LPGA Tour back to business in Oregon
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2011 Safeway Classic | Preview | 16 Aug 2011
The LPGA Tour has not played an event since the Women’s British Open nearly three weeks ago but now it is back to business for the elite of the female game with Safeway Classic Presented by Coca Cola played this week at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains in Oregon.
The tournament moved to this high quality facility two years ago after many years being played the Columbia Edgewater Country Club. The US Women’s Open has been played at Pumpkin Ridge previously the Robert Cupp designed Ghost Creek layout hosting the female game’s most significant event in 1997 and 2003.
Last year Ai Miyazato won her fifth title of 2010 when she defeated Na Yeon Choi and Cristie Kerr by two shots. In 2009 it was South Korean M.J. Hur who defeated Michelle Redman and Suzann Pettersen in a three way playoff.
Miyazato won the Evian Masters two starts ago and although she missed the cut at the British Women’s Open she stands a great chance of successfully defending her title.
Yani Tseng, the game’s dominant player in 2011 is in the field but she has not played this course well in her two visits here. That is of some concern for her and her admirers this week.
Cristie Kerr and Suzann Pettersen are expected to do well, both in good form and with good performances over this layout especially Pettersen who has contended on both occasions she has played the event.
Australians in the field are Karrie Webb, Katherine Hull, Sarah Kemp, Sarah-Jane Smith, Alison Whitaker and Lindsey Wright.
The tournament begins on Friday.
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