Who Will Win the Solheim Cup And By How Much?

[Elf]

Originally Posted by MarinePaul

Does Boo Weekly "compliment" the game? Whether you like it or not, that's her personality. She got the crowd involved, period. Her actions are sometimes over the top, but she's at least fun to watch.

Fun to watch? Gosh, give me a break. Go to "pro" wrestling matches or table dancing shows. Feel sorry for you that find uncalled behavior fun to watch.
LPGA means "Ladies Professional Golf Association" , it is not a circus with clowns and such. Please understand what the "L" in the LPGA means.

[PW]

Like her or not, Christina does help attract some fans. Here's a little article about the St. Bede's girl golfers whe got to go and watch the tournament. I guess St Bede's is a private school in the area.

News Tribune - Sports - Todays NT Sports

Here's how they responded when asked who their favorites were:

Bekki Prokup: Michelle Wie. The things I enjoyed most this weekend was the spirit of everyone and the opportunity to see the best golfers in the world and how they prepare. The golf course itself was amazing and how it was kept was incredible. It’s an awesome place.
Katie Gregorich: Michelle Wie. The whole experience was amazing, just seeing all these great golfers out here playing and I learned so much. I learned that you definitely need to slow down and not worry about everything around you and concentrate on what you are doing.
Jouri Corpus: Christina Kim. The experience here was amazing and I learned a lot watching these players about how you have to take your time and look at everything before you hit.
Hannah Billig: Christina Kim. I liked the entire experience. There was too much to just pick one thing.
Erika Abbott: Christina Kim. I loved the way she showed everybody how you need to take everything in and have fun while you are playing and that it is OK to show your emotions on the course.
Morgan Dean: Christina Kim. I liked watching how the players were able to tune out the crowd and stay focused on what they had to do and play their game. But at the same time, they were able to enjoy the moment.
Olivia Dean: Michelle Wie and Christina Kim. I liked how they were able to pump the crowds and their teammates up and how at the same time were able to slow down and take their time when they played. Also, how when they hit a bad shot they were able to refocus and make a great next shot.
Jordan Peterson: Michelle Wie because she is very inspiring and how she took the game and she played serious, but knew how to have a good time with it too.
Hannah Smith: Christina Kim. I loved the enthusiasm out of everyone and I learned a lot about the focus you need to be successful in golf.
Barbi Prokup: Christina Kim. I was really excited about having the opportunity to watch the best players in the world up close and in person and be able to learn things from them that I can use in my game, such as how to slow your back swing down and look at all your options before you play.
So, it is safe to say that not only was it a fun time for the girls, but also an educational one as they seemed to learn a lot about how their favorites play the game. It is also safe to say that both Wie and Kim made a huge impression on the young lady golfers both at St. Bede and most certainly around the world with their play and enthusiasm.

Of course, the girls were already golfers, but clearly Christina (and Michelle) add excitement to watching for young fans.

[LoJo]

Very interesting post, PW.

This sort of thing kind of goes to the thread Whistling Straight started regarding golf appealing to the young kids. Or....I should say...how to make golf appeal to younger audiences.

Thanks for the post.

[Elf]

Interesting answers from the St. Bede's girl golfers who got to go and watch the tournament.
All mentioned Michelle or Christina. Morgan, Paula, or other well known pros were not even mentioned by even a mindless teen ager. Strange.
If I was the headmaster of the school (very down my list of jobs I would like), I would worry about the reason why only golfers of one race were mentioned and why an unruly personality (CK) was the favorite. Even if I was Korean, I would be worried about the result of the small poll and would probably get my daughter out of that school fast.
I honestly believe the article is a fantastic BS story made up by a fantastic BSr.
There is not one poll in the world (even in Korea) that is so far fetched that every young girl is pro MW or CK.
Shhhs.

[MarinePaul]

Elf, you're entitled to your opinion. That doesn't make you right. How "lady like" was Brittany Lincicome when she dropped the "F Bomb?" The same can be said about Suzann Pettersen, who uses it fairly often. Or, Morgan, who's one of my favorites, beating her driver against her bag. Is that "lady like?"

Don't "feel sorry" for me for finding her fun to watch. It's better than watching a bunch of prim and proper "ladies" showing absolutely no emotion. Some of the same people that bitch about golf being boring to watch also gripe about Christine having fun n the course.

[Saint-Just X]

Originally Posted by MarinePaul

Elf, you're entitled to your opinion. That doesn't make you right. How "lady like" was Brittany Lincicome when she dropped the "F Bomb?" The same can be said about Suzann Pettersen, who uses it fairly often.

