Preview & outright plays:
A full-strength field this week as Webb, Sorenstam and Pak return to the fold. This is an event that Webb has not won, while the other two have. Sorenstam is the defending champion, while Pak has almost monopolized this event in recent years. She holds the course record and the tournament record and won the event in 1998 and 1999. She almost made it three-in-a-row, but her nine-foot putt lipped out on the last green and she missed the playoff by one shot. With Sorenstam winless in two months and Pak playing very poorly over the past few weeks, this may be Webb's third win in four events or a golden opportunity for the others.
Not surprisingly, I've plumped for the 'others' ... the three selections this week are Maria Hjorth, Rachel Teske and Laura Diaz. Hjorth's form has been outstanding since the Champions Classic in May. In those six events, she has finished in the top-3 five times and has shot every single round under par in those five events. With a top-20 finish in her only visit to the course, she is as good as any player, bar Karrie Webb, at the moment and is a lot lower price at other places.
Rachel Teske is another who can boast good form coming into this event. He held off a very strong field to win the Evian Masters and followed that win with a creditable 17th place in the McDonald's LPGA Championship when it is always difficult to compete following only her 4th Tour win. Mind you, she did win back-to-back events in 1999! With her only appearance in this event being last year when she took Annika Sorenstam to a playoff before finishing, the indications are that she will feature very strongly this week.
Finally, Laura Diaz completes a trio of players in good form at the moment. In her last event, she finished a close 2nd to Karrie Webb in the McDonald's LPGA Championship. It was her third runners-up spot of the year. She can also boast top-20 finishes in both of her starts in this event, with only one round over par. With a place finish from any of Hjorth, Teske or Diaz playing more than a win by either Webb or Sorenstam, they represent much better value on the basis of her form coming into the event.
Outright plays:
Maria Hjorth to win 33/1 e.w. @
Stan James [5 places option]
Rachel Teske to win 33/1 e.w. @
Surrey
Laura Diaz to win 33/1 e.w. @
Surrey
Nice to see we're in agreement this week, Clive