Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Sirak Joins LPGA Prognostication Derby--You Can, Too

I really don't have much to quibble with in Ron Sirak's preseason top 30 predictions (except that he doesn't seem to be aware that Maria Hjorth is pregnant and is in denial over the depths of Inbee Park's sophomore jinx/slump). How can I fault someone who's almost as big on the LPGA's young guns and new blood as I am? The only 2 players he picked that didn't make my top 50 are Helen Alfredsson and Juli Inkster, so he could well beat me this year. Time will tell--and there's still time for you, too, to join in the fun. But as Bill Jempty pointed out, leaving Ji-Yai Shin out of his rookie watch list doesn't make all that much sense.

I'll cut Sirak some slack, though, as his business reporting (the end of another long-term relationship for the LPGA, this time with SBS) and profiles (of Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie) are quite good. Here's hoping he rolls out more of that level of writing all year! Why not do a big preview of 2 players a week for the run-up to the Kraft Nabisco Championship?

[Update 1 (2/11/09, 4:50 pm): Yes! Ryan Ballengee is in with his top 30. There's still time for you to join in, too!]

[Update 2 (2/12/09, 4:30 pm): Yes! Jamie Saengsawang made the deadline by the skin of his teeth!]

No comments: