The Shoprite LPGA Classic- Mel Reid Picks Herself up off the Mat to Claim First Career LPGA Tour Win

Top 10

1) Mel Reid (-19) (+10000)

2) Jennifer Kupcho (-17) (+15000)

3) Jennifer Song (-16) (+6600)

4) Nasa Hataoka (-14) (+2000)

5) Nelly Korda (-12) (+1000)

T6) Mina Harigae (-11) (+11000)

T6) Ashleigh Buhai (-11) (+11000)

T6) Brooke Henderson (-11) (+1600)

T6) Ryan O' Toole (-11) (+50000)

T10) Christina Kim (-10) (+12500)

T10) Katherine Kirk (-10) (+7000)

T10) Brittany Altomare (-10) (+5000)

Picks:

Lexi Thompson at 7.5 units (+1400)- T13

Anna Nordqvist at 5 units (+2200)- T43

Ariya Jutanugarn at 5 units (+4500)- MC

In Gee Chun at 5 units (+5500)- T43

Mariah Stackhouse at 2.5 units (+12500)- MC

Total Units Won: 82.5

Total Units Bet: 200

ROI on the season: -59%

For the first time since 1990, this event was a 72-hole event instead of a 54-hole one. It didn't affect the outcome, as the outright leader on Saturday night was the same as Sunday. Mel Reid put together a fantastic Sunday effort. Reid relinquished the lead after back to back bogeys on the 6th and 7th holes. Like the fighting spirit inside of her, it was a learned counter punch after getting knocked down to the mat in Portland. She was the 54 hole leader there as well, and Reid shot four over in the final round. Reid played even par on Sunday in Portland after a double bogey on the 6th hole capped off a rough start.

In the Jersey Shore, she answered the bell with four birdies over the following five holes, taking the lead on the 9th from Jennifer Song and never looking back.

Instead of ruminating on the defeat, her response after a rough patch put her in the winner circle for the first time as an LPGA Tour member.

It's not the only battle Reid has picked herself up off the ground from. In 2012, Reid's mother passed away from a tragic car accident as she was on her way to watch her daughter play at a LET event. The moment was on the British woman's mind at the end of play.

"My blood was her blood, so she is still kind of -- I know it sounds cheesy, but I'm part of her, so just really, really proud I managed to get it done," Reid explained.

Reid was able to get it done with changes she recently made to her game. She started working with psychologist Howard Falco six weeks ago, and the results are pouring in like jabs to a punching bag. The 33-year-old has three consecutive top 10s on the LPGA Tour for the first time in her four years on tour. She had back-to-back top 10s for the first time after her finish in Portland.

Like any fighter, it doesn't take much to set Reid off on a mission. Last night, one troll provided the fuel for Reid. "I read a tweet yesterday and it was probably one of the only bad tweets that I got saying she'll choke. It gave me a little bit of motivation. I'm going to reply to him tonight with this picture of me and the trophy and a big shh face."

The tweet that set Reid off was deleted after her knockout blow of winning the Shoprite LPGA Classic. She takes that momentum into the third major of the year at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

The bets, however, got knocked down and stayed down. No one was in contention through 54 holes, as In Gee Chun shot a 77 to take herself out of contention. But like Reid, take the blows and get back up off the mat.

There'll be a new twist for the bets next week. Ben Harping, my 9th Tee Podcast Co-Host, joins me as he'll make selections as well.