LPGA: Predicting the 2016 Major Champions

Apr 5, 2015; Rancho Mirage, CA, USA; Brittany Lincicome (middle right) hugs her caddie Missy Pederson after taking the leap into the pond with her father Tom Lincicome (background) and fiance
Apr 5, 2015; Rancho Mirage, CA, USA; Brittany Lincicome (middle right) hugs her caddie Missy Pederson after taking the leap into the pond with her father Tom Lincicome (background) and fiance /
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Kingsbarns suits Mel Reid’s game and she’s figured out how to manage the pressure and close the deal.

Inbee Park put her eyes on the prize last year. For a time Suzann Pettersen looked good, as did Lydia Ko and So Yeon Ryu and Jin Young Ko – the other Ko – looked especially good. But none of them was good enough.

There were four lurkers a bit further down in the 2015 top-10 finishers I think are likely to deliver a stronger performance at this year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open: Mika Miyazato and Anna Nordqvist, who finished with a share of 7th place, and Minjee Lee and Melissa Reid, who finished the 2015 Ricoh with a share of 9th place.

Miyazato is deadly accurate off the tee and she wields a flat stick better than just about everybody else in women’s golf, but Woburn is going to also call for some distance and power that Miyazato lacks. Nordqvist, who’s longer off the tee, is also less accurate but she’s a superb scrambler and I can see her getting into contention at Woburn. Minjee Lee, one of several rising young stars on the LPGA, could take the Ricoh if she can deliver four hot rounds, but I think the real contender at Woburn will be Melissa Reid.

Reid has rediscovered her power and she’s a fierce, relentless competitor. Woburn will suit her game. This is her year to hoist the trophy.

Next: The Evian Championship