From Brent Kelley and about.com, the four rookies to watch:
These are the four rookies who should make the Rookie of the Year chase a great race to watch all season:
- Ji-Yai Shin: Shin is a rookie, yet she's a rookie who already has more LPGA wins (3) than Morgan Pressel, and more majors (1) than Creamer. Shin won three times in 10 LPGA starts in 2008, a year she spent mostly playing in Japan and Korea (where she won another 73 times ... roughly speaking, of course). One of those LPGA wins was the Women's British Open. Shin is arguably the best female golfer in the world at this point in time, although she starts the year with a No. 5 world ranking. She's not just the favorite for Rookie of the Year, but among the strongest contenders for Player of the Year.
- Michelle Wie: Wow, seems like Wie has been around since she was 12, doesn't it? Wait ... she has! She's coming off two very rough years, though, with problems caused by a mixture of injuries, swing changes, poor decisions and screw-ups. But don't forget the golf that made her a star in the first place: From 2004 through 2006 (ages 14-16), Wie had six Top 5 finishes in majors. In her full career to date, Creamer has one Top 5 finish in a major. But what have you done for me lately, Michelle? And are you ever going to win? All signs - health-wise, swing-wise - point to a good year for Wie, who reportedly plans to play 12 to 14 times on the LPGA. I predict at least two victories.
- Stacy Lewis: Lewis was in college this time a year ago, playing - and winning a lot of tournaments (including an NCAA Championship) - for the University of Arkansas. She won the LPGA Qualifying Tournament two months ago, and has had excellent results in scattered LPGA appearances previously: fifth at the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship, third at last year's U.S. Women's Open. The quietest member of this quartet of rookies, and perhaps the most unspectacular - but don't let that fool you. Lewis has serious game, and is loaded with potential.
- Vicky Hurst: Speaking of serious game and being loaded with potential ... Hurst was AJGA Player of the Year, then turned pro at age 17 to play the Futures Tour. And She dominated the Futures Tour in 2008, winning five times, adding five other Top 10 finishes, running away with the money title.
The link has more and a pool where you can vote for the young lady you think will win the Rookie of the Year award. I still think it's going to be Ji-Yai Shin but early voting on this poll has Michelle Wie leading - that would be super, of course.
