|
Jul 31
|
This is a big week here at the RICOH Women’s British Open. This week marks our final of four major championships and the last event to earn points for this year’s Solheim Cup. The Open is played at Royal Lytham, a great links style golf course with over 200 bunkers. I am pretty sure every bunker comes into play too. The bunkers and strong winds are what make this course extremely challenging. When the weather is good and it isn’t raining, a good sub par round can be shot, but with 30+ mph winds and rain going sideways, the course is one of the hardest I have ever played! This is my 8th British Open and my 3rd time playing on this golf course. Today was the final practice day. I went out for a 7:30am tee time hoping to get in 9 holes before the weather came. Unfortunately it was not to be, as the rain came during my 7am driving range session and stuck around for most of the day. It is however to be expected and embraced this week.
The style of golf is very different this week. I have worked on a lot of knock down, or lower trajectory, shots this week. I tee the ball lower with my driver and try to keep every shot as low as possible to minimize the ball being affected by the wind. The shots around the green are very different and actually fun. You can putt from up to 20 yards off the green and there are a lot of bump and roll shots. The little pot bunkers are really challenging because they all have high lips and are very small and deep. If you are lucky enough to be in the center and can advance the ball forward, you could be saving a shot off your score for that hole. The greens are fair, large and flat, and there is very little break. The challenge this week is avoiding the sand traps and getting on in regulation.
I play tomorrow at 12:30pm and will be paired with Michelle Wie and Japan’s Momoko Ueda. I have played many times with both players. As I mentioned earlier, this is the final week to gain points for the Solheim Cup Team. The Solheim Cup is a team event, Europe vs. the USA. I have played on two USA teams and they have been by far my most memorable weeks as a professional golfer. To represent your country and unite as a team is truly the best golfing experience! I am currently ranked 10th on the point standings. The top 10 automatically qualify and there are two captain’s picks. Beth Daniel is this year’s captain and she is watching all of her players and possible picks very closely!!!! The final team is announced this Sunday following the final round of the Open.
ADIDAS has scripted me in some really cute outfits for the week. As you can see in the picture I think my wardrobe will consist of rain gear, turtle necks, ski caps and hand warmers. But you never know, maybe the sun will break through…it is summer!!! Make sure to look on LPGA.com to see the outfits.
I am off to bed….hope everyone gets a chance to watch the event on TV!
( Read More … )
Tags: natalie gulbis, lpga, golf, golf calendar, sexy golfer,style golf course, natalie gulbis, pot bunkers, links style golf, royal lytham, solheim cup, sand traps, little pot, black pool, four major championships, momoko, british open, strong winds, driving range, michelle wie, tee time, trajectory, ricoh, bump, greens
