Ji-Yai Shin, 20, finished sixth last year at Pine Needles and is back. Jee Young Lee, 22, hits it far and finished in the top 13 in all four majors last year. Lee was T-21 at this year's Kraft Nabisco and finished T-18 in the McDonald's when she collapsed to a 78 playing in the final threesome one Sunday. Seon Hwa Lee, 22, is another to consider.
Consider this: Of the six Americans to win women's majors since 2001, three (Steinhauer, Juli Inkster and Meg Mallon) are in their 40s. That's another ominous sign.
Yes, there were positive signs in 2007 when Pressel and Kerr captured majors and nine Americans won on tour. But that has not been the case this year. The next America star could well be Creamer, and picking up her first major at the U.S. Women's Open would be a huge step in the right direction. But she has to get past Ochoa and Sorenstam to do that.
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