Latest news with #ANWA
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lydia Ko prepped for U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills by watching Grant Horvat on YouTube
ERIN, Wisconsin – Lydia Ko prepped for the 80th U.S. Women's Open not by watching Brooks Koepka's victory at Erin Hills in 2017 but by watching Wesley Bryan's revenge on YouTube. 'I think it's the series where they do it with Grant Horvat, and it's going to major championship courses,' said Ko during a pre-tournament press conference. 'I think they played at the ANWA course recently with Alexa Pano. I got into YouTube golf because of my husband, and I won't be shy to say I watch it on my own now. It's probably not the preparation that many of the other players did, but it was just a good way for me to kind of see the golf course.' Advertisement The Horvat video from Erin Hills, which was posted eight months ago and is more than 90 minutes long, already has 1 million views. Now that she's seen Erin Hills in person, Ko's assessment: difficult but fun. While the official yardage of 6,829 makes it a beast of a course when fully stretched out, Ko said she doesn't feel like Erin Hills is the kind of track that suits one player, noting that creativity playing the angles in the wind and particularly around the greens will be paramount. Ko ranks 127th in driving distance this season, but if the LPGA had strokes-gained categories for creativity and mental strength, she'd top them both. Those characteristics are arguably even better now coming into her 14th U.S. Women's Open, as the 28-year-old Kiwi plays with more freedom these days. Advertisement 'I think just getting in the Hall of Fame (in 2024) and winning the gold at the Olympics (in 2024 in Paris), I think there was like an internal handcuff that I had kind of put on myself,' said Ko, 'whether it was pressure or expectations, and I think with that all kind of being done, I think I was just able to play with a lot more freedom. And I think there was a clear case at St. Andrews (in 2024) where I was just enjoying being here, enjoying the town, and I think I kind of slowly crept up the leaderboard, and I feel like that's what I've been doing pretty well since then.' In some ways she regrets that she didn't approach the game in such a manner earlier, but she also noted that being more focused at a younger age likely played a role in her early success. 'It's hard to say what was the right way to do it,' she said, 'but I think those things have made me feel a little bit more relaxed on the golf course.' A victory at the Women's Open this week would give Ko her fourth different major title, which by the LPGA's standards would give her the career grand slam despite there being five majors. Advertisement Ko stated the goal of winning a career grand slam after she won the AIG Women's British Open at St. Andrews last August. She also said that while that goal helps keep her motivated, she's not going to wake up from a dead sleep years from now regretting that she never won a U.S. Women's Open, as much as she'd like one. 'I'm obviously very proud of the things that have happened,' said Ko, 'and I would be over the moon if I – especially like this week, to come off with a trophy. But I don't think that's going to, like, connect me more so to my identity later on.' This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Lydia Ko prepped for Erin Hills by watching a YouTube influencer
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lydia Ko prepped for U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills by watching Grant Horvat on YouTube
Lydia Ko prepped for U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills by watching Grant Horvat on YouTube ERIN, Wisconsin – Lydia Ko prepped for the 80th U.S. Women's Open not by watching Brooks Koepka's victory at Erin Hills in 2017 but by watching Wesley Bryan's revenge on YouTube. 'I think it's the series where they do it with Grant Horvat, and it's going to major championship courses,' said Ko during a pre-tournament press conference. 'I think they played at the ANWA course recently with Alexa Pano. I got into YouTube golf because of my husband, and I won't be shy to say I watch it on my own now. It's probably not the preparation that many of the other players did, but it was just a good way for me to kind of see the golf course.' The Horvat video from Erin Hills, which was posted eight months ago and is more than 90 minutes long, already has 1 million views. Now that she's seen Erin Hills in person, Ko's assessment: difficult but fun. While the official yardage of 6,829 makes it a beast of a course when fully stretched out, Ko said she doesn't feel like Erin Hills is the kind of track that suits one player, noting that creativity playing the angles in the wind and particularly around the greens will be paramount. Ko ranks 127th in driving distance this season, but if the LPGA had strokes-gained categories for creativity and mental strength, she'd top them both. Those characteristics are arguably even better now coming into her 14th U.S. Women's Open, as the 28-year-old Kiwi plays with more freedom these days. 