Longs Drugs Challenge

FINAL RESULT: 0-3; -4.50pts

Ochoa 55th
Kim 7th
Kerr wd

Another disappointing effort with the outrights on this Tour. Gambled on Kerr's neck injury and lost, while Ochoa had her worst performance for a very long time. Mi Hyun Kim did, at least, show some promise, but finished one shot out of the places.

Outright plays (1.5pts):

Lorena Ochoa to win 10/1 e.w. @ William Hill
A short price, but still a couple of points higher than elsewhere and a justified favourite. Ochoa hasn't finished outside the top-10 in any event since the U.S. Women's Open in July (8 starts) and is the leading player in the field in terms of scoring average by over half a shot per round. This is a new course so there is no course form to draw upon, but finishing 7th in her debut in this event last year at Lincoln Hills will be of some benefit to her mindset this week. But in a such a consistent run of form, she should at the very least secure a place win.

Mi Hyun Kim to win 16/1 e.w. @ Paddy Power
Kim's form has been nowhere near as consistent - she missed the cut in two consecutive weeks in July and finished 53rd last week, but in between she has had three top-6 finishes in four starts and should be confident of another one this week against a weakened field. A good history in this event should help - 5th and 7th in her last two appearances - and she is capable of producing series of very high finishes even if she still does not win enough times. Stan James offer 20/1, but without the 5th place in the each-way terms.

Cristie Kerr to win 25/1 e.w. @ SkyBet
Kerr is by far the most inconsistent player of these three. In her last four events, she has missed the cut twice, withdrawn after the 1st round last week citing a neck injury and won the remaining event. It was her 3rd win of the year and she is well on her way to a first-ever top-5 finish on the Tour Money List. In this form, she can win again this week and it certainly does help that her breakthrough win was in this event two years ago. A different course, but fond memories of this event should spur her to a strong performance this week so long as the injury worries are not a concern.