Yani Tseng of Taiwan vs. Katie Futcher of Texas

This match up features two of the most competitive players on the LPGA Tour. Tseng is typically known for her strength and consistency but putting plagued her during Thursday’s first round match and she earned a 1 UP victory over Jeong Jang. Futcher had an easier path to Friday’s second round matches as she cruised to a 4&3 victory over Chella Choi.

Candie Kung of Taiwan vs. Haeji Kang of South Korea

Four-time LPGA Tour winner Candie Kung will have rely heavily on her putter on Friday if she wants to hold off Haeji Kang. Kang currently ranks fourth in putting average with 28.59. With a tied for 12^th finish at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, Kang is coming off her best finish of the season. Look for Kung’s iron play to keep this match close as she ranks 31^st on tour in greens in regulation.

Jennifer Johnson of California vs. Karine Icher of France

Both Johnson and Icher didn’t play 18 on Thursday as they cruised to Friday’s second round match. Johnson upset No. 8 seed Paula Creamer in a 2&1 victory. With both players looking to notch their first career LPGA Tour victory, look for Icher to have the slight edge as she is coming off a third place finish at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic.

Ryann O’Toole of California vs. Julieta Granada of Paraguay

This match features two young fiery players. Both O’Toole and Granada have immense experience in match play so look for this match to need 18 holes to determine the winner. Granada finished tied for ninth at last year’s Sybase Match Play Championship while O’Toole was a member of the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Team.

Kathy Whitworth Bracket

Katherine Hull vs. Mariajo Uribe

In another upset of the day, Uribe defeated LPGA LOTTE Championship winner No. 4 seed Ai Miyazato, taking it to the final hole and finished 2 up. Hull ended her match with Song-Hee Kim on the 16^th hole winning 3&2. Hull and Uribe have similar LPGA resumes, so this could be a back-and-forth match.

So Yeon Ryu vs. Mina Harigae

Ryu and Harigae both closed out their Thursday matches with 3&2 victories. Rookie stand-out Ryu defeated Karin Sjodin after coming back from a three-stroke deficit on the front nine, while Harigae took out Michelle Wie.  Ryu and Harigae are both searching for their first win this season, so this is a match up worth watching.

Cristie Kerr vs. Vicky Hurst

Tenacious match-play competitor Kerr defeated Belen Mozo 2&1. Hurst, seeded No. 37, pulled off a win against No. 28 seed Meena Lee. Kerr could be considered the favorite in tomorrow’s match-up but don’t count out Hurst. Her strong competitive drive could allow her to put up a good fight against Kerr.

Angela Stanford vs. Eun-Hi Jee

Eun-Hi Jee took out Maria Hjorth after going into extra holes to finish 1 up on Thursday, while Stanford went back-and-forth with Wendy Ward to finish 2&1. This match will be interesting with Stanford’s mental toughness and impressive LPGA resume and Jee’s impeccable putting game.

Mickey Wright Bracket

Na Yeon Choi vs. Jenny Shin

Choi, the No. 2 seed this week, outlasted Grace Park after securing the win in the last two holes to win 2 up. Although Shin struggled with some aspects of her game Thursday she managed to finish 4&2 against Jimin Kang.  If this battle comes down to experience Choi might have an edge as she has five LPGA victories under her belt while Shin will be searching for her first.

Morgan Pressel vs. Inbee Park

Neither Pressel, nor Park needed 18-holes to close out their first-round matches. Pressel gained control over her match with Mindy Kim on the back-nine to finish 5&4, while Park and Hee-Won Han were even through the 11^th hole when Park broke loose and won three consecutive holes ending 3&2. Pressel and Park have similar LPGA resumes, so this could be a back-and-forth match.

Jiyai Shin of South Korea vs. Anna Nordqvist of Sweden

This second round match contains a combined 10 LPGA Tour victories.  With both players ranking in the top-15 in birdies, look for this match to be birdie extravaganza. Despite Shin’s injury she cruised to an impressive 6&5 victory over Jennifer Song while Nordqvist defeated Beatriz Recari 2&1. Both players have experience on their side as Shin finished third at the 2010 Sybase Match Play Champion and Nordqvist is a two-time European Solheim Cup team member.

Amy Yang and Natalie Gulbis of Nevada

Yang and Gublis took two different routes to Friday’s second round match. While Yang defeated Amy Hung 3&2, Gulbis fought back from four down to earn a 1 UP victory over Mika Miyazato. Gublis’ match play experience could give her the slight edge in the match as she has competed on three U.S. Solheim Cup teams. Despite Gulbis’ experience this could be a match to watch as Yang has recorded two top-5 finishes this season and Gulbis is coming off a tied for ninth finish at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic.

Annika Sorenstam Bracket

Jodi Ewart of England versus Sophie Gustafson of Sweden

Ewart pulled off the surprise 3&1 first-round upset of defending champion Suzann Pettersen to move to the round of 32 against European Solheim Cup veteran Sophie Gustafson. Ewart gained entry into the Sybase Match Play Championship field by placing in the top-12 of player’s not otherwise qualified on the 2012 LPGA Official Money List at the conclusion of the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. Sophie Gustafson defeated her European Solheim Cup teammate Karen Stupples, 4&3, to advance to the second round. The Swede is coming off a perfect 4-0-0 record at the 2011 Solheim Cup and has five LPGA Tour victories to her name. She has two top-20 finishes on Tour in 2012, both T18 at the Honda LPGA Thailand and LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf. Gustafson is sure to have the distance advantage off the tee, but the 24-year-old Ewart showed that she is fearless between the ropes on Thursday. Gustafson made it to the quarterfinals of the 2011 Sybase Match Play Championship before losing to Na Yeon Choi.

Karrie Webb of Australia versus Azahara Munoz of Spain

LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Karrie Webb handily defeated Tiffany Joh, 4&3, in the first round and will play 2010 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Azahara Munoz on Friday. A 38-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Webb has failed to advance past the second round each of the last two seasons at Sybase and will face a formidable opponent in Munoz, who knocked out Lindsey Wright, 4&3, on Thursday. Munoz has quality match play experience on her resume. She lost in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur to Amanda Blumenherst and was a three-time European PING Junior Solheim Cup team member (2002, 2003, 2005). She also competed on her first European Solheim Cup team in 2011, posting a 2-1-1 record. The Spaniard is playing with a heavy heart this week following the death of her grandmother on Sunday.

