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WEST CALDWELL, N.J. — Coming over the top is an ailment that plagues tons of golfers. Players suck the club inside early and then reroute to the outside from the top. The result is weak, glancing contact that robs players of power and produces a weak fade or, in the worst cases, a slice.

This swing fault isn’t just reserved for weekend hackers though. Coming over the top is an issue that is seen at all levels of the game — including the professional ranks. And while I was walking the range at the LPGA’s Founders Cup Tuesday afternoon, I saw a major champion working on ironing out that exact flaw.

Cristie Kerr is among the best women’s golfers of her generation, but an over-the-top move can seep into her swing from time to time. And on the range at Mountain Ridge Country Club, I saw Kerr using an alignment stick to correct her club path.

As you can see in the video above, Kerr has jammed an alignment stick into the turf and put a pool noodle as padding on the end of it. Then she simply goes through her bag hitting balls and tries not to hit the pool noodle.

When she swings with the alignment stick above her intended plane, it forces her to shallow her swing to avoid the noodle. If Kerr hits any part of the aid, she knows her swing is coming over the top.

This is a drill that any golfer who struggles with a steep swing can use to shallow out their plane and make more solid contact.

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The post Players air frustrations after muddy third round at U.S. Women’s Open appeared first on Golf.

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HOUSTON — “Brutal” and “crazy.” Those were just a couple of words players used to describe the conditions in the third round of the 75th U.S. Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club.

After heavy rains on Friday, course conditions were soggy throughout the day Saturday as players tried to make their way up the leaderboard to put themselves in position for the final round. But with a long, wet course and no shortage of mud balls, most players were unable to make nearly enough birdies to make a move.

“Between the three of us we probably had six mud balls apiece out there, and they definitely affected shots,” said Cristie Kerr, who shot a third-round 74 and now sits five shots behind Hinaku Shibuno’s lead heading into Sunday. “It was pretty muddy out there.”

At most LPGA events, saturated conditions can result in preferred lies — also known as lift, clean and place — but in a major championship this ruling is rarely implemented.

Players largely lauded the setup during the first two rounds of this two-course championship, crediting the USGA for preparing the Cypress and Jackrabbit courses evenly without giving players on one course too much of an advantage. But at least some of that goodwill took a hit during the third round.

“[The mud] was an extreme issue,” said Lindsey Weaver, who shot a four-over 75 on Saturday and, at two over, is now six off the lead. “I’ve never played golf having this many mud balls. I didn’t even know what to expect … Sometimes it was a major factor, and sometimes it was okay, but it was brutal. Really, really brutal.”

After relatively benign conditions in the first two rounds, a cool, breezy and damp third round caused scores to soar. Just two players broke par on the Cypress Creek course, and the scoring average was a meaty 74.7 — nearly a full stroke harder than on Friday.

U.S. Opens are not meant to be easy, but with an already lengthy course and tucked pins, mud balls made birdies a rarity.

“In a way, it was hit it and hope,” said Sarah Schmelzel who played alongside Kerr and shot a third-round 76, which included four bogeys and a double. “It’s out of your control — it’s just luck what can happen to it.”

Schmelzel added that the demanding set-up was also a missed marketing opportunity, as the women’s game has the stage to itself this week with the PGA Tour off. The conditions, Schmelzel said, didn’t allow the players to showcase their best stuff.

“I think women’s golf deserves to be highlighted a little bit better than that,” Schmelzel said. “We want to see good shots on TV. We want our coverage to be fun for viewers. From my experience, and the experience of the girls in my group, it might not have been the most fair.”

Instruction

Houston resident and Champions member Stacy Lewis shared a similar sentiment. Although Lewis has more experience than most players in the field on the Cypress Creek course, she struggled to a six-over 77, all but guaranteeing that she won’t win her first U.S. Women’s Open on Sunday.

Lewis appeared upset after the round and spent nearly an hour on the range as dusk settled in.

