LPGA Preview: Looking Out For No. 1

Good health and improved focus lifted Pettersen to five victories including a major.

If that focus sounds Annika-like, it is. Pettersen enters her second season working with coaches Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson, who have refined the "Vision 54" philosophy Nilsson helped develop when she coached Sorenstam on the Swedish national team 20 years ago. "It was the culmination of a lot of hard work over many years," Pettersen says about her breakthrough. "I probably got a more relaxed attitude and let things happen instead of forcing things. Having a frame of mind that allows you to perform [makes it easier for] good things to happen."

While Ochoa, Pettersen and a healthy Sorenstam hold the tour's top spots, a deep talent pool will challenge them. Webb, Pak and Inkster are still among the top 10 in the Rolex Rankings, joined by Paula Creamer, Kerr and Koreans Ji-Yai Shin and Mi Hyun Kim. And after the results of 2007, the "Where are all the good young American women?" question should finally be put to rest: In addition to Creamer and Kerr, Morgan Pressel (who at 18 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship became the youngest to win a major), Meaghan Francella, Stacy Prammanasudh, Brittany Lincicome, Natalie Gulbis and Nicole Castrale all visited the winner's circle last year.

Inkster, who had won three of her seven professional majors (and three U.S. Women's Amateur titles) before Michelle Wie was born, turns 48 in June, has her sights sets on another Solheim Cup and could break Beth Daniel's record as oldest tour winner (46). Wie, who had a dreadful 2007 and seems to have placed playing against the men on the backburner for now, returns to competition at the Fields Open, near her Honolulu home, in two weeks. According to her coach David Leadbetter, Wie will take off the spring quarter at Stanford to focus on golf.

Wie, who injured her wrist early in the year, withdrew twice and missed three cuts in eight LPGA starts, playing 367 holes 110 over par last year for a stroke average of 76.68. She starts the season not eligible for any of the women's majors and, as a non-LPGA member, cannot gain entry into the Kraft Nabisco or the McDonald's unless the events change their entry requirements. Although done in the past to accommodate Wie, such action would likely trigger a protest given her poor play last year.

With Ochoa and Kerr picking up majors in 2007, Rachel Hetherington and Mi Hyun Kim enter 2008 as the active players with the most victories (eight) who have yet to win a major. This year's U.S. Women's Open will be played at Interlachen CC in Edina. Minn., while the Ricoh Women's British Open will be played at Sunningdale GC, where Karen Stupples rode a double eagle to victory in 2004 and Pak took home the title in 2001, the year the British Open became an LPGA major.

And while Ochoa is the new queen and Pettersen the clear No. 2, Sorenstam will be on everyone's mind. "We all know she is a great player and that she wants to be No. 1 again," Ochoa says. "There is no use talking about it. I'm looking forward to the whole year; I am looking forward to all the competition. I trust myself, I have faith." Asked about Ochoa and Sorenstam as adversaries, Pettersen says: "I love the challenge."

As for Sorenstam, she says she is nearly back to her full workouts and has learned to balance the demands of her emerging business venture, ANNIKA, and a competitive career. "I am very happy and content off the golf course," she says. "I love my life with Mike, along with our family, friends and flourishing businesses. Hopefully this year I will be happy on the course."

Perhaps next off-season Sorenstam, Pettersen and Ochoa can take ski vacations together and see who's best on the slopes as well as on the golf course.