Stacy Lewis of the United States versus Sandra Gal of Germany

One of the most intriguing matches on the Friday calendar pits 2011 Solheim Cup rookies Stacy Lewis and Sandra Gal in a battle of LPGA Tour young guns. Lewis, fresh off her second-career victory at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, won her first round match against Pat Hurst 4&3 with three birdies on the back-nine. Currently No. 7 on the Rolex Rankings, Lewis is fourth on the LPGA Official Money List. Gal, a winner at the 2011 Kia Classic and a member of the 2011 European Solheim Cup Team, knocked out Pornanong Phatlum, 1 up, to advance to the second round.

Sun Young Yoo of South Korea versus Jessica Korda of the United States

2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship winner Sun Young Yoo will face Jessica Korda in the second round of the Sybase Match Play Championship. Yoo defeated Amanda Blumenherst, 4&2, with birdies on 15 and 16 to advance to the field of 32. The 19-year-old Korda outlasted 2011 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Hee Kyung Seo, 1 up, with a birdie at 18. Yoo became a Rolex First-Time Winner in 2010 at the Sybase Match Play Championship and followed that up with her second-career victory in April at Golf’s First Major. Korda, who became the fourth-youngest winner in LPGA Tour history at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in February, has experience in match play as a member of the 2010 U.S. Curtis Cup team and 2009 USA Junior Solheim Cup.

Note: Friday’s admission gates will open at 9:00 a.m.

10:44AM
Sophie Gustafson(30) Sweden
Jodi Ewart(62) Florida

10:52AM
Karrie Webb(14) Ayr Queensland Australia
Azahara Munoz(19) Malaga Spain

11:00AM
Stacy Lewis(6) The Woodlands TX
Sandra Gal(27) Cologne Germany

11:08AM
Sun Young Yoo(11) Seoul South Korea
Jessica Korda(43) Bradenton FL

11:16AM
Yani Tseng(1) Lake Nona FL
Katie Futcher(33) The Woodlands TX

11:32AM
Haeji Kang(48) South Korea
Candie Kung(49) Taiwan

11:40AM
Karine Icher(40) France
Jennifer Johnson(57) Carlsbad CA

11:48AM
Julieta Granada(41) Paraguay
Ryann O’Toole(56) California

11:56AM
Katherine Hull(36) Sunrise Beach Australia
Mariajo Uribe(61) Bucaramanga Colombia

12:04PM
So Yeon Ryu(13) South Korea
Mina Harigae(45) Monterey CA

12:12PM
Cristie Kerr(5) Miami FL
Vicky Hurst(37) Melbourne FL

12:28PM
Angela Stanford(12) Saginaw TX
Eun-Hee Ji(44) South Korea

12:36PM
Na Yeon Choi(2) South Korea
Jenny Shin(31) Torrence CA

12:44PM
Inbee Park(18) Seoul South Korea
Morgan Pressel(15) Boca Raton FL

12:52PM
Jiyai Shin(7) South Korea
Anna Nordqvist(26) Eskilstuna Sweden

1:00PM
Amy Yang(10) South Korea
Natalie Gulbis(42) Lake Las Vegas NV

Click here for a printable version.

Jang was determined to put up a fight and that is just what she did. Jang, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour clawed her way back to get the match to even thru 15 holes. Tseng then pared 16 to take a 1 up lead and after the two tied 17, the match was forced to 18.

As the duo walked down the 18^th hole, an audience that included many LPGA players began to form to see what would unfold. The duo exchanged pars on the par-5 18^th and Tseng punched her ticket to Friday’s second round.

Click here for a full round score summary.

“I just can’t believe I played until 18 holes today,” said Tseng. “I mean, it was lots of pressure at the end, and we almost go to a playoff on No. 1.”

Despite needing all 18 holes to advance, Tseng admitted she played solid on Thursday despite a few putts not dropping.

“I played very well today, actually,” said Tseng. “I hit it good today, driving, hitting lots of good shots, but I just can’t putt. I didn’t make anything, and I only make one birdie from three feet on No. 2 and that’s it.  It’s a tough day for me today and I feel I’m pretty lucky to win a match today. Hopefully tomorrow it’s another new day and hopefully tomorrow I’ll drop more putts.”

Early Exit. It’s been a long season for Rolex Rankings No. 3 Suzann Pettersen. Although she has consistently placed in the top-25 in each tournament so far, she has only broken into the top-10 twice with a solo sixth place at LPGA LOTTE Championship and tie for 10^th at the HSBC LPGA Brasil Cup.  

Coming back to Hamilton Farm Golf Club as defending champ may have given Pettersen the confidence she needed to burst through her slump, but falling short to No. 62 seed Jodi Ewart wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. She just wasn’t on her A-game.

“I just played awful from the fairway to the green,” Pettersen said. “I missed more greens today than I have all year.  Putted pretty good, kept me in it. I had a pretty good shot into 11 and it kind of turned around for her. I hit a perfect shot and it spun off completely. I made two bogeys in a row. I just wasn’t on today, to be honest.”

The Comeback Kid… On the scoreboard, Natalie Gulbis’ 1 up victory over Mika Miyazato at the Sybase Match Play Championship on Thursday might seem routine. But the scorecard reveals it was the best comeback of the day at the season’s only match play event. Gulbis was 4 down through 10 holes before mounting a massive charge, winning six of the last eight holes to defeat Miyazato. “Last year I actually had Suzann Pettersen 4-down and she came back and beat me in the first round. So I had the reverse, and, you know, with match play you just don’t give up until you run out of holes and it’s just a fun mentality,” she said. Gulbis has two top-10 finishes in her last three events including a tie for eighth at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Upset City. Many are in shock as several top-seeded players were knocked off the bracket today. A few of these matches include Jodi Ewart’s 3&1 victory over defending Sybase Match Play champ Suzann Pettersen, Jennifer Johnson’s 3&1 win over Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome’s 2&1 loss to Ryann O’Toole and Mariajo Uribe taking out Ai Miyazato on the last hole.

Although Creamer has an impressive match-play record after finishing with a tie for fifth at last year’s event and competing on her fourth Solheim Cup team in 2011, she shrugs off her loss and gives credit to her opponent.

