My Picks For The 2014 LPGA Championship

This week is the fourth of five LPGA majors, as the LPGA heads to Rochester for the final time for the 2014 LPGA Championship. Frankly, this is my least favorite of the majors as it is the least inclusive. Only LPGA players can qualify for the event, which means Hyo Joo Kim, who has been dominating the KLPGA this season, is ineligible to participate. Regardless, this is still a major tournament and with so many players playing well this year, this could be the tournament that could define a year.

The course in Rochester has tight fairways, so I stayed away from some long hitters that didn't have the driving accuracy. Other than that, there is no formula other than picking the players who have played well this year. The LPGA, more than any other major on the schedule, rewards the top players.

Likely To Not Contend:
Lexi Thompson - This course is just too tight for Thompson, who has never finished inside the top 10 at the LPGA Championship and hasn't recorded a top 10 on Tour since the US Open. I expect her form to return before the end of the season, but this isn't the place to do it.

Yani Tseng - A lot of people like Yani this week because of her past history, but she has never played at Monroe Golf Club before. With everybody seeing the course for the first time, I expect Yani to finish in the middle of the road this week.

Mirim Lee - The only rookie other than Lydia Ko to win on the LPGA Tour this year. Mirim Lee contending would make for a great story, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Her previous finishes in majors are a T26 and a missed cut. She's playing better now than she did at any other point of the season, but I need to see more before thinking she can contend for a major.

Keep An Eye On:
Haru Nomura - Only missed one cut this season, but last week's fourth place finish was only her second top 10 of the season. A lot of middling results, but has shown improvements, and should be slightly encouraged that she made the cut in her previous two major performances. She has been the best player from Japan this season, and yet she slides under the radar, which may be perfect for her. After a couple of seasons bouncing between Asia and the LPGA Tour, she has locked up her card for next season.

Sleeper Pick:
Amy Yang - Four top 10's this season, including the Kraft Nabisco Championship and US Open. Not even sure she qualifies as a sleeper anymore, but her recent performances in majors should be enough to give people notice.

Contenders:
5) Shanshan Feng - Winner two years ago at Locust Hill. Notched a top 10 last week after finishing tied for second at the Women's British Open. Her next win is coming very soon, but may be overlooked considering some of the names playing at the highest level.

4) Suzann Pettersen - Starting to return to form after an injury seemed to derail her early in the season. If she is completely healthy, she should have no problem returning to her winning form. While she has been completely forgotten about this season, she is still only forth on the Rolex World Rankings.

Numbers 3, 2, and 1:
I have honestly gone back and forth several times with all three players in my top 3, and I can not decide on which one I have the most confidence in to win the LPGA Championship. Naturally, they are the top 3 players in the Rolex World Rankings, and someone can make a case for all three of them, but I can also make a case AGAINST all three.
Lydia Ko may have the most momentum and confidence entering the LPGA Championship, but I still have a hard time seeing a 17 year old winning a major, even if that 17 year old is defying everything we ever knew about age in sports.
Stacy Lewis finished outside the top 10 by one stroke last week, but that was all because of her final round 66. Prior to that, Lewis looked out of it, which may be a result of the stunning exit of Team USA from the International Crown early in the event. Still, she is the best player in the world and should be considered the favorite.
Inbee Park is the defending champion and has played incredibly well the past several weeks, but she also has had two chances to close the deal on victories - one at the Women's British Open and one last week at the Meijer. I worry about players who give away leads late in a tournament, but Inbee's the caliber of golfer that can easily rebound.

I'm honestly completely torn. I know I'm supposed to pick one player, but right now, I simply can not do this. What I will say, though, is if all three of these players are in contention heading into the weekend, then we can expect yet another fantastic LPGA major.