Latest news with #StacyLewis
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Golf Digest's Top 100: Major Movers, New Entries, And Big Drops
EDINA, MN - JUNE 28: Stacy Lewis hits her approach shot on the 18th hole as her father/caddie Dale ... More looks on during the third round of the 2008 U.S. Women's Open at Interlachen Country Club on June 28, 2008 in Edina, Minnesota. (Photo by) There are only a few truly cherished days each year: Christmas morning, Masters Sunday, the day your club announces its opening for the season—and when Golf Digest publishes its Top 100 Golf Courses list. This list is a composite of reviews from a wide range of Golf Digest raters with varying backgrounds, playing abilities, and access levels to the mostly private clubs it features. In some cases, very few raters are granted entry to the most exclusive clubs—like Augusta National or Pine Valley. These ratings have a real impact on a course's prestige and bottom line. Since the list's inception in 1966, golfers have been chasing the dream of playing all 100. Recognition on the list brings attention, and that attention brings rounds, interest, memberships, and prestige. Notable newcomers to the 2025 Top 100 include CapRock Ranch, Sand Valley's Lido, and Ladera Golf Club. CapRock and Ladera, both designed by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, are located in Nebraska and California respectively. Despite the distance, they share similar traits—expansive views and a naturalistic use of terrain. The Lido enters the Top 100 list its firsts year open. The course is a near perfect replica of the ... More original course constructed in New York in 1917 The Lido, a reconstruction of a once-lost classic, is credited to the Tom Doak design team and the late C.B. Macdonald. Originally located on the New York coast, The Lido was considered one of the best courses in the world before it was lost to history. Its rebirth began as a digital model in The Golf Club video game and was brought to life in the sandy soil of central Wisconsin—now a near-exact replica. For brand-new courses, debuting on the Top 100 is a major accomplishment. In the case of CapRock and Lido, their reputation helps attract players to their additional on-site courses as well. Crooked Stick, the site of John Daly's improbable 1991 PGA Championship win, returns to the list. Daly entered the tournament as an alternate and emerged as a crowd favorite—an underdog story that helped define his career. Two Midwestern classics saw the most significant jumps: Interlachen Country Club (+20) and Medinah Country Club No. 3 (+19). Both recently underwent major updates. Interlachen's project focused on restoring the original Donald Ross/Willie Watson design. Archival photos from Bobby Jones' 1930 U.S. Open win and original course sketches helped guide the restoration. MEDINAH, IL- JULY 6 The clubhouse at the Medinah Country Club, host of the 2006 PGA Championship, ... More taken on July 6, 2005 in Medinah, Illinois. (Photo by PGA) Medinah's renovation, meanwhile, was more of a redesign than a restoration. Previously the site of three U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships, the course—originally by Tom Bendelow and later altered by Rees Jones—was reimagined by the OCM Group (Ogilvy, Cocking, Mead). Other major risers include Winged Foot East (+16) and Old Town Club (+15). Though often overshadowed by its West Course, Winged Foot East's jump brings it nearly on par, reinforcing Winged Foot as one of the top 36-hole properties in the world. Old Town Club now ranks 3rd in North Carolina and 39th nationally, thanks to Coore and Crenshaw's work in 2023. Pebble Beach climbed from 12th to 9th, returning to the Top 10. Unlike other high movers, Pebble didn't undergo a major restoration—its continued excellence speaks for itself. It remains one of the crown jewels of public golf. Some familiar names took a hit this year: Rumors of poor course conditioning may have contributed to Black Diamond Ranch's 18-spot drop. Meanwhile, both Butler National and Oak Tree National, known for their difficulty and potential to host championships, saw steep declines—perhaps a reflection of shifting tastes or recent conditions. Golf Digest's Top 100 list continues to be more than just a ranking, it's a cultural snapshot of where golf is heading. This year's shifts reflect a broader movement toward thoughtful restorations, innovative new builds, and the enduring appeal of courses that stay true to their roots. Major Movers & New Entries:
Newsweek
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