“That’s sports, that’s golf,” Creamer said. “Match-play is a funny game. Jennifer started off so strong, I was playing fine, I was three down and I got it squared off on the turn. She made a good birdie on 10 and then I birdied 11. It was just kind of a battle. It’s unfortunate for me but she played well so I can’t take that from her. I wish I would have put more pressure on her coming down the stretch but that’s the way match-play is.”

Tune in as Lexi prepares for prom. Lexi Thompson will be live on Fox and Friends at 7:50 a.m. on Friday with prom date United States Marine Corps wounded warrior and Purple Heart recipient Lance Corporal Mark Scott. E! Entertainment News will be airing segments on Friday and Monday covering the prom which will take place at Coral Gables High School. Lexi extended an invitation to America’s servicemen (ages 18-20) to upload a story why they should be chosen to be her prom date. More than 100 young men shared their stories, which are available on her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lexi. Lexi wanted to share her prom with a member of the armed forces, as she has a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for them. Mark Scott is a 20-year-old Marine Active Reservist living in the Chicago area. He works for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce helping veterans and their spouses find employment.

Pro- Julieta Granada
Amateur- Scott Seymour, John Kaczkowski, Tim Rittenhouse, Ed Brockner
Score- 54

2nd Place

Pro- Mika Miyazato
Amateur- Tom Ashfield, Jamie Devers, Kevin Seibel, Steven McGlone
Score- 55

3rd Place

Pro- Tiffany Joh
Amateur-  George Zengo, John Coyle, Dave Cardona, David Hawthorn
Score- 56

Longest Drive – Hole #5 (Men Only)

Winner: Ryan Cannon

Longest Drive – Hole #5 (Women Only)

1. Renee Klose

Closest to the Hole – Hole #8

1. Frank Noviello
2. John Kaczkowski
3. Tony Bruno

Here are previews for the first-round matches:

Patty Berg Bracket

Yani Tseng of Taiwan vs. Jeong Jang of South Korea
With already three LPGA Tour victories under her belt this season, Tseng goes into the match the heavy favorite. This year alone Tseng has finished no worse than tied for 10th. Tseng also holds an impressive record in match play events reaching the quarter-finals of the Sybase Match Play Championship the previous two years and as an amateur she won the 2005 Women’s Amateur Public Links and 2005 North and South Women’s Amateur Golf Championship. In her first season back since having a baby, Jang has only made two out of five cuts this year and recorded a season-best tied for 15th finish at the HSBC LPGA Brasil Cup 2012.

Chella Choi of South Korea vs. Katie Futcher of Texas
Look for this match to be a head-to-head battle as Chella Choi is ranked No. 60 in the Rolex Rankings and Futcher No. 62. Both players got their start on the Symetra Tour where they combined to record six top-10 finishes. While both players rank in the top-28 in greens in regulation look for Choi to hold a slight advantage on the green. Choi currently ranks 65th in putting average while Futcher sits at 93rd.

Catriona Matthew of Scotland vs. Candie Kung of Taiwan
While Matthew might seem to hold a slight advantage over Kung on paper, both players boast an equally impressive resume in match play. Matthew reached the quarterfinals of the 2010 Sybase Match Play Championship and Kung won the 2001 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. Matthew ranks slightly above Kung in several categories including greens in regulation and driving average.

Caroline Hedwall of Sweden vs. Haeji Kang of South Korea
Haeji Kang will have her hands full with Caroline Hedwall in the first round. Hedwall was a member of the winning 2011 European Solheim Cup Team where she boasted an impressive 2-1-1 record. Hedwall might be seeded higher than Kang but don’t count out this South Korean who finished tied for fifth at the 2010 Sybase Match Play Championship. This season Hedwall has only finished outside the top-20 once and has recorded two top-10 finishes. Kang has finished in the top-20 three times and recorded a season-best tie for 12th at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic.

Paula Creamer of California vs. Jennifer Johnson of California
Look for experience to provide Paula Creamer the extra advantage she needs over Jennifer Johnson. Creamer has extensive match play experience under her belt ranging back to junior and amateur golf. Creamer was a member of the victorious 2004 U.S. Curtis Cup Team and represented the United States at the 2002 and 2003 PING Junior Solheim Cup matches. In addition, Creamer has been a member of the US Solheim Cup Team four times and holds an 11-3-5 record. Looking to record her first LPGA Tour victory, Johnson recorded a season-best tied for 25th at the Kia Classic.

Hee Young Park of South Korea vs. Karine Icher of France
With both players coming off impressive finishes at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, look for this match to be a back-and-forth battle. Icher finished tied for ninth at the 2010 Sybase Match Play Championship while Park finished tied for tied for 17th in 2010 and tied for 33rd in 2011. Look for Park to hold a slight advantage on the green as she ranks 22nd in putting average while Icher is ranked 113th.

Brittany Lincicome of Florida vs. Ryann O’Toole of California
This match features two 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup teammates. While O’Toole will put up a solid fight, look for Lincicome to have a slight edge as she won the 2006 HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship played at this week’s Hamilton Farms Golf Club. The wide open Hamilton Farms Golf Club provides Lincicome, who leads the LPGA Tour in driving distance, an opportunity to truly grip it and rip it.

Brittany Lang of Texas vs. Julieta Granada of Paraguay
Known as one of the longest hitters on tour, look for Lang’s distance off the tee to give her a slight advantage over Granada. But don’t count out Granada as she ranks 22nd in putting average while Lang ranks 55th. Lang has appeared on two U.S. Solheim Cup Teams and holds a 2-3-2 record. Both Lang and Granada finished tied for ninth at last year’s Sybase Match Play Championship.
Kathy Whitworth Bracket

Ai Miyazato of Japan vs. Mariajo Uribe of Colombia
Rolex Rankings No. 4 Ai Miyazato is on a mission with five top-10s, including two runner-ups and a win to her credit this season. Miyazato’s putting has played a huge role in her success this season as she is leading the Tour in putts per GIR and putting averages. Mariajo Uribe is seeking her first official LPGA win, and this week’s match-play format may be exactly what she needs to pull it off. Uribe’s momentum seems to have taken off after securing a win at the HSBC Brasil Cup last season. She recorded a season-best finish at the LPGA LOTTE Championship with a tie for seventh.

