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So it is Annika's first tournament of the lpga season.
Back to business, she is surely a big favourite.

With due respect to the girls at the Fields Open, the course was pretty friendly and Annika playing well could have surely shot -20 and had an easy win, if she was on form.

For the Field's Open:
Pressel won't be there, but other notable names will, including Paula Creamer, Ai Miyazato, Sophie Gustafson, Natalie Gulbis, Grace Park, Christina Kim, Lorena Ochoa, Cristie Kerr, Se Ri Pak, Meena Lee and Seon Hwa Lee.

Is anyone willing to back against Annika though?

By the way this is the longest lpga course at 6932 yards, so expect long driving stats for this tournament.

I'd like to see Se Ri get back on track this season...she's kinda fallen off the map for a while after the blistering start to her career. I'd still go with Annika to take it though, hopefully in a little battle with Paula to get the early season buzz going.

I love to see Anniki play. She has such a mastery of the game. I think a big question might be, what newcomer is going to break thru this year?

I'd like to see Lorena and Paula play well.

Stats here are irrelevant. They are at 8,000 feet above sea level. Yeah, they'll be hitting drives of 350 yards. Big deal! Stats are basically meaningless this weekend for the girls.

Bet against Annika? Not unless you like to give money away knowingly. It's still her and then everyone else. What does it say that this new Women's Golf World Ranking puts Wie #2? If she's 2nd best then Annika isn't even in the same league with the rest of the girls. I'd love to see someone step up and give her a challenge, but it's just like it is over on the PGA Tour with Tiger and everyone else.

When Tiger or Annika show up they will always be the even money favorite to win any tournament they play in. Not even worth debating either.

Annika maybe, not Tiger. IMO (actually it's pretty close to being fact) the PGA Tour has a much more evenly matched field than LPGA, in that almost anybody can win with a good week and a bit of luck.

Yes but it is still going to push up the driving average on the lpga, and the lpga driving stats should be pretty impressive at that stage.
At the end of the season, most people won't know the circumstances that brought increased averages.

Yes I think that is pretty obvious, whether it was Wie or Creamer at number 2, Annika would still be in another league.

NCS brings up a good point on the driving distance. Distance will be offset by the difficulty in holding greens because of the lack of spin on the ball. The gal with the best short game will have a big advantage.

They were saying on the Golf Channel this morning that the ball travels 10% further at that altitude. Should be adventurous!

Michelle Wie will stomp a hole in Annika's @!%#

Well, Rodney_C and I have been discussing this, and we think...

JUST KIDDING!

I think that she already has one there.

Besides, Michelle isn't playing this week.

Annika can run, but she can't hide, eventually Michelle will catch up to her and giver what she's got coming to her. How ironic is it that Annika waits till after the Fields Open to make her debut. She knew Michelle would be there so she skipped it, now she knows Michelle will not play this week so, oh look, Annika is playing.

Tiger is to Phil as Michelle is to Annika

Eventually, I'm sure that may happen. Age takes a toll on everyone, and Annika is over twice Michelle's age. I'm not sure what you think Annika has "coming to her," but it can't be that bad. Annika has developed into a gracious superstar and an all-time great of women's golf. What's already come to her is a spot in the Hall of Fame. And what else is coming to her certainly won't be bestowed by Ms Wie.

You have to be joking to think that Annika is avoiding Michelle. Annika began her season at this tournament last year too. Believe me, Annika doesn't build her schedule around Michelle or anyone else.