Predictions: Women’s British Open

The final major championship of the season gets underway tomorrow for the LPGA, as the Women’s British Open takes place at Royal Birkdale. After we saw one of the best professional golf tournaments of the season last week at the Evian Masters, we can only hope that the ladies have another tournament just like it in store for us this week. Who can we expect to win this week? Well I’m glad you asked. Because it’s time for predictions!

Here’s my top five favorites heading into this event:

Jiyai Shin

You pretty much have to start with who is playing the best right now, and that’s the new number one in women’s golf. Shin picked up the thrilling victory at Evian last week with the clutch putt on 18 that gave her the one-stroke win over a charging trio of great players. She’s simply at the top of her game right now putting-wise, which will be very important this week. If the iron play can be somewhat solid in unpredictable weather, then she’s gonna be in contention all week long.

Paula Creamer

Creamer finished tied for 37th last week in France, but still seemed to be playing some pretty decent golf. She’s already won the Women’s U.S. Open this season, and would love nothing more than to add another major to her 2010 resume. She’s one of the more accurate drivers on tour, which will be important, especially if wind becomes a factor during this event. Oh, and she’s also finished in the Top 10 at this event three years straight, and is coming off of tie for third last year. As you can see, Creamer has a lot going in her favor heading into this tournament.

Ai Miyazato

The previous world’s number one will be looking to get back to her winning ways this week, and pick up her fifth win on tour this season. She was never really a factor last week (T19), which surprised me since she was the defending champion of the event. However, after losing the number one ranking to Shin, I would expect her to bounce back with a very good week at Royal Birkdale. She seems to always be in the mix at the Women’s British and that should be no different this year.

Na Yeon Choi

What I like the most about Choi’s game is her putting. And as we all know, putting is what wins you a major championship. She was probably a putt or two away from either winning or forcing a playoff last week, and seems to be a lock to be in contention this week. She got a win earlier this month, and will be looking to cap off the month with yet another win. After the type of finish she had at Evian, I think she’s put herself in great position to win here and pick up her first major championship.

Suzann Pettersen

Pettersen is coming off of a red hot final round at the Evian Masters, where she shot a 66 to finish in fifth place, so that should bode well for her confidence this week. And it doesn’t hurt that she’s finished in the Top 10 in eight of eleven starts this year on tour. She’s never really played great at this tournament, but with the kind of year that she’s had, I think her luck will change this time around, and she’ll be a serious contender heading into the weekend. After a lot of great opportunities so far in the 2010 season, she’s due to get a big win sooner rather than later.

And the winner is…..

I’m going with Choi. I’ve just got a gut feeling that she is going to win this week, and that it is going to come down to her and Creamer in a showdown on Sunday. Given Creamer’s past success in this event, it was hard not to pick her, but I just feel like Choi is going to bring her best and get the win.

Now it’s your turn! Who do you think wins this week at Royal Birkdale?

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