Song-Hee Kim of South Korea vs. Katherine Hull of Australia
Both Song-Hee Kim and Katherine Hull enter this week desperately seeking an LPGA victory, for different reasons. In six seasons, Kim has managed to post 6 runner ups but has yet to record a victory since joining the Tour. It’s been two years since we’ve seen Hull hoist an LGPA trophy in the air, but a tie for 20th at the Kraft Nabisco Championship could give her the confidence she needs grab another win.

So Yeon Ryu of South Korea vs. Karin Sjodin of Sweden
In this LPGA veteran vs. rookie match-up, look for a battle of the irons. Sjodin leads the Tour in greens in regulation with Ryu capping off the top-10 in the same category. Sjodin gained some attention after posting a career-best tie for fourth at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and has gained the confidence she needs to stay in contention. Ryu currently leads the Louis Suggs Rookie of the Year race by over hundred points and being the only rookie in the field this week, all eyes will be on her. She has three top-5 finishes this year including a tie for second at the season opener in Australia. Both are searching for their first LPGA victory this week.

Michelle Wie of Hawaii vs. Mina Harigae of California
Wie comes to Hamilton Farm Golf Club with a college degree in hand and ready to take her golf career to a whole new level. Wie enters the match after missing three cuts in her last five appearances. As she transitions from full-time student to full-time golfer, we’ll be looking to see if she can shift from her missed cuts and get in the winner’s circle. While Wie has one of the longest drives on Tour, Harigae places in the top-20 in sand saves. She recorded her career-best tie for sixth at the Mizuno Classic last year and has placed in the top-20 at two events this season. This is Harigae’s first appearance at Sybase Match Play, so if it comes down to experience, Wie might have the advantaged was she has two career titles to her name.

Cristie Kerr of Florida vs. Belen Mozo of Spain
Ranked No. 5 in the Rolex Rankings Women’s World Golf Rankings, Kerr is hoping to piggy back on her successful 2011 season. Her match-play record is strong, although she fell short of victory at last year’s event when she took Suzann Pettersen to the 18th hole. It’s been two years since Kerr has finished in the winner’s circle but she has consistently recorded double-digit top-10s almost every year. She’ll be searching for her 15th LPGA victory this week. Last year, Mozo kicked off her rookie season with a tie for 17th at the Sybase Match Play Championship. Mozo recorded her first top-10 finish on Tour at the 2011 Wal-Mart NW Arkansas Classic Presented by P&G with a tie for fifth. Both Kerr and Mozo have had success in match-play events, so this will be one to watch.

Meena Lee of South Korean vs. Vicky Hurst of Maryland
With seemingly identical LPGA resumes, this match-up could be an interesting one. Both have recorded at least one top-10 finish each season since their debut on Tour and have placed in the top-20 at tournaments this season. Lee holds a slight edge in this match-up as she has two LPGA titles to her name, but it’s been nearly 6 years since she’s been in the winner’s circle.

Angela Stanford of Texas vs. Wendy Ward of Texas
This shoot-out features two Texans who are looking to put their names back in the spotlight again. Stanford has a slight edge in this competition as she displays a certain mental toughness in her game. She came out on top of a four-way playoff at the HSBC Women’s Championship this season, notching her fifth LPGA victory. She also competed on her fourth Solheim Cup Team. But Ward is a four-time winner on the LPGA Tour. It’s been nearly seven years since Ward has hoisted an LPGA trophy.

Maria Hjorth of Sweden vs. Eun-Hee Ji of South Korea
Hjorth and Ji enter this match-up with two different styles of golf. While Ji leans heavily on her flatstick boasting a place in the top-20 in putts per green, Hjorth keeps it down straight down the middle, ranking in the top-20 for average driving distance at 269 yards. Hjorth has posted a victory in back-to-back seasons and competed on her fifth European Solheim Cup Team last year. Hjorth’s match-play experience could give her a slight edge in this competition.

Mickey Wright Bracket

Na Yeon Choi of South Korea vs. Grace Park of South Korea
Ranked No. 2 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, Na Yeon Choi is a five-time winner on the LPGA Tour and certainly a player to watch in this year’s Sybase Match Play Championship. Choi made it to the semifinals last year, losing to eventual champion Suzann Pettersen, and could be a force to reckon with again at this year’s event. Choi already has three top-10 finishes in seven events this season and is coming off a T20 at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. Grace Park has struggled this season, missing the cut in each of her first five tournament starts. But Park has plenty of experience to bring to this match. The six-time LPGA winner and former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion is still averaging nearly 260 yards off the tee deep into her career, so she can keep up with Choi in the fairways. Despite the disparity in recent results for the two players, this match could turn out to be a tight one.

Jenny Shin of South Korea vs. Jimin Kang of South Korea
In this battle between South Koreans, it’s a matchup of youth vs. experience. Both Shin, 19, and Kang, a 10-year veteran of the LPGA Tour, got off to strong starts in 2012. Now the question is which one of them can find that hot streak again. Shin, who is in her second year on the LPGA Tour, has three top-10 finishes in eight events but all three of those came in the first three events of the season. Kang’s best finish this season came in a T5 at the Honda LPGA Thailand 2012 but she’s missed the cut in two of her last three events. Kang ranks 24th in putts per green in regulation so the key for her this week will likely be her approach shots. Shin on the other hand ranks 6th on Tour in greens in regulation this season so a lot will depend on her ability to make putts in this match.

Morgan Pressel of Florida vs. Mindy Kim of South Korea
A two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Pressel captured her first career victory at the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship and became the youngest major champion at 18 years, 10 months, 9 days. She’s certainly no stranger to match play situations, having competed on three U.S. Solheim Cup teams which included her posting an impressive 4-0-0 record at the 2011 Solheim Cup. Mindy Kim is still seeking that elusive victory. With one top-10 finish in 8 events so far this year, the three-time Symetra Tour winner hopes to secure her first victory at the next level this week. Neither player made it past the first round at last year’s event so perhaps the winner of this match can build on the momentum of victory in Round 1.

Inbee Park of South Korea vs. Hee-Won Han of South Korea
Inbee Park enters this week looking for some momentum and a top-10 finish. The 2008 U.S. Women’s Open champion brings a history of success in match play, including a win at the U.S. Girls Junior Championship. Park is averaging 258 yards off the tee, which could work to her advantage if the course plays long this week. Han, a 6-time winner on the LPGA Tour, has been gaining momentum as this season has gone along. After finishing no better than a T47 in the first three oversea events of the year, Han has recorded back-to-back top-30 finishes in her last two tournaments. The strength of Han’s game has been her iron play and she ranks 20th in greens in regulation. So the key for both players this week could be who gets hot with the flat stick.

