LORENA OCHOA INVITATIONAL.

[wakeman]

Good evening all.

Well here we are again with the latest offering from our Fillies department.

First thing to say is as it's only a 36 runner event where are our invites , obviously we did not impress Lorena in the Pre Parade ring .

So as only 36 runners are facing the starter you would think that there are grounds for thinking is is easier than usual, in my case not a bit of it.

Having had a good think about it today i have come down on the side of these four.

Following on from a chat with Jon last night i was contemplating not going with a couple of my usual suspects but did a u turn very quickly.

So step forward firstly Paula Creamer, always need a detective on the case and secondly Katherine Hull, rumour has it Rod is Caddying this week , so some expert advice you would think will be forthcoming .

My final two here i believe have not been backed by me before, so an advanced apology to firstly Jee-Young Lee and secondly Helen Alfredsson for having to put up with me looking over there shoulder.

All eye's i'm sure will be on Annika Sorenstam in what i believe to be one of her final encounters with Lorena and co in opposition, whilst she was quite entitled to win last time out she still needed extra time and by her standards against the main cast lately she would be the first to admit that they have not been the best, for that reason not suggesting that she can't pull it off she will be passed over by me this week, it will i'm sure be quite emotional should she do it.

I am quite peeved that there are no odds available on the European Ladies this week as i was going to have quite a play with Samantha Head, in a betting sense before anyone get's the wrong impression .

Well that will do it for me for now, so as always the best of luck to Jon and anyone else partaking.

Cheers.

Adrian.
_________________
It will be a long time to the 19th if shots like that are going to be the dish of the day.

[Triptych]

Only 36 players this week, but as Adrian has already mentioned, it doesn't make things any easier than usual. So, it's going to be the case of picking the usual suspects and hoping for the best. At least the presence of Lorena Ochoa at the head of the market again, means that the prices have a more appealing look about them than of late. Lorena hasn't played home tournaments as well as one might have expected in the last year or so, thereby providing the main excuse for ignoring the usual short price about her.

Regular viewers of the Ladies Golf thread will probably now be able to list the players I will be choosing this week faster than I can type them, but for those who need a little reminder of the likely candidates...

WIN SELECTIONS

Paula Creamer 12/1, Cristie Kerr 16/1, Jee Young Lee 25/1, Jeong Jang 33/1.

EW SELECTIONS

Katherine Hull 25/1, Na Yeon Choi 50/1, Eun-hee Ji 66/1, Angela Park 80/1, Nicole Castrale 80/1.

CONCLUSIONS

Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr would always be my first choices for win selections, each already having been successful this year. Jee Young Lee was my pick last week, and having played well is worth another go. Jeong Jang has not been on board before, but I'm siding with her as a cover bet.

I'm hoping that Katherine Hull will prove a solid bet, with her having shown good form quite a few times this back-end of the season. Na Yeon Choi hasn't hit the heights of form I thought she would, but 50/1 is much the best price she's been for a while. Both comments apply to Eun-hee Ji as well, although she has less to prove, having won already this year. The remaining pair, Angela Park and Nicole Castrale, are on the list as I daren't leave them alone; too often I've been a victim of sod's law.

So, having tipped one quarter of the field, one ought to feel confident of a return. If you believe that, you'll believe anything. Good luck to Adrian and anyone else dipping their toe this week.

[Triptych]

On reflection, it would be distinctly unfair not to pass on information that I have read since last night's post.

While it may be true that Lorena Ochoa's win ratio in Mexico is not as high as one might expect, it must be pointed out that this week's event is to be played at her home course, where she practices when she is at home as she has done for years. She is going to be miles ahead of everyone else where course experience is concerned. It could be tantamount to a walkover.