ANA Inspiration: Five Sleeper Picks

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Mar 31, 2016; Rancho Mirage, CA, USA; Stacy Lewis tees off on the 17th hole during the first round of the ANA Inspiration tournament at Mission Hills CC – Dinah Shore Tournament Course. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Stacy Lewis hasn’t won an LPGA event since 2014 – could this past champion claim a 2nd ANA Inspiration victory this year?

Stacy Lewis has been sliding down the world rankings for the past 24 months. She hasn’t hoisted a trophy since 2014. Never mind that that year she took home hardware from the North Texas LPGA Shootout, the Shoprite LPGA Classic, and the WalMart NW Arkansas Championship. It’s been a long, painful winless streak for the former world no. 1 in women’s golf.

Never mind that in 2015 Lewis finished inside the top 10 at 14 Tour events and missed only 1 cut, or that she led the Tour in birdies and putts per GIR (1.74). Clearly, her flatstick was still working.

Never mind that she held on to the top of the world rankings for 264 consecutive weeks, well into 2016, despite a lack of fresh victories. Never mind that she helped Team USA win back the Solheim Cup in 2015 and led the American team to victory at the 2016 International Crown. Never mind that she ranked 4th on the Tour in driving accuracy in 2016 and that her flatstick continued to serve her well.

Those stats are holding solid in the 2017 season. Lewis has already recorded 2 top 5 finishes in 6 starts. Going into the ANA Inspiration Lewis, who’s the 2011 champion, looks very competitive, but her long winless streak is discouraging.

It shouldn’t be. Lewis hasn’t missed the cut at Rancho Mirage for years and she’s finished inside the top 5 three times since she won the Championship. You could make a lot of money betting on Stacy Lewis this week and I think she has an outside chance to take another leap into Poppy’s Pond.

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