Aug 01

Can Natalie Gulbis win the European Double?

In my mind, Natalie Gulbis winning the Evian Masters last week is the biggest feel-good story of the year in professional golf. Perhaps only Tom Watson winning the Senior Open Championship - just a few weeks after his back nine evisceration at Whistling Straits in the Senior US Open - is close. But Watson has enjoyed his day in the sun many, many times on his way to becoming one of the greatest golfers in history.

On the other hand, Gulbis has put in an incredible amount of work on her fitness and her game, only to get the “Anna Kournikova” tag. You know, cute, hottie, whatever - but can’t win. (I’ve always thought that was a ridiculous notion regarding Kournikova anyway. Do you have any idea how good somebody has to be to reach the finals of a pro tennis tournament? We all wish we could do something like that.) Now that the pressure is off, what will happen to Gulbis’ career? Will she find it easier to win or will she continue to seriously contend once every 3 or 4 events?

I think she’ll get in the hunt about once a month, just as she has for the past couple of years. But I think that now she’ll have a little better chance of cashing in when she gets there. How terrific that Gulbis beat an all-star field while playing alongside Annika Sorenstam and with Lorena Ochoa charging from behind. Confidence is an amazing thing. Gulbis also has an experienced caddy, which cannot be underestimated at St. Andrews. She should do well at the Old Course this week but I can’t see her winning. The only thing going against her is that split-handed putting stroke. Had she putted very well last week, she would have smoked the Evian field in a runaway. And if there is one thing you must do on the Old Course, it is putting well on those monstrous greens.

« Watching Lorena Ochoa Play Golf is Pure Joy

Sergio Garcia is Growing as a Golfer »

11 comments

§ Stanley said on : 08/01/07 @ 10:51
Can Natalie Gulbis win the European Double?

No.
§ Shanks® said on : 08/01/07 @ 11:11
Don't be so quick to dismiss her chances. She finished 8th at Birkdale in 2005 and 16th at Lytham, in 2006 so she obviously plays links courses well.
§ putt4par said on : 08/01/07 @ 11:24
It's possible and would be fun to watch.

Too bad the LPGA is so poorly covered by the large networks.

I wouldn't give her large odds but still within the realm of possibilities.
§ Shanks® said on : 08/01/07 @ 11:34
You got that right. I watched a significant portion of the Sunday broadcast of the Evian and those 2 female announcers - 1 Brit & 1 Aussie - made it almost unwatchable. They seldom would comment on what was happening on the screen because they were too busy chatting with guests and about everything else, like they were at lunch. Absolutely horrible.
§ putt4par said on : 08/01/07 @ 12:19
One of the reasons I like Dottie Pepper is that she is quick with an analysis, pretty much on the money and isn't afraid to make comments germaine to her point of view.

But first and foremost, she keeps her mind on the reason she is there... to give the viewer as much information as possible about what is happening.
§ putt4par said on : 08/01/07 @ 12:22
oops, before the spelling cops bust me... germane without the i, fingers need more training.
§ Shanks® said on : 08/01/07 @ 12:32
Germane - isn't he one of the Jacksons?

Seriously, I really like Pepper. Judy Rankin is a different flavor, but very good too. I think it has to do with them both being champion golfers and how they treat their jobs seriously.
§ putt4par said on : 08/01/07 @ 12:45
I think what seperates Pepper and Rankin from other champion female golfers is that neither of them are easily rattled.
Rosey Jones is knowledgable but is still eaily rattled. She may get better with more time in front of the camera. Beth Daniels looked like a frightened rabbit. (Sorry, Ms Daniels, you may know your stuff but...)More time in front of the camera might help but I don't think so
§ Shanks® said on : 08/01/07 @ 12:51
Rosie's maybe ok, but Beth Daniels is so damn droll. She sounds like a speaker at a statistics conference and never heard of voice inflection. Neither of them is very critical either. Whether you're occasionally harsh like Johnny Miller or gentle like Jim Nantz, you must criticize when necessary. Otherwise, you lose credibility.
§ Jim C said on : 08/01/07 @ 17:39
I predict that Gulbis will come closer to winning the European double than last year's Evian winner. But I don't see her winning it. I like my prediction that Michelle Wie will do at least as well as Gulbis better than Shanks idea of Gulbis winning the British.
§ Shanks® said on : 08/02/07 @ 07:21
One more thing to those of you who haven't played or studied the Old Course at St. Andrews. Tee shots that flame out to the right will be severely punished. You MUST make your misses to the left.

And Jim C, if you read the article, you'll see that I said I don't think Gulbis will win. But she certainly has a chance - and a better chance than ever before.