Cherry Hills Country Club sets the stage for the LPGA’s third major tournament of the year. Defending champion Meg Mallon will attempt to grab her share of the $3.1 million purse as she has done on two previous occasions.
A first-place check of $560,000 and the prestige of winning the beautiful sterling trophy has 155 of the best women golfers in the world chomping at the bit for a chance at the glory it represents.
The 72-hole championship originated in 1946 as a match-play event changing over to stroke-play the following year and is the longest-running tournament on the LPGA Tour.
This should be an interesting competition. On one hand you have Meg Mallon who has won four career majors with a total of 18 wins on tour. On the other hand, you have Annika Sorenstam. With nine career majors and 62 LPGA victories under her belt and arguably the best female golfer in the world Sorenstam lost in the 2004 Women’s Open to Mallon by a paltry two-strokes.
There is more on the line this time for Annika as she attempts to win a Grand Slam. With the first two majors of 2005 in her back pocket I give Annika the edge his week. Out of nine starts so far this season Mallon’s best finish has been a tie for 26th at the Safeway in March. Meg’s rounds under par and driving accuracy are tied for 72nd and 79th place respectively and she isn’t coming into this major off of a win from another major as Annika has done.
But Mallon isn’t giving up either. In addition to two victories at past Open’s, she also has been in a top-five position on the leaderboard on four different occasions so she’s certainly comfortable playing in this type of pressure-cooker championship.
Appearing fresh off of her win at the Wegman’s Rochester LPGA is Mexican superstar Lorena Ochoa. Coming close to victory on several occasions this season including a few pressure-packed tournaments in her native country, Ochoa finally broke through at the Wegman’s packing a tremendous short game. She’s coming ready to play and it would be great to follow up the Wegman’s with a trophy from such an established major tournament.
Rookie Paula Creamer led coming into the final round at the Wegman’s. With a second place finish there and a recent win at the Sybase Classic expect Creamer to make a showing on the top page of the leaderboard as well.
Second ranked golfer Cristie Kerr has the Michelob Ultra at Kingsmill win under her belt and appears ready to challenge for a major. Pulling out of the Wegman’s tournament with a knee injury showed smarts.
Seventeen amateurs will also be competing this week the most famous being 15-year old Michelle Wie. The “Big Wiesy” almost snatched the McDonald’s LPGA Championship away from Annika Sorenstam in final round action charging to within three-strokes of the lead. As we all know Annika persevered but not without a struggle from the young Hawaiian.
Even the runner-up will receive a larger check ($335,000) than some of the winners have won in competition thus far but we all know it’s not about coming in second place. The winner takes the glory, the trophy and the adulation.
Early round coverage of the U.S. Women’s Open begins Thursday June 22nd from 1:00pm-1:30pm ET then jumps to ESPN2 on Friday from 5:00pm to 9:00pm ET.
The U.S. Open can be seen on both Saturday and Sunday on NBC. The action will be televised from 3:00-6:00pm ET on both days.