Preview: LPGA Tour Championship

The LPGA is in Houston, Texas for the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship, presented by Rolex. The Houstonian Golf and Country Club will play host as the top 120 players in the world fight for a share of the $1.5 million prize.

The two top ranked players in the world – Lorena Ochoa and Jiyai Shin – are not only gunning for their fourth wins of the season, they are playing for the Rolex Player of the Year trophy. For Ochoa, it would be her fourth straight honor. Shin, who already won the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, is looking to become the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win both awards in the same season.

With top players like Suzann Pettersen, Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr, the field also includes the four major championship winners – Brittany Lincicome, Anna Nordqvist, Catriona Matthew and Eun-Hee Ji. The only other multiple tournament winner on the LPGA this season – Na Yeon Choi – will be playing for her third win of 2009. Along with Hall of Fame veterans Karrie Webb, Juli Inkster and Se Ri Pak, ten LPGA Tour rookies will be looking to finish off their season with a win.

The format for the LPGA Tour Championship is very unique. There is an initial cut after 36 holes, dwindling the 120 player field to 70. Then, there is a second cut after 54 holes that brings the field down to 30 players for the final round.

A Rees Jones design, the Houstonian Golf and Country Club will play 6,650 yards at a par-72.