LPGA Legend Slams Women's PGA Setup Amid Slow Play Controversy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Just weeks ago, Lexi Thompson had to post a personal message on Instagram after receiving backlash at the U.S. Women's Open. Critics blamed her for the slow pace following her rounds with Charley Hull and Nelly Korda. Thompson addressed it, saying: "I'll be the first one to say I'm not as fast as my playing partners the two days, but I'm also the last person that wants to be out there for six hours." Sadly, the issue is haunting golfers again, and this time it's the Women's PGA Championship under fire. The first two rounds at Field Ranch East saw major delays. Players battled not just the brutal Texas heat and swirling winds, but also a course setup that many say made good golf nearly impossible. LPGA legend Stacy Lewis was one of them, who missed the cut after rounds of 78 and 76. "Today it was just hole locations again, on sides of hills," she told Golfweek's journalist on Friday. BRADENTON, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Stacy Lewis of the United States looks on from the third green during the second round of the Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands 2025 at Bradenton Country Club... BRADENTON, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Stacy Lewis of the United States looks on from the third green during the second round of the Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands 2025 at Bradenton Country Club on February 07, 2025 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by) More Getty Images "Then you throw the wind in there, there was no way to stop it on No. 8 again today. We should be playing the front of that tee, probably 120 yards ... can't hold the green". Lewis, a two-time major winner and former Solheim Cup captain, believes the setup is hurting the pace and viewers' engagement. "We had such a good run with this championship at very good golf courses and then we come here," she said. "The issue of this all too is, make us look good. We're trying to get more people to watch women's 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". Major winner Stacy Lewis wasn't alone Brooke Henderson also called out the eighth hole, saying, "It's a very firm green and the wind is very strong right to left and down, so it's very tough to hold the green". Nelly Korda, who sits tied for 6th at 2-over after a gritty even-par 72 on Saturday, echoed the frustration. "There is just like no momentum in it," she said, referencing the long waits between holes. "You don't want to be spending 20 minutes and getting up to the next tee... it's another 15 minutes." Korda has seen this before. At last year's Annika Tournament, she won despite a final round that dragged into near darkness due to delays. "You just kind of have to go with it," she continued. "Everyone is going through it... you just have to be really creative and really patient." U.S. Women's Open champion Maja Stark also weighed in, particularly on the par-3 eighth. "I was trying to go long and right of that pin, but it was howling right to left... you don't want to get stuck in the bunkers because they're so deep," she said. "It's very annoying when it's like that, but it's just the mindset switch you need to have". It's surprising to see these issues persist, especially after the LPGA's recent policy overhaul. But with new CEO Craig Harmon set to take over in July, there's hope that course setup and pace-of-play enforcement will finally align with the tour's ambitions. As of Saturday, Minjee Lee lead the championship at 6-under after a third-round 69. Jeeno Thitikul, who led early, slipped to second at 2-under. Lexi Thompson, Miyu Yamashita, and Hye-Jin Choi are tied for third at 1-over. World No. 1 Nelly Korda is part of a four-way tie for sixth at 2-over, alongside Leona Maguire, Yealimi Noh, and Chisato Iwai. More Golf: Tommy Fleetwood Breaks Silence After Jab Over Zero PGA Tour Win
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
KPMG Women's PGA Championship showcases cutting-edge platform KPMG Performance Insights
Over the past quarter century, advanced analytics have transformed much of the sports world. Thanks to technology platforms such as the PGA Tour's ShotLink, Tour players, coaches, media and fans now have more performance data at their fingertips than they could ever possibly consume. Relative to other sports leagues, the LPGA was late to the analytics party, but has made up for lost time, thanks to the 2021 introduction of KPMG Performance Insights, which generates the sort of advanced analytics and performance data that had been missing from the women's game for years. LPGA athletes suddenly had a wealth of information to help them make small adjustments in their practice routines or tournament play that would translate into significant performance gains. Hole 17at Sahalee CC - KPMG Performance Insights Branding – 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Since its inception, KPMG has been relentless in scaling up the platform. In 2022, for example, KPMG Performance Insights added a player dashboard (an example can be found here) with personalized portals that provide access to data and insights. In 2023, in support of KPMG ambassador and U.S. Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis, the company provided KPMG Performance Insights tools, such as analyzing 20,000 simulations to identify the optimal pairings for the matches. Those simulations went so far as to identify how players perform under pressure or on certain types of grass. Example of Player Dashboard. Last year KPMG Performance Insights went next level through the incorporation of AI-empowered predictive analytics that provided leading-edge insights for LPGA tournaments. Additionally, to enhance the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, KPMG partnered with T-Mobile to introduce KPMG CHAMPCAST presented by T-Mobile, which leverages ShotLink Pro 2.0 cutting-edge technology to create an immersive experience for fans watching at home or onsite. (An example of KPMG CHAMPCAST can be found here.) Advertisement 'The KPMG Women's PGA Championship is the most tech-forward event on the LPGA,' said Shawn Quill, National Sports Industry Leader at KPMG. 'Through KPMG Performance Insights and KPMG CHAMPCAST presented by T-Mobile, we're providing the players with real-time, shot-level data and analytics. With features like win probabilities, winning score projections, a dedicated player portal, 3D imagery, shot trails and individual shot highlights, players, fans and the media are able to get closer to the action than ever before.' KPMG CHAMPCAST presented by T-Mobile. As has been the case from the outset, KPMG continues to ramp up its platform by adding more features and benefits for players and fans. For the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, KPMG is providing new, enhanced features through an AI-generated daily recap. Hole-by-hole AI course analytics that will help players decide how best to attack the difficult Fields Ranch East layout at PGA Frisco. This feature will provide players with information on the best way to play each hole and the trouble spots to avoid on the course. Advertisement Based on the KPMG Performance Insights Daily Recap (an example can be found here) from Thursday's first round, there is a 92% chance the cutline falls between +2 and +4. Players will be able to use this data to help them decide how aggressively they will need to play in the second round. As an example, KPMG ambassador Leona Maguire currently sits at even par through 18 holes. Based on insights from the report, a round of 75 Friday gives her a 95% chance to make the weekend. Additional insights from the recap show the relative difficulty of each hole from the first round. For example, hole 6 (a 446-yard par 4 with bunkers protecting the green) currently has a birdie or better percentage of 2% and a bogey or worse percentage of nearly 50%. As players head into their second round, they will know that a score of par on the sixth hole is actually helping them gain strokes on the field. Daily recap graphic. These are all great tools for LPGA fans and media, but they're invaluable to the LPGA players. Advertisement 'As part of our strategy, we are focused on setting the standard for excellence in women's golf,' Quill said. 'We are excited about our new KPMG Performance Insights Daily Recaps that include AI-powered course analysis, which provides players data on how each hole is playing, and AI-generated scoring targets, so the players can see the predicted cut line and winning scores. These powerful insights will equip the players so they can adjust their approach as they prepare for the next round.' This article originally appeared on Golfweek: KPMG Women's PGA Championship showcase advanced analytics platform
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stacy Lewis criticizes setup at KPMG Women's PGA, saying it makes good players look silly
FRISCO, Texas – No LPGA player has been involved more in the making of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship than Stacy Lewis. In fact, when this championship first came together a decade ago, former KPMG chair John Veihmeyer said the firm's involvement wouldn't have happened if they hadn't first formed a relationship with Lewis. So, when the two-time major champion and former No. 1 offers critical comments about this week's championship, rest assured she's put a lot of thought behind it. Advertisement Round 1 of the KPMG Women's PGA at Fields Ranch East took more than six hours for those who finished late in the day, including Peacock featured group Lexi Thompson, Yealimi Noh and Yuka Saso. There were 25-minute waits on par 3s, with several groups backed up on Nos. 8 and 13. The slow-play issue, Lewis says, is a setup issue, and it was more of the same in the second round. Jun 20, 2025; Frisco, Texas, USA; Nelly Korda waits to play her shot in the tenth fairway during the second round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images 'Today it was just hole locations again, on sides of hills,' said Lewis, who won't play the weekend. 