BOUNCING BACK
The 2015 season was a difficult one for Jodi Ewart Shadoff. On top of making some swing changes with coach David Leadbetter, the England native suffered a back injury in the middle of the year and the results just weren’t easy to come by for the 2013 European Solheim Cup Team member.
“I just lost my confidence overall,” Ewart Shadoff said. “Going through swing changes and stuff, it’s hard to keep that confidence up while you’re playing.”
Ewart Shadoff had a long layoff in the fall as she didn’t get into the LPGA’s Fall Asian Swing. It ended up being a blessing as the time off allowed her to focus more on the swing changes she was making and to regain her confidence by working with her sports psychologist, Dr. Bob Winters. She felt like everything was coming together over the past few months and it showed on the course Thursday with her opening round 5-under par, 67 at Aviara Golf Club, thanks in part to a slight tweak she made to her putter.
“I went to TaylorMade this week and I got on their putting lab thing, and I was consistently aiming like a degree left,” Ewart Shadoff said. “And they put a piece of tape on the back of my putter, so they take away the sight line. Then I started aiming dead square.
“So now I’m playing with a piece of tape off of the line on the back of my putter today. I putted great today, apart from one hole on No. 7. But it’s doing a lot for my confidence and a lot for my feel.”
ROLEX RANKINGS SCENARIOS
Below are the Rolex Rankings projections for this week at the Kia Classic. Please confirm with the LPGA staff during the tournament for updates.
Lydia Ko remains No. 1 this week regardless of her result and what happens in the field.
Inbee Park will maintain No. 2 no matter the result of all players.
Sei Young Kim can become No. 4 if:
She wins AND Stacy Lewis finishes in third or worse
Sei Young Kim can become No. 3 if:
She wins AND Lexi Thompson finishes 61st or worse AND Stacy Lewis finishes third or worse
Ha Na Jang can become No. 4 if:
She wins AND Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis and Sei Young Kim finish in a three-way tie for 10th or worse
Quotable
“We know the weather, it’s perfect. Obviously in the morning it’s a little cooler, so you’ve got a couple layers on, but this is as perfect as it gets. Carlsbad is so beautiful and I said it would be pretty cool to even live here. So it’s always good to be back where you feel very welcomed and you really know it’s a beautiful place.” – Lydia Ko
Of Note
- Alison Lee and Ji Young Oh withdrew prior to the conclusion of the first round
- Inbee Park’s 67 tied her lowest career round here at Aviara Golf Club, which she shot in the final round last year
- Thursday marked only the third time in her last 58 rounds that former world No. 1 Ai Miyazato has shot 67 or lower
LAST PUSH FOR THE ANA INSPIRATION
This week’s Kia Classic marks the final opportunity for players to earn spots in the field for the first major of the 2016 season, the ANA Inspiration.
The final criteria for players to get into the field at next week’s ANA Inspiration is based on the top-20 players who aren’t already qualified and are currently in the top-80 on the 2016 LPGA Official Money List at the conclusion of the Kia Classic.
Jodi Ewart Shadoff increased her chances of earning a spot in the field with her 5-under par, 67 in Thursday’s opening round at Aviara Golf Club. Ewart Shadoff currently sits 76th ($23,274) on the 2016 LPGA Official Money List and a strong finish at this week’s event would likely guarantee her a spot.
Here are a few other players to watch:
| Position on Money List | Player | Money Won | Position After Rd.1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | Giulia Sergas | $14,735 | T-14 |
| 101 | Daniela Iacobelli | $11,881 | T-26 |
| 127 | Felicity Johnson | $3,185 | T-7 |
)
)
)
)
