Course: Ko Olina Golf Club. Measuring at 6,300 yards, Ko Olina will be one of the easier golf courses the ladies play this season, as long as the weather stays nice. Hawaii can get some pretty nasty wind gusts, though, and that cause the scores to skyrocket. The fairways are relatively wide open, though, and wayward shots are not horribly punished, so expect low scores.
Strength Of Field: D. Without defending champion Suzann Pettersen or Stacy Lewis, the field just isn't captivating enough for a non-golf fan to really pay much attention. Lexi Thompson, fresh off her major victory, also sits this one out, as well as two-time winner this season Karrie Webb. Exemptions to some of the top KLPGA pros are nice, but shouldn't move the needle stateside.
Extra Tidbits: Plagued by a bad back, defending champion Suzann Pettersen continues to be sidelined. This will be the third week in a row Pettersen has missed due to injury, and forth overall this season...Ariya Jutanugarn, ranked 37th in the world and was once featured in the top 25, was one of the Monday qualifiers for this event...Several KLPGA pros, including top ranked Ha Na Jang, were given sponsor exemptions into the field.
Fantasy Four
1) Michelle Wie - Hometown golfer with one week's rest after her runner up finish at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. The opportunity is perfect for Wie to notch win number three. Open fairways should give her the opportunity to bomb it, and with her improved putting, the course should be hers for the taking.
2) Inbee Park - Weak field should give Park an edge. She has played decently well over the past month, though perhaps not up to the standards she set for herself last season. With Pettersen on the shelf and Lewis not playing this week, Park has the opportunity to really distance herself from them.
3) Se Ri Pak - Now is the time to find out if her last two tournaments were flukes, or if she is truly returning to form. Has more room to negotiate the course. Coming off of two straight top 10's, with the most recent being a tie for third at the Kraft Nabisco. Weak field should relax her.
4) Azahara Munoz - Has regained her consistency that she lost last season. Four top ten's this season, including one at KNC. Could find some inspiration with Miguel Angel Jiminez's performance at the Masters last week.
(SLEEPER) Ha Na Jang - Player of the year on the KLPGA last season, with a win already this season. American audiences likely haven't seen much of her, but she absolutely crushed fields last year, coming close to setting the record for most money won in a season on that tour. Playing in Hawaii with a weak field should bring Jang into contention, as there will be very little adjustment needed.
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