State Farm Classic a warm up for Evian

BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2008 State Farm Classic | Preview | 16 Jul 2008

The LPGA Tour plays its last event in the United States for more than a month when the State Farm Classic gets underway in Springfield, Illinois on Thursday.

With the Evian Masters in France, the Weetabix Women’s Open in England, and the Canadian Women’s Open in Ottawa, the next time American golf fans will see the LPGA Tour on home soil will be at the Safeway Classic in Oregon on August 22nd.

Sherri Steinhauer defends her 2007 State Farm Classic win against a field that is minus the game’s leading five players with LPGA Tour rookie, Yani Tseng, the best world ranked player (#6) in the field.

Steinhauer is not in the same form as she was coming here in 2007, however the field is also weaker so the 2006 British Women’s Open Champion might yet be a chance.

Yani Tseng has been brilliant in her rookie season, winning a major as her first LPGA Tour victory. She has not played competitively since the Women’s US Open three weeks ago but should do well.

Like Tseng, Jee Young Lee is one of the longest hitters in the female game and is having another good season on the LPGA Tour. While not yet an LPGA Tour winner in the US, Lee appears on the verge of something special.

Na Yeon Choi is another rookie and has been remarkably consistent in 2008, making every cut and improving even more in recent weeks. She too has a great chance this week.

The Australians are headed by Katherine Hull, who appears close to her best following one or two very good finishes of late. Her final round of 67 last week to finish 6th in Toledo was very impressive and followed an 11th place finish in her previous start.

Michelle Ellis, Wendy Doolan, Sarah Kemp, Sarah Jane Kenyon and Anna Rawson are also representing Australia this week.