Jiyai Shin of South Korea vs. Jennifer Song of Florida
It’s been awhile since we’ve seen former Rolex Rankings No.1 Jiyai Shin in the winner’s circle, as her last LPGA Tour victory came at the 2010 Mizuno Classic. Despite the victory drought, Shin is still a player to watch this week. She hits a lot of greens and fairways in regulation, which is the kind of steadiness players need in match play. Shin placed third at the 2010 Sybase Match Play but was knocked out by Meena Lee during the first round of last year’s events. This will be Jennifer Song’s first time playing at the Sybase Match Play but she is certainly experienced in the format, having won both the 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links. Song also was a member of the winning 2010 Curtis Cup team.

Anna Nordqvist of Sweden vs. Beatriz Recari of Spain
These two Europeans are no strangers to the match play format. Nordqvist is a two-time member of the European Solheim Cup team while Recari grew accustomed to it during her amateur years in Europe. Both Nordqvist and Recari burst onto the scene in their rookie years with Nordqvist recording two victories in 2009 and Recari becoming a Rolex First-Time Winner in 2010. Now both are looking to get back in the winner’s circle. There could be plenty of low numbers in this match as Nordqvist is 15th in birdies this year but for Recari, the key will be making putts as she’s in the top 20 in driving accuracy and greens in regulation.

Amy Yang of South Korea vs. Amy Hung of Taiwan
If there is a breakthrough winner this week, it might very well come from this match. Both Yang and Hung are still seeking their first career victory and it seems just a matter of time before either one of them is hoisting a trophy. Yang has two top-5 finishes so far this season, including a T4 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and her swing has been labelled by some as one of the best on Tour. Hung is coming off a runner-up finish at the HSBC LPGA Brasil Cup, an unofficial event, and credited her success to some tweaks she made to her clubs. Could that lead to a few more birdies for Hung this week? Don’t be surprised for this showdown to go to extra holes to determine the winner.

Mika Miyazato of Japan vs. Natalie Gulbis of Nevada
The 2012 season has been a resurgent one for Natalie Gulbis. She has two top-10 finishes in her last three events, which are her first top-10 finishes since the 2009 season. Gulbis is healthy again after battling some injuries in recent years and she’s credited that with her recent success. Gulbis, who is ranked in the top 10 in greens in regulation and putting average this season, is no stranger to match play as a three-time member of the U.S. Solheim Cup team. But while Gulbis has surged recently, Miyazato is looking to turn things around after 3 straight missed cuts. The Okinawa, Japan native certainly knows how to perform on big stages as she recorded three of her four top-10 finishes in majors last season. But this event hasn’t suited Miyazato in the past; she has bowed out in the first round of the Sybase Match Play in each of the last two years.

Annika Sorenstam Bracket

Suzann Pettersen of Norway vs. Jodi Ewart of England
Defending champion Suzann Pettersen has her work cut out for her to repeat this against a formidable field in 2012. The six-time European Solheim Cup Team member has plenty of experience in match play and knows what it takes to win at Hamilton Farm. The Norwegian had a bit of a slow start to the season, registering her first top-10 finish at the seventh event on the schedule, the LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf, where she tied for sixth. She’s hitting 73 percent of her greens in regulation, good for eighth on Tour, and will look to sharpen up her play on the greens to outduel her opponent, Jodi Ewart. The England native will have to control some nerves going head-to-head with one of the more intimidating players on Tour in Pettersen. Ewart, who is in her second year on Tour, recorded a career-best T7 finish at the Kia Classic this year,

Sophie Gustafson of Sweden vs. Karen Stupples of England
In a matchup between European Solheim Cup teammates, Tour veterans Sophie Gustafson and Karen Stupples will be playing off of their match play experience to get through the opening round. Gustafson has the upper hand in years under her belt as an eight-time European Solheim Cup Team member and knows how to handle the pressure packed rounds of match play. The Swede is coming off a perfect 4-0-0 record at the 2011 Solheim Cup and has five LPGA Tour victories to her name. She has two top-20 finishes on Tour in 2012, both T18 at the Honda LPGA Thailand and LGPA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf. Stupples, a 14-year Tour member, has two years of Solheim Cup experience (2005, 2011) and two LPGA Tour victories. She one-ups Gustafson in the major wins category, as she won the 2004 Weetabix Women’s British Open. The England native has recorded two top-15 finishes in 2012, a T10 at the LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf and a T15 at the HSBC Women’s Champions.

Karrie Webb of Australia vs. Tiffany Joh of California
This match has a David and Goliath type feel to it with 38-time LPGA Tour winner Karrie Webb taking on second-year pro Tiffany Joh. Webb, a World Golf and LPGA Tour Halls of Famer, has six major victories on her resume but has limited match play experience and didn’t make it past the second round at the Sybase Match Play in 2010 or 2011. The Aussie is playing solid golf so far this season, recording five top-15 finishes and is coming off a season-best T4 at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. Joh will have to rely on a ‘nothing to lose’ attitude to take down one of the game’s all-time greats in the first round. The California native has seen success in match play and was a member of the victorious 2008 U.S. Curtis Cup team, posting a 2-1-1 record, including a 6 & 5 singles match win. Joh is off to a shaky start in 2012, recording a season-best T44 at the LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf, but has proven in the past that she can play with the best after a runner-up finish last season at the Navistar LPGA Classic.

Azahara Munoz of Spain vs. Lindsey Wright of Australia
Munoz is on the brink of a break through, having played consistent high-level golf in the last four events. The Spaniard posted four-consecutive top-15 finishes and two top-four in her last two events which included tying her career-best T2 finish at the LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf. She has quality match play experience, losing in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur to Amanda Blumenherst, and was a three-time European PING Junior Solheim Cup team member (2002, 2003, 2005). Munoz also competed on her first European Solheim Cup team in 2011, posting a 2-1-1 record. But Munoz will have something to prove while looking for her first-career victory at Hamilton Farm as she has not made it past the second round at the Sybase Match Play the past two years. Wright, who at one point reached the No. 12 ranking in the world, is in the midst of a rebound this season. After battling anxiety and depression in recent years, Wright is back feeling like herself again and it’s shown in her results. Wright won the ISPS Handa NZ Women’s Open back in February and is coming off a T9 finish at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. So could this be the time that the 9-year LPGA veteran finally breaks through for her first win?

