Both Annika Sorenstam and Paula Creamer may have to wave big flags or knock down photographers just to get some of the attention that will be showered upon Michelle Wie as she competes in her first tournament since turning professional this past week.
The 25th anniversary of the Samsung World Championship will probably garner its highest ratings ever with these three in the mix. Natalie Gulbis will round out a field of twenty well-respected golfers as they try for a share of the ample $212,500 first prize out of a total purse of $850,000.
This limited field event is special for many reasons. For one, the top seventeen golfers from the LPGA money list are expected to attend which mimic’s the PGA’s top-30 version of the Tour Championship. This list was made public at the conclusion of the John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic.
LPGA megafans should find this championship a fitting finale to an exciting year. First-time winners this season will be featured attractions. The more recognizable golfers will also be competing for one of the final trophies of the year. If you like watching golf you shouldn’t miss this 72-hole, 6,462 yard stroke play event.
The Canyons course at Bighorn Golf Club features million dollar views, plenty of scenic waterfalls and canyons sweeping through both desert and Santa Rosa Mountain backdrops. Tom Fazio’s design was opened in 1998 and has hosted the “Battle at Bighorn” from 2000-2002.
You will probably know all of the golfers who have qualified for this event but let’s take a closer look at some of the standouts.
The most impressive on the list of entrants is Annika Sorenstam. With Annika’s three-stroke victory over Grace Park last year Sorenstam has won the Samsung four times (1995, 1996, 2002 and 2004) and is hoping for an unheard of fifth crystal to add to her collection. The thirty-five-year-old Swede is also the top money winner of 2005 and won the two first majors of the year, both the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the McDonald’s LPGA Championship. What a year for Annika!
Paula Creamer is also an exciting prospect at this venue. In addition to starting out of the gate really hot with her first win at the Sybase Classic, the “Pink Panther” also took the Evian Masters and has climbed to second place on the ADT Offical Money list right beneath Annika. That’s a terrific accomplishment for the 19-year-old Floridian.
Watch out for Wie! In the blink of an eye 16-year-old Michelle Wie has gone from baby-faced to million-dollar baby. With her Championship Selection Committee invitation in her long, slender grip, Wie’s chances of being at the top of the leaderboard this week is a given. As an amateur last year Michelle rallied to a 13th place finish.
The Samsung is a competition in which Wie can get her feet wet among the best golfers although she has already placed high in the rankings when playing through exemptions this year. Expect both her 300-yard drives and her $10 million in multiple endorsement deals to impress both fans and those who never wanted to play or watch the sport. This may be the dawning of a new era in women’s golf.
Natalie Gulbis is another rookie on the circuit who has garnered much attention this year. Her stats are terrific. She currently claims sixth position on the money list and has made numerous top-tens but has yet to win a tournament. Working with top instructor Butch Harmon has improved her abilities so it’s just a matter of time before she prevails.
Jeong Jang has been a leaderboard favorite ever since her victory at the Weetabix Women’s British Open. Birdie Kim also continues to admirably represent the Asian contingency since her miraculous birdie sand save at the US Women’s Open, a tournament snatched from the waiting arms of amateur Morgan Pressel.
Cristie Kerr has two 2005 championship titles this year, the Wendy’s Championship for Children and an early win at the Michelob Ultra. Rest assured that she can clinch another title at any time even though she has been plagued with recurring aches and pains. Just last week Cristie scored a 62 in first round action at the Longs Drug Challenge.
Members of the Solheim Cup’s Team USA will be in attendance. Wendy Ward took an early trophy at the Takefuji Classic and has been struggling to claim another crystal gem since that event. Although Pat Hurst and Rosie Jones (1988 Samsung winner) haven’t made it to the winner’s circle this season they are still veterans who know their way around a golf course. As long as there is a trophy for the taking, these women can prove themselves at any time. These women don’t give up.
I’m giving Lorena Ochoa a nickname although I hope it doesn’t stick. I’m calling her “jumping bean” because of her highs and lows this season. She still sticks it out through every tournament whether she’s tied and gives it away in a sudden death like in the Mastercard or if she finds herself condemned that week to the middle of the pack like last week at the Longs Drug Challenge. Either way Lorena is one of my favorite golfers because of her perseverance in the face of adversity. I like the way I can tell what she’s thinking just by her facial expressions. She also is in fourth place on the official money list so Ochoa must have put forth a great effort this year.
Meena Lee (BMO Financial Group Canadian Women’s Open) and Marisa Baena (HSBC Match Play Championship) deserve some “props” as well because each took home their first LPGA trophy this year.
Grace Park, Vare Trophy winner of 2004, was also automatically entered into the mix. After playing a minimum of seventy LPGA events Grace had the lowest scoring average among her peers.
Candie Kung, Gloria Park, Lorie Kane, Heather Bowie and Catriona Matthew have all made it onto the top of the leaderboard to join this highly regarded field. Sophie Gustafson (2003 Samsung winner) will replace Iben Tinning because Iben is ready to give birth. It’s amazing how these women can continue playing golf even when they are along in their pregnancy. Even Laura Diaz (who is now about five months along) was seen caddying for her brother at a recent PGA event.
The Samsung World Championship will be shown on both The Golf Channel and on NBC as follows:
Oct 13th from 5:00-7:00 pm TGC Oct 14th from 3:00-5:00 pm TGC Oct 15th from 1:00-2:00 pm NBC, switching to TGC from 2:00-4:00 pm Oct 16th from 1:00-4:00 pm NBC All times are ET.
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