The Office Depot

A new venue from previous years and a change in format from the previous two events of the 2001 season. The LPGA Tour returns to the historic Doral Golf Resort after a 28-year absence. The format is two days of pro-am golf with each player paired with three amateurs - patience is definitely a virtue, so experience of this format is necessary. Having played both courses during the pro-am, players then play the Blue Monster course over the weekend.

A new course may throw the form book out of the window to some degree and that form book would suggest that Karrie Webb should win this event; she has won it for the last two years. But preparations for this year are far from ideal. She has a new caddie, she has only been able to practice on the Red course once this week as she was playing a Japanese TV match earlier in the week and even then, the 40mph winds made that session of limited value; she has not played the Blue Monster course, and she is not happy with her game, complaining that she has not had much time for the range. Odds of 2/1 cannot be justified.

Instead, the three picks are Se Ri Pak, Dottie Pepper and Michele Redman. Pak missed last week's event due to flu, though there are no reports of any lingering effects. After a winless 2000, she stormed to victory on the final day of the YourLife Vitamins Classic, the opening event of the year. With confidence renewed, she may be back to the form that saw her win four titles in the second half of 1999. "My swing feels great and my stroke feels great". She sounds confident enough for me!

Dottie Pepper disappointed as a pick two weeks ago, but finished 3rd when not selected last week! With evidence of her form returning and a seasoned-veteran of this event and format - she has finished 2nd and 13th in the last two years - she looks good value at inflated odds because of Webb's presence in the field. The same can be said for Michele Redman who performed well at the weekend to climb to 5th position. A veteran of the Tour for 10 years and with 7th place finishes in the past two years in this event, she has the experience to deal with the amateurs.

Outright plays:

Se Ri Pak to win 14/1 e/w @ William Hill

Dottie Pepper to win 20/1 e/w @ William Hill

Michele Redman to win 50/1 e/w @ William Hill

Mid-point update:

With windy conditions and cold temperatures, scoring has not been easy on the Red and Blue courses at Doral and unfortunately the three picks have been as hot as the weather! Redman is the best placed of the three in 15th place, just two shots out of a place finish. The other two lie a further five shots behind in 53rd position. Not as expected though Pak's pro-am team did finish 2nd in their event. With conditions difficult, the seven-shot gap to a place finish can be covered, but was hoping for better by now.

3rd round update:

A storming run of five birdies in the last six holes has propelled Michele Redman to the position of joint leader after 54 holes   Can't take anything for granted with 14 players within three shots of the lead, but not a bad investment so far @ 50/1! No return from the other two though, Pak and Pepper languish in 48th place.

Final update: 0-3 and -3.00 units

Had a good run for the money, but Redman bogeyed the 2nd hole and never regained the lead. She was lying in 3rd place though after 16 holes, so a nice profit on a place finish looked possible ... but a bogey-double-bogey finish put an end to that   Pak finished back in 32nd and Pepper in 42nd place. Back in two weeks for the next LPGA event.