Post by HappyFan on May 5, 2023 17:13:02 GMT
Sorry, I just can't bring myself to watch three hours of a Lexi lovefest if I don't have a dog in the hunt. I'm always going to get super biased coverage from Golf Channel, that's a given, so I need something to make it worth it. And as I've said before, I'm not a fan of the sport so much as the people involved in it. That's why I never watch PGA, for instance. I don't think it's illegitimate to feel that way and don't look down my nose at people who don't share my type of interest.
I'm of course frustrated that we are having yet another sub-par performance by the Sisters. Sorry, but when you put two of the top ten players in the world on a team, you simply do not lose to a team with Sarah Kemp on it. That's inexplicable.
But Jin Young and In Gee are both struggling with serious injuries (and in In Gee's case, also depression), issues that they downplay constantly until they suddenly admit the truth here and there. In Gee has not played a full schedule since the British, also the last time she played well. She played only four more times in 2022 after that.
I don't know if Jin Young will ever recover from her wrist thing. She seems to live in a state of semi-denial about it; perhaps that win at the '21 CME convinced her she can will herself to perform despite everything. It must be endlessly frustrating to be as good as she is and not be able to perform at the level you know you can because of an issue beyond your control. Regardless, I cut her some slack if she isn't jumping up and down all the time in interviews. She has more than earned her keep for the Koreans; without her, they'd have almost no wins at all the past few years.
I've heard rumors that Hyo Joo is also struggling with injuries. So that leaves Hye Jin as their one healthy player. I recall those old KLPGA/LPGA team matches where the KLPGA always 'upset' the LPGA year after year despite being overmatched on paper. Perhaps they should have just put a team of four great young KLPGA or LPGA players out there? They probably wouldn't have won, but it would have been a great experience for them and without question they would have brought the energy. Hye Jin, Hae Ran, Hee Jeong Lim and Yewon Lee. Betcha they would have had a blast.
I also think they realize that their time is fast passing. More and more, courses are set up for birdie machines who can hit the ball a long way. This course is playing long. The next wave of KLPGA stars all seem to be long hitters or ultra bombers like Bang and Yoon. In a few years, they will be the ones to carry on the Korean tradition. I doubt that the shorter hitters like Min Ji Park or Hyun Kyung Park will have as much success should they come here.
Lastly, the Americans just don't have to deal with the kind of pressure that the Koreans do, and they get to play most of the time in their home country to boot. I can guarantee you that the Korean media is not going to be kind about the Korean performance here. And if they do well, they only get a momentary reprieve until the next downturn. I don't blame them from dreading events like this if they do. Do I wish Jin Young seemed more excited to be here? Sure, but I think she really does want to be here and wants to show that by performance, not rah rah attitude. That her wrist makes her unable to perform like she can must be beyond annoying to her.
I'm of course frustrated that we are having yet another sub-par performance by the Sisters. Sorry, but when you put two of the top ten players in the world on a team, you simply do not lose to a team with Sarah Kemp on it. That's inexplicable.
But Jin Young and In Gee are both struggling with serious injuries (and in In Gee's case, also depression), issues that they downplay constantly until they suddenly admit the truth here and there. In Gee has not played a full schedule since the British, also the last time she played well. She played only four more times in 2022 after that.
I don't know if Jin Young will ever recover from her wrist thing. She seems to live in a state of semi-denial about it; perhaps that win at the '21 CME convinced her she can will herself to perform despite everything. It must be endlessly frustrating to be as good as she is and not be able to perform at the level you know you can because of an issue beyond your control. Regardless, I cut her some slack if she isn't jumping up and down all the time in interviews. She has more than earned her keep for the Koreans; without her, they'd have almost no wins at all the past few years.
I've heard rumors that Hyo Joo is also struggling with injuries. So that leaves Hye Jin as their one healthy player. I recall those old KLPGA/LPGA team matches where the KLPGA always 'upset' the LPGA year after year despite being overmatched on paper. Perhaps they should have just put a team of four great young KLPGA or LPGA players out there? They probably wouldn't have won, but it would have been a great experience for them and without question they would have brought the energy. Hye Jin, Hae Ran, Hee Jeong Lim and Yewon Lee. Betcha they would have had a blast.
I also think they realize that their time is fast passing. More and more, courses are set up for birdie machines who can hit the ball a long way. This course is playing long. The next wave of KLPGA stars all seem to be long hitters or ultra bombers like Bang and Yoon. In a few years, they will be the ones to carry on the Korean tradition. I doubt that the shorter hitters like Min Ji Park or Hyun Kyung Park will have as much success should they come here.
Lastly, the Americans just don't have to deal with the kind of pressure that the Koreans do, and they get to play most of the time in their home country to boot. I can guarantee you that the Korean media is not going to be kind about the Korean performance here. And if they do well, they only get a momentary reprieve until the next downturn. I don't blame them from dreading events like this if they do. Do I wish Jin Young seemed more excited to be here? Sure, but I think she really does want to be here and wants to show that by performance, not rah rah attitude. That her wrist makes her unable to perform like she can must be beyond annoying to her.
It's too bad The Great McGinty and Charlotte Heath couldn't skip class for a week to fill in ... at least the visuals would be much better.
