2006 Women’s World Cup of Golf

The big names in ladies golf are back!

Sorenstam, Creamer and Gulbis are among the forty women looking for their first victory of 2006 at the Women’s World Cup of Golf. Ai Miyazato, fresh from her win at Q-School, will be defending the trophy for the Japanese team. Twenty teams in total will be competing the weekend at the beautiful Sun City Resort in South Africa.

Will Miyazato’s rookie season begin with a win and a follow-up trophy for the Japanese? Or will one of the nineteen other competing countries claim the cup and a piece of the $1.1 million purse?

This tournament is sure to satisfy even the most discerning palates.

This is the second year that the exquisite Gary Player Country Club course hosts the ladies tournament. Voted last year as the best course in South Africa, the GPCC also hosts the yearly Million Dollar Golf Challenge. Tight pin placements, heavy rough and tree-lined fairways make the course a test for top professionals on any tour. The signature ninth, a par-5, 458 yard hole has an intimidating lake just in front of the green forcing the player to either lay-up or go for the green if they’re feeling lucky. The 18th hole green was recently improved and made smaller but could be a good birdie opportunity anyway for ladies whose irons are sharp this weekend.

The format of the three-day, 54-hole event is as follows. The first day of competition is better-ball. Although each golfer will play her own golf ball, only the best score will be used. Day two is an alternate shot format using the same ball and only one score recorded for the team. Stroke play rounds out the tournament with each lady playing her own golf ball and both scores used to determine the outcome of the tournament. A sudden-death playoff can occur and would be played as stroke-play using both team players’ scores.

At last year’s inaugural event over 450 million people worldwide viewed Team Japan secure their win by only two strokes over both the Phillipines and Korea. An even larger audience is expected this year as the tournament has become an exciting addition to the schedule and the worldwide appeal has gained momentum.

The big names are also a huge media draw. Ten of the top thirty golfers on the LPGA will attend as well as thirteen golfers from the Ladies European Tour (LET). Players from Columbia and Brazil make this a first for South America as well.

Annika Sorenstam is dusting off her clubs after a brief hiatus from the Tour. Paired with LET Tour player Liselotte Neumann, both will represent Sweden. Although not one golfer on the tour can compare to Sorenstam’s $2.5 million season, Neumann had three top-tens and tied for second place at the final ADT Championship to finish in an upbeat fashion.

Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis represent the USA. Both players were two of the big reasons why Team USA rallied to win the 2005 Solheim Cup. Not only do they play well together but the two have become friends and cheering partners. Expect to see alot of hand-slapping and encouragement passed between the two top-ten golfers. And, if this team wins, Natalie will sport her first LPGA victory.

Dorothy Delasin has replaced Jennifer Rosales for the Phillipines. Delasin is not necessarily a household name on the LPGA but the 25-year-old is comfortable on tour. In 2005 Delasin has been in the top-ten four times and has four victories overall on the LPGA tour. Rosales quoted family reasons as to why she has stepped down. Soon the “Delasin” name will gain popularity. Her sister, Divina (aka Miss February) is competing in The Big Break V: Hawaii next month.

The ladies should also watch out for Japanese sensation Ai Miyazato. Hot off her recent Q-School win, Miyazato has alot of proving to do on the LPGA Tour. Rookie Paula Creamer finished her inaugural season with two wins on the LPGA and two wins on the JLPGA tour. The Pink Panther also won the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award so there are some big shoes to fill. Miyazato can take the pressure with twelve wins on the JLPGA Tour. I think she is ready to make a splash this year and take the rookie honors. This year Miyazato will be paired with Sakura Yokomine. Her win last season was with Rui Kitada. Each had 14 top-ten finishes this year on their own tour.

One of the most exciting golfers to play this weekend is England’s Laura Davies. Expect booming drives and explosive action when Laura plays golf. She always reminded me of John Daly when she plays.Don’t expect Laura to hold back on her feelings. She wears her heart on her sleeve.

Columbia’s Marisa Baena and Korea’s Meena Lee represented their countries well last year each garnering victories on tour. Their careers are just getting started and their respective wins just make it easier to win again.

This is going to be a good start to the season. The beauty of Sun City and the Gary Player Course should give the tournament an added spectacle and it’s always nice to take home the first victory of the new season.

The Golf Channel televises the action on January 20th through January 22nd from 1:30 to 4:00 (EST).

2006 Women’s World Cup of Golf Teams

Australia:      Shani Waugh, Rachel Hetherington
Brazil:         Candy Hannemann, Luciana Bemvenuti
Canada:         Lorie Kane, A.J. Eathorne
Columbia:       Marisa Baena, Cristina Baena
England:        Kirsty Taylor, Laura Davies
Finland:        Minea Blomqvist, Riikka Hakkarainen
France:         Gwladys Nocera, Karine Icher
Germany:        Anja Monke, Miriam Nagl
Italy:          Veronica Zorzi, Silvia Cavalleri
Japan:          Ai Miyazato, Sakura Yokomine
Korea:          Meena Lee, Bo Bae Song
New Zealand:    Lynnette Brooky, Gina Scott
Phillipines:    Dorothy Delasin, Ria Quiazon
Scotland:       Catriona Matthew, Jancie Moodie
South Africa:   Laurette Maritz, Ashleight Simon
Spain:          Marta Prieto, Paula Marti
Sweden:         Annika Sorenstam, Liselotte Neumann
Taiwan:         Amy Hung, Yu Ping Lin
U.S.A.:         Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis
Wales:          Becky Brewerton, Becky Morgan