Fuming Stacey Lewis says WPGA making the best look silly and turning fans off
Ex-Solheim Cup skipper reckons women's game is being shown in a big light
Fuming Stacey Lewis reckons fans are being turned off ladies golf by set-ups at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship which are making the best look silly.
The two-time United States Solheim Cup captain hit out at the lay-out of the course for the Major at Fields Ranch East in Texas.
With searing hot conditions and blustery wind, play has been slug-slow with rounds of over six hours through the event with some high scoring as some of the best in the women's game have been buffeted around and struggled.
Lewis, who amongst the big names who missed the cut, says that's offering no positive advertisement to the watching fans on-course and at home at a time when the ladies game is looking larger audiences and grow their status.
She moaned: 'The issue of this all too is, make us look good. We're trying to get more people to watch women's golf, to watch us play golf and setups like this, they don't help us. This is when we have our biggest stages, network TV and all of that and we're making very good players look silly.
'Just hole locations again, on sides of hills. Then you throw the wind in there, there was no way to stop it on No.8 again today [Friday]. We should be playing the front of that tee, probably 120 yards, can't hold the green.'
Some of the tournament's best players gave their insight. recent US Open Major winner Maja Stark said: 'I played to the big areas on the greens and tried to not end up in the places where you couldn't do anything. I don't know if it was more of a fight. It was obviously you had to hit good shots here and just trust it.'
On the eighth, she said: 'I was trying to go long and right of that pin, but it was howling right to left and you don't want to get stuck in the bunkers because they're so deep. I knew that I was going to end up in that place. That's just major golf. It's very annoying when it's like that, but it's just the mindset switch you need to have.'
American Auston Kim added: 'A lot more challenging. Wind was definitely stronger. Feel like it was blowing probably twice as strong as yesterday and a lot of the spots where you're supposed to land the ball is pretty shiny and the greens have gotten a lot firmer, rough is getting thicker, so the course is just overall being really challenging.'
Canadian star Brooke Henderson said: 'It's a tough and challenging course and tests you physically and also mentally. It's very demanding and trying to stay sharp and hydrated and well rested. It's a very firm green (eight) and the wind is very strong right to left and down, so it's very tough to hold the green. You can see that a lot of girls have been trickling over the left side. I've been able to hit couple good shots in there the last two days and I guess I walked away with par and I'm very happy with that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Premier League great swaps sidelines for sequins as he signs for Strictly Come Dancing after quitting coaching role
His bid for the Glitterball trophy comes after he left his job on Gareth Southgate's backroom team with the Three Lions GLITTER-BALL CONTROL Premier League great swaps sidelines for sequins as he signs for Strictly Come Dancing after quitting coaching role FOOTIE'S Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is ready to swap his tracksuit for sequins to star in Strictly. The former Chelsea and Netherlands striker and ex-England coach, 53, is said to have signed up with the BBC to appear on the next series of the dance show this autumn. 2 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is ready to swap his tracksuit for sequins to star in Strictly Credit: Rex 2 His bid for the Glitterball trophy comes after he left his job on Gareth Southgate's backroom team with the Three Lions following last summer's Euro 2024 final loss to Spain. He would follow in the fancy footsteps of a string of former players to appear on Strictly, including ex-Arsenal and England stars Tony Adams and Paul Merson. A TV source said: 'Jimmy has a huge fanbase from his years playing in the Premier League and is a very likeable character. 'Show producers are always keen to book a retired footballer as it gets footie fans tuning into the series and becoming unlikely fans of the show. 'Jimmy has a competitive edge and is going to get his head in the game.' Dad-of-four Jimmy retired in 2008 after nearly two decades as a professional player. He is also known for his spells with Leeds and Middlesbrough. He has also made a name for himself as a respected TV pundit for Sky Sports. A BBC spokesman said: 'We don't comment on speculation.'
