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The OWL Awards
December 20, 2006

I know what you're thinking – not another end-of-the-year awards column. I hear ya. That concept is staler than the plain popcorn in those “assorted variety” Christmas tins (don't you feel sorry for that section of the can, after you've eaten his cheese- and caramel-flavored neighbors?). But it's impossible to close the season without some kind of celebratory nod to the players, stories and clothing items that made 2006 not good, but great. And with all due respect to our good friends at Golfweek and Golf World, my awards column is way better. For real.

Here's the deal. I narrowed down the choices (with MUCH help from road warriors Dana, Pam and Paul), but you – the fans – get to vote on your favorites. Of course, this column and the awards bear the OWL name, and I'll be the one strutting down the red carpet, posing for the paparazzi and being interviewed by “Entertainment Tonight” after I hand Player X her diamond encrusted owl-shaped statue at the star-studded awards show, but at least you can say you participated.

The nominees are below. Choose your favorites (or nominate someone I may have missed) then e-mail me at onlinewithlaura@lpga.com. We'll tally your votes and announce the winners in January. Pencils ready? Begin.

SHOT OF THE YEAR

Karrie Webb, 18th hole, final round of Kraft Nabisco Championship
Pitching wedge from 116 yards, into the hole for eagle

Watch a video of Webb's shot.>>

Karrie's miraculous hole-out from the fairway at the Kraft Nabisco Championship has topped most every list as Shot of the Year – not just for the LPGA, but all of golf. I still get goosebumps when I see the highlights. And maybe I'm a geek, but I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I watched that ball roll in the cup. It was one of THOSE moments – not just because she made eagle from the fairway, but also because that's exactly what she needed in order to have a shot at the title (which she won, of course).

Se Ri Pak, first playoff hole, McDonald's LPGA Championship
Hybrid 4-iron from 201 yards to within inches for birdie

Watch a video of Pak's shot.>>

There was such a good back story to the McD playoff, which is what made Se Ri's shot so incredible. Karrie Webb had won the first major of the season in spectacular fashion, mounting a comeback of sorts after a few “down” years (for her). Se Ri charged into the playoff at Bulle Rock, seemingly out of nowhere after injuries and burnout turned 2005 into the worst year of her career. And with a bad tee shot by Se Ri on the first playoff hole, it seemed like Karrie was destined to go 2-for-2. But Se Ri had other plans, and the only thing that would have made her approach shot even more poetic (and eerie) was if it had rolled all the way in, ala K-Dub at KNC.

Lorena Ochoa, 9th hole, final round of Evian Masters
21-degree hybrid from 191 yards, into the hole for double-eagle

With six wins, a Rolex Player of the Year award and Vare Trophy honors, it's safe to assume that several of Lorena's 6,162 swings were amazing. But a double-eagle – the rarest shot in golf – earns you a Shot-of-the-Year nomination every time. It's only happened 26 times in the 56-year history of the LPGA Tour, and never by a player who was having such an incredibly good, not necessarily lucky, season.

BEST QUOTE

Cristie Kerr (responding to a question regarding the LPGA instituting a drug-testing policy for the 2008 season): “Well, as long as they don't test for wine, I think I'm all right.”

Love it. Totally something I would say.

Seon Hwa Lee (after being asked, what's something dangerous or crazy that you've tried but will never do again?): “Bowling. The ball was too heavy.”

Funny, right? This quote is a small illustration of how the South Korean players – many of whom we write off as uninteresting simply because we don't understand their language or culture – have personalities and senses of humor that are worth uncovering.

Lorena Ochoa (discussing the importance of beating Annika Sorenstam head-to-head at the Samsung World Championship): “I knew I could beat her, but now it's different because she knows that I can beat her.”

Oh no she dih-uhn! Oh yes, my girl Lorena certainly did. Well, it's not like she said “Quieres buya, buya te voy a traer?” but she's still putting it out there pretty strongly. It's fun to hear Lorena so confident in her ever-increasing ability to intimidate.

FAVORITE OUTFIT

Se Ri Pak, second round of the Evian Masters

With the help of her fashion-designer sister Yoo Ri, South Korea's reigning queen of golf looked amazing all season long – classic with a bit of envelope-pushing at the same time. But I had to give her props for this particular outfit. The color is great – and one that doesn't look good on everyone – and Se Ri is single-handedly bringing back the conductor's hat. All aboard!

