Wednesday Preview - Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic

The LPGA returns to the Bay Area for the first time since 2010, and if the interviews and sound bites by the top players are any evidence, the move is an incredibly popular one. The Swinging Skirts, from what I can gather, is a non-profit group based out of Taiwan that is instrumental in growing the game and bridging the gap between the roots of golf in Scotland and the new audience being gathered in Asia. Hopefully, bringing a tournament to the United States will give them a bit more publicity going forward.

Course: Lake Merced Golf Club. Seeing as this is the first year for this tournament, I have no idea how the course is going to play or where the winning score is going to be. I would guess that it would be around the same level of difficulty as Hawaii was, so around -10 for the winning score. Anything could happen, though.

Strength Of Field: B. It is a top heavy field - many of the top players in the world are playing, but there are also a large number of TLPGA players in the field, as well, so you can't say that the field is incredibly deep. Not like it matters - no one outside the top 50 has won on the LPGA this year. The only real big name missing from the field is Lexi Thompson.

Extra Tidbits: Suzann Pettersen returns to action after sitting out several weeks with a back injury...Swinging Skirts also have a tournament in Taiwan that usually attracts the best fields in Asia. Many LPGA pros, including Suzann Pettersen, fly over to compete in that tournament. Lydia Ko won the event at the end of last year in only her second event as a professional...many top Taiwan LPGA professionals received an exemption into the tournament. Also, too, did England's Charley Hull and Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, as well as Korean sensation Hyo Joo Kim...Swinging Skirts is known for their incredibly odd art, so if you see pictures of gigantic shoes or rings around the golf course, do not be alarmed.

Fantasy Four:

1) Paula Creamer - Hasn't played great since her win in Singapore, but a return to California should be what the doctor ordered. Creamer played in the Bay Area as an amateur, so Creamer should have an idea as to how the course should play. Creamer has made the cut in 80 consecutive events. 

2) Inbee Park - Has become the new top 10 machine, recording 5 of them in 6 events this season. Seems to love the pressure of remaining the number one player in the world, especially with Pettersen and Stacy Lewis in the field. Won't bet against Inbee until she gives me a reason to do so.

3) Michelle Wie - Part of me is cautious as to how she will respond after finally picking up her third victory last week, but returning to the Bay Area should be a relaxing experience for her. Wie went to school at Stanford. Hasn't finished worse then T16 in any event she's played this season. First in scoring average and money list. 

4) Se Ri Pak - You can be either optimistic or pessimistic based on her performance last week. I am more optimistic, as Pak is now notching top 10's with frequency. Three top 10's in three starts. Could easily win if she can put four rounds together.

(SLEEPER) Ariya Jutanugarn - Finished in the top 25 after Monday qualifying last week. Ariya is trying to join her sister Moriya on Tour, so top finishes in tournaments are going to be necessary. Appears to be healthy after returning from her shoulder injury.