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Celtic poised to raid Japanese market for new striker as they track £1.5MILLION star at Reo Hatate's old club
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CELTIC could raid the once again for £1.5million striker Shin Yamada. SunSport understands the Kawasaki Frontale hitman has been watched as Brendan Rodgers looks to strengthen his attack. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 3 Brendan Rodgers is looking to add to Celtic's attacking options Credit: Getty 3 Rodgers is set for a raid for Shin Yamada Credit: Getty 3 He plays for Kawasak Frontale, Reo Hatate's former club Yamada, 25, scored 19 league goals in the 2024 season and also helped the Japanese side to the Asian Champions League final last month. His goal return has dipped this year - with just six in all competitions so far - but the stocky striker has still been tipped to make a move to Europe. And it's understood Celtic are among several overseas clubs looking closely at the Japan under-23 cap. The Hoops plundered the for five signings during Ange Postecoglou's reign - with Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda massive hits. Celtic are currently working on a deal for Albirex Niigata central defender Hayato Inamura. He played and scored in his side's 3-2 defeat to Avispa Fukuoka on Saturday. But Yamada is also on their radar as they weigh up a move for the bustling penalty-box striker, who is strong in the air despite being under 6ft. He has 32 goals in 118 games for Frontale since joining from Toin University in 2022. Yamada was a standout last year - finishing third in the scoring charts. He hasn't been able to follow that up this term, with just two league goals to date. He played 86 minutes of his side's 2-1 defeat to Vissel Kobe on Saturday. Ex-Celtic coach Eric Black on the Cup exit that rocked Scottish football plus life with Lubo and Dr Jo Yamada vowed to get over his struggles and bagged a brace in a recent Emperor's Cup win over Fukushima. He said: 'Of course there's pressure. I'm worried but I don't want to waste time being weak because of that. 'My goals have a very positive impact on the team and I want to keep scoring.' Celtic boss Rodgers is keen to add another striker to support Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah ahead of the new season. Irish forward Johnny Kenny is attracting interest across Britain and will be the subject of loan bids. Yamada has decent experience with Frontale and has played at a high level, domestically and in the Asian Champions League. But with just 18 months left on his deal, Celtic could snap him up for a relatively low seven-figure fee. The Hoops are also waiting to confirm the arrival of Fulham striker Callum Osmand, although he is viewed as a project signing. Ross Doohan has also agreed a deal to return to Celtic from Aberdeen, while Benjamin Nygren is close to arriving from Nordsjaelland in a £2m switch. The Hoops have agreed a fee and personal terms for the Swede, who has spent the last week on holiday after international commitments. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ex-Premier League boss told 'f*** you' by own player in angry Club World Cup row
The Club World Cup saw stunning teams as Benfica boss Bruno Lage was seen in a furious row with his own midfielder following a substitution - despite the Portuguese side leading Former Premier League manager Bruno Lage was remarkably told 'f*** you' by his own player during Benfica's 6-0 win over Auckland City in the Club World Cup. The ex-Wolves was involved in an intense spat with midfielder Orkun Kokcu after he decided to replace the Turkish star with the Portuguese side already 2-0. Goals from Angel Di Maria and Vangelis Pavlidis saw Benfica cruising and Lage opted to replace Kokcu with ex-Bayern Munich and Swansea ace Renato Sanches. Kokcu did not take kindly to the decision and made as much clear as he departed the pitch. The 24-year-old was furious as he made his way to the sidelines and refused to shake the hand of his manager. According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Kokcu shouted 'f*** you' at Lage as the row escalated with the Benfica star taking his seat among team-mates, while Lage fired back by telling his player to be quiet by shushing him. Lage was soon allowed a moment of smugness as Portugal international Sanches got on the scoresheet to add a third goal for Benfica, soon after his introduction. The 49-year-old coach made sure that Kokcu knew his decision paid off. The boss, in his second spell with Benfica, covered his mouth to share a few words with his player. It is suggested the 49-year-old told Kokcu that he had a better feel for game when deciding to make the substitution. The words did not land well however as Kokcu rose to his feet and vented his anger. The midfielder forcefully pointed towards his manager and was visibly furious. Kokcu needed to be restrained by team-mate Kerem Akturkoglu as Lage was again put his finger to his mouth. Unsurprisingly, Lage was asked about the situation following the game. "Orkun Kokcu wanted to win and score more goals, but we decided that Renato should come on," he explained. "Regardless of the players' form, I make the decisions. "In the last game, we started with Renato, and Kokcu came on later and helped us. That's how it was today, too." "I saw the behaviour of a consistently professional athlete. That was a unique experience," he added. "He has always behaved very well both on and off the field. He has the desire to help the team. "I make the decisions I have to make, no matter who it is. I've proven that many times. I look at the player's current situation and make my decisions calmly." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
