Five players to watch
World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, who has two quiet LPGA Tour victories this year, is looking for her first Women’s Open title. So is Paula Creamer, who has withdrawn from the last two events with a thumb injury but will play. South Korean Jiyai Shin leads the rookie-of-the-year, player-of-the-year and money races. Suzann Pettersen, who withdrew from the LPGA Championship in June, finished tied for sixth Sunday at the Owens Corning Classic and should contend. And Australian Lindsey Wright might be the dark horse following fourth- and second-place finishes in the first two majors.
What it is: The 64th U.S. Women’s Open at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa.
Format: 156 players tee off in first round Thursday. Top 60 and ties and those within 10 shots of the leadmake the cut. If necessary, a three-hole aggregate playoff will be held immediately following Sunday?s fourth round.
Last year: Inbee Park of South Korea became the youngest Women’s Open winner at 19. She finished at 9 under, winning by four shots. Park also became the 16th player to make the Women’s Open her first professional victory.
Where are Wie and Gulbis?
The USGA changed its exemption rules this year, and Michelle Wie and Natalie Gulbis were lost in the shuffle. Only the top 10 on the 2009 money list were exempt– as opposed to the top 35 last year–sending both to qualifying. Wie finished the 36-hole Maryland sectional qualifier at 2 over, one shot out of the playoff. Gulbis shot a second-round 68, which wasn’t good enough to overcome her opening 78, and missed the playoff by two shots, also at Maryland.
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About the course: Saucon Valley is hosting its sixth USGA championship and first since the 2000 U.S. Senior Open, won by Hale Irwin at a record 17 under. The club’s Old Course, its championship venue, recently underwent a 20-month renovation by Tom Fazio Group architect Tom Marzolf and plays at 6,740 yards. Recently, two members made holes-in-one on the same hole on back-to-back shots. Odds of that: 26 million to 1.
Fun facts: There are 25 teenagers in the field, including 14- year-old Alexis Thompson, who is playing in her third Women’s Open. The youngest player in the field is 13-year-old Yueer Cindy Feng of Orlando. The oldest is 49-year-old Rosie Jones, who retired from professional golf at the 2006 Women’s Open. England’s Laura Davies is playing her 23rd Women’s Open on a USGA special exemption. The women’s golf factory at Duke has six players in the field, including recently turned pros Anna Grzebien, Amanda Blumenherst and Mina Harigae.
TV: ESPN, Thursday-Friday, 1-5 p.m.; NBC, Saturday-Sunday, 2-5 p.m.
— Mark Wogenrich, The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)
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