'I think just getting in the Hall of Fame (in 2024) and winning the gold at the Olympics (in 2024 in Paris), I think there was like an internal handcuff that I had kind of put on myself,' said Ko, 'whether it was pressure or expectations, and I think with that all kind of being done, I think I was just able to play with a lot more freedom. And I think there was a clear case at St. Andrews (in 2024) where I was just enjoying being here, enjoying the town, and I think I kind of slowly crept up the leaderboard, and I feel like that's what I've been doing pretty well since then.' In some ways she regrets that she didn't approach the game in such a manner earlier, but she also noted that being more focused at a younger age likely played a role in her early success. 'It's hard to say what was the right way to do it,' she said, 'but I think those things have made me feel a little bit more relaxed on the golf course.' A victory at the Women's Open this week would give Ko her fourth different major title, which by the LPGA's standards would give her the career grand slam despite there being five majors. Ko stated the goal of winning a career grand slam after she won the AIG Women's British Open at St. Andrews last August. She also said that while that goal helps keep her motivated, she's not going to wake up from a dead sleep years from now regretting that she never won a U.S. Women's Open, as much as she'd like one. 'I'm obviously very proud of the things that have happened,' said Ko, 'and I would be over the moon if I – especially like this week, to come off with a trophy. But I don't think that's going to, like, connect me more so to my identity later on.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lydia Ko prepped for U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills by watching Grant Horvat on YouTube
ERIN, Wisconsin – Lydia Ko prepped for the 80th U.S. Women's Open not by watching Brooks Koepka's victory at Erin Hills in 2017 but by watching Wesley Bryan's revenge on YouTube. 'I think it's the series where they do it with Grant Horvat, and it's going to major championship courses,' said Ko during a pre-tournament press conference. 'I think they played at the ANWA course recently with Alexa Pano. I got into YouTube golf because of my husband, and I won't be shy to say I watch it on my own now. It's probably not the preparation that many of the other players did, but it was just a good way for me to kind of see the golf course.' The Horvat video from Erin Hills, which was posted eight months ago and is more than 90 minutes long, already has 1 million views. Now that she's seen Erin Hills in person, Ko's assessment: difficult but fun. While the official yardage of 6,829 makes it a beast of a course when fully stretched out, Ko said she doesn't feel like Erin Hills is the kind of track that suits one player, noting that creativity playing the angles in the wind and particularly around the greens will be paramount. Ko ranks 127th in driving distance this season, but if the LPGA had strokes-gained categories for creativity and mental strength, she'd top them both. Those characteristics are arguably even better now coming into her 14th U.S. Women's Open, as the 28-year-old Kiwi plays with more freedom these days. 'I think just getting in the Hall of Fame (in 2024) and winning the gold at the Olympics (in 2024 in Paris), I think there was like an internal handcuff that I had kind of put on myself,' said Ko, 'whether it was pressure or expectations, and I think with that all kind of being done, I think I was just able to play with a lot more freedom. And I think there was a clear case at St. Andrews (in 2024) where I was just enjoying being here, enjoying the town, and I think I kind of slowly crept up the leaderboard, and I feel like that's what I've been doing pretty well since then.' In some ways she regrets that she didn't approach the game in such a manner earlier, but she also noted that being more focused at a younger age likely played a role in her early success. 'It's hard to say what was the right way to do it,' she said, 'but I think those things have made me feel a little bit more relaxed on the golf course.' A victory at the Women's Open this week would give Ko her fourth different major title, which by the LPGA's standards would give her the career grand slam despite there being five majors. Ko stated the goal of winning a career grand slam after she won the AIG Women's British Open at St. Andrews last August. She also said that while that goal helps keep her motivated, she's not going to wake up from a dead sleep years from now regretting that she never won a U.S. Women's Open, as much as she'd like one. 'I'm obviously very proud of the things that have happened,' said Ko, 'and I would be over the moon if I – especially like this week, to come off with a trophy. But I don't think that's going to, like, connect me more so to my identity later on.' This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Lydia Ko prepped for Erin Hills by watching a YouTube influencer
