Annika Sorenstam only has three majors left before her retirement at the end of the season. She's won at Bulle Rock, and she'll be motivated. So will defending McDonald's champion Suzann Pettersen, who won in Europe two weeks ago and finished T-9 at the Ginn Tribute.
Paula Creamer, with six career victories at the age of 21, says her primary goal this year is winning her first career major, although this may not be the week: Creamer's biggest asset -- her extreme accuracy off the tee -- is not rewarded at spacious Bulle Rock. Kerr and Se Ri Pak, who also won a McDonald's at Bulle Rock, need to be factored into the equation.
For dark horses consider impressive rookies Na Yeon Choi and Yani Tseng, as well as Juli Inkster, who turns 48 this month and just needs to remember that she is a great putter to win again.
But the story line at the McDonald's begins and ends with Ochoa. If she wins, it will set up the most dramatic U.S. Women's Open since Sorenstam went for three majors in a row at Cherry Hills in 2005 -- the year Ochoa blew a great chance to win when she made quadruple-bogey 8 on the 72nd hole.
Should Ochoa get to the final tee here or at Interlachen in the U.S. Open with a chance to win, don't expect a repeat performance of that Cherry Hills disaster. If Ochoa has figured out one thing since then, it's how to close out tournaments.
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