The first major of the year is finally here -- the LPGA's Kraft Nabisco Championship, aka the Dinah, played at the scenic Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Is that a cool intro or what?)
As ordinary, I even have picked 5 gamers who I assume are favorites to win this week... And many of you'll be bowled over to locate that I have not selected a few of the pinnacle-ranked gamers. Before you ask, let me let you know why I haven't picked a number of the obvious selections. I apprehend that any of them should turn it around with a good round, but I nonetheless have questions on them.
- Despite winning 3 majors last season and knocking off 3 Top10 finishes to start 2014, Rolex #1 Inbee Park simply seems a bit off her game to me. She had her mental coach at the Kia to help her out, but I think she's still just recovering from the well-deserved time off she took after last year.
- I'm concerned about the physical condition of Rolex #2 Suzann Pettersen. I think she worked too hard in the off-season. ( UPDATE: Suzann has WDed, according to Tony Jesselli.)
- Like Inbee, Rolex #3 Stacy Lewis has 5 Top10 finishes this season but I don't like what I'm seeing on the course. She seems a bit too... moody isn't the right word, but I think you get the picture. She seems to be more down on herself than I'd like to see. (Perhaps those two close calls where she lost so dramatically in December and January are to blame.)
- And then there's Rolex #4 Lydia Ko. Again, not playing badly but she just seems distracted to me. Perhaps all the change in her life is taking a toll.
I made four of those selections earlier than the cut on the Kia. The very last preference became made Sunday night time as a way to pick a "flier" who may seize lightning in a bottle. Here they're -- the primary 4 are in no specific order:
- Jessica Korda: Jessica won the first event of the year and hasn't played in a month. But I like her attitude this year. She doesn't seem to get too down when she's had a disaster on the course... and she's had a few. (And remember, her win came after a bad shank in the middle of the third round.) She seems very confident to me, and a confident long hitter has a real advantage at Mission Hills. Plus, with her younger sister Nelly also playing, I think she'll be in an extra-good frame of mind.
- Karrie Webb: The Rolex #5 player is the highest-ranked player to play like it. With 2 wins and a third in the first 5 events of the year -- and 2 KNCs already on her résumé -- I have to believe she'll be a factor this year despite her poor play at the Kia.
- Cristie Kerr: Kerr's coming off 2 Top10s. While she's been a bit erratic, her putting is showing signs of life... and that, along with being reasonably long AND accurate off the tee makes her deadly in any major. Add the fact that she already has 2 majors of her own -- as well as a runner-up at KNC before -- and I like her chances.
- Anna Nordqvist: Yes, I picked Anna before her -10 weekend blitzkrieg. With 2 wins under her belt, her improved attitude has as much to do with this pick as anything. And with the 15 extra yards she's found off the tee, I have to agree with Judy Rankin: Anna Nordqvist will see Mission Hills in a very different light than she's ever seen it before... and that could result in her second major.
- Chella Choi: This is my flier. Chella has yet to win on tour, and the story of her father's desire to retire from his caddie duties -- and her desire to keep him on her bag till she wins -- has been told many times. But Chella is playing well and is #8 in scoring this season. This could very well be her week; she wouldn't be the first to get her maiden win at the KNC. (Remember Stacy Lewis and Sun Young Yoo?)
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