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kansas State makes NCAA Championship debut with chip on shoulder after being snubbed in 2024
Kansas State makes NCAA Championship debut with chip on shoulder after being snubbed in 2024 CARLSBAD, Calif. — Stew Burke and his players waited, staring at the television inside the Colbert Hills Country Club clubhouse waiting for Kansas State's name to pop up. Regional after regional was announced during the 2024 NCAA Selection Show, and the Wildcats, fresh off a third-place finish at the Big 12 Championship, were in good position to make a regional. But Kansas State's name never came. Burke and his players sat, dejected after finding out they were the first team out of the NCAA postseason. He had three seniors, and their careers were over. A couple teams below .500 made it in the field over the Wildcats. "They deserved to go," Burke said. More: NCAA Women's Golf Championship live leaderboard: Updates, tee times, highlights Carla Bernat, the 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur champion, was one of the players watching in the clubhouse who returned this year. That pain was a driving force through the offseason and this season, especially as the postseason neared. Bernat won twice in the regular season. Teammate Sophie Bert then won the Big 12 Conference individual title. Bernat, who won twice in the regular season, then won the NCAA Lexington Regional, but more importantly, she helped Kansas State tie for second. That meant the Wildcats punched their ticket to the 2025 NCAA Women's Golf Championship, their first time making nationals in school history. "The pain of not making it really drove them this year," Burke said Friday after Kansas State's opening round of 1 over at Omni La Costa. "They want to compete. They got a little chip on their shoulder. They want to be amongst these teams, whether they're invited or not." Friday morning marked the Wildcats' first round at nationals, finishing fourth of the 15 teams who teed off in the opening wave. The program has been riding a high the last two months on the heels of Bernat's victory at ANWA, and since then, the Wildcats have continued to ride momentum. Burke said his team has been motivated since being slighted last year, and that it's player driven. His players, including newcomers to this year's lineup, have pushed to ensure what happened last year to Kansas State didn't happen again. Kansas State won its home event to open the season. A pair of runner-up finishes to complete the fall slate led to momentum in the spring, with the Wildcats winning the MountainView Collegiate in March. Bernat then won ANWA, and the momentum behind the program had never been higher. Then came individual wins in both postseason events, and in Lexington, Kansas State punched its ticket to nationals for the first time. The Wildcats were going to Omni La Costa, riding the wave of momentum that started last spring in the Colbert Hills clubhouse. "I want young ladies that want to win. They want to compete, and they, you know, they're, they're not scared," Burke said. "People showed up at the airport when Carla won ANWA, and people showed up at the airport when we made it home from regionals at 11:30 on a Wednesday night." More: 2025 NCAA Div. I Women's Golf Championship predictions: Picks to win team, individual title Burke said Bernat's leadership has been on display all season. He said she's essentially an extra coach for Kansas State, encouraging her teammates to make smart decisions that can be the difference between winning and runner-up finishes over a 54-hole tournament. She's also one of 10 finalists for the 2025 Annika Award, given to the top women's college golfer in the country. The Wildcats' drive remains high, and their mentality won't change this week, even in unfamiliar territory. "There's probably people here that are like, 'Who are Kansas State? Why are they here? What, they drive their purple tractor?' Well, yeah, we did. And we're hoping to run some people over," Burke said. "We know this is a big task. We know these are the finest teams, the finest players, the finest coaches in the country. It's a good chance for us to test ourselves against them and that's really the message. It's just a golf tournament. We're gonna go and tee it up and play three rounds, see where it takes us, and if that gets us a fourth, great. And then we'll see what comes from there."