“We get on network TV, we get on this big stage — there’s no other golf events going on — you want us to look good on TV more than anything,” Lewis said. “Either they need to play the ball up or they need to adjust their setup. Mud balls combined with the way they set the golf course up today set us up for long rounds and bad golf.”

Hope as some of players may for preferred lies in the final round, historical precedent suggests that won’t happen. But with more messiness in the forecast for Sunday, the problem isn’t likely to go away, either.

“It’ll be interesting with the rain coming tomorrow,” Kerr said. “ [I] doubt the USGA will play it up, but they should consider it.”

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Cristie Kerr birdied the 3rd hole at the Jackrabbit Course at Champions Golf Club. She birdied the 10th hole to get to one under during the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open. Kerr dropped a stroke on the next hole, but would finish with an even-par 71. After Thursday, she’s tied for 24th and four shots behind leader Amy Olson. 

On Monday, Kerr said, she would have thought you were crazy if you told her she would even be playing, let alone actually contending. 

Before last Friday’s second round of the Volunteers of America Classic, Kerr and her caddie were each thrown from a golf cart in a collision involving another cart. Kerr, according to Golfweek, dislocated three ribs and suffered knee, arm and hand contusions; her caddie, Matt Gelczis, who was on Kerr’s bag for the first time that Thursday, “just got a bump on the head and got only whiplash in his neck,” Kerr said. 

Six days later, she was playing in this year’s final major. 

“This is my favorite tournament. It’s our national championship,” said Kerr, who’s using her former caddie, Brady Stockton, this week as Gelczis is back at his home in Philadelphia recovering, according to Golfweek. “I feel like we’re so lucky to play it with Covid that I just love it. I just, I mean, I’ve been up at 4 in the morning icing. If there is any way possible, I’m not going to miss this tournament.”

Monday, she thought she would. The pain, on a scale of 1-10, was an imperfect 10. Tuesday, she chipped and putted at Champions. Stockton then convinced her to a 60-yard shot.  

“I skulled two of them over the green because it hurt so bad,” she said. 

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“I was like down in the dumps and dejected, and he’s like, ‘Stay positive.’ These are weird injuries. So that afternoon, after some food, I took some medicine, and I was able to get up to like three-quarter 7-irons on the range.”

On Wednesday, she played nine holes. And at 10:26 a.m. local time on Thursday in Houston, after multiple therapy sessions, after multiple hours of icing, after multiple pain pills, she teed off. 

“So like I’m pretty tough, but, yeah, it’s the chest and the ribs,” said Kerr, who at 43, is the oldest player in the Open field. “It moves around depending on where – like, the first four or five days, like, I had such a sharp pain in my left chest and in the back I couldn’t even like hardly get out of bed.

“Then it started moving to the center, and then, like, as I was starting to swing, it moved around, so it’s, like, everywhere, and I just don’t where it’ll pop up next, but as long as I keep moving in the rounds like and don’t get cold, it seems to be manageable.”

Kerr said she doesn’t remember much after last Friday morning’s cart collision. Before, “I swear to God we were being careful.”

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“It was pitch black. No lights,” she said. “There was a cart that was rounding the corner from the range, and I could see that, because that cart had headlights and our cart did not. I was using the flashlight to lead the way. We were going three-quarters of the speed. We were, like, both out making sure we were on the path, and had to move over just a touch left to miss the other cart coming our direction. We just hit this thing smack on.

“We were both thrown from the cart, and I just, I can’t remember. I remember landing, I remember the impact, and – I’m sorry.”

She became choked up. 

A few minutes later, after a few more questions, she cut her interview a bit short. Kerr had another therapy appointment. 

And an 11:06 a.m. tee time on Friday.

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Veteran LPGA pro Cristie Kerr and her caddie were injured in a golf cart accident in the early morning hours before the second round of the Volunteers of America Classic, according to a report from Golfweek.

Kerr, who shot a one-over 72 in Thursday’s opening round, was forced to withdraw from the LPGA event after sustaining “serious” injuries.

