The LPGA's million-dollar finale, the ADT Championship, tees off this Thursday for the last time, as ADT ends its sponsorship afterwards.  32 players qualified through the "LPGA Playoffs" process - players who either won a "Winner's Event", accumulated enough points during the first half or the second half of the season or earned a wild-card spot with overall points made the field.  With only one exception (Shanshan Feng), every player here has compiled a Top 40 season.  It's hard to argue with a process that puts together a field this strong.  Only three of the major championships and the Safeway International have had stronger ones in 2008.

I love the tournament format.  All 32 players play Thursday and Friday with the top 16 moving on to Saturday.  These 16 will have their scores reset and the top eight after Saturday's action will have their scores reset again to play 18 holes on Sunday for the $1,000,000 first prize.  Any ties for the cut-off positions Friday and Saturday (and of course for the victory on Sunday) will be decided by sudden-death playoff.  Two years ago there was a six-way Friday playoff to decide the last three slots for Saturday - that wild occurrence sold me on this format for life.  The nearly "winner-take-all" prize distribution (second place gets $100,000 while third only takes home $20,500) adds even more spice to the competition.

The course is another matter.  Trump International brings water into play on nearly every hole, which on its own isn't a problem.  Nor are the typical November Florida winds or undulating greens singular problems.  If the rough adjacent to the agua is left at a reasonable height (I can't tell you how many balls I saw roll down embankments into hazards last year) and the tee box at 17 is set up forward to its shorter 155-yard length, I promise I won't constantly complain about the fairness of the layout.  Otherwise, Mr. Super, my fingers are ready to strike again.

The Rookie of the Year race will finally get decided this week as Yani Tseng comes in with a 267-point lead over Na Yeon Choi.  At first glance, the only way Choi can steal this award is by winning the tournament (300 points since ADT counts double) while Tseng finishes no worse than 21^st (34 points, as best as I can figure it).  If Choi doesn't win, Tseng clinches the award no matter what.  But on second glance, I noticed that everyone who failed to advance to the weekend last year was designated T17, which would suggest that Tseng only has to start the event to clinch ROY.  My head is starting to pound...

This is also the final LPGA event for Annika Sorenstam before she steps away from competition.  I have not been Annika's biggest fan through the years but I am compelled to admit that hers has most likely been the greatest career in LPGA history.  There is certainly no denying her impact on the game, especially regarding its worldwide growth.  It has been very exciting for me to watch her assault on the Tour's record book over the last few years and as I alluded to on Sunday evening, I won't likely forget the charge which came up one shot short in her next-to-last event.  I'm sure most of you have your own "Annika moment" or two in your memory banks.  Good luck Annika - in your marriage, with your family plans and in all of your future endeavors.  One more thing - if you ever decide that you want to come back and give the Tour another go, we'll be here waiting for you.

In honor of the format being utilized this week, I will change my usual MO and pick the winner along with the other seven players to make Sunday's final round.  Last year I correctly picked the winner (boldly choosing Ochoa, of course) along with two others who made it to Sunday (Creamer and Gulbis).  This year's picks are:

Stats:  7-33 (11-33 with CYAs), Top Tens 43-99.