Samsung World Championship Preview

Defending Champion - Lorena Ochoa

Half Moon Bay Golf Links, Ocean Course

Half Moon Bay, California

72 holes, begins Thursday

Par 72, 6450 yards

Field Score - 96 (adjusted - actual score, 67 out of possible 70)

Scoring Averages - 70.90 (2007 Bighorn), 71.55 (2006 Bighorn), 70.59 (2005 Bighorn)

2008 Scoring Average to date - 72.84

U.S. TV coverage (all times EDT):

Thu 6:30-8:30p GC

Fri 6:30-8:30p GC

Sat 12:30-2:30p NBC

Sun 4-6p NBC

Lorena Ochoa guns for her third consecutive Samsung World Championship this weekend.  She will have to accomplish that feat on a different course, as the event leaves Bighorn Golf Club after a four-year engagement.  The new location is Half Moon Bay, about twenty miles south of San Francisco along the Pacific Coast Highway.  As the course's name suggests, the layout is links-style with the final three holes situated along the bluffs overlooking the Pacific.

This field is always an impressive one but if anything, this year's model is even more so.  The requisite LET competitor has often brought up the rear but Helen Alfredsson earned that spot this time and there's no denying her qualifications over the last four months.  Juli Inkster got the sponsor's exemption and even though she's not been at her best form this year, she's still a huge upgrade from last year's choice (which will not be mentioned here).  Honestly, there isn't a single player here who would shock me by winning.  Maybe Inbee Park, based on recent form.

Ochoa snapped my losing streak last week and she is still the best player in the world by far.  So picking her to win here is a no-brainer for me.  Cristie Kerr has been outstanding over the last six events so she's one of my CYAs.  Given the star-studded field, my third choice might surprise you but she too is on quite a hot streak - Katherine Hull.

Stats:  Winners 6-26 (10-26 with CYAs), Top Tens 34-78.