The incident occurred Friday morning at Old American Golf Club, the host course for the Volunteers of America Classic, in The Colony, Texas.

Golfweek spoke to Kerr’s husband, Erik Stevens, who confirmed that “both Kerr and her caddie, Matt Gelczis, spent several hours in the emergency room with multiple serious injuries before being discharged late in the afternoon.”

Kerr has accumulated 20 victories in her storied LPGA career, including two major championships: the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2010 Women’s PGA Championship. The 43-year-old American has competed in nine Solheim Cups and is currently ranked 109th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

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With the first tournament of the LPGA’s 2019 season underway at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, players are beginning to adjust to the new rules. Lexi Thompson, Lydia Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn, Stacy Lewis and Cristie Kerr were among those who discussed the changes in strategy and preparation.

Flagstick-in putting

Thompson, who just announced that her brother will be on the bag this season, doesn’t think she’ll use the flagstick often under the new rules. “I don’t really know what that can help,” Thompson said. “I’ll never do it unless the putt’s really fast and I need the putt to stop.”

Lewis likes the idea for recreational golf, but said it “seems strange” in competition.

Jutanugarn is a fan. “I don’t have to wait for my caddie to take the pin out; I can just putt it,” she said.

Kerr was unconvinced. “Unless it’s from 70 feet, you’ll never see me putt with the flagstick in,” she said before the round. “I like what I do on the greens. I’m just going to keep it that way.”

But she did face a putt from nearly 70 feet, left the pin in and, naturally, canned it.

New season, same old great putting by @CKGolferChic!

Watch live #DiamondLPGA coverage now @GolfChannel! pic.twitter.com/NUQf5ovwVt

— LPGA (@LPGA) January 17, 2019

Lining players up

In recent years many LPGA players have become comfortable with their caddies aligning them before shots. Under the new rules, that’s forbidden. Lydia Ko has leaned on her caddie for much of her career and said lining up on her own has been an adjustment.

“So this off-season, I’ve been practicing trying to line myself up,” she said. “It’s something that you’ve just got to get used to. As with anything, it just takes time. Now I feel fine lining myself up when I’m on the range.”

Thompson and Kerr agreed with the change and think the professional game should require players to line themselves up. “I’ve done it both ways,” Kerr said. “For 10 years, I got lined up, and then I got to No. 1 player in the world by not getting lined up.”

Lewis called it the “greatest change.”

Knee-high drops

The rule that has received the most backlash in early weeks stems from the awkward visuals from the newly-mandated knee-high drops.

“I actually practiced it, believe it or not,” Kerr said. “How to do it, how the ball’s going to bounce. Do you crouch and do it? How are you exactly supposed to do it? So we’re having a little rules meeting that a lot of us will go to to just brush up on it.”

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“Dropping from the knee looks funny, especially on those tall guys,” Lewis said. “Watching those tall guys on TV have to squat down looks kind of funny, but I think everybody’s going to get used to it in time.”

Thompson has practiced dropping from the knee but acknowledged that when it comes to the rules, she’ll check twice to make sure.

“There are so many rules changes I’ve got to read them all,” Thompson said. “I’ve got to just ask before I do anything.”

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CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) – Cristie Kerr shot an 8-under 64 on Friday in the Kia Classic to take a five-stroke lead into the weekend.

The 40-year-old Kerr had eight birdies in her second straight bogey-free round to reach 13-under 131 at rain-softened Aviara.

“I like winning. I like challenging myself,” Kerr said. “Definitely doesn’t get any easier as you get older with the travel and recovery time. I got up this morning and I’m like, `Man, why does my hamstring hurt?’ From working around this hilly golf course. The golf ball doesn’t know an age. I’ve always said that. As long as I stay hungry, going to just keep playing.”

She has 20 LPGA Tour victories, winning at Aviara in 2015. She won twice last year and helped the U.S. beat Europe in her ninth Solheim Cup appearance.