Paula Creamer, first round of the Weetabix Women's British Open

What is it about the British that brings out the fashionistas in our players? The usually pastel-clad Paula looks amazing in all black, and the knee socks made this outfit worth all the annoying “Where's your pink?!?” questions she undoubtedly had to answer that day.

Jeong Jang, second round of the Weetabix Women's British Open

I changed the name of this category from “Best Outfit” to “Favorite Outfit” because several co-workers argued that there's nothing “best” about JJ's fashion statement here. But I think it's fantastic. She's adorable no matter what she wears, and you've got to give her credit for trying something new. Don't you just love the LPGA?

MOST EXCITING PLAYOFF*

Se Ri Pak versus Karrie Webb at the McDonald's LPGA Championship

Watch a video of the playoff.>>

Take two Hall of Famers, each finding their games after an off year, put them in a playoff at a major championship that both have won before at crucial times in their respective careers and add an incredible shot that HAD to have stopped your heart – and you've got a playoff for the ages. It's almost a shame Karrie didn't make birdie herself just to extend it a hole or two more.

Mi Hyun Kim versus Natalie Gulbis at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic

Hey, 1.3 million viewers on ESPN2 can't be wrong.

Watch a video of the playoff.>>


Mi Hyun Kim	Natalie Gulbis

Six players for three spots, Friday of the ADT Championship

Hands down, the most exciting Friday of golf I've ever seen. The whole do-or-die atmosphere was incredibly compelling, and the mix of proven veterans with relative newcomers made it must-see TV. All three players who advanced holed clutch, non-gimmie putts: Pressel (from 20 feet); Inkster (from 18 feet); and Ochoa (from 15 feet), giving us three priceless oh-my-god-that-could-go-in-that-could-go-in-she-made-it-did-you-see-that moments.

Watch a video of the playoff.>>


Morgan Pressel	Juli Inkster	Lorena Ochoa	Pat Hurst	Brittany Lang	Jee Young Lee

*Before you go off on me for leaving out the Kraft Nabisco Championship playoff between Karrie Webb and Lorena Ochoa – let me explain. While that playoff was certainly exciting, it was Karrie's shot in regulation that stole the show. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

BEST CELEBRATION

Joo Mi Kim pushed into the water after she won the SBS Open at Turtle Bay at SBS

What better way to celebrate your first win than being dragged, nearly kicking and screaming, by your “friends” into a greenside lake full of jagged rocks? Joo Mi hasn't won since – probably on purpose.

Watch a video of the celebration.>>

Karrie Webb leaping into her caddie's arms after holing her wedge shot on 18 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

I mean, isn't that exactly what you would have done?

Watch a video of the celebration.>>

Lorena Ochoa celebrating with adoring fans after winning the Corona Morelia Championship in her home country.

We often see players celebrate a victory with other players. With family. With friends. But rarely do you see her revel in the applause of an entire nation. Even rarer is the feeling that she genuinely shares her success with every single one of her fellow citizens.

THE WOW-I-DIDN'T-REALIZE-SHE-HAD-SUCH-A-GOOD YEAR PLAYER OF 2006

Stacy Prammanasudh

People often forget she's already won a tournament (even we made that mistake on LPGA.com earlier this year), probably because Stacy P just goes about her business quietly. But the praise for her game should be much louder. Check out her stats this year: six top-10 finishes, the best scoring average of her career and an 18th-place finish on the money list.

Brittany Lang

Brittany is the forgotten co-runner-up from the 2005 U.S. Women's Open (tied with Morgan Pressel after Birdie Kim holed that amazing bunker shot) and she was usually left out of all the talk about this season's promising rookie class. But the girl is good: seven top-10 finishes, including a tie for eighth in her first major as a pro and a 21st-place finish on the money list – higher than Ai Miyazato and Pressel.

Karine Icher

Some of you may be saying, “Karine Who?” But fans across the pond are very familiar with this Frenchwoman. She's won five times internationally, played on the European Solheim Cup Team in 2002 and is now devoting most of her time to the LPGA Tour with much success. She posted five top-10 finishes in 26 starts and finished 30th on the money list for the second year in a row (with no ADT Championship paycheck).

BEST OUT-OF-NOWHERE WIN

Sung Ah Yim at Florida's Natural Charity Championship

It's too bad the event wasn't televised. Annika had a one-stroke lead to start the day. Karrie Webb and Cristie Kerr were challenging for the title. And then Sung Ah comes along and steals the show. At the Rolex Reception last month, where she was honored as one of the season's Rolex First-Time Winners, Sung Ah still looked shocked.

