2012 Olympic Style Event

[pw]

According to www.golfchannel.com/news/randall-mell/navistar-olympics/ the LPGA is planning a new event in Julyish 2012 with 4 person teams from various countries playing match play. Sounds like a great event for Michelle, but currently she's not qualified based on either the top 4 Americans on the Rolex or the top 4 on the LPGA money list. Kind of an indication how she's been struggling lately.

Anyway, sounds like a great possible event for Michelle if she can find her form somewhere! She still has lots of time.

[LoJo]

Hmmm.... sounds like an event to shut up all the bleating about the inequities of other nations not being in the Solheim Cup.

In any case, any new event for the LPGA is good. Hopefully, Michelle will have time to qualify for something like this because you know the sponsors, et al would love to have her playing.

I wonder, though, how they're going to field competitive teams from countries like Norway or Germany. Yes, there are other professionals from those places, but not at the level of US or Korean players or even Swedish players. I mean ...Norway....ya got Pettersen and then who? Marianne Skarpnord... ... is Norwegian, but then it's slim pickin's.

[wiesyfan]

Yeah, it will be interesting how they come up with the criteria for this event. As mentionned not many countries have more than 1 or 2 really good players and then there are other countries that have more than 4 who are high in the rankings.

[pw]

I was wondering the same thing about Pettersen, Tseng, etc. At least Korea, US, and Japan could have good teams which should make up, somewhat, for them not being in the Solheim (not that I think there is anything wrong with the Solheim!)

Maybe they could allow people from counties that don't have enough players in the top x of the Rolex to form alliances. Norway and Taiwan are pretty similar aren't they? Or maybe since China owns half of Europe, they could be allowed draft a few players, lots of possibilities

[LoJo]

;D Hahahaha! Good one, PW. Yeah, China could field a team from any country!

[lumazi]

I would create 4groups:
1. USA
2. KOREA
3. EUROPE
4. REST OF THE WORLD.

In fact it would be possible to consider 2 teams for each group. Each team would have 4 players. The players would be selected according to the Rolex Rankings.

[LoJo]

Nov 2, 2011 16:19:45 GMT -5 lumazi said:

I would create 4groups:
1. USA
2. KOREA
3. EUROPE
4. REST OF THE WORLD.

In fact it would be possible to consider 2 teams for each group. Each team would have 4 players. The players would be selected according to the Rolex Rankings.

Yeah...but as pointed out somewhere -- what if the final two teams were both from Korea, or both from the USA?

So, you'd have USA "A" team playing USA "B" team, or Korea "A" vs. Korea "B", for the finals to lay claim to the championship?

This thing needs to serious thought before going forward.

[lumazi]

Nov 2, 2011 17:04:42 GMT -5 LoJo said:

Nov 2, 2011 16:19:45 GMT -5 lumazi said:

I would create 4groups:
1. USA
2. KOREA
3. EUROPE
4. REST OF THE WORLD.

In fact it would be possible to consider 2 teams for each group. Each team would have 4 players. The players would be selected according to the Rolex Rankings.

Yeah...but as pointed out somewhere -- what if the final two teams were both from Korea, or both from the USA?

So, you'd have USA "A" team playing USA "B" team, or Korea "A" vs. Korea "B", for the finals to lay claim to the championship?

This thing needs to serious thought before going forward.

I do not have a problem with having both teams from Korea battling it on the final day, altough I admit that some will. What I want is for the teams to have as many top players as possible.

As of today only USA and KOREA get their players selected from the top 20.

Take Taiwan for example. We would have Yani teamed with Amy Hung and Candie Kung (89 and 90 in the rankings). I would much rather see Yani playing alogside Kerrie Webb (16th ranked) and Ai Miyazato (8th)

I want to see as many top players as possible.