Sorenstam looks to recapture form at Sybase Classic
IN: News | LPGA | Sybase Classic (2006) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 17 May 2006
The LPGA Tour will be without their hottest player this week as Karrie Webb takes a break to recharge the batteries for what will be a run of big events in June. The last two months have seen an intriguing turnaround in the fortunes of two of the LPGA Tour's greatest ever competitors with Sorenstam becoming the chaser instead of the chased and Webb now feeling good enough about her re-found form to space her events.
The Sybase Classic in New Rochelle New York will still be blessed with a field that includes defending champion Paula Creamer and the likes of Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa to name but a few.
The tournament is played over the famed Wykagl Country Club. Built around 1900, the course is one of those courses that link us with the past, Lawrence Van Etten being the original designer, but Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast and more recently Arthur Hills all having a role in its development over the years. It is highlighted by rolling fairways, tight fairways and small greens so typical of traditional north-eastern courses from a bygone era.
Last year Creamer won by just one shot over Grace Park and Jeong Jang when winning her first LPGA title while in 2004 it was Sherri Steinhauer who, when winning the event for the second time, edged out again Grace Park.
Sorenstam, who seems out of sorts with her game at present, is playing in the event for the first time since 2002 but in her appearances here previously she has an excellent record. Twice a winner, once runner up and once third, suggest this could be the right sort of venue to turn things around again.
Lorena Ochoa is doing to Annika and the LPGA what Annika herself has done for so many years, namely featuring in the finish every Sunday. Perhaps surprisingly she has not played in the event previously but she is such good form that is unlikely to bother her.
Hee Won Han and Jeong Jang have both played well at this venue, in fact Han's win in 2003 was her very first LPGA Tour victory. Jang finished runner up to Creamer last year and also played well in 2004. Both Koreans are playing well enough in season 2006 and if they were to fight out the finish it would not surprise.
Juli Inkster has not played this event in recent years and when she has, she has not played well, at the least in recent starts. She is having a great season in 2006 but the last couple of weeks have not been quite as sharp as earlier in the season.
The Australians are led by Rachel Hetherington who has played well on occasions in the tournament. Nadina Light is also in the field and Sarah-Jane Kenyon, who is a Futures Tour player, has managed to secure an invite and gets her first LPGA Tour start. It will be a big moment for the talented Queenslander.
The tournament has prizemoney of US$1.3 million with US$195,000 to the winner.