Brittany Lincicome at HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship

A second-year Tour member and seeded 39th for the Tour's only official match play event, Brittany defeated eighth-ranked Juli Inkster for her first win and the $500,000 paycheck. But the real shocker was a 4&3 victory over second-seed Michelle Wie to advance to Sunday's semifinals. Be honest, you didn't think she could do it, did you?

Sherri Steinhauer at Weetabix Women's British Open

Yes, she'd won the British Open twice before. But it wasn't a major in 1998 or 1999, and Sherri hasn't exactly set the world on fire since then. So don't get mad at me for calling her three-stroke victory at Royal Lytham & St. Annes a surprise – albeit a great one. Even Sherri said, “I am absolutely stunned.”

MOST INSPIRING STORY

Jang Honors Korean War Vets

This wasn't a PR stunt or an obligation imposed upon her as tournament champion. In fact, it was only by chance that the media even found out about it. JJ went to the Korean War Memorial because it was the right thing to do, and I think we were all touched by the story and her sincerity. Read the story>>

A Lucky Quarter for Cristie Kerr

Al Eagleson's letter to the LPGA about his wife and his chance meeting Cristie Kerr, which was both sad and uplifting, hit close to home for many of you. It's a beautiful story that continues to inspire. Read the story>>

Ochoa Finds Support Away From Home

When you read this story, don't forget that Lorena's breakfast with the maintenance workers at Blackhawk Country Club was not a one-time thing. She reaches out to people of Mexican heritage wherever she goes – again, not for publicity, but to thank them for their hard work and support. Read the story>>

BEST MAILBAG SUBMISSION THAT NEVER GOT POSTED

Go to the blackboard and write WE ARE MORONIC OAFS until somebody decides to cover your Tour again. You guys are dumber than George Bush.
-J

I do not appreciate being disparaged in your column. I suppose you get some cheap laughs from a certain segments of your readers when you make fun of people, but that doesn't excuse it. I know it's supposed to be an entertainment column, but if you had more journalistic skills or a better sense of humor, then you would be able to entertain folks without having to resort to cheap shots and psuedo-slanderous innuendo.
-Tommy

Perhaps you shouldn't stir the mind so, with talk of whipped cream and such. If I might (also) be so bold, I'm sure there are MUCH better ways to eat whipped cream than with a spoon. Unfortunately, I'm married so I'm going to have to simply dream about THAT topic....unless you're interested in moving to UTAH.
-John

FAVORITE OWL COLUMN
Hey, you guys get an award, so I want one too!

State of the OWL

It's a new season, a fresh start and, as I was reminded while tagging along to The White House with the U.S. Solheim Cup Team last month, a mid-term election year. So in that vein, I refuse to rest on my laurels. It's time to write with unfettered inspiration - remind the people why they love the LPGA (and me), why the golf recession was only temporary and why, for goodness sake, there is reason to stand up and cheer for what promises to be the most compelling season in LPGA history!!! Read More>>

Confessions of a Sign Girl

Before the sweat, before the sore arm muscles and before the Twizzlers at the turn – there was the advice. Don't be lazy with the sign! Keep it parallel to the rope line! Watch yourself walking under trees! Stay out of the way! Don't chew your gum so loudly! Everyone, it seems, is an expert when it comes to standard-bearing, except me. My first lesson? Normally at the Safeway Classic, this job is performed by kids from the Oregon Golf Association's junior program. Forrest McCreadie, who has been a tournament volunteer for eight years, escorts me to the first tee and remarks, “You're one of the oldest standard-bearers I've brought to the tee…aside from some of the kids' parents who volunteer.” Great. Read More>>

The Rest of the Story

This is for you, Al. For your family. For all the people who knew and loved Barb – and for those, like me, who weren't lucky enough to meet her but are inspired by the life she lived and the battle she died fighting. Read More>>

If you would like to read any of Laura's other columns, just click right here.>> And remember that Laura opens the mailbag once a month and responds to your e-mails. Send any comments, questions or suggestions on topics you'd like Laura to tackle to onlinewithlaura@lpga.com.

Laura Neal is in her ninth year at the LPGA and currently is the Senior Director of Concept Development. She has traveled the Tour extensively and continues to work closely with the Tour players on a daily basis. Laura won a Golf Writer's Association of America (GWAA) award for her LPGA.com daily diary coverage of Annika at Colonial.