Lots of good golf shots, lots of competitive fire, and lots of drama... to say the least! After months of battling, we're finally down to the last two competitors. These women will duke it out in an eighteen hole match play competition tonight, and a Big Break Ka'anapali Champion will finally be crowned!
No pressure right? Hmmm.... thousands watching, LPGA exemption on the line, BMW on the line, endorsement deals on the line... or nothing! How are Sophie & Kim going to be feeling going into the final match, and what are they going to do to control their emotions and handle the pressure they're under?
Big Break VI Champion, Briana Vega, was nice enough to answer a few question for me, to give us some sense of what Sophi & Kim will be going through tonight in the final match:
- How did you feel going into the finals of Big Break VI... did you have a particular game plan heading into the final match?
I felt really confident going into the final match! I was actually less nervous going into the finals than I was going into any of the other challenges. My game plan was mainly just to have fun. I had worked so hard to get to this point, and I really just wanted to enjoy the experience.
- How did you handle the pressure throughout the day of your final match?
There was a lot of pressure in the final match, a lot was on the line, and I really wanted to take advantage of this career changing oppourtunity. But I just kept reminding myself how hard I worked to get here, and to just stay confident. Like I said, I was less nervous about the final than all the other challenges... but I was still a bit anxious.
- Was the pressure similar to what you have experienced in some of your other big golf events... for example, when you competed in the 2004 United States Women's Open Championship?
The pressure of The Big Break overall is harder than any tournament I've played in, including the US Open. Before the show I had never been as nervous as I was, even at the Open. My nerves hit a whole new level!
- What was the most valuable lesson you took from your Big Break experiences, and what has winning The Big Break done for your career?
Winning the show opened a lot of doors for me, and I got the jump start I needed. However, more importantly, I found a new sense of confidents and accomplishment!
- What advice would you offer up to Kim & Sophie heading into their final match?
The advice I would give Kim and Sophie would be to have fun and enjoy the moment. You are two of the few people who get to experience this pressure, and you should both be proud of what you have done so far! And play your own game!
Since winning Big Break VI, Briana has shown steady improvement in her game year after year. I see big things from this competitor, having seen her play first hand. I'm confident that in time she will do big things, and be one of the many Big Breakers that will make The Golf Channel proud!
Quite the week in Ka'anapali... to say the least! Overall, there's no doubt that Kim & Sophie are playing the best golf going into the the last few shows, but I do find it a bit unfortunate the way things turned out for Christina Lecuyer. It was pretty obvious that Kim, Lori & Sophie had it out for Christina. Hopefully Christina will be able to look back and bring lots of good from her Big Break experience. She, without a doubt, greatly regrets having ever said "choke", and recognizes that there is no room for that in golf.
I actually had a chance to follow Christina around for 18 holes in last weeks Women's Canadian Tour event... ironically enough, she ended up playing the final round with Susan Choi. I must say that Christina's etiquette was respectable, and she was complimentary to Susan, and the other player in the group, after well hit shots. I believe Christina took a lot from competing on this show and I do feel as though it helped her understand that there's more to the game of golf than just winning. Yes, the main objective of every competitor is to win, but golf offers us so much more than that. Most importantly, golf offers us up an opportunity to become a better person and learn many of life's lessons... some of them the hard way.
Christina Lecuyer - No doubt the least experienced of the final four competitors... but she has really held her own the last couple weeks. I give Christina lots of credit for battling the elements and putting up with all the head games that Lori has offered up to her. Although I never condoned Christina's "choke" comment, I feel strongly that it does no good at all to look into the past. Christina offered up a very sincere apology, and truly learned her lesson the hard way... to say the least! How much more can Christina put up with is the question? I'm not sure she can put up with much more to be honest and I don't really feel as though she has much more in her tank.
Lori Atsedes - Experience wise.... way more than the remaining competitors... but experience isn't everything. I am a bit surprised that Lori has continued her quest in trying to tear the other players apart. I do understand and appreciate that there is still a bit of gamesmanship played out their on the golf tour... but to this extent... not in the past fifteen to twenty years. I am confident that Lori would be a much better player if she stayed focused on her own game as opposed to putting lots of her energy towards figuring other players out. After all... isn't that one of the greatest things that this game has to offer? It is a game that challenges us to focus solely on ourselves and the better we can do at this... the better we are as players. My prediction... Lori is wasting too much of her energy on things she has no control over and that is not a good sign. I do not see Lori in that final twosome in the last episode, but I do feel Lori will be a better person and player after her Big Break experience. Hopefully in the end, it will help bring her closer to her dreams and golfing goals!
Kim Welch - I am confident that Kim is the one to beat. I loved the comment she had in her confessional on last night's episode. "Same pressure, different reaction" she said... refering to how she learned from her past elimination challenges. Kim is a player who understands that it's ok to make mistakes... as long as you learn from your mistakes. Players capable of this are players that are going to continue to improve, and players we should all watch out for!
Sophie Sandolo - Sophie definitely has a great chance at becoming the Big Break Ka'anapali champ. This is a player with a lot of competitive experience and someone who knows how to hit all the shots. She has a great short-game which is typical of most good European players. I also think Sophie has a great head on her shoulders, for she handled Lori's jabs like a champ! She said it got to her a bit, but she actually hit a very nice shot after the ruling, and in the end, she came through in the clutch. She is a focused player who knows what she wants.
I first met Susan Choi when she was a young freshman at the prestigious Wellesley College . At that moment in time Susan had very little competitive golf under her belt... playing most of her golf with her dad, who introduced her to the game.
At the end of her first season of playing Division III golf, one in which she had held just about a ninety stroke average, Susan approached me expressing her desire to make golf a career... and someday play on the LPGA Tour. Wow!!! Needless to say, I was caught a bit off guard, mainly because I knew that Susan's main reason for attending Wellesley was to someday become a doctor... and I couldn't even comprehend why a woman would ever attend Wellesley with the intention of becoming a professional golfer. Anyhow, I basically told Susan that playing professional golf was not all glamour and glory... but instead, it would take a lot of hard work and sacrifice. I told her that if she was serious about what she was saying, then she would have to stay committed to her decision, dedicate herself 100%, and never look back! At the time it was very difficult for me to believe that Susan was totally serious about her desire to play on the LPGA Tour, but I did see talent in Susan, and I encouraged her to prove to me how bad she really wanted it.
Anyhow, by the end of her senior season at Wellesley, Susan had a total of 13 NCAA Wins (8 consecutive wins her senior season), was a two-time NCAA All-American, was the 2006 Wellesley College Athlete of the Year, and had the second lowest scoring average in the country for a Division III Golfer with a 74.5 average! That summer Susan went on to win the New England Women's Amateur Championship, two professional mini-tour events as an amateur, one International amateur event, and cracked the top 30 in the GolfWeek / Titleist Women's National Rankings. Not bad for a beginner!
The other thing Susan said to me, the day she told me she wanted to play on the LPGA Tour, was that she wanted to touch the lives of thousands of people in a positive way and felt that being a professional golfer would be a wonderful avenue towards accomplishing this goal. "I want to make people happy and help the needy" Susan expressed to me. Susan is a believer and she is playing the game for all the right reasons! Susan loves to compete, and loves the game of golf. I am confident that her deep desire to help others, and her passion for playing golf the way it was meant to be played... as a game... will no doubt help the lives of thousands of people by the time her career comes to an end... which won't be for a very long time!
Great job Susan... you're well on your way and you've already touched many lives. Keep up the great work!
Golf For Women Magazine blogger, Gayle Moss, shares her perspective on The Big Break Ka'anapali. Lots of great video clips, interviews and pics of our favorite Big Breakers!
"Susan is proving to be somebody who doesn't know what fear is yet, and that makes her a dangerous person." said Lori.
"Freedom" is a word that Susan and I use regularly in competition... play with freedom and swing with freedom. Even if nerves creep in, there is now room for fear. Enjoy the nerves, eliminate the fear! Fear is a barrier that prevents true talent from ever coming out.
It's exciting for me to see a bit of respect from Susan's fellow Big Breakers... they obviously recognize that Susan has a fearless, carefree attitude to the game... and she's worked hard on that. Since day one of Susan's competitive career she has prepared for each shot with a feeless attitude... a skill that anybody can learn, if that is the purpose they bring to each day on the course. Set a goal for yourself to take this attitude to the course day after day.
