ShopRite LPGA Classic Preview

Atlantic City has been a regular stop on Tour - aside from the Bivens Years - since 1986 and it is again this week as host of the ShopRite LPGA Classic.  For the thirteenth time, Dolce Seaview Resort will be the venue.  Ai Miyazato won on this track a year ago by a two-shot margin over M.J. Hur, propelling her into the top spot in the Rolex Rankings.

The Bay Course is probably the shortest one the ladies will tackle all season.  Accuracy off the tee will be Priority #1.  Unless the weather is absolutely horrible, we will have our lowest scoring of the season this week (current low is 72.85 at Thailand) if previous history holds true...a mark which would probably last one week with State Farm coming up.  The 2011 overall scoring average could drop more than half a stroke over the next two events.

For the second straight year, the LPGA has increased the full-field size of the June events from 144 to 150.  This gives a few more players the opportunity to make some money and help keep their Tour cards.  The new reshuffled Priority list is being used this week so it appears that (for the moment at least) the practice of applying the changes a week after the fact has been discontinued.  Every player in my current Top 15 is playing as is everyone in the Hot 20, making for a very strong field.

When narrowing down my weekly picks, I mainly look at a player's numbers in these three categories:  1) her rank on my Hot 20, 2) her rank in my overall ratings, and 3) how she played last year on the course they are playing this week.  Only two players rank in the Top 10 of all three and one of them comes out ahead of the other in all three.  For that reason, I believe Suzann Pettersen is going to make it two wins in a row.

UPDATE:  Obviously Suzann didn't realize that she was going to make it two in a row because she withdrew from the field (thanks to Tony for pointing this out in the comments).  Everybody moves up a spot so I guess that means I expect Paula to win??