“It’s tough as you get older just being fresh and rested,” Kerr said. “I put more focus into that as I’ve gotten older. I still practice, but off the course I try to get more rest.”

Lizette Salas, In-Kyung Kim, Hee Young Park and Caroline Hedwall were tied for second. Salas shot 67, Kim 69, and Park and Hedwall 70.

“I really like this golf course. I really like the environment,” said Salas, the former University of Southern California player from Azusa. “My family gets to come out. So much confidence at the beginning of the week, and definitely showed the first two days.

Jeong Eun Lee was 7 under after a 69, and defending ANA champion So Yeon Ryu had a 70 to get to 6 under.

Ariya Jutanugarn (72), Brooke Henderson (70) and 2016 winner Lydia Ko (71) were 5 under. Shanshan Feng (68) was another stroke back, and Singapore winner Michelle Wie (72) was 1 under.

Lexi Thompson was 2 over after a 74, making the cut on the number in the final event before the major ANA Inspiration next week at Mission Hills.

Kerr opened with birdies on the par-5 10th and par-3 11th, added birdies on the par-4 16th, 18th and second, and ran off three in a row on the par-3 sixth, par-4 seventh and par-5 eighth.

“I don’t think you can fall asleep on one shot,” Kerr said. “It’s a really good golf course. I think I play better on courses that demand the focus, so I think that’s why I’ve played well here in the past. … I’m trying not to put limits on myself right now. I’ve got some good things going on with my swing.”

She has long been one best putters and green-readers in the world.

“I can see the subtleties that a lot of people can’t,” Kerr said. “It’s a gift from God being able to do that. I’ve always had that, so I’m lucky.”

Laura Davies withdrew after an opening 82. The 54-year-old Davies tied for second last week in the Founders Cup in Phoenix, playing through painful left Achilles and calf problems.

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CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Cristie Kerr shot an 8-under 64 on Friday in the Kia Classic to open a five-stroke lead halfway through the second round.

The 40-year-old Kerr, the 2015 winner at Aviara, had eight birdies in her second straight bogey-free round to reach 13-under 131 on the rain-softened course.

“I like winning. I like challenging myself,” Kerr said. “Definitely doesn’t get any easier as you get older with the travel and recovery time. I got up this morning and I’m like, ‘Man, why does my hamstring hurt?’ From working around this hilly golf course. The golf ball doesn’t know an age. I’ve always said that. As long as I stay hungry, going to just keep playing.”

She has 20 LPGA Tour victories, winning twice last year. She also helped the U.S. beat Europe last summer in her ninth Solheim Cup appearance.

“It’s tough as you get older just being fresh and rested,” Kerr said. “I put more focus into that as I’ve gotten older. I still practice, but off the course I try to get more rest.”

Lizette Salas, Hee Young Park and Caroline Hedwall were tied for second. Salas had a 67, and Park and Hedwall shot 70.

“I really like this golf course. I really like the environment,” said Salas, the former University of Southern California player from Azusa. “My family gets to come out. So much confidence at the beginning of the week, and definitely showed the first two days.

The afternoon starters included top-ranked Shanshan Feng, Inbee Park, Michelle Wie, Ariya Jutanugarn and Lydia Ko. Lexi Thompson was 2 over after a 74, leaving her in danger of missing the cut in the final event before the major ANA Inspiration next week at Mission Hills.

Kerr opened with birdies on the par-5 10th and par-3 11th, added birdies on the par-4 16th, 18th and second, and ran off three in a row on the par-3 sixth, par-4 seventh and par-5 eighth.

“I don’t think you can fall asleep on one shot,” Kerr said. “It’s a really good golf course. I think I play better on courses that demand the focus, so I think that’s why I’ve played well here in the past. … I’m trying not to put limits on myself right now. I’ve got some good things going on with my swing.”

She has long been one best putters and green-readers in the world.

“I can see the subtleties that a lot of people can’t,” Kerr said. “It’s a gift from God being able to do that. I’ve always had that, so I’m lucky.”

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