Stacy Lewis of Texas vs. Pat Hurst of Arizona
Two past Kraft Nabisco Championship winners headline this matchup, featuring rising star Stacy Lewis and 18-year veteran Pat Hurst. Lewis, a fourth-year Tour pro and in the prime of her career, is coming off her second career win at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. This week she will rely on her ability to get on the green and convert with her putter this to make it win No. 3. She ranks fifth on Tour in both greens in regulation and putts per green. The Woodlands, Texas native brings plenty of match play experience and success in head-to-head competition to Hamilton Farm. She was a member of the victorious 2008 U.S. Curtis Cup team, becoming the first player to go 5-0 in Curtis Cup history. Last year, she played on her first U.S. Solheim Cup Team, posting 1-3-0 record and was ousted in the third round of the Sybase Match Play by eventual champ, Suzann Pettersen a year ago. Hurst could be referred to as the LPGA’s fountain of youth and is in the midst of her 18th year on Tour. She’s coming off of two missed cuts and has only posted a season-best T43. But Hurst has the veteran experience from five U.S. Solheim Cup teams (overall record 10-7-3) and could surprise some by putting together a solid round to get past Round 1.

Sandra Gal of Germany vs. Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand
In what could be one of the biggest toss-up matches of the first round, 2011 Kia Classic winner Sandra Gal will try to take down Pornanong Phatlum, who is coming off her first career win at the HSBC LPGA Brasil Cup 2012 earlier this month. But Gal is off to a shaky start in 2012, recording her only top-20 finish at the HSBC Women’s Champions 2012 where she tied for 15th and missed the cut at her last event. The German native had a so-so showing at her first Solheim Cup last year, posting a 0-2-1 record for the Europeans. Phatlum will try to play off the momentum of her first LPGA victory at the unofficial event in Brazil just two weeks ago and has been on an upswing, having recorded a T12 finish in her last official LPGA event, the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. She has limited experience in match play and will be playing in her first Sybase Match Play.

Sun Young Yoo of South Korea vs. Amanda Blumenherst of Arizona
Sun Young Yoo had her coming out party at Hamilton Farm Golf Club two years ago when she became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the inaugural 2010 Sybase Match Play Championship and never looked back. The sixth-year pro has recorded four top-20 finishes in her last four events this season, including her first major victory at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. The South Korean has shown she can be clutch down the stretch and knows how to win in match play. She ranks second in greens in regulation and 13th in driving accuracy. Blumenherst, in her third year on Tour and still seeking her first LPGA win, returns to New Jersey with hopes of delivering a breakthrough of her own. The three-time NCAA Player of the Year has missed three of eight cuts this season and posted her only top-30 finish at the second event of the year, a T5 at the Honda LPGA Thailand 2012. She has plenty of quality match play experience with wins at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and key roles on two U.S. Curtis Cup teams. Maybe match play is just what she needs to kick her performance to a higher level.

Hee Kyung Seo of South Korea vs. Jessica Korda of Florida
This ‘second-year showdown’ features two players both with one year of Tour experience under their belts and who haven’t taken much time to make splashes on the big stage. Hee Kyung Seo, the reigning Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, has three top-10 finishes this year including a T4 at the season’s first major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship. The Korean is ranked 16th in putting average this year and will need to get her putter rolling to beat out the long-driving Korda. The American teenager has shown her ability to close out tournaments and manage pressure situations when she opened the 2012 season in a big way, becoming a Rolex First-Time Winner at the ISPS Handa Australian Open. Korda was a part of a six-player, sudden-death playoff in which she sank a 25-foot birdie putt on the second hole to close out the victory. She’s trying to get her swagger back after missing two-consecutive cuts following her win and finishing outside of the top-50 in two of her last four events. The Bradenton, Fla. native has success in match play and was a member of the 2010 U.S. Curtis Cup team and 2009 USA Junior Solheim Cup team. She won the 2010 South Atlantic Amateur Championship and finished runner-up to Danielle Kang at the 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.

On May 15, however, LPGA players hit putting greens at the Somserset Medical Center’s Steeplechase Cancer Center, replacing the high-pressure event environment with a fun demonstration with Center patients and staff.

Jodi Ewart, Caroline Hedwall and Jennifer Johnson visited the Sybase Match Play Championship’s official charity partner, taking a tour of the facility with Medical Director Kathleen Toomey, dishing out putting tips and visiting with patients.

For the three women, a visit to the Steeplechase Cancer Center provided them with a new, focused outlook.

“I’m blessed to be healthy, to be able to play golf,” Johnson said. “Seeing the people getting the infusions for hours, it’s tough to watch.”

The visit and putting demonstration helped to brighten up a rainy day, giving the players a break from the greens and the patients a welcome distraction.

While on the visit, the players interacted one-on-one with Steeplechase Center patients and hospital staff, offering tips, talking with them and autographing golf balls.

To Ewart, the chance to spend time with the patients was a highlight of the day.

“Being able to help people, doing the putting thing, they were so happy to be able to spend a couple of minutes with us,” Ewart said. “To be a part of a fun part of their day, giving [autographed] golf balls, it’s something they’ll be able to keep and treasure.”

Throughout the tour of the Center, one of Toomey’s focuses was on making the Center a peaceful, calming place for patients to receive treatment and family members to wait and visit. Gone are the days of treatments in dark basements, replaced with gorgeous gardens and light-filled rooms decorated with soothing nature photos.

To see the respect and attention the Steeplechase Center had for patients was comforting for Johnson.

“It’s great to know how much they are always thinking about the patients, trying to make it a relaxing place,” Johnson said. “It’s good knowing the patients are in good care.”

Toomey also educated the players on cancer treatment and how it’s evolved over the years, highlighting a rise in survival rates.
With proceeds from Sybase Match Play Championship benefitting the Somerset Medical Center and the Steeplechase Cancer Center, the players got to see firsthand how the Tour assists the community.“They save so many more patients now, compared to 25 years ago,” Hedwall said.  “It’s good to know we’re headed in the right direction.”

“It was great seeing what we’re doing, and how the LPGA is helping,” Ewart said.

