Part 3 of Sorenstam's Grand Slam Quest Tees Off
Thursday June 23, 2005
The U.S. Women's Open (past champions) tees off today at Cherry Hills Country Club near Denver. For Annika Sorenstam, it's a chance to capture the third leg of the Grand Slam. A win this week would send Sorenstam to the Women's British Open with a chance to do what no golfer has ever done - win a professional Grand Slam that consists of four tournaments. We specify four tournaments because a couple of LPGA stars of the past have won all the majors played in one calendar year ...
Two LPGA players have won sort-of Grand Slams - they won all the majors played on the LPGA Tour in one year, but in a year in which there were fewer than four majors played. (The LPGA's major championships have changed in identity and number several times over the decades. See LPGA Majors for a rundown.)
In 1950, when the Western Open, Titleholders and U.S. Women's Open were the only LPGA majors played, Babe Didrikson Zaharias won all three. And in 1974, when just the LPGA Championship and U.S. Women's Open were considered majors, Sandra Haynie won both.
In years in which four majors were played on the LPGA Tour, there are two players who have won three out of four. Mickey Wright won three out of four in 1961, and Pat Bradley won three out of four in 1986.
Sorenstam is an overwhelming favorite for the U.S. Women's Open at Cherry Hills, a course that puts a premium on accuracy and distance off the tee. Nobody on the LPGA Tour has more of both than Sorenstam. But if she is going to be challenged, who are the players who might do it?
I think that, like at the preceding LPGA Championship, it's the youngsters who have the best shot: Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer and Loreno Ochoa are my top three picks as possible challengers. Natalie Gulbis should also rank high on the list of possible challengers (if Wie or Gulbis were to win, it would be the first LPGA win for either - Sorenstam's first LPGA win also came in the U.S. Open).
Christie Kerr is another player with a good combination of distance and accuracy. Kerr is definitely a major champion in waiting, but I believe she'll have to break through in one of the LPGA's other majors, not the U.S. Open. How about a dark-horse? Keep and eye on Heather Bowie.
Among the veterans, Laura Davies has the length and has been playing well of late. I don't see Juli Inkster or defending champ Meg Mallon being a factor.
In the best of all possible tournaments, every one of these players - plus Grace Park and Jennifer Rosales - will be in contention entering Sunday. But the most likely scenario is that Sorenstam wins by a half-dozen or more and heads to the Women's British Open chasing history.
Two LPGA players have won sort-of Grand Slams - they won all the majors played on the LPGA Tour in one year, but in a year in which there were fewer than four majors played. (The LPGA's major championships have changed in identity and number several times over the decades. See LPGA Majors for a rundown.)
In 1950, when the Western Open, Titleholders and U.S. Women's Open were the only LPGA majors played, Babe Didrikson Zaharias won all three. And in 1974, when just the LPGA Championship and U.S. Women's Open were considered majors, Sandra Haynie won both.
In years in which four majors were played on the LPGA Tour, there are two players who have won three out of four. Mickey Wright won three out of four in 1961, and Pat Bradley won three out of four in 1986.
Sorenstam is an overwhelming favorite for the U.S. Women's Open at Cherry Hills, a course that puts a premium on accuracy and distance off the tee. Nobody on the LPGA Tour has more of both than Sorenstam. But if she is going to be challenged, who are the players who might do it?
I think that, like at the preceding LPGA Championship, it's the youngsters who have the best shot: Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer and Loreno Ochoa are my top three picks as possible challengers. Natalie Gulbis should also rank high on the list of possible challengers (if Wie or Gulbis were to win, it would be the first LPGA win for either - Sorenstam's first LPGA win also came in the U.S. Open).
Christie Kerr is another player with a good combination of distance and accuracy. Kerr is definitely a major champion in waiting, but I believe she'll have to break through in one of the LPGA's other majors, not the U.S. Open. How about a dark-horse? Keep and eye on Heather Bowie.
Among the veterans, Laura Davies has the length and has been playing well of late. I don't see Juli Inkster or defending champ Meg Mallon being a factor.
In the best of all possible tournaments, every one of these players - plus Grace Park and Jennifer Rosales - will be in contention entering Sunday. But the most likely scenario is that Sorenstam wins by a half-dozen or more and heads to the Women's British Open chasing history.
Comments
No comments yet. Leave a Comment