This feels like a pretty promising time for the LPGA. And it feels a little odd to be writing that, given how dire things looked for the LPGA just a few months ago. But the bruising battles over and with the former commissioner are past; the new commissioner is off to a great start.
Several young stars won for the first time in 2009, finished the year strong, and appear poised for big years in 2010: Ai Miyazato, Anna Nordqvist, Michelle Wie.
Lorena Ochoa and a (hopefully) healthy Paula Creamer are fixtures. And Jiyai Shin? Well, if the LPGA Tour can't figure out how to market Shin in America - a great golfer, a great personal story of overcoming tragedy, a great personality, everything about Shin is great - then Commissioner Michael Whan isn't the marketing whiz so many people think he is.
But Wie is the key; a fast start and strong 2010 from Wie builds momentum and attracts sponsors, and there'll be some sponsors who come on board and launch new tournaments based on Wie alone.
On Thursday, the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand tournament opens the season, and Wie - after consulting with her Stanford professors and making sure she can keep up with schoolwork - will be there. Joining Wie in the field are Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, Cristie Kerr, Nordqvist, Ochoa, Suzann Pettersen, Morgan Pressel, Shin, Yani Tseng and Karrie Webb. The full field is available here. Ochoa is the defending champion.
The 2009 LPGA Player of the Year race went down to the final green of the year before Ochoa edged Shin (Shin won the money title). My guess is that the battle in 2010 will be between Shin and Wie, with Shin the one winning this time. Who is your pick to be Player of the Year this season? The choices in the poll below are the top nine players in the world rankings.
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