Some of the big names are playing Down Under: Yani Tseng, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome, Jiyai Shin. Turning-17-year-old pro Lexi Thompson and 14-year-old amateur Lydia Ko. Others are waiting until next week's Honda LPGA Thailand tourney to tee off their seasons (including Na Yeon Choi, Paula Creamer, I.K. Kim, Ai Miyazato, Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie).
Regardless of whether the stars begin in Australia or Thailand, they are all chasing Tseng. Can anyone compete with her in 2012 for Player of the Year honors?
In 2011, Tseng won seven times on the LPGA Tour, including two majors. She lead the tour in money and scoring. Tseng also lead the LPGA in birdies, sub-par rounds, rounds in the 60s, Top 10 percentage and driving average.
I believe that Creamer has a big year - five or more wins, one or more majors - in her. But there's nothing pointing to 2012 being that year. I.K. Kim is a good dark-horse candidate to challenge Tseng, but Kim has never won more than once in a season and is coming off a winless 2011 on the LPGA.
How Shin will play this year is a bit of mystery. If she's the player we saw in 2009-10, then yes, Shin can challenge Tseng. If she's the player we saw last year - injury-plagued, short on confidence - no.
The best bet for a challenger to Tseng is Na Yeon Choi. She's shown herself capable of multiple-win seasons; she has a scoring title and money title in her pocket. She finished 2011 strong.
What do you think: Can anyone challenge Tseng this season, and if so, who will it be?
See also:
2012 LPGA Tour schedule
LPGA Season Tees Off In Australia originally appeared on About.com Golf on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 at 12:54:27.
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