 70 | 70 | 76 | +5 | E | 284 | $2,923 |
| T71 | Reilley Rankin | 71 | 70 | 69 | 74 | +3 | E | 284 | $2,923 |
| T71 | Cydney Clanton | 71 | 70 | 70 | 73 | +2 | E | 284 | $2,923 |
| T71 | Paula Reto | 72 | 71 | 69 | 72 | +1 | E | 284 | $2,923 |
| T71 | Jackie Stoelting | 70 | 73 | 71 | 70 | -1 | E | 284 | $2,923 |
| 76 | Erica Popson | 71 | 71 | 74 | 69 | -2 | +1 | 285 | $2,814 |
| 77 | Nicole Vandermade | 75 | 68 | 71 | 72 | +1 | +2 | 286 | $2,778 |
| 78 | Becky Morgan | 71 | 72 | 72 | 72 | +1 | +3 | 287 | $2,743 |
| 79 | Sarah Jane Smith | 69 | 74 | 68 | 77 | +6 | +4 | 288 | $2,708 |
| WD | Mindy Kim | WD | WD | WD | WD | WD | WD | WD | – |
| T80 | Julia Boland | 75 | 69 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T80 | Dori Carter | 71 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T80 | Sandra Changkija | 72 | 72 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T80 | Victoria Elizabeth | 72 | 72 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T80 | Katy Harris | 70 | 74 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T80 | Pat Hurst | 74 | 70 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T80 | Haeji Kang | 74 | 70 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T80 | Maude-Aimee Leblanc | 74 | 70 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T80 | Amelia Lewis | 75 | 69 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T80 | Jane Rah | 71 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T80 | Karin Sjodin | 73 | 71 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T80 | Jaclyn Sweeney | 73 | 71 | MC | MC | – | – | 144 | – |
| T92 | Amy Anderson | 74 | 71 | MC | MC | – | – | 145 | – |
| T92 | Silvia Cavalleri | 73 | 72 | MC | MC | – | – | 145 | – |
| T92 | Laura Diaz | 76 | 69 | MC | MC | – | – | 145 | – |
| T92 | Vicky Hurst | 69 | 76 | MC | MC | – | – | 145 | – |
| T92 | Hannah Jun Medlock | 70 | 75 | MC | MC | – | – | 145 | – |
| T92 | Hanna Kang | 73 | 72 | MC | MC | – | – | 145 | – |
| T92 | Jimin Kang | 71 | 74 | MC | MC | – | – | 145 | – |
| T92 | Mo Martin | 72 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 145 | – |
| T92 | Jenny Suh | 73 | 72 | MC | MC | – | – | 145 | – |
| T92 | Wendy Ward | 70 | 75 | MC | MC | – | – | 145 | – |
| T102 | Megan Grehan | 72 | 74 | MC | MC | – | – | 146 | – |
| T102 | Daniela Holmqvist | 70 | 76 | MC | MC | – | – | 146 | – |
| T102 | Stacey Keating | 74 | 72 | MC | MC | – | – | 146 | – |
| T102 | Seon Hwa Lee | 70 | 76 | MC | MC | – | – | 146 | – |
| T102 | Lisa McCloskey | 71 | 75 | MC | MC | – | – | 146 | – |
| T102 | Ai Miyazato | 74 | 72 | MC | MC | – | – | 146 | – |
| T102 | Erica Rivard | 73 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 146 | – |
| T102 | Lindsey Wright | 73 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 146 | – |
| T110 | Brianna Do | 74 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 147 | – |
| T110 | Kathleen Ekey | 74 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 147 | – |
| T110 | Christina Kim | 73 | 74 | MC | MC | – | – | 147 | – |
| 113 | Caroline Westrup | 74 | 74 | MC | MC | – | – | 148 | – |
| T114 | Perrine Delacour | 77 | 72 | MC | MC | – | – | 149 | – |
| T114 | Veronica Felibert | 80 | 69 | MC | MC | – | – | 149 | – |
| T114 | Sandra Gal | 75 | 74 | MC | MC | – | – | 149 | – |
| T114 | Kayla Mortellaro | 78 | 71 | MC | MC | – | – | 149 | – |
| T114 | Jennifer Song | 75 | 74 | MC | MC | – | – | 149 | – |
| T119 | Nicole Jeray | 73 | 77 | MC | MC | – | – | 150 | – |
| T119 | Lorie Kane | 73 | 77 | MC | MC | – | – | 150 | – |
| T119 | Paola Moreno | 77 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 150 | – |
| T122 | Moriya Jutanugarn | 76 | 75 | MC | MC | – | – | 151 | – |
| T122 | Cindy LaCrosse | 77 | 74 | MC | MC | – | – | 151 | – |
| T122 | Natalie Sheary | 78 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 151 | – |
| T125 | Maria McBride | 77 | 75 | MC | MC | – | – | 152 | – |
| T125 | Ryann O’Toole | 72 | 80 | MC | MC | – | – | 152 | – |
| T127 | Jamie Hullett | 77 | 76 | MC | MC | – | – | 153 | – |
| T127 | Emma Jandel | 81 | 72 | MC | MC | – | – | 153 | – |
| T127 | Rebecca Lee-Bentham | 75 | 78 | MC | MC | – | – | 153 | – |
| T127 | Kim Williams | 78 | 75 | MC | MC | – | – | 153 | – |
| 131 | Ashli Bunch | 79 | 76 | MC | MC | – | – | 155 | – |
| 132 | Giulia Sergas | 78 | WD | WD | WD | – | – | 78 |
Fairways and Forehands 
Poor Stacy as the last time here comes Inbee.
It ok. I think as a competitor, one should want to beat the opposition when that opposition is playing well. I’d love to see the battle for #1 being waged by a handful of players.