Trading the Clubs for a Mic

For the first time in her career Morgan Pressel worked as a member of the golf media. Last week Pressel travelled to Washington to contribute to Fox’s coverage of the U.S. Open Championship at Chambers Bay. She worked long hours, interviewed players and read press conference notes. Though she is known for her strong work ethic and preparation for the golf course she had to learn a different kind of preparation for this job.

“This was different,” said Pressel. “Having to learn a new golf course without playing it, which was interesting because I just walked the course a couple times on the practice days. And then learning how to ask a question was probably one of the most difficult things that I had to do and something that I tried to lean on a lot of people in the media that I knew for some help there.”

“It was great, I really enjoyed it” said Pressel. “Probably my favorite part was just calling golf, sitting in the booth and talking about the shots that were being played.”

Contributing to Fox Sports was a trade-off, a new experience but that meant a little less time on the range. Pressel was only able to practice once last week, and has been spending whatever time she can making sure she is ready for this week in Arkansas.

“I’ve been trying to put in a little bit extra time here” said Pressel. “It’s nice that today I don’t play because of the pro am, I played yesterday, so going to go out and put a few hours in on the range, as much heat as I can take this afternoon. Really just try and get some work done so I can really feel prepared for tomorrow.”

BEST STRETCH OF PRESSEL’S CAREER?

Morgan Pressel has been playing well as of late. She has put herself in contention with four top-five finishes in her last eight starts. Arguably one of the stretch of results she has had in her professional career.

“I mean, it would be hard to argue with those results, so I guess yes, definitely the best results I’ve had,” said Pressel. “I’ve been working really hard this week on my putting, I feel like it let me down a little bit at KPMG.”

However, Pressel does not think this good stretch of golf is the best golf she has played in her career. She references back to 2005 when she won the U.S. Amateur at 16 years old. That year she was Girls Rolex Junior Player of the Year, a member of the Junior Solheim Cup Team, and finished 2nd at the North and South Amateur. Understandably her best year as a golfer.

“Do I feel like it’s the best golf I’ve ever played? Probably not,” said Pressel. “The best golf I’ve ever played was probably when I won the Women’s Amateur still to this day, what, 11 years ago. But I still hope I have better golf ahead of me, so that’s always looking forward to a better day tomorrow and a better year next year and things like that.”

FIRST TEE EXPERIENCE

Six teens from the Arkansas’ First Tee program came out Thursday to see what it was like to be a reporter on site at an LPGA event.

For Cheyenne Woods, a former First Tee and LPGA-USGA Girls Golf participant, it was like looking at a reflection as they asked her questions, took pictures, and had her sign for them.

“It’s funny because it doesn’t feel like that long ago that I was where they are. Coming out to LPGA events and asking for autographs and looking up to these women,” Woods said. “So it’s kind of cool to see how the roles have reversed a little bit and for me to be in that position now it’s exciting because hopefully I can show them what’s possible.”

Woods showed what’s possible in her game a couple weeks ago at the Manulife LPGA Classic with a 9-under-par 63 in the first round. She didn’t follow that up with good enough rounds to contend on the weekend, but she thinks that round can be just the tip of the iceberg in what she hopes becomes a trend.

“It gave me reassurance in my game,” Woods said. “I did have a stretch of not so great tournaments, but reassurance that it’s there and that I am able to come out here and play well and be in contention.”

Why not this week? Why not on the 17th, the loudest hole on Tour?

“I grew up going to the Phoenix Open. I went to the 16th hole and I was one of the hecklers, and yelling and doing all that,” Woods said. “I’ve always wanted to play a hole like that and for us to have the 17th here is really exciting and I hope the fans come out.”

She remembers being in the clubhouse as a six-year-old girl, looking up at the TV to watch her uncle, Tiger, seemingly set up off arguably the loudest roar in Phoenix Open history with a hole-in-one at the 16th. Now, she’s hoping to do something similar this week.

“It’s one of the best setups we have all year. With the 17th hole, that’s just awesome,” Woods said.

NOTES AND STUFF

LPGA rookie Sadena Parks is featured in the upcoming ESPN The Body Issue. Parks joins 23 other athletes featured in the annual issue including Bryce Harper, Kevin Love, Odell Beckham Jr., Laird Hamilton, Gabby Reece, Tyler Seguin and Brittney Griner, among others. The issue will be released online on July 6 and on newsstands July 10. “I can’t even express my excitement to be in this awesome magazine. I have always wanted to be in The Body Issue since it first came out. It being my rookie year and me being included in this – I am just overwhelmed and excited. I am anxious to see not only to see how my pictures came out, but everyone’s pictures. I look forward to this every year. Camilo Villegas is the ultimate picture – that’s the wow factor."

The Race to the CME Globe is heating up, with Inbee Park passing Lydia Ko for the lead after her win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The Race to the CME Globe is a season-long points competition in which LPGA members accumulate points in every Official LPGA Tournament and compete for the $1 million prize. For a complete points listing, please visit www.lpga.com/race-to-cme-globe/updated-points-listing

The 2015 Solheim Cup will take place Sept. 18-20 at St. Leon-Rot Golf Club near Heidelberg, Germany. Players began earning points toward the 2015 Solheim Cup at the 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open and can earn points through the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. For a complete listing of Solheim Cup points for Team USA, please visit www.lpga.com/statistics/points/solheim-cup

ROLEX RANKINGS SCENARIOS

Below are the Rolex Rankings No. 1 projections for this week at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G.

Inbee Park will remain No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings this week even regardless of her finish this week.

Lydia Ko will remain No. 2 in the Rolex Rankings this week regardless of her finish this week.

Stacy Lewis will remain No. 3 in the Rolex Rankings regardless of her finish this week.

AIRTIMES THIS WEEK

Golf Channel will broadcast all the action at the Walmart NW Arkansas Presented by P&G with air times listed below. All times listed are Central.

June 26

10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

June 27

2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

June 28

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

You can always catch full coverage of the LPGA on the Golf LIVE Extra app / golfchannel.com.

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G Thursday News and Notes

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