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 Ji-Yai Shin is only 20, but she's already one of the best female players on earth. South Korea has the most players in the top 20 with six, led by Ji-Yai Shin, whose 25 career victories included 11 last year. Among her triumphs were the Women’s British Open, the ADT Championship and all three majors on the LPGA of Korea Tour. The 20-year-old wasn’t an official member of the LPGA Tour in 2008, so, like Wie, she’ll be a contender for Rookie of the Year. “I think out of all of the Koreans that have come up, she’s got the most potential,” Karrie Webb said of Shin after her victory at the ADT last year. Last month, Shin won the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore and finished second at the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International, so she heads into the Kraft Nabisco Championship with considerable momentum. Here are four other young stars who are primed to contend at the Kraft: Yani Tseng, Taiwan. It only took one year on the LPGA Tour for Tseng to rise to No. 2 in the world. Her first triumph was at the LPGA Championship, a victory that made her the first Taiwanese player to win an LPGA major and the second-youngest player to capture a grand slam event. The 20-year-old will look to build on her experience in 2009, as one of her shortcomings was sealing the deal. Of her eight top-three finishes, five had final-round scores of at least 71, including a 77 at the Canadian Women’s Open. Tseng lives in Beaumont and works with Dave and Ron Stockton. Suzann Pettersen, Norway. An eighth-place finish on the money list isn’t necessarily disappointing, but after what Pettersen did in 2007, a case could be made to describe her 2008 as such. Five victories, including the LPGA Championship, enabled her to rise to No. 2 in the world in ’07, but she failed to win an LPGA event in ’08. Pettersen is only 27, so it’s possible she hasn’t reached her full potential. Seon Hwa Lee, Korea. Lee just turned 23, but she’s been a professional golfer for about nine years. She hasn’t enjoyed the rapid rise to stardom as countrywoman Shin, though she has solidified herself as a consistent contender in America with a victory in each of her three seasons in 2007 and 2008. Paula Creamer, U.S. “It’s hard to believe, I’m 22 and I’m considered a veteran,” said Creamer, who kicked off her fifth professional campaign by tying for 15th at the SBS Open. The Pink Panther, ranked No. 3 in the world, is widely regarded as the best player yet to win a major. Last season she had three top 10s in grand slam events, though she squandered a chance to win the U.S. Women’s Open with a final-round 78. Creamer spent significant time refining her short game and building strength in the offseason. |
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