Who Will Stop Sorenstam?

Swedish Annika Sprenstam vs. Korean players

Who will win the 59th 3.1-million dollar U.S. Women’s Open, the season’s third major competition beginning on July 1?

Golf Queen Sorenstam, who is leading the money list with 1.05 million dollars and has won the most time with four top finishes, is the most likely winner. But she has been unlucky at the U.S. Women’s Open for the past seven years. Last year, she scored a bogey at the last 18th par five hole by mistake and lost the chance to make it through to a playoff by one shot.

Among 24 Korean players who account for 15 percent of the 156 entries for the championship, Grace Park (Nike Golf) is expected to fiercely compete with Sorenstam. Park won the first major game Nabisco Championship.

If she adds 560,000 dollars, which is three times higher than the average prize, Park, who is now the second on the money list with 770,000 dollars, will be at the top of the list again, stepping one step closer to becoming the first most prize winner of the season. She is doing her best to win this tournament, even giving up participating in the latest Rochester LPGA right before teeing-off to keep her physical condition and prevent her back condition from worsening.

Pak Se-ri (CJ), who was cut off two times in a row, and “Golf Genius” Michelle Wie, are also drawing attention.

This game also has great significance to Ahn Shi-hyun (Kolon Elord), Aree Song (Bean Pole Golf), and Jeon Seol-an who are competing with each other for the Rookie of the Year as players can get double points for one’s records at the U.S. Women’s Open.

As last year’s unexpected victory by unknown American player Hilary Lunke shows, the U.S. Women’s Open, being held at tricky courses, is full of surprises. Lunke became the first to win the game among those who got through a local qualifying test.

This year’s venue is the Orchards Golf Club (6,473 yards and 71 par) near Boston, Massachusetts, and is known for its difficult courses where only players with precise and long-range shots can do well.

The Orchards has long courses of 6,473 yards, though there are only three par five holes. Because five holes out of 11 par four holes are longer than 400 yards, players with short flying distances will have difficulties in getting the ball on the green with two shots. In addition, a precise driving shot is essential because a thick forest surrounds the fairway.

There are rough areas of about 10-centimeter-long grass and weeds surrounding not only the fairway, but also the greens, which themselves have tricky slopes. Considering this, people at the Orchards predict even a winner will record an over par score.

Young-Sik Ahn ysahn@donga.com