"I love games", expressed Susan on episode #1. Yes, she doesn't have the experience of the other players, but that comes with time, that comes with patience. Let's learn something from Susan's freedom. Let's recognize that there truly is nothing to be afraid of on the golf course.
Probably more golf than we've seen in any of the other episodes, with no less fire or animosity.
Although I do not condone routing against an opponent, I do feel that Christina learned her lesson soon after her "choke" comment. As I stated in an earlier entry, I feel Christina got caught up in the moment and will never let something like that happen again. I remember reading about the legendary Bobby Jones' firey temper, and habit of throwing clubs at a young age... later to become known as one of golf's greatest gentleman. We all make mistakes, and the winners learn and grow from their mistakes. Hopefully this comment that Christina made will shape her in a positive way, and that her fellow competitors will not hold this against her for much longer.
Great show tonight... and not just because Susan continues to show her stuff week after week. Everyone on the show is starting to prove that they can hit shots when they really need to.
I was actually quite impressed with Courtney and I feel that this Big Break experience is going to help her immensely in her future endeavors... maybe even on a grander scale than any of the other twelve Ka'anapali competitors. The first comments I remember from Courtney was how lost she felt without her husband Kevin. How he really did everything for her on the golf course... everything but actually hitting the shot for her. I had a real bad feeling about how Courtney was going to do from the get go... but found myself growing more confident in her staying on the show as the weeks passed. This is someone that really grew as a player right before our eyes. This is someone that showed up on day one with very little confidence to play this game on her own, and is leaving the show believing that she is just as capable of succeeding on her own as she is with her husband by her side. What a great learning experience for her. I do also feel this is a very valuable lesson for many coaches / parents / teachers / mentors / etc... as important as it is for us to teach and guide our students with passion, it is just as important for us to let them go out and learn on their own. Sometimes it's not easy, but it's necessary! And last but not least... awesome birdie Courtney... way to go out with a bang!!!
As for the remaining players on the show... I could actually see any one of these women winning. Lori couldn't have said it better. "We all have our strengths, and we all have our weaknesses!" I see that as being a very accurate statement... although they all have more strengths than weaknesses to say the least. I think the choice of competitions is going to be a huge factor in who is the final player standing.
This past week Susan Choi played in her first ever Canadian Women's Tour event. Entering the final nine holes of the tournament, four shots back of the leader, Susan went on to make birdies on holes number 10, 11, 12, 13 & 15. This phenomenal play got Susan into a playoff. She went on to make par in the playoff and finished the tournament in second place. Her final round was the lowest round of the tournament... on a very difficult course, with tough conditions.
This afternoon Susan and I sat down for some lunch... so I thought it might be nice to ask her a couple questions about what she thinks about the Big Break so far:
- What does it feel like to watch yourself on TV week in and week out?
Very strange actually! I laugh a lot... but I also learn a lot from watching myself talk and compete. I really can't believe I hit some of the shots I hit. But in all, it's an experience that money could never buy. So few people are lucky enough to have something like this happen in their life. Even though I wish I could hit some shots over, I think I'm a better player because of it.
- If you could pick one shot to have over, out of the what's happened so far in the competition, which one would it be?
Oh definitely the shot I took to get into the $5,000 challenge! My heart kind of sank when they told us that the players still in that challenge could win all that money. I don't think I would've approached the shot any differently... I just wish I could get another shot at it!
- What do you think has been the toughest challenge so far?
I'd say the first one... mainly because of all the cameras. It was so new for me and something that took me a few shots to get used to. There were around fifteen cameras at every angle... and all of a sudden someone says "Play away". I was like..... NOW? Wow!! Very strange and scary experience. I got used to it quick though. I really feel stronger because of it!
- What was your favorite challenge?
Definitely short-game challenge out of the bunker. That was really fun. Like I said on TV, I love bunker shots... even like them more under pressure. For some reason I really like challenging myself out of the bunkers. I think it's because when I learned the game I really wasn't great out of the bunkers and I've really, really worked hard on my bunker game over the last few years. Plus I love the beach! Ha, ha!!
- Can you give the Golf Fitness Magazine readers any tips on what is to come on the Big Break?
Unfortunetely no! You just have to keep watching the show!
