This And That From The 2011 KIA Classic
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Inbee Park tees off at Industry Hills' 10th Sunday (click to enlarge)While it was tough to tear myself away from the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, Steve Elling's story on the silly setup assured me I missed not a thing. Instead I headed out to the City of Industry where, despite playing the inhumane and walking-impossible Industry Hills composite layout, the atmosphere was celebratory and the golf rewarding to watch.
Things got off to a rocky start as I insisted on the enhanced interrogation technique of watching golf on the Zaharias course's short par-4 ninth, profiled earlier in the week and as expected, the scenes of four group back-ups, its own rules official and in general, the same misery for the ladies that this sliver of land masquerading as a golf hole produces for the bold and brave daily fee players.
Playing as the tenth hole, the hole features OB left and a hill right, with the dogleg protected by cart path and a tree, rendering the effective landing area to about 10 yards. Throw a small river running down the hill as a result of overnight showers and the rules official spent the day giving rulings that at one point had four groups on the tee (just two when I finally ventured down there).
Paige Mackenzie tees off at the 14th (click to enlarge)"It's not good news," the official said into her walkie-talkie during one of her return trips to the perch where as soon as she parked her cart, another ruling seemingly was in order.
The leaders handled the hole pretty well and like any good golf fan, I waited for the wave of Paige Mackenzie, Christie Kerr, Beatriz Recari and Michelle Wie, deciding to follow the latter pairing for a few holes. And while Wie's game is so impressive for a 20-year-old, it was Mackenzie who stood out not only for her matter of fact approach to pace of play, but also her swing and overall stylish approach.
Kerr is positively abysmal on the greens when it comes to setting an example. And while the pace of play was understandably awful on a course encircled by a Ground Under Repair circle, the women move differently than the men. From tee to fringe, most of the players operate at an acceptable pace (unless they need a ruling). But on the greens they take way too long. I lost count of how many players I watched spend 2 minutes or more studying a putt.
Diverse, focused galleries added to the KIA Classic's surprising energy (click to enlarge)For those who watched on television, the galleries were hopefully as impressive looking as they were sizeable despite the cool weather and the inhospitable spectating nature of Industry Hills. But with a modest ticket price of $20 and an efficient tournament operation in a heavily Asian neighborhood, I don't think I'm going out on a limb saying that Sunday's KIA Classic crowd topped any day but perhaps one at the PGA Tour's Northern Trust Open over the last three years.
I would also point out that, for the most part, it was a courteous, knowledgeable and well-behaved gallery that went easy on the alcohol consumption and featured mostly families. Many did try to give third round leader Jiyai Shin a homefield advantage by openly rooting for her, even cheering a little too loudly after Sandra Gal missed a par putt at No. 13. But as Larry Morgan reports, it was Gal who had the last laugh after a dynamic finish.
A few more images from the day:
Eventual winner Sandra Gal tees off at No. 14 (click to enlarge)
Beatriz Recari blasts from a bunker at No. 9 (click to enlarge)
Michelle Wie approaches the 14th green (click to enlarge)
Note to PGA Tour Championship Management: fans not only appreciate a manual scoreboard as evidenced at the KIA Classic, but it becomes a mini-community gathering spot. The tournament also featured a nice manual scoreboard on 18 green.
No, the QE2 is not heading into port and receiving a Coast Guard welcome. But Yani Tseng is able to concentrate despite the broken water main of a fountain at the 18th hole. The world No. 1's gallery was the largest of the day. (click to enlarge)