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
This LPGA Tournament Sponsor's Exemption Is Brought To You By..…
ROGERS, ARKANSAS - SEPTEMBER 29: Maria Fassi of Mexico plays her shot from the third tee during the ... More final round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G 2024 at Pinnacle Country Club on September 29, 2024 in Rogers, Arkansas. (Photo by) Winning isn't everything. Very few LPGA or PGA athletes playing on a tournament sponsor's exemption have turned the invitation into a win (Lydia Ko and Tiger Woods are among the notable exceptions). However, the opportunity to compete against the best players in the world can be equally important to an aspiring or veteran golfer's career. Carla Bernat Escuder is one of eight elite amateurs extended invitations to compete in the Chevron Championship, the first LPGA major of the season. A senior at Kansas State, the 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) champion was making her first LPGA Tour start, and talked about the significance of teeing it up with the pros. 'It's giving me the perspective of what the professional players do and how they prepare for tournaments,' she explained. 'I've learned that there are already things that I can do to be a better player in the future.' AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 05: Carla Bernat Escuder of Spain celebrates with the trophy after winning ... More the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 05, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by) The 2024 AJGA Girls Player of the Year, 17-year old Gianna Clemente, is also a rising star and was only amateur invitee to make it to weekend play, finishing in a tie for 71st place. 'I think just any experience in LPGA events is great,' said Clemente, who took home low amateur honors. 'I have so much fun out here with my dad on the bag, and playing with the pros is always great, so I'm just learning from playing with them.' Making the cut at the Chevron earned her a third point in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) standings. This was added on to her T30 finish as a sponsor exemption in the Honda LPGA Thailand. 'It's a great opportunity for any junior to be able to play in a major championship. The LPGA events I've played in have really showed me how amazing professional golf is and how much I really want to be a pro someday.' Sponsor exemptions are generally offered to players who have not otherwise qualified for a specific tournament. Sometimes the invitations are extended to lesser-known athletes who are changing the face of golf. Gabby Barker, for example, played in the recent LPGA Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass as an invitee of The Thunderbirds, the tournament Founding Partners. The tournament was held at Whirlwind Golf Club on the Gila River Indian Community, a most appropriate venue for Barker, the first female Native American professional golfer. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 27: Gabby Barker of the United States plays her shot from the fourth tee ... More during the first round of the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass 2025 at Whirlwind Golf Club in Wild Horse Pass on March 27, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by) A member of the Shoshone-Paiute tribe, it was her fifth start on the LPGA Tour, and first since she teed it up in the 2022 U.S. Women's Open. She admitted that being the standard bearer for Native American golfers can be daunting. 'For me as a woman golfer, it's challenging,' said the 28-year old Texas Tech grad. 'I definitely get put in the spotlight a little more than I would like. But it's beautiful to be able to share my culture and to represent Indian Country and really any Native American community out there.' Following an outstanding collegiate career that earned her 2016 Big 12 Player of the Year honors, she joined the Epson Tour in 2018, but has yet to achieve her dream of LPGA membership. A special friendship with 52-year old four-time PGA TOUR winner, golf commentator and fellow Native American, member of the Navajo Nationa, Notah Begay III has helped her navigate the ups and downs of professional golf. The two met while Barker was playing collegiately and share the opportunity to represent Indian Country as the first professional Native American golfers. SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - JULY 21: Golf Channel commentator Notah Begay during the second round of the ... More 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 21, 2017 in Southport, England. (Photo by) 'It's sometimes scary personally to be the first, and that's what I kind of lean on him for,' explained Barker. 'We have a great relationship that we've built in terms of he's been my mentor and has given me access to his brain in terms of hitting golf shots and learning the business side of golf.' She added, 'I owe a lot to Notah. He has definitely helped me and he's been sitting right beside me on this journey of golf as a career.' Like Begay, Barker is committed to growing the game withing the Native American community. Begay's NB3 Foundation focuses on improving health in Native communities through core areas of physical activity, healthy nutrition, youth development and cultural connections. Since its founding in 2005, the Foundation has awarded 136 grants to support Native-led organizations throughout the U.S. Barker has been involved with the Nike N7 Fund, which supports 'a culture of belonging in sport that welcomes all Indigenous youth to play.' She said, 'Indian Country has always been super positive and uplifting in every aspect of my life, including golf. Any way that I can help push our culture and the boundaries of what we have set for us, that's what I'm willing to do.' A sponsor's exemption can be a reward for past performance, and possibly recharge a career. Maria Fassi, a native of Pachuca, Mexico, and former University of Arkansas Razorback burst onto the national scene when she went toe-to-toe with eventual winner Jennifer Kupcho in the 2019 inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur. Known for her aggressive play and expressive personality, she has always been an exciting golfer to watch. BELLEAIR, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 09: Maria Fassi of Mexico smiles after hitting an approach shot on the ... More 13th hole during the first round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at Pelican Golf Club on November 09, 2023 in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by) No matter what direction her golf career takes, the historical significance of playing in the first ANWA is always with her. 