As a former competitor, I do understand how easy it
is to get caught up in the moment. The heat of battle can sometimes even
be a complete blur... and quite often completely taking a player out of their
norm. One situation in this week's show, that I would like to briefly touch
on, is when Christina seemed to be rooting against Tina. While I can truly
appreciate Christina's will to win, I believe she did get a little caught up in
the moment.
It is really important to remember and appreciate
why the game of golf is so special, so unique. In only this game
do fierce competitors call penalties on themselves... even when it
matters most. In only this game do fierce competitors root for one
another, as did the duo of Jack Nicklaus & Tom Watson... just so they could
have an opportunity to prove to themselves what they are really made
of. Golf has got to where it is today because of what those legends
have left behind.
As competitors, enjoy being pushed harder than you thought you could be pushed, like
Nicklaus & Watson. Love having the opportunity to learn and
grow from the good play of your competition... and look forward to
future challenges. If your competition doesn't improve or do
their best, then you will never really know what you were truly capable of.
Each and every day you show up for an event, it could do nothing but
good to look forward to your competition bringing everything they have,
bringing their “A-Game”, just so you can bring more!
Love the challenge, love to learn, enjoy the process!
I am going to stress this once again... that if the Big Break is watched with the right intention, it could add so much value to a competitive golfer's arsenal. It truly is a case study on performance, and sports psychology. I have been studying golf mechanics, golf performance & sports performance intently for the past twenty years of my life, and I take lots of pride in sharing gathered tidbits of information with my students. Things that I have learned over those twenty years of my career, and things that I feel have taken me just about twenty years to learn. That is what experience is, right? Especially in teaching the game of golf. With age comes experience and knowledge. The more small things you can pick up over time, the better you become. A good teacher / mentor is one that can strategically and positively share past experiences or mistakes with a student. In turn, this will help the student bypass certain mistakes that they otherwise could have made and allow that student to learn at a more rapid pace... potentially saving years. I can remember when Bob Toski would share things with me that probably took him thirty years to learn, and in turn I learned it in thirty minutes... simply because he was willing to share his experiences. That is what made him a great mentor.
With all that being said... as the pressure grows week in and week out for the remaining competitors, let's continue to watch and learn. Let us continue to be thankful and appreciate that these players have put themselves out there for the entire golfing world to critique. This type of pressure really is not what those players on the PGA & LPGA Tour face. Those players hit a few bad shots and more often than not, the TV cameras are actually taken off the player and move to players that are performing better... like the players in the final groupings of the day. When a player's every single move is watched and critiqued, it is so easy to tear that player apart. We should instead thank the player for putting themselves out there. Let's thank them for their courage and watch with the intent of learning from their goods and bads.
Shattering The Glass - Looks like about a two foot by two foot square that these girls were firing shots at. First comment... great way to spend a practice session! Spending say thirty minutes each week on breaking some glass like this is not only a great way to take out some frustration, but also a great way to improve clubface control and trajectory.
The speed aspect that this challenge entailed was a tough one... but good. It definitely added a bit of anxiety to the mix and challenged the players. If I were in a situation that I had to hit a target this small and this low to the ground, I would definitely want a little extra time to take a some extra practice swings. Not having this extra time available definitely makes the shot more difficult. It was nice to see some of the players, Sophie for example, really take her time and feel the shot before she hit the shot. She clearly tried not to rush, and almost removed the time element all together
Three Hole Immunity Challenge - Anytime you incorporate a team component into the game of golf, it takes a player out of their element. It's tough! Not saying it's a bad thing... it's just tough. Typically it is not something professional golfers are used to. I would actually have to say that it is good training for most players that have a difficult time focusing on their own game, because that is really the key. Once a player starts worrying about anything that is out of their control, they are just simply wasting energy... and the player will most likely not perform up to his/her ability. In being able to perform in a peak performance state, it is critical for a player to be completely and utterly in his or her own little world. A player really should not have any concerns other than what they have control over, and what they are trying to accomplish at that moment in time.
As for the teams themselves... I really do not think it mattered one way or another. Every player in the competition has the ability to make birdie and/or par on each of those three holes. Yes, Dana and Susan made bogie when it mattered most, and they just happened to be on the same team, but that is the nature of the game, and that's the nature of learning the game. I think the focus in the confessionals afterwords should have revolved around how each player should have been more focused on playing their own game, rather than who was on which team, and who was playing what hole.
