Wednesday Preview - Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic

The first tournament of the 2014 LPGA season is upon us, and I for one am incredibly excited. 2014 will be the first season where players will be vying for the Race to the CME Globe, the year long points race similar to the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs. Players will be looking to the Bahamas for a jump start in the points race.


Course: Ocean Club Golf Course. This will be the first year the entire course is seen in championship competition. Honestly, if I was playing golf in the Bahamas, I wouldn't care if the course was a long piece of green carpet with a wine glass at the end of it. As it is, the Ocean Club course measures at approximately 6,600 yards. Incredibly scenic.

Strength Of Field: C. Top American players Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer, and Lexi Thompson are in the field, but a lot of the internationals are missing. World Number One Inbee Park has decided to skip the tournament, as has So Yeon Ryu. World Number Two Suzann Pettersen withdrew on Monday.

Extra Tidbits: Last year, each round was reduced to 12 holes in an alternate route due to typhoon-like rains that flooded the golf course. The iconic image of last year was Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lincicome fishing in the 18th fairway. Neither caught anything...Ilhee Lee became a Rolex First Time winner last year, holding off Irene Cho to win by one shot...This will be the first year in quite some time that the LPGA schedule begins in January. Hats off to Commissioner Mike Whan for the massive expansion to the LPGA schedule under his leadership.

Fantasy Four:

Lexi Thompson - If she is to take the reigns of the top American player away from Stacy Lewis, he's going to need to start early. Lexi has the length to overtake this course, and has been on a streak through the end of 2013. If her putter is hot, she'll be incredibly difficult to beat.

Stacy Lewis - Top ranked player in the field. Should have no problems contending, as long as she is focused. End of 2013 wasn't great for her, but she's still one of the best players on tour and will win several times in 2014. 

Lydia Ko - Despite my prediction that she will not win in 2014, I still think Lydia will contend in several tournaments throughout the year, especially in relatively weaker fields. Ko is coming off a victory on the JLPGA Tour, so her game should not be rusty. Only question is whether her decision to turn pro and hire a new swing coach will be a distraction the first few weeks of the season.

Pornanong Phatlum - Winner on the TLPGA two weeks ago, as well as on the LET in early December. Has contended numerous times throughout 2013. She has the chops to walk away with a victory sometime soon. I expect her to start hot and remain hot throughout the season.

(SLEEPER) Se Ri Pak - Skipped the final event of the 2013 to rest an injured shoulder that has been giving her problems for several years. Showed signs of life during the Asian swing prior to that. Has a chance to make the Korean team for the International Crown event if she can find a way to win, or at the very least contend in several events. If she is healthy, she should start becoming a contender again.