Honda LPGA Thailand Preview

The 2011 season kicks off with two events in the warm climes of Southeast Asia, firstly at the Honda LPGA Thailand.  Ai Miyazato collected the first of her five 2010 victories at Siam Country Club exactly twelve months ago.  The Pattaya Old Course, while it presents many opportunities for watery disaster, has tended to play on the easy side.  Three of the four events here have averaged under par and the winner has broken -20 twice.  If you want to be in contention on Sunday, you'd better break 70 each of the first three days.

Golf Channel has the coverage on a tape-delayed basis beginning Friday afternoon.  I wish I had a good explanation for why GC isn't supplying coverage of the first round.  They have the same window available Thursday afternoon that they are using on Friday.  I suppose they have to get those 20^th airings of Rush Limbaugh/Haney Project and Trump's World of Golf in somehow.

The tournament field is determined by the 2010 money list plus assorted sponsor's exemptions (it wouldn't be a Thai event without Pornanong Phatlum, now would it?).  There are a couple of surprising absences, namely Jee Young Lee and LPGA rookie Hee Kyung Seo.  My entire final 2010 Top 10 will be duking it out, making this a very strong field indeed.

Every year I consider revamping my prognostication methods or giving up entirely and every year I decide to keep on pickin'.  It's an odd-numbered year (which has been kind to me in the past) so I won't abandon them just yet.  Just keep in mind I only nailed two of the 24 winners last year, although I did have the winner listed among my twelve picks thirteen times.  Week One's dart throws say....