Alexis Thompson's pro debut?

[Blue]

Originally Posted by gxer

Blue,

I just wanted to be sure we were on the same page regarding winning an event this year.

So is it your opinion that because Alexis is now competing for money, Alexis will put too much pressure on herself thereby causing her to perform at a lower level than she would if she were just playing for fun as an amateur?

I don't think its a problem for her but maybe you're correct, we'll see by Sunday night.

She won't win an event this season because a) she's not good enough and b) she's not going to have that many chances.

About pressure. Being a pro creates more pressure than being an amateur. This is not just pressure from oneself but also pressure from sponsors, in her case from parents, pressure to live up to expectations, pressures of travel, pressure to compete in an adult world instead of on the junior circuit, etc. This is adjustment and I think she'll do only as well or maybe slightly worse this year as she did last year. I'm basing this on what I've seen from other teen amateurs after they turn pro. There usually is not any big increase in performance right away. That's why I'm predicting her to finish around 33rd this week. That's on the low side of where she's been finishing in LPGA tournaments for the last year. I could be wrong, but that's my prediction.

What is your prediction gxer?

We'll see some by Sunday night. We'll see the full story by November.

[gxer]

Originally Posted by Blue

She won't win an event this season because a) she's not good enough and b) she's not going to have that many chances.

About pressure. Being a pro creates more pressure than being an amateur. This is not just pressure from oneself but also pressure from sponsors, in her case from parents, pressure to live up to expectations, pressures of travel, pressure to compete in an adult world instead of on the junior circuit, etc. This is adjustment and I think she'll do only as well or maybe slightly worse this year as she did last year. I'm basing this on what I've seen from other teen amateurs after they turn pro. There usually is not any big increase in performance right away. That's why I'm predicting her to finish around 33rd this week. That's on the low side of where she's been finishing in LPGA tournaments for the last year. I could be wrong, but that's my prediction.

What is your prediction gxer?

We'll see some by Sunday night. We'll see the full story by November.

You might be right but I think Alexis will handle turning pro better than most.

I'll say 20th this week plus I think she will have at least one top 10 sometime later this year.

PS: Blue don't forget what happened last year. Although she did fade from the leaders in the last 2 rounds the kid was in contention the first 2 rounds.
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=4524265

[Blue]

I'm aware of what happened last year. Giulia Sergas was also in contention at that tournament for the first two rounds. Does anyone expect her to win this week? Or anytime this year? You have to play well in all four (or three) rounds in order to win.

[MarinePaul]

Originally Posted by Blue

I have seen her in person a bunch of times and also have concerns about her maturity and mental readiness to be a full-time pro golfer. Very few 15-year-olds are ready for this.

For the record, I think she will finish about 33rd this week in Atlantic City.

While I basically agree that she shouldn't turn professional, I'm not sure that we can measure her maturity by simply seeing her play. I doubt that any of us here can tell what's going on in another person's head, unless there's a psychologist among us that I'm not aware of.

I agree with you that very few 15-year olds are mature enough to handle the pressure, but Alexis may be one of them. It appears that we'll find out fairly soon.

[gxer]

Originally Posted by Blue

I'm aware of what happened last year. Giulia Sergas was also in contention at that tournament for the first two rounds. Does anyone expect her to win this week? Or anytime this year? You have to play well in all four (or three) rounds in order to win.

I have already agreed with you that it is unlikely that Alexis will win this year but I still say that I would not be shocked if she did.

I say unlikely while you seem to think "No Way in Hell" but Alexis is a gamer and who knows what might happen if Alexis' putter gets real hot for for 3 or 4 rounds.

[dangerbob]

Originally Posted by gxer

I have already agreed with you that it is unlikely that Alexis will win this year but I still say that I would not be shocked if she did.

I say unlikely while you seem to think "No Way in Hell" but Alexis is a gamer and who knows what might happen if Alexis' putter gets real hot for for 3 or 4 rounds.

Don't under estimate Blue. She's a psychic. She knows when the world is going to end!

[gxer]

Blue,

One more thing. You seem to be a big fan of Jennifer Song however she wants to be the first woman to play in the Masters. IMO, by making those sort of statements, not only is she insulting the intelligence of others she is defining her lack of intelligence.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by gxer

Blue,

One more thing. You seem to be a big fan of Jennifer Song however she wants to be the first woman to play in the Masters. IMO, by making those sort of statements, not only is she insulting the intelligence of others she is defining her lack of intelligence.

I agree. It's one thing to set high goals. It's another thing to set unrealistic goals and to go public with them.

For the record, I'm not necessarily "a big fan of Jennifer Song." I think she had the best amateur record of all the players in the 2010 Curtis Cup and I think that fact was completely ignored in the hype of Alexis Thompson.

[gxer]

Originally Posted by Blue

I agree. It's one thing to set high goals. It's another thing to set unrealistic goals and to go public with them.

For the record, I'm not necessarily "a big fan of Jennifer Song." I think she had the best amateur record of all the players in the 2010 Curtis Cup and I think that fact was completely ignored in the hype of Alexis Thompson.

One reason for that is Jennifer Song's golf game is not inspiring, it is robot like, with a sort of a prissy style of playing, whereas Alexis is a grip and rip it type of golfer making it fun to watch her play golf.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by gxer

One reason for that is Jennifer Song's golf game is not inspiring, it is robot like, with a sort of a prissy style of playing, whereas Alexis is a grip and rip it type of golfer making it fun to watch her play golf.

That's a very interesting interpretation. In the end, body mannerisms and movements don't mean anything. John Daly did the unkempt grip it and rip it thing. Tiger has a kind of arrogant swagger. Annika was seen as mechanical. A lot of girls have what you girl a "prissy" style of play (Jennifer Johnson comes to mind).

In the end, isn't it results that count?