That's one of those 'apples to oranges' comparisons.

Brittany's F-bomb was a spur of the moment reaction to a horrible shot,almost involuntary ;much like when you bang your leg on the table or pick up a mug of coffee that's too hot.

In those situations,the first word out of one's mouth tends to begin with 'F'.

Or,'S',occasionally.

I enjoyed Brittany's F-bomb,which is,no doubt,immature of me,but it was the last thing I expected.Was she playing with Kristy McPherson at the time ?The F-bomb was off-camera,so I imagine,after the round,Kristy texted everybody she knew to tell them it wan't her who uttered it.

Christina Kim's behaviour is altogether different.People say she wears her heart on her sleeve,but I still think much of it is contrived.

And,now,it's become self-perpetuating...

Pax Vobiscum
Saint-Just X

[Blue]

I didn't see anything about Christina's behavior at the Solheim Cup that was disrespectful, either towards the game of golf, the Solheim Cup, her playing partners, her opponents, or the fans.

She is exuberant whether by nature or contrived doesn't matter (it's probably some of each), and was even more exuberant in this tournament, as were many of the players, and the fans.

When she was partnered with Michelle Wie in the Saturday morning match, both Michelle and Christina were running around, gesturing to the crowd, etc. After they won on the 14th hole, they both stayed to work the fans in the bleachers joining them in the U-S-A chant and other things. Was Michelle disrespectful or just Christina?

It doesn't surprise me that the young girls found these two to be the most appealing. They were running around, jumping up and down, playing to the crowd, acting like kids. I don't think there is anything wrong with this as long as it doesn't a) cross the line into disrespect and it didn't seem to do that or b) affect their game.

I'm with Saint in thinking that some of this from Christina is contrived and I think when Michelle joined in she was just copying her new older friend, but I don't see any harm in either of them doing this and no disrespect.

[Blue]

Some bloggers in defense of Christina's behavior:

Stephanie Wei from Wei Under Par:

Wei Under Par, Why People Should Stop Criticizing Christina Kim's Behavior

excerpt:

"... The Solheim Cup was the most entertaining women’s golf tournament I’ve ever watched. I have non-golf fan friends who tuned in for the first time and enjoyed it largely because they got a kick out of Christina’s so-called antics. They thought she was the most interesting person out there. ... She also played well. Her record was 3-1-0. There goes the argument that her behavior was a distraction to her game and wasted valuable energy. ..."

Ryan Ballengee from Waggle Room:
In Defense of Christina Kim's RebelRousing - Waggle Room

excerpt:

"... She did a lot of fist pumps, shouted to the crowd to get them going, and danced a lot. Isn't that the kind of thing that critics say is missing from the game? ... So many modern professional golfers are stiffs on the course, resigned to show as little outward emotion as possible because they think it may miff their mojo. Mojo is psychological. Crowd pleasing is part of entertainment. And in case you haven't been reading the headlines about the LPGA Tour on your local business page, the LPGA Tour is in need of some serious entertainers that can both play golf and play up a crowd. Christina Kim can do that. ..."

[Saint-Just X]

Blue,how about when she was holding two fingers up to the crowd to signify she was two-up on Tania Elosegui ?

Wasn't that,in a golfing context,disrespectful to her opponent ?

I'm sure she meant no harm by it,but I thought it was a bit too close to the edge of what's acceptable in golf.

It's like the guy who stands in the batters' box and admires his home-run.

Except,of course,Christina didn't get drilled in the back on the next hole.

Michelle Wie reminded me of a dog who had been chained up in a yard for a long time,then was picked up by a new owner and given the freedom to play.

Make of that analogy what you will...

Pax Vobiscum
Saint-Just X

[PW]

My dad was an actor, mostly in the theater, but also on tv. He used to tell me about the difference between acting on the stage and in front of the camera. On the camera, every little expression is shown, but on the stage everything has to be exagerated. That's even more so in an arena type venue like a golf course. You have to remember that Kim was playing to the fans on the sidelines in a noisy environment, just like football players do when they do some of their endzone antics. On the tv, with highdef, it just looks over the top.

I found Kim's antics a little over the top too, and probably would have been annoyed if I were her opponent, but golf is a sport after all.

A little scary that so many of the girls in the St. Bede's team picked Kim though. I'd pay money to see their next tournament (and wear earplugs). Hope their next opponent is prepared!