Imagine if Phil Mickelson was to win 5 times in 6 months, and Tiger Woods was in the field for 4 of those wins. The press would be salivating over the prospect of an intense rivalry and, more importantly, we the golfing public would be treated to some great tournament golf viewing. Well, a similar thing is happening on the LPGA Tour.
Lorena Ochoa’s play has been Tiger-like as she’s won 7 times, including a Major. She’s also finished 2nd 5 times and, besides that, only 4 times out of the other 11 tournaments entered has she not finished in the top 10. That’s absurdly great and consistent play. But keep your eyes open because a serious challenge is being laid down by Suzann Pettersen.
Tutta, as Pettersen is known to friends, has long had potential to be great but has struggled with her physical health. In 2007 she finally has started to realize her potential, winning a near-Major in May (similar to the men’s Players) and her first Major in June. After the obligatory post-1st-major-win emotional let-down, very recently won 3 out of the last 4 LPGA events, including a birdie, birdie 2-hole playoff win over Ochoa. That is also absurdly great play. Nobody else is even close to these two competitors week in and week out. Perhaps the very young Paula Creamer is a distant third.
LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens must be doing handstands every time she thinks of these two attractive, young, long-hitting stars entered in the same tournament. Certainly a strong rivalry at the very top of the game will provide a little more visibility, which is what the LPGA really craves. Best of all, Ochoa and Pettersen are only 26 years old. The future is looking very bright indeed.
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Good for the LPGA. Very good.
The best rivalry in golf? Hardly.
BTuck, I thought about Annika - she certainly can play at a higher level next year. Question is will she be motivated? As it stands right now, she's being lapped by these two.
2under, I'm curious as to what rivalry at the top of any Tour is closer than this one. Certainly no one is remotely close to challenging Tiger Woods at present. Perhaps Mickelson sometime next year - but only if he continues to improve.
The visual of Biven having her breasts pop out of her suit while doing a hand stand is something what will traumatize me for days...
A Mexican and a Norweigian....What happened to the American up and comers like Creamer and Pressel? And what about the Koreans?
Lorena? great golfer and very nice person. As far as marketability? Well, unless LPGA want to market into Mexico where only 0.00001% of the population watch or play golf.
I agree with you that this is the best rivarly in golf right now...These two are waaayyy better than the rest of the LPGA players.
Shanks, agree with you that close competition makes for more riveting viewing. I switched off mentally and physically from Formula 1 Racing during the Michael Schumaker years as result almost inevitable. We cannot handicap TW in the same way as Schumaker was, (and anyway US viewing figures don't give a reason to), but I can't have a complete downer on people like Sabbatini (charmless as he may be) as surely you have to believe that someone is "beatable", don't you? Was disappointed in Justin Rose after Volvo Masters saying his aim was to be No.2. TW would NEVER has said that, let alone thought it.
Better rivalries:
1. US vs Europe - Ryder Cup
2. US vs Rest of the World - Pres Cup
3. TW vs any top 5 challenger (Ernie, Phil, etc.)
Why? Much more exciting to see someone try to knock off the top guy. Also, there is much more history established in the men's game, so the rivalries mean more. There are more personality conflicts, which lend more drama to the game as well. Evidence? We saw it all play out in the FedEx cup.
To me, there isn't enough history to make a rivalry btwn Lorena and Suzanne. The rivalry is a very recent one, say over the past 4 months. Rivalries are borne over time.
Tiger only won one major this year. Is he that far ahead of the rest if he won only one major? I am not denigrating the accomplishment, but it isn't like he is winning 3 of 4.
Shanks - Nicklaus was dominant for a good stretch as well, yet what made his rivalries so fun was watching and saying to yourself "Does (insert rival) have what it takes today to beat the mighty Nicklaus?"
Names to insert: Palmer, Player, Weiskopf, Watson, Trevino, Floyd, Miller, et al.
Sounds alot like our current environment.
Equal talent levels do not a rivalry make - they make for good competition. Lorena and Suzanne make for a good competition. They don't have a rivalry yet. There is a difference. What had the makings in the women's game to a rivalry was a couple of years ago when Annika was being challenged by then-upstart Paula Creamer. That had the makings of a rivalry, which never came to fruition. The recipe for a rivalry includes some intangibles, desire, history, maybe mixed in with a little bad blood. Now, if the LPGA was smart, they'd find a way to stir the pot a little...
ROn Mon,
Why are you picking on moi being French?
After all, we elected a pro-American, Elvis-loving president so that he can repair the relationship between the two countries.
Why are you being a MoRon?
1. Both continue a high level of play
2. We see them paired together on Sunday's in the final round
3. That competitiveness stirs a little controversy between the two
That's when you know they are rivals, a la Jack vs Arnie, or Tiger vs Phil, or US vs Europe.
We'll see what develops with Ochoa and Petterson. It has the ingredients, it just hasn't cooked long enough yet...
It talks about rivalries - Jack vs Arnie and Tiger vs the field (but mainly Phil).
You may want to give it a read - it shows personality conflict is a key ingredient. One that Ochoa vs Petterson doesn't currently have. Sorry Shanks, no rivalry yet...
Ochoa has been at the head of the class for the 2 years, and now Pettersen has clearly established herself as her primary rival. She even won her 1st Major before Ochoa did.
The crux of our disagreement is: At what point do we call it a rivals/rivalry? Is it only in hindsight, years down the road? Or can it be a just a year into it?
I went just as far in the other direction, and said it hasn't qualified as a rivalry yet - just good competition.
In my opinion, if Lorena and Suzanne are going at it through the first third of the season, there is enough of a track record established to call it a "rivalry". It is clear you disagree with me on that point. I am sure others may as well.
Sometimes, I think instant rivlaries can be created, but they are few and far between. Most of the time they result when significant factors, external to the competition itself, are at play.