Sybase Classic Preview/Predictions/Pairings

As LPGA.com notes, Lorena Ochoa has a chance this week at the Sybase Classic to join Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies as the only players in the history of the tour to win the same event 4 consecutive times. If she were to accomplish that astounding feat, she'd also notch her 3rd win of the season before anyone else got her 2nd, which would go a long way toward putting last weekend's pain behind her.

Even with that much at stake this week, there's no chance for any not-quite-live-blogging on this end this time around--we leave for Japan in a week and there's too much to get done before then. In fact, I'll be totally lazy efficient and point you toward last year's preview post. Here's hoping my picks do better this year than last:

1. Ochoa
2. Kerr
3. Lang
4. Shin
5. Kim Song-Hee
6. Wright
7. Creamer
8. Kim In-Kyung
9. Miyazato Ai
10. Lee Seon Hwa
11. Pressel
12. Ji

Alts: Choi Na Yeon, Castrale, Ward

With such a packed field, this is much tougher than last year. The 2 best pairings are going off at opposite times:

1st tee, 9:16 AM
Lorena Ochoa
Paula Creamer
Cristie Kerr

10th tee, 12:54 PM
Lindsey Wright
Ji-Yai Shin
Song-Hee Kim

The rest of the pairings are pretty evenly matched, usually with someone playing well, someone coming off a bad week, and someone having a tough season. Exceptions include:

1st tee, 8:54 AM
Michelle Wie
Wendy Ward
In-Kyung Kim

Kim and Ward are coming off great performances last week, while Wie may have trouble with the tight fairways this week.

10th tee, 8:54 AM
Angela Park
Sun Young Yoo
Brittany Lang

All have had pretty excellent seasons so far, but Park and Yoo are real question marks this week.

10th tee, 9:05 AM
Na Yeon Choi
Eun-Hee Ji
Rachel Hetherington

Choi was in contention last year, Ji's been playing well in '09 but not lately, and Hetherington is one of those vets who could put it together any given week.

There's much more to be said, but not by me!

[Update 1 (1:41 pm): Fortunately, Golf Girl is there to pick up the slack. Literally, there. Check out her on-site blogging when you get a chance this week.]

[Update 2 (5/14/09, 12:03 am): Here's Hound Dog's preview and Golf Girl's profile of Cristie Kerr.]