'Then you throw the wind in there, there was no way to stop it on No. 8 again today. We should be playing the front of that tee, probably 120 yards … can't hold the green.' Advertisement The women played the eighth hole from 157 yards on Friday and less than 20 percent of the field hit it in regulation. After Lydia Ko hit a beauty into the green on No. 8 late Friday that didn't stop, NBC analyst Morgan Pressel said it was a hole setup that didn't reward good shots. "Not my favorite thing to see," she added. Golf Channel analyst and PGA Tour winner Brandel Chamblee has long thought that LPGA setups are far too long, making note of it several times on recent Live From shows at U.S. Women's Opens. Famed reachable par 5s that often elicit much drama in the men's game – such as the 18th at Pebble Beach – are often three-shot holes for the women. Advertisement The 75.58 scoring average on Thursday was the fifth toughest day at a major championship on the LPGA in the last 10 seasons. Friday's average is now the highest scoring average at the majors in a decade. Jun 20, 2025; Frisco, Texas, USA; Lexi Thompson waits to putt on the 18th green during the second round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images As a player, Lewis doesn't really care if 12 under wins a major. What she cares about is whether or not the golf course is playing the way it was designed to be played. So often, she feels that officials move the tees back to get to a certain total yardage. "Almost play it backwards,' said Lewis of how it should be done. 'You see a green, OK what club should we get them in on this hole, and let's go find a tee box that gets us there.' Advertisement She'd also like to see the bunker in the middle of the fairway on the 18th be removed. The hole, which makes for an awkward tee shot for players who can't hit driver off the tee without running through the fairway but also can't carry the bunker at 237 yards with a 3-wood, has yielded more doubles than birdies the first two rounds. Officials had to switch the ninth and 18th holes for the event to make room for hospitality. The 2023 Senior PGA ended on a reachable par 5. The two nines will be switched altogether for the 2027 PGA Championship to accommodate hospitality down the stretch. One of the unique aspects of the Gil Hanse design, which opened in 2023, is that there are no traditional tee boxes. Hanse used what he calls ribbons tees, which offer loads of flexibility as they're essentially extensions of the fairway. So much so that it can be difficult to find a flat spot to tee up the ball. Advertisement Fields Ranch East was set up at 6,532 yards on Friday, when winds gusted up to 30 mph and temperatures soared into the triple digits. They'll be able to stretch it back to 8,000 yards for the men someday if desired, a modern design at the Home of the PGA of America that, as Jerry Kelly said at the 2023 Senior PGA, is 'future-proofed.' Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom said she's heard mixed reviews from players on Fields Ranch East, which will host the PGA Championship in 2027 and the KPMG once again 2031. 'I think you can be rewarded for good shots,' said Sagstrom. 'You definitely get punished for bad shots, so that's good. It's in beautiful condition.' Jun 20, 2025; Frisco, Texas, USA; Minjee Lee waits to play her shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images The Northbridge Bermuda rough is penal. Miss a fairway by mere inches and it might be necessary to wedge out as the ball sinks down out of sight. Advertisement Major champion Ashleigh Buhai said her group noted there were a lot of Sunday pins on Thursday, though she liked the challenge. 'I don't mind it,' said Buhai. 'You've got to think. I don't mind using my brain and having to hit the different shots. Sometimes, leaving it 30 feet is a good shot.' Angel Yin had a decidedly different take, telling scribes on Thursday that she thought it was quite boring. 'It's just kind of repetitive,' said Yin, 'and there are challenges, but it's very subtle.' Lewis disagreed with Yin's "boring" take, but did say she's heard from a number of disappointed players. 'We had such a good run with this championship at very good golf courses and then we come here,' said Lewis, referring to recent venues such as Baltusrol, Atlanta Athletic Club, Congressional and Sahalee. Advertisement 'The issue of this all too is, make us look good,' she continued. 'We're trying to get more people to watch women's golf, and to watch us play golf, and setups like this, they don't help us. "And this is when we have our biggest stages, network TV and all of that, and we're making very good players look silly." This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Stacy Lewis blames six-hour rounds at KPMG Women's PGA on poor setup
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
KPMG Women's PGA Championship showcases cutting-edge platform KPMG Performance Insights
Over the past quarter century, advanced analytics have transformed much of the sports world. Thanks to technology platforms such as the PGA Tour's ShotLink, Tour players, coaches, media and fans now have more performance data at their fingertips than they could ever possibly consume. Relative to other sports leagues, the LPGA was late to the analytics party, but has made up for lost time, thanks to the 2021 introduction of KPMG Performance Insights, which generates the sort of advanced analytics and performance data that had been missing from the women's game for years. LPGA athletes suddenly had a wealth of information to help them make small adjustments in their practice routines or tournament play that would translate into significant performance gains. Hole 17at Sahalee CC - KPMG Performance Insights Branding – 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Since its inception, KPMG has been relentless in scaling up the platform. In 2022, for example, KPMG Performance Insights added a player dashboard (an example can be found here) with personalized portals that provide access to data and insights. In 2023, in support of KPMG ambassador and U.S. Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis, the company provided KPMG Performance Insights tools, such as analyzing 20,000 simulations to identify the optimal pairings for the matches. Those simulations went so far as to identify how players perform under pressure or on certain types of grass. Example of Player Dashboard. Last year KPMG Performance Insights went next level through the incorporation of AI-empowered predictive analytics that provided leading-edge insights for LPGA tournaments. Additionally, to enhance the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, KPMG partnered with T-Mobile to introduce KPMG CHAMPCAST presented by T-Mobile, which leverages ShotLink Pro 2.0 cutting-edge technology to create an immersive experience for fans watching at home or onsite. (An example of KPMG CHAMPCAST can be found here.) Advertisement 'The KPMG Women's PGA Championship is the most tech-forward event on the LPGA,' said Shawn Quill, National Sports Industry Leader at KPMG. 'Through KPMG Performance Insights and KPMG CHAMPCAST presented by T-Mobile, we're providing the players with real-time, shot-level data and analytics. With features like win probabilities, winning score projections, a dedicated player portal, 3D imagery, shot trails and individual shot highlights, players, fans and the media are able to get closer to the action than ever before.' KPMG CHAMPCAST presented by T-Mobile. As has been the case from the outset, KPMG continues to ramp up its platform by adding more features and benefits for players and fans. For the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, KPMG is providing new, enhanced features through an AI-generated daily recap. Hole-by-hole AI course analytics that will help players decide how best to attack the difficult Fields Ranch East layout at PGA Frisco. This feature will provide players with information on the best way to play each hole and the trouble spots to avoid on the course. Advertisement Based on the KPMG Performance Insights Daily Recap (an example can be found here) from Thursday's first round, there is a 92% chance the cutline falls between +2 and +4. Players will be able to use this data to help them decide how aggressively they will need to play in the second round. As an example, KPMG ambassador Leona Maguire currently sits at even par through 18 holes. Based on insights from the report, a round of 75 Friday gives her a 95% chance to make the weekend. Additional insights from the recap show the relative difficulty of each hole from the first round. For example, hole 6 (a 446-yard par 4 with bunkers protecting the green) currently has a birdie or better percentage of 2% and a bogey or worse percentage of nearly 50%. As players head into their second round, they will know that a score of par on the sixth hole is actually helping them gain strokes on the field. Daily recap graphic. These are all great tools for LPGA fans and media, but they're invaluable to the LPGA players. Advertisement 'As part of our strategy, we are focused on setting the standard for excellence in women's golf,' Quill said. 'We are excited about our new KPMG Performance Insights Daily Recaps that include AI-powered course analysis, which provides players data on how each hole is playing, and AI-generated scoring targets, so the players can see the predicted cut line and winning scores. These powerful insights will equip the players so they can adjust their approach as they prepare for the next round.' This article originally appeared on Golfweek: KPMG Women's PGA Championship showcase advanced analytics platform
