Preview: ADT Championship

The LPGA Tour sends the 2008 season off with the ADT Championship this week at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The LPGA season is split into two halves with the top 15 players from each half, plus two alternates, qualify to play in the $1 million event.  Players earn points, much like the FedEx Cup on the PGA, based on their finish in each tournament.

The format for the ADT Championship has the 32 players play two rounds.  The top 15 players after 36 holes play a third round followed by another cut, dwindling the field to eight players.  The final round is a shootout where the previous rounds scores are erased and the best score wins.

The top headline for the 2008 event is Annika Sorenstam, who is finishing up her last season on Tour.  One of the best women’s golfers in history wants to leave the game with one last win but she will have to get by the defending champion, and top ranked golfer, Lorena Ochoa and other multiple winners Paula Creamer, Angela Stanford, Helen Alfredsson and Seon Hwa Lee.  Also looking to make their mark are top rookies Yani Tseng and Na Yeon Choi.

Last year, Ochoa completed her terrific 2007 season by besting Natalie Gulbis by two shots.  In 2007, Ochoa had eight wins and 21 top 10 finishes in 25 events.  She took over the number one ranking from Sorenstam in April of 2007 and won her first major tournament at the RICOH Women’s British Open on the Old Course at St. Andrews.  She finished the season by taking home a second straight Rolex Player of the Year award, Vare Trophy (lowest scoring average for season) and finished on top of the LPGA money list.