Elimination Challenge - A few really interesting things we should take out of the elimination challenge. First, do not underestimate a player. I heard some serious chatter coming from the BMW Safety Zone that expressed how much they all should not have underestimated Susan like they had. Once again... in competition... nobody should ever underestimate anybody. It is a competitive cardinal sin... bottom line! Susan is a girl that has been playing competitive golf for five years and has 13 NCAA collegiate wins, one international amateur win and two professional mini-tour wins under her belt... and she is being underestimated. Word of advice... the less you know about someone the more you should respect them.
Point number two... experience! Kim did not have her A game in this competition, that was obvious. I give her lots of credit though, for she found a way to not come out on bottom. Susan, and especially Dana, made some serious mistakes by going into, and flirting with, the water hazard like they did. Even though Kim scored poorly, she did not make huge mistakes. She took penalty strokes out of play by aiming as far left as she could. No chance of penalty strokes left, she aimed left. Dana hit numerous balls into the water in front of the green and it cost her another appearance on the show. I would say that Dana is an experienced player, but she has been out of competition for some time. Not feeling the heat of battle week in and week out allows us to sometimes forget the simplest of things. Just remember though, if you do not feel like you have your A game on a given day, play away from trouble! Don't try to be a hero!!!
Final point... no matter what game you are playing, match play or medal play, you are still trying to beat the golf course... hole by hole, shot by shot. Once you start worrying about who did what or how a match stands at any given time, that's when you are in trouble. I was very proud to hear Susan express how her primary focus in this challenge was to compete against the course. Good job Susan... control your controllables!
The Famous Flop Wall - Some pretty darn good shots were taken over that wall. In this case, I don't think the height of the wall was the most difficult part of the shot... rather, having to hit that shot completely blind, I felt, was the challenge. Impressive... but a shot that's absolutely imperative to have in the bag for a professional golfer! I think Dana recognized that the difficulty wasn't in getting the ball up quick enough, but instead just finding a nice rhythm, and trusting the shot she chose to hit. Good going Dana!!
Short-game Immunity Challenge - When the pressure begins to intensify, we often begin to see indecision creep in... no exception this week. The most obvious example of this was Adrienne's bunker shots. Adrienne had a difficult time choosing between her 56 degree wedge and 60 degree wedge. Truth is though, as talented as Adrienne is, I would bet that during a normal practice session she would be more than capable of hitting either one of her wedges up there inside six to ten feet of the cup with no problem. Adrienne admitted that she was torn between the two clubs and had a tough time committing to her bunker shots. Good lesson learned here... make a decision and convince yourself it's the right one!!!
I also have to mention that I was quite proud of Susan in this episode. Susan is a very good bunker player, and under the circumstances, made her bunker shots look easy. I'm confident that Susan earned some respect this week! Check out Kim's comments on how her impression of Susan has changed since day one... click here.
Elimination Challenge - This was a tough one to watch... as most reality shows are when competitors are sent packing. Two players eliminated in one show.... wow! I was pretty surprised that Adrienne was one of them... considering she was a player I thought would be in the final four. Again though, Adrienne does admit that she felt a bit off all day. Very difficult, under such intense pressure, to perform at a high level when things just don't seem to be clicking on all cylinders. I have to hand it to Sam though. Each and every show Sam expresses how nervous she is, and how much she shakes throughout each competition. I do want to remind all of you that this is a women that's won twice on the European Golf Tour. Yes, she probably shakes... and yes, she's probably as nervous as she says she is... but she can play, and she can play very well. She's found a way to control her nerves and she's a proven winner. Even though the nerves exist in her, as they do for all of us, Sam has an ability to make crystal clear decisions, even while in an extremely nervous state... which in turn gives her a very good chance of executing quality golf shots when she needs them most!
Now, before I end this simple recap of episode #4 of The Big Break Ka'anapali, I'd like to leave all you competitive golfers out there with another lesson that we can all learn from the show. When competing mono-e-mono in a match play or sudden death playoff situation, similar to the way this elimination challenge was set up, always believe your opponent will make everything. Liz admittedly made the mistake of thinking that Sophie wouldn't make her putt, and therefore was surprised when the putt dropped. Ouch... big mistake! Believe you have to make that putt to win or save a hole. Want to have to make that putt to win or save a hole. Love the challenge... thrive on the challenge!
