Kraft Nabisco Championship: Preview

The Kraft Nabisco Championship gets underway this week, with the top players in women’s golf competing for the first major of the season.

World No.1 Inbee Park claimed the championship last year – along with two other majors – and is many people’s pick to win it again this year. The South Korean has yet to finish outside the top ten this year, and looks more than capable of replicating last season’s exploits this time around.

One woman who would have been hoping to stop Park from defending her title is the Norwegian, Suzann Pettersen. However, the world No.2 – a runner-up in this event in 2007, 2008 and again in 2010 – was forced to withdraw from the tournament yesterday because of a back problem.

With Pettersen ruled-out, therefore, Park’s biggest challenger for the Kraft Nabisco is two-time major champion, Stacy Lewis. A previous winner of the championship in 2011, and last year’s Women’s British Open champion, Lewis will be looking to reward the home support with a victory.

Can Catriona Matthew add the Kraft Nabisco Championship to the Women’s British Open she won in 2009?

Last week’s winner on the LGPA was the Swede, Anna Nordqvist. Her victory at the Kia Classic saw her jump six places in the world rankings to No.10. The win was her second in her last four starts and with form like that she is tipped to be among the leaders come Sunday’s finale.

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew lies just outside the world’s top ten at No.13. However, if she is to challenge this week she will need to improve on her recent form, after finishing 39th, 73rd, and 45th in her last three events. Can she add the Kraft Nabisco Championship to the Women’s British Open in her list of major wins?

Another Brit to watch this week in California is teenager, Charley Hull. Just 18-years-old, the Solheim Cup star currently sits top of the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit, and travels to America full of confidence, having recently won her first tour title at the Lalla Meryem Cup.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be another exciting tournament.

Kraft Nabisco Championship: your thoughts

Who will win the Kraft Nabisco, women’s golf’s first major of the season? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.