Tuesday Preview - Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia

Personal Note: I will be busy tomorrow until later in the afternoon, and the first group will likely have tee'd off by then, so that is why I decided to push this back to Tuesday. In my defense, it IS Wednesday in Malaysia.

After a wacky and wild tournament in China, the LPGA heads to Malaysia for the Sime Darby LPGA. I don't believe there are no rocks surrounding the green at this golf course, so don't expect that to be a storyline this week.

Course: Kaula Lumpur Golf & Country Club, a par 71 that measures 6,200 yards. Last year, Lexi Thompson went nuts on this course and walked away with almost every scoring record. Generally, this course plays a little more difficult than that, but the winning score should still be in the mid teens.

Strength Of Field: B. Inbee Park is sitting this tournament out because she's getting married, and Michelle Wie is still out with her injury, but the rest of the top 10 is playing this week. It is, however, another limited field event, so there isn't a lot of depth.

Extra Tidbits: With Park getting married, Stacy Lewis has another opportunity to slam the door on the Player Of The Year race. Lewis has two top 10's in four appearances at this tournament...Kaula Lumpur is no stranger to hosting professional tournaments. Other than the four LPGA events, they have also hosted two European Tour events, as well as last years CIMB Classic on the PGA Tour...Last year, Lexi Thompson shot a second round 63 on her way to a four shot victory and the tournament scoring record for her second LPGA title. Prior to Thompson's victory, every edition of this tournament was won by Koreans.

Fantasy Four:

So Yeon Ryu - I don't know why I feel strongly about Ryu's chances this week, but I have this sinking suspicion that she is going to walk away with this tournament. Did not play particularly well last week, but Ryu hadn't played since her disqualification at the Evian, so I will give her a pass. 

Stacy Lewis - A win will all but seal the Player of the Year award for Lewis. Of her eleven victories, only one came in Asia, so she isn't really the world beater in Asia as she is in the United States. Still, she will be part of the conversation as she always is.

Na Yeon Choi - Has a win and a second place finish at this event, so if course familiarity translates to success, then expect Choi to contend. NYC hasn't had a great year, but she did finish 5th at the Evian and notched a top 25 last week, so she is at least trending in the right direction.

Lydia Ko - Has won tournaments in New Zealand and Taiwan, so she is likely feeling comfortable this week, especially after spending a few weeks at home. Might have some extra motivation after seeing fellow rookie Mirim Lee win last week. I think Ko will be in for a big Asian swing, and it will start by a big week this week.

(SLEEPER) Azahara Munoz - Won last week on the LET Tour for her first victory since she won the same tournament last year. Munoz's season started great during the first Asian swing. Either Munoz is trending up and will start becoming the competitor we all think she will, or her inconsistency will continue to haunt her. This could be the week we figure it out.