LPGA Championship Preview Links

by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 10, 2009 3:33 PM EDT

The LPGA Championship begins tomorrow at Bulle Rock. I'll be there this weekend as a marshal in the morning on Friday and Saturday at the 16th, so stop by and say hello if you see me. I should have a very good view of how the field is doing consider the very nice stretch of closing holes at the Pete Dye design.

That said, I am not always the best man to give a full field preview. Fortunately, I know a couple of guys who are the best at it.

The Constructivist has his preview up and focuses on the pairings for the opening rounds. Looks like the tournament committee paired playoff participants Maria Hjorth and Yani Tseng together for the first two days. Some other solid grouping as well. He likes Na Yeon Choi this week. I like a man that takes a bit of a gamble.

Hound Dog has his preview up as well. He doesn't take quite the same gamble that the Constuctivist did and goes with a fivesome of players with a realistic change to win: Ochoa, Pettersen (profiled nicely by Ron Sirak), Creamer, Kerr, and Tseng. As Daniel Wexler points out in his preview, they are all the odds on favorites at sportsbooks as well.

Personally, I'm liking Cristie Kerr or Angela Stanford this week. Kerr is the most consistent player on Tour this season. Stanford is awfully steady in her own regard and has a nice top three in Illinois last week.

As for Bulle Rock, the course should play longer than in prior years. With the amount of rain our region has received in the past couple of months - including one hell of a storm last night - the ball will not roll much. That also means slower greens are likely. I would expect to see low scoring this weekend.

It should be exciting and come on out if you're in the area. Admission is free if you bring four canned goods to the gate, so you have no excuse.

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just rub it in some more….geeeeezzz !

Sounds like a blast, RB. Give my # to Gulbis when she comes through, willya ? :-D

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jun 10, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

not a realistic chance?!

Come on, man! With the course playing long and soft, the best ball-strikers among the longest hitters will have a bit of an advantage. The only thing holding back Choi has been her putting, so let’s see if it comes around this week!

by The Constructivist on Jun 10, 2009 6:21 PM EDT reply actions

who are you talking about ? I don’t see any names above with “NOT a realistic chance” next to their name.

If the rain keeps coming, they won’t be playing 6600 yards – I’d bet on something under 6400 – and that will help some of the mid-length hitters and bring the ball strikers in.

I’m picking Angela Stanford.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jun 11, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions