This week the LPGA plays its longest running limited-field event on one of the world's most famous golfing sites - the South Course at Torrey Pines.  The host of many annual PGA events, Torrey Pines was the setting for last year's memorable men's U.S. Open which ended with a Monday playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate.  This is actually the second time the LPGA has played Torrey Pines, as the 1983 Inamori Classic was played here.  I wonder if Juli Inkster remembers that she finished second to Patty Sheehan that week.  Paula Creamer won last year's Samsung at Half Moon Bay in northern California by one shot over Song-Hee Kim.

20 elite players made the field by a variety of criteria, which can be found here.  Inkster was awarded the sponsor's exemption and Karrie Webb was given the Hall of Famer (also known in these parts as the "Annika") exemption, even though she would have qualified anyway via her money list standing.  For some reason the LET money list leader gets a spot here (Samsung being a Korean company, you would think the KLPGA money leader might get it) so that's why Sophie Gustafson is in the field.  If you were looking for the world's twenty best players, you might leave Inkster and Gustafson out in favor of Michelle Wie and Brittany Lang (not that Wie hasn't already gotten more than her share of Samsung love).  But it's a strong group, as always.

One thing is for sure - with a 20-player field and given 12 picks, I'm guaranteed to get at least two Top 10s this week!  For grins, I'll pick the entire field and see how close I get.