LPGA back on US soil for Safeway Classic

BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2006 Safeway Classic | Preview | 17 Aug 2006

The LPGA Tour returns to the United States for the first time in more than a month when it hits the Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Oregon, this Friday.

After events in France, England and Canada, along with a week’s break form tournament golf, many of the female game’s leading players tackle the Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi, where Soo-Yun Kang will defend her four shot win over fellow countrywoman Jeong Jang twelve months ago.

Columbia Edgewater Country Club’s layout was originally built in 1925 and designed by A.V. Macan but underwent a major redesign by Arthur Hills in 2002. It now measures 6327 yards for this event and carries a par of 72.

The tournament is not graced with the presence of Annika Sorenstam or Lorena Ochoa but the number two player on the ADT Money list and number three player in the world is present. Karrie Webb had a horror time at the Weetabix Women’s British Open, when falling victim to the halfway cut but in the week prior she had won the Evian Masters. This will be her first event since Royal Lytham & St Annes and there is every reason to believe that her effort in England was just an aberration.

Hee Won Han won this event in 2004 and has been solid enough of late to be a consideration on a golf course which she obviously enjoys.

Juli Inkster won this event in what was her best year ever on the LPGA Tour. She won two majors in 1999 amongst her five LPGA titles that season and was at the peak of her game when she won. She has again had a very good year in 2006 with nine top tens already and arrives after her fourth place at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Mi Hyun Kim won this event in 2000 and apart from a hiccup at the British Open has had a very good run in season 2006.

Paula Creamer has not won in 2006 but has had a very consistent run of form with nine top tens. She had a poor last day at the British Open but prior to that she finished her events off strongly and it would not surprise to see her holding a trophy for the first time this season.

The Australians are obviously headed by Webb but she will be joined in the field by Lindsey Wright following Wright’s 6th place in Canada last week and her good start at the British Open. Wright will win on the LPGA Tour before long but it might take just a little longer yet.

Rachel Hetherington has displayed signs of a return to better form of late but is still not yet back to what we know she is capable of. Given that she has missed the cut at this event in each of her last two years, a significant improvement would be a surprise.

Michelle Ellis, Wendy Doolan, Katherine Hull and Nadina Light have also made the trip to the west coast but will need to improve on recent form if they are to make the journey worthwhile, although Light did play well last week in Canada.

The tournament has prizemoney of US$1.4 million.