Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2021 - 3

EDITOR'S
LE T T ER
Olympic Strikes
L
" This year's
Women's
Open was
memorable,
and another
national
championship
at The Olympic
Club did not
disappoint. "
exi Thompson gets her name added
to a growing list of fan favorites skewered
by The Olympic Club curse: Ben
Hogan (Jack Fleck), Arnold Palmer (Billy
Casper), Tom Watson (Scott Simpson),
Payne Stewart (Lee Janzen) and Jim Furyk/
Graeme McDowell (Webb Simpson).
Thompson, 26, yet playing in her 15th U.S.
Women's Open, had the championship trophy
all but locked up after she lit up the leaderboard
with a third-round 66.
At one point in the final round,
Thompson was ahead by five shots, but poor
execution and a balky putter led to a back
nine 41 and she missed the playoff between
Yuka Saso and Nasa Hataoka. Inexplicably,
considering the stage, NBC cut away from
the playoff (coverage continued on the Golf
Channel) and missed Saso birdie the third
hole and become the first Filipino to win a
major championship. NBC switched to the
USA Gymnastics Nationals, which was the
network's priority all along, given the field
went out in threesomes from split tees. It is
hard to picture a similar scenario playing
itself out at the Men's Open-can you imagine
network coverage cutting away from the
Tiger Woods-Rocco Mediate playoff in 2008
at Torrey Pines?
Still, this year's Women's Open was memorable,
and another national championship
at The Olympic Club did not disappoint.
Saso, who styles her golf swing after Rory
McIlroy's, started with two double bogeys
before her caddie reminded her there was
lots of golf left, " so just keep your cool, "
she said afterward. Before Lexi posted her
66, Maple Grove's Sarah Burnham carded
the tournament-low score,
5-under 66,
on Friday to make the cut comfortably at
even par. Amateur Isabella McCauley, 17
and entering her senior year at Simley High
W.P. Ryan, Editor-in-Chief
mngolf.org
Summer 2021 MINNESOTAGOLFER
3
School, made a valiant effort to play on the
weekend, posting a 1-under 70, but missed
the cut by two. For McCauley, who has committed
to the University of Minnesota, this
is her first trip to the Women's Open, and
Burnham's third, and you can bank on seeing
more from these two competitors in the
future.
Megha " megawatt smile " Ganne, 17 of
Holmdel, N.J., lit up the championship with
her infectious grin and easy charisma. The
former Drive, Chip and Putt champ played
in the final group on Sunday, finishing as the
low amateur.
" It was electric... I'm going to remember
this for the rest of my life, " Ganne told the
press.
Understandably disappointed, Thompson,
who has one major under her belt along
with 11 LPGA Tour wins (and five top-10
finishes at the Women's Open), took three
questions before the interview was cut short
by her agent, according to accounts on social
media.
" Yeah, of course it's hard to smile, " she
said, adding, " But... it was an amazing week.
I'll take today and learn from it. "
Later, Lexi was seen signing autographs
for her fans.
Saso, whose name now joins a long list of
champions engraved on the trophy, including
locals Patty Berg, Jerilyn Britz and Hilary
(Homeyer) Lunke, said, " I was just looking
at all of the great players [on the trophy] ...
I can't believe my name is going to be here. "
I imagine there are 100 million fellow
Filipinos equally thrilled.
See you on the tee.
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2021

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