Tee #1

8:38 AM
Anna Nordqvist Eskilstuna Sweden
Beatriz Recari Pamplona Spain

8:46AM
Jiyai Shin South Korea
Jennifer Song Ann Arbor MI

8:54AM
Mika Miyazato Okinawa Japan
Natalie Gulbis Lake Las Vegas NV

9:02AM
Amy Yang South Korea
Amy Hung Taiwan

9:10AM
Inbee Park Seoul South Korea
Hee-Won Han Seoul South Korea

9:18AM
Morgan Pressel Boca Raton FL
Mindy Kim Diamond Bar CA

9:26AM
Jenny Shin Torrence CA
Jimin Kang Scottsdale AZ

9:34AM
Na Yeon Choi South Korea
Grace Park South Korea

9:42AM
Hee Kyung Seo South Korea
Jessica Korda Bradenton FL

9:58AM
Sun Young Yoo Seoul South Korea
Amanda Blumenherst Scottsdale AZ

10:06AM
Sandra Gal Cologne Germany
Pornanong Phatlum Chaiyaphum Thailand

10:14AM
Stacy Lewis The Woodlands TX
Pat Hurst Arizona

10:22AM
Azahara Munoz Malaga Spain
Lindsey Wright Albury Australia

10:30AM
Karrie Webb Ayr Queensland Australia
Tiffany Joh San Diego CA

10:38AM
Sophie Gustafson Sweden
Karen Stupples England

10:46AM
Suzann Pettersen Norway
Jodi Ewart Florida

10:54AM
Caroline Hedwall Sweden
Haeji Kang South Korea

11:02AM
Catriona Matthew N. Berwick Scotland
Candie Kung Taiwan

11:10AM
Chella Choi South Korea
Katie Futcher The Woodlands TX

11:26AM
Yani Tseng Lake Nona FL
Jeong Jang South Korea

11:34AM
Maria Hjorth Sweden
Eun-Hee Ji South Korea

11:42AM
Angela Stanford Saginaw TX
Wendy Ward San Antonio TX

11:50AM
Meena Lee South Korea
Vicky Hurst Melbourne FL

11:58AM
Cristie Kerr Miami FL
Belen Mozo Spain

12:06PM
Hee Young Park South Korea
Karine Icher France

12:22PM
Paula Creamer Pleasanton CA
Jennifer Johnson Carlsbad CA

12:30PM
Brittany Lang Mckinney TX
Julieta Granada Paraguay

12:38PM
Brittany Lincicome Seminole FL
Ryann O’Toole California

12:46PM
Michelle Wie Honolulu HI
Mina Harigae Monterey CA

12:54PM
So Yeon Ryu South Korea
Karin Sjodin Gothenburg Sweden

1:02PM
Song-Hee Kim South Korea
Katherine Hull Sunrise Beach Australia

1:10PM
Ai Miyazato Okinawa Japan
Mariajo Uribe Bucaramanga Colombia

Alpha Pairings For Round 1
Name Starting Tee and Time

Blumenherst, Amanda Tee #1 9:58AM
Choi, Chella Tee #1 11:10AM
Choi, Na Yeon Tee #1 9:34AM
Creamer, Paula Tee #1 12:22PM
Ewart, Jodi Tee #1 10:46AM
Futcher, Katie Tee #1 11:10AM
Gal, Sandra Tee #1 10:06AM
Granada, Julieta Tee #1 12:30PM
Gulbis, Natalie Tee #1 8:54AM
Gustafson, Sophie Tee #1 10:38AM
Han, Hee-Won Tee #1 9:10AM
Harigae, Mina Tee #1 12:46PM
Hedwall, Caroline Tee #1 10:54AM
Hjorth, Maria Tee #1 11:34AM
Hull, Katherine Tee #1 1:02PM
Hung, Amy Tee #1 9:02AM
Hurst, Pat Tee #1 10:14AM
Hurst, Vicky Tee #1 11:50AM
Icher, Karine Tee #1 12:06PM
Jang, Jeong Tee #1 11:26AM
Ji, Eun-Hee Tee #1 11:34AM
Joh, Tiffany Tee #1 10:30AM
Johnson, Jennifer Tee #1 12:22PM
Kang, Haeji Tee #1 10:54AM
Kang, Jimin Tee #1 9:26AM
Kerr, Cristie Tee #1 11:58AM
Kim, Mindy Tee #1 9:18AM
Kim, Song-Hee Tee #1 1:02PM
Korda, Jessica Tee #1 9:42AM
Kung, Candie Tee #1 11:02AM
Lang, Brittany Tee #1 12:30PM
Lee, Meena Tee #1 11:50AM
Lewis, Stacy Tee #1 10:14AM
Lincicome, Brittany Tee #1 12:38PM
Matthew, Catriona Tee #1 11:02AM
Miyazato, Ai Tee #1 1:10PM
Miyazato, Mika Tee #1 8:54AM
Mozo, Belen Tee #1 11:58AM
Munoz, Azahara Tee #1 10:22AM
Nordqvist, Anna Tee #1 8:38AM
O’Toole, Ryann Tee #1 12:38PM
Park, Grace Tee #1 9:34AM
Park, Hee Young Tee #1 12:06PM
Park, Inbee Tee #1 9:10AM
Pettersen, Suzann Tee #1 10:46AM
Phatlum, Pornanong Tee #1 10:06AM
Pressel, Morgan Tee #1 9:18AM
Recari, Beatriz Tee #1 8:38AM
Ryu, So Yeon Tee #1 12:54PM
Seo, Hee Kyung Tee #1 9:42AM
Shin, Jenny Tee #1 9:26AM
Shin, Jiyai Tee #1 8:46AM
Sjodin, Karin Tee #1 12:54PM
Song, Jennifer Tee #1 8:46AM
Stanford, Angela Tee #1 11:42AM
Stupples, Karen Tee #1 10:38AM
Tseng, Yani Tee #1 11:26AM
Uribe, Mariajo Tee #1 1:10PM
Ward, Wendy Tee #1 11:42AM
Webb, Karrie Tee #1 10:30AM
Wie, Michelle Tee #1 12:46PM
Wright, Lindsey Tee #1 10:22AM
Yang, Amy Tee #1 9:02AM
Yoo, Sun Young Tee #1 9:58AM

Click here for a printable version.

The Sybase Match Play Pro-Am tees off Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00 am! You don’t want to miss any of the tournament action, and the Pro-Am is a great way to catch your favorite LPGA professionals out on the course!

To view the amateur pairings, click here.

