Fubon Taiwan LPGA Championship Preview & TV Schedule

Jun 9, 2013; Pittsford, NY, USA; Suzann Pettersen hits from the fairway on the 16th hole during the final round of the Wegmans LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

From Hainan Island, China the Tour travels north up the South China Sea to Taipei, Taiwan for the 4th edition of the Fubon Taiwan LPGA Championship at the Jack Nicklaus designed Miramar Golf Country Club, leaving behind the tropical monsoon weather that shortened the Blue Bay LPGA from 72 to 54 holes for very promising golf weather — cloudless skies, light wind, and temperatures in the low 80s.

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Suzann Pettersen, who claimed back-to-back victories at the Taiwan LPGA Championship in 2012 and 2013, will have her hands full this year as she attempts to make it three in a row. There’s no shortage of challengers in a very strong, 81-player field.

Pettersen’s Likely Challengers

Stacy Lewis and Inbee Park, who swapped places in the Rolex Rankings on Monday, are both returning to the field and they’re close enough in the rankings that there could be another swap next Monday. They’re both going to be playing for the win, and with Lydia Ko holding steady at 3rd place in the rankings, both Lewis and Park need to watch their backs for the balance of the 2014 season. Pettersen will need to outplay all three if she has any hope for claiming her first 2014 victory.

Evian Championship winner Hyo-Joo Kim, who’s moved up to 10th in the world rankings, isn’t in the Taiwan LPGA Championship field but Mi Jung Hur, winner of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic is playing, as is Mirim Lee, who won the Reignwood LPGA Classic, and Shanshan Feng, who won the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia and is generally hot and playing at the top of the board right now. I’m looking for all these hot young Asian players to play near the top of the board in Taiwan.

Chella Choi and Brittany Lang have both been playing very strong games and both are in the field. Choi’s father, her regular caddie, is taking a break. How his absence might impact her game is anybody’s guess, but he’s promised to not retire until she wins, and she’s overdue a victory, as is Lang. But I don’t think either Choi or Lang will be able to outplay Michelle Wie this week.

My Pick

Michelle Wie. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Michelle Wie and Caroline Masson, who played very strong games at the Blue Bay LPGA but just couldn’t catch Lee-Ann Pace, will both tee off at Miramar hungry for a late-season victory and playing hard to get it.

I’m looking Michelle Wie to play for the win this week. She followed her T5th finish at the LPGA KEB HanaBank Championship with a T3rd at the Blue Bay last week. She’s rested and healthy and her game’s strong. She’s going to be the player to beat.

Media Coverage

Golf Channel will provide delayed coverage of all four rounds of the Taiwan LPGA Championship, beginning at 3am Thursday, October 30 – Saturday, November 1 and at 2am on Sunday, November 2. Check your local listings for mid-day rebroadcasts.

My colleagues and I at ProGolfNow will also provide ongoing commentary and updates on the Taiwan LPGA Championship as well as other news in the pro golf world. Follow me on Twitter @bethbethel and Annette Walker @TinkWalker and we’ll notify you directly when we publish women’s pro golf news.

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