Lydia Ko eyes career grand slam at Women's PGA Championship
'We have KPMG Performance Insights, which is our data and analytics platform that gives the women of the LPGA Tour shot-level data, just like the men have, integrated with the ChampCast system, so that they have real-time information to help evaluate, assess, and know how they're performing on the golf course through technology and Artificial Intelligence,' he said.
At our humdrum level of golf, of course, we have no need for the assistance of Artificial Intelligence, do we? We just muddle on with our Authentic Incompetence.
The major championships continue to come thick and fast. After last weekend's tumultuous US Open at Oakmont, it's the women's turn to take centre stage as the third grand slam event of the campaign gets underway over the Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco in Texas today.
Over the next 40 or so days, the remaining two – the Amundi Evian Championship and the AIG Women's Open – will be shoehorned into the schedule. It's all go.
There's plenty of dough too. The overall prize fund of the Women's PGA has jumped by 15 per cent to $12 million, which equals the US Women's Open purse as the biggest in the female game.
Much of the talk in the game at large recently has revolved around Rory McIlroy's post-Masters malaise. After completing the career grand slam at Augusta, McIlroy has confessed that he's found it hard to motivate himself again after such a giddy high.
Lydia Ko, meanwhile, needs a Women's PGA Championship to complete her own career grand slam of four. Winning all five women's majors, by the way, is officially known as a super slam.
When Ko won Olympic gold last summer, she finally walked over the threshold of the LPGA's Hall of Fame and gilded the lily a week later when she landed the AIG Women's Open.
In many ways, Ko knows what McIlroy is wrestling with. Savouring your mighty accomplishments while not resting on your laurels can be a tricky balancing act.
'I thought my life, or the way I viewed myself, would change when I entered the Hall of Fame and I'm sure Rory is thinking similarly,' said Ko. 'We take for granted what we've already achieved. That's what I realised most, and it made me understand I still need to go out, practice, and put in the time to play well the following week.
'I'm sure he (McIlroy) wanted to win the US Open. We're greedy in that sense; nothing will fully satisfy us until we're done. It's why he's at his level, because of his competitiveness.'
Who will walk away with the Women's PGA bounty come Sunday is anybody's guess. Even all that aforementioned Artificial Intelligence would struggle to predict a winner in this very unpredictable pursuit.
The opening 15 events on the LPGA Tour this season have produced 15 different winners.
'It's just golf,' said the world No 1, Nelly Korda, who had racked up six wins on the circuit by the time last year's Women's PGA Championship began. This season, she's still waiting on a breakthrough.
'Every year, the competition is getting better and better,' she added of the circuit's strength in depth.
The Women's PGA Championship gave Korda a first major win in 2021, and she added another of the grand slam titles to her collection at last year's Chevron Championship during that ridiculous purple patch which saw her win half-a-dozen times in seven starts.
Since then, the 26-year-old, who is set to make her first appearance in the Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links next month, has had close shaves at both the AIG Women's Open and last month's US Women's Open.
She described that most recent share of second place at Erin Hills as a 'heartbreaker'. Competitive golf can be full of sair yins.
'But I think it just makes you hungrier,' said Korda. 'You don't get to win often, but there's nothing like being in contention and feeling the adrenaline rush.'
Korda appeared for her post-tournament press conference nursing a neck injury. 'I hit a shot out of the rough (in practice), and my neck went into a full spasm,' she grimaced. 'It's getting better, but it wasn't very good. I'll be ready for Thursday, though.'
Beware the injured golfer.
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'We have KPMG Performance Insights, which is our data and analytics platform that gives the women of the LPGA Tour shot-level data, just like the men have, integrated with the ChampCast system, so that they have real-time information to help evaluate, assess, and know how they're performing on the golf course through technology and Artificial Intelligence,' he said. At our humdrum level of golf, of course, we have no need for the assistance of Artificial Intelligence, do we? We just muddle on with our Authentic Incompetence. The major championships continue to come thick and fast. After last weekend's tumultuous US Open at Oakmont, it's the women's turn to take centre stage as the third grand slam event of the campaign gets underway over the Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco in Texas today. Over the next 40 or so days, the remaining two – the Amundi Evian Championship and the AIG Women's Open – will be shoehorned into the schedule. It's all go. There's plenty of dough too. The overall prize fund of the Women's PGA has jumped by 15 per cent to $12 million, which equals the US Women's Open purse as the biggest in the female game. Much of the talk in the game at large recently has revolved around Rory McIlroy's post-Masters malaise. After completing the career grand slam at Augusta, McIlroy has confessed that he's found it hard to motivate himself again after such a giddy high. Lydia Ko, meanwhile, needs a Women's PGA Championship to complete her own career grand slam of four. Winning all five women's majors, by the way, is officially known as a super slam. When Ko won Olympic gold last summer, she finally walked over the threshold of the LPGA's Hall of Fame and gilded the lily a week later when she landed the AIG Women's Open. In many ways, Ko knows what McIlroy is wrestling with. Savouring your mighty accomplishments while not resting on your laurels can be a tricky balancing act. 'I thought my life, or the way I viewed myself, would change when I entered the Hall of Fame and I'm sure Rory is thinking similarly,' said Ko. 'We take for granted what we've already achieved. That's what I realised most, and it made me understand I still need to go out, practice, and put in the time to play well the following week. 'I'm sure he (McIlroy) wanted to win the US Open. We're greedy in that sense; nothing will fully satisfy us until we're done. It's why he's at his level, because of his competitiveness.' Who will walk away with the Women's PGA bounty come Sunday is anybody's guess. Even all that aforementioned Artificial Intelligence would struggle to predict a winner in this very unpredictable pursuit. The opening 15 events on the LPGA Tour this season have produced 15 different winners. 'It's just golf,' said the world No 1, Nelly Korda, who had racked up six wins on the circuit by the time last year's Women's PGA Championship began. This season, she's still waiting on a breakthrough. 'Every year, the competition is getting better and better,' she added of the circuit's strength in depth. The Women's PGA Championship gave Korda a first major win in 2021, and she added another of the grand slam titles to her collection at last year's Chevron Championship during that ridiculous purple patch which saw her win half-a-dozen times in seven starts. Since then, the 26-year-old, who is set to make her first appearance in the Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links next month, has had close shaves at both the AIG Women's Open and last month's US Women's Open. She described that most recent share of second place at Erin Hills as a 'heartbreaker'. Competitive golf can be full of sair yins. 'But I think it just makes you hungrier,' said Korda. 'You don't get to win often, but there's nothing like being in contention and feeling the adrenaline rush.' Korda appeared for her post-tournament press conference nursing a neck injury. 'I hit a shot out of the rough (in practice), and my neck went into a full spasm,' she grimaced. 'It's getting better, but it wasn't very good. I'll be ready for Thursday, though.' Beware the injured golfer.