'I think for me, being able to have my name attached to Augusta National for the rest of time, it's something that I take a lot of pride in,' she said. The impact went beyond the fairways and greens. 'I mean what we were able to do and what we were able to show to the world about amateur women's golf, I don't think anybody could have dreamed of a better outcome. I think we did a great job with representing ourselves, our sport, representing women, female athletes and women in general,' she said. A seamless transition to the pro level was predicted for the 2018 SEC Golfer of the Year, 2019 NCAA Championship D1 Individual Champion, two-time Annika award winner and two-time Olympian (2020, 2024). But, golf is hard. Even with eight career top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour and $1.2 million career earnings, she struggled and lost her card after finishing 179 on the Priority List. She is working her way back by playing the 2025 Epson Tour and hopes for more tournament exemptions. The Ford Championship invitation meant a great deal to her. 'I'm just super excited to be here with a very grateful heart.' For Fassi, who celebrated her birthday on tournament grounds, it was a present she'll never forget. 'It's just a huge gift,' she said. 'Just being able to get an opportunity to come out here and see what areas of my game are trending in the right direction, what areas of my game are still needing some help and what I need to focus on. So I'm incredibly blessed that Ford and everybody involved with the tournament put some faith in me, maybe at times when I didn't' really have much in myself.' As one of the few female Mexican golf professionals, Fassi takes her status seriously. 'For me it's a huge responsibility,' she said of representing her country. 'I don't take it lightly. Whether it's playing in the Olympics or just making sure that the flag is on the range at every LPGA tournament that we go to is a huge privilege for both Gaby (López) and I.' Committed to growing the game, Fassi established Fassi's Friends through the M Fassi Foundation in Arkansas. The organization offers free golf classes for disabled and full-bodied kids to come together and learn the game of golf. Meanwhile, the upcoming LPGA Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba from May 22-25 will provide much-needed exposure to a country that has not hosted the LPGA since the 2017 Lorena Ochoa Invitational tournament. Three-time LPGA winner and three-time Olympian representing Mexico (Rio, Tokyo, Paris) Gaby López believes recruiting more Mexican players to U.S. colleges will be a huge step to increase the number of Mexicans on Tour. An Arkansas Razorback like Fassi, she viewed her collegiate experience invaluable in jump-starting her LPGA career as she considered college her developmental tour. PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 06: Gaby Lopez and Maria Fassi of Team Mexico take a selfie photo with the ... More Olympic rings on the 18th hole during a practice round ahead of the Women's Individual Stroke Play on day eleven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Le Golf National on August 06, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) 'I was telling myself, hey, this is my Semetra tour at that time, or my Epson tour. So I treated everything just as a professional player already,' she explained. 'I was trying to get practices committed and just purposeful and trying to be a professional when I was still a young girl.' She has been encouraged by the diversity at D1 institutions. 'You have the best talent in of Europe and Asia, Latin America and just everywhere. It does just literally become like a like a tour.' López is one of five LPGA Tour Girls Golf Ambassadors supporting the movement to introduce more girls to the game of golf. Each ambassador serves as a national spokeswomen for LPGA*USGA Girls Golf. Like Barker and Fassi, López understands the assignment. 'It's amazing to be a Girls Golf ambassador,' she said enthusiastically. 'I think these girls are the future and being able to inspire them and tell them that through hard work and passion and love for the game, they can achieve whatever they want, it's amazing.' Added Barker, 'I definitely believe that girls need to be out doing golf because it's such an opening to meeting new people, the relationships, and building confidence and being able to walk up to a golf course that is mainly surrounded by men and just feel comfortable.' She added, 'The LPGA slogan is 'Little Girls, Big Dreams.' For me to be out here and just say that I am a professional golfer is ridiculous. Little six-year old Gabby probably wouldn't have thought that.' Fassi agreed. "I think my purpose in life is not just to win. I think you make any impact on people by who you are as a person more so than how many tournaments you've won. I hope to see more brave girls chasing after their dreams, whether it's playing professional golf or being a CEO or being the best mom in the world.' Neither Fassi or Barker made the cut at the Ford Championship, but it certainly doesn't diminish the importance of their presence. Who knows how many seeds were planted into little girls who saw someone who looked like themselves and thought 'I can do that, too!'