1^ST TEE                                              TIME                                         10^TH TEE

KARINE ICHER                                       7:00                              CHELLA CHOI

HAEJI KANG                                          7:10                              CAROLINE HEDWALL

JULIETA GRANADA                                7:20                              WENDY WARD

SANDRA GAL                                         7:30                              KATHERINE HULL

KARIN SJODIN                                       7:40                              SUN YOUNG YOO

JIYAI SHIN                                            7:50                              HEE KYUNG SEO

JIMIN KANG                                          8:00                              MINA HARIGAE

LINDSEY WRIGHT                                 8:10                              HEE-WON HAN

BEATRIZ RECARI                                   8:20                              KAREN STUPPLES

BRITTANY LANG                                   8:30                              KATIE FUTCHER

AMY YANG                                            8:40                              JENNY SHIN

VICKY HURST                                        8:50                              MIKA MIYAZATO

SOPHIE GUSTAFSON                              9:00                              JENNIFER JOHNSON

PORNANONG PHATLUM                         9:10                              EUN-HEE JI

AZAHARA MUNOZ                                  12:00                            RYANN O’TOOLE

PAULA CREAMER                                   12:10                            AMANDA BLUMENHERST

NATALIE GULBIS                                   12:20                            AI MIYAZATO

SUZANN PETTERSEN                              12:30                            MORGAN PRESSEL

JESSICA KORDA                                     12:40                            GRACE PARK

STACY LEWIS                                        12:50                            BELEN MOZO

BRITTANY LINCICOME                           1:00                              ANGELA STANFORD

CRISTIE KERR                                       1:10                              YANI TSENG

TIFFANY JOH                                        1:20                              MICHELLE WIE

NA YEON CHOI                                      1:30                              CATRIONA MATTHEW

KARRIE WEBB                                       1:40                              MEENA LEE

SO YEON RYU                                        1:50                              JODI EWART

SONG-HEE KIM                                      2:00                              HEE YOUNG PARK

INBEE PARK                                          2:10                              ANNA NORDQVIST

The 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship tournament bracket has been set. The May 14th edition of the Rolex Rankings was used to determine this year’s matchups.

Keep checking www.sybasematchplaychampionship.com for more tournament information throughout the week. Click here for the complete bracket.

Can’t get enough Match Play? Then enter Golfweek’s Bracket Challenge! Put your knowledge to use, fill out a bracket, and you might win a prize! To enter, click here.

Parings:

#1 Yani Tseng vs #64 Jeong Jang

#2 Na Yeon Choi vs #63 Grace Park

#3 Suzann Pettersen vs #62 Jodi Ewart

#4 Ai Miyazato vs #61 Mariajo Uribe

#5 Cristie Kerr vs #60 Belen Mozo

#6 Stacy Lewis vs #59 Pat Hurst

#7 Jiyai Shin vs #58 Jennifer Song

#8 Paula Creamer vs #57 Jennifer Johnson

#9 Brittany Lincicome vs #56 Ryann O’Toole

#10 Amy Yang vs #55 Amy Hung

#11 Sun Young Yoo vs #54 Amanda Blumenherst

#12 Angela Stanford vs #53 Wendy Ward

#13 So Yeon Ryu vs #52 Karin Sjodin

#14 Karrie Webb vs #51 Tiffany Joh

#15 Morgan Pressel vs #50 Mindy Kim

#16 Catriona Matthew vs #49 Candie Kung

#17 Caroline Hedwall vs #48 Haeji Kang

#18 Inbee Park vs #47 Hee Won Han

#19 Azahara Muñoz vs #46 Lindsey Wright

#20 Michelle Wie vs #45 Mina Harigae

#21 Maria Hjorth vs #44 Eun Hee Ji

#22 Hee Kyung Seo  vs #43 Jessica Korda

#23 Mika Miyazato  vs #42 Natalie Gulbis

#24 Brittany Lang vs #41 Julieta Granada

#25 Hee Young Park  vs #40 Karine Icher

#26 Anna Nordqvist vs #39 Beatriz Recari

#27 Sandra Gal  vs #38 Pornanong Phatlum

#28 Meena Lee vs #37 Vicky Hurst

#29 Song Hee Kim  vs #36 Katherine Hull

#30 Sophie Gustafson  vs #35 Karen Stupples

#31 Jenny Shin  vs #34 Jimin Kang

#32 Chella Choi vs #33 Katie Futcher

By Rick Woelfel

She goes about her business with little flash or fanfare. But very quietly, Stacy Lewis has become a major face in women’s golf.

She’ll be one of the headliners when the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship gets underway at Hamilton Farm Golf Club.

The 27-year old is coming off a win at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic in her last start and is fourth on the LPGA money list with nearly $437,00 in prize money

Lewis began attracting a lot of attention after making the 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship her first LPGA win. She’s been one of the finest players in the world since then but hadn’t returned to the winner’s circle until her triumph in Alabama.

“It was satisfying just to win again,” she says, “and to be in contention and have that feeling again. I guess it kind of proves to people that I’m here to stay and want to keep winning.”
Lewis appreciates the unique challenges that are a part of match-play competition. She reached the round of 16 here a year ago before losing 1 up to eventual champion Suzann Pettersen.

“It’s more shot to shot and hole to hole,” she says, “I think you’re playing your opponent more than the golf course. In a (medal-play) tournament you’re kind of playing the course.

“You play conservatively on some holes, but if your opponent sticks it in there tight you’ve got to follow it up right on top of them. So your mindset definitely changes from shot to shot and hole to hole. You end up, I think, playing a little more aggressively.”

Lewis says the Highlands Course at Hamilton Farm provides a good test for the professionals.

“It’s a course where depending on the hole locations you can make a lot of birdies,” she says. You can kind of use some ridges to get close to holes and things like that.

“It’s a really good course for match play. The 18^th hole can be a reachable par five and there are a couple of fun finishing holes coming in.”

As of May 7^th Lewis was the seventh ranked player in the world, but the second ranked American, behind number-five Cristie Kerr.

She freely admits that she is focused becoming the top-ranked American player in the sport.

“That was one of my goals coming into the year,” she said, to continue to move up the rankings and also earn Solheim Cup points. That’s something that I’ve been looking at and kind of gauging what I’ve been doing off of that. I definitely pay attention to (the rankings). I watch them and I want to be in the top spot too.”