Kia Classic: Who is likely to shine at La Costa?
Kia Classic is expected to stage a tough battle between players eager to outshine their rivals, but the competitiveness of the field demands that the number of favorite players be further narrowed down.
The tournament slated to take place from March 22nd to 25th at the La Costa Resort and Spa is offering a hefty purse worth $1.7 million.
The money is large enough to lure players and keep the spectators interested. The field set for the tournament is tougher than it was in the last edition.
This is what the tournament Director Dennis Baggett has put his confidence into, saying the toughness of the Kia Classic is what will keep the players interested in the game.
Despite what Baggett says about the field, the field is expected to become even thinner when the match finally kicks off.
Although the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) has tried its best to ensure the participation of lesser-known players, most of the eyes will be fixated on titans like Yani Tseng and Paula Creamer.
Yani Tseng is steeling for a big showdown that will see her come face to face against players known to give their rivals a tough time.
There are plausible reasons to single out the current world number one, as she appears to be in high spirits following her triumph at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup 2012.
There might have been several other players who deserved to win the event, but Tseng did what her fans expected her to.
It is hard to predict what Tseng is going to do when she faces Paula Creamer and other giants in the roster.
Given her latest stats and performances, Tseng is in a far better position than most of her rivals. The way she displayed her game at Phoenix reflected that her number one position is well earned.
“It was a little drama out there,” she said. “I was feeling like we were going to finish tomorrow, so we were really lucky to finish today and finish in the dark the last few holes”.
She added, “because of my eyes, I couldn’t see much of a distance, so I tried to keep to myself, ‘OK, just finish these few holes, just hit a good shot, good contact, play one shot at a time’”.
Paula Creamer can also be a tough contender in the field, as she is in good form these days.
The question whether Creamer will bounce back in the current season, has been looming large since she recovered from her debilitating injuries.
Her nagging injury has been quite a big trouble for her career. Although the new season has started, Creamer still appears to be struggling with her unpredictable game.
She recently said that she has been going through big changes. She revealed to her fans recently that she has made some much-needed changes to her swing.
Experts have said that Creamer is pumped up, but she has not been able to fully regain her momentum.
The Founders Cup saw the American star find a spot in the top-20, which highlights that she can pose a threat to players like Yani Tseng.
Another rising player, who is set to give her rivals a tough time, is Lexi Thompson. Thompson may not be able to snatch a victory, given her experience and the fearsome roster, but she will definitely spice up the event with her massive fan following.
Keeping in mind the latest events in the LPGA events, Yani Tseng seems to enjoy the upper hand over her rivals and will likely shine at La Costa.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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