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LPGA Struggles to Finish The Tour Championship

by Jeff Skinner

At least the rain stopped in Houston on Sunday. That’s about the best thing that has happened this week for the LPGA Tour Championship. The tournament started with such promise: There was plenty of buzz thanks to Michelle Wie winning her first tournament, the top players in the world were to be showcased on a weekend without competition from the PGA Tour and the Player of the Year Race was headed for a photo finish. Then the dark cloud that has been following the LPGA all year reappeared again and this time it brought rain and not controversy.

After a weekend of rain delays and false starts play resumed on Sunday but the women will have to start early on Monday to finish the second round then immediately start the third and final round. It is hardly the finale the tour had planned. But, the LPGA has been facing adversity all season and this week is just the latest version of pain and suffering.

When the players do finally get a chance to be on the course they are making this an interesting tournament. At Sunday’s end Kristy McPherson held a one shot lead over rookie sensation Jiyai Shin. Shin’s rival for Player of the Year, Lorena Ochoa, is two back along with Anna Nordqvist and Heather Bowie Young. Reilley Rankin is tied for sixth and trying to earn enough to keep her card for next year. Karen Crouse details in The N.Y. Times how difficult life on the LPGA Tour has become for Rankin and many other players.

The Golf Channel will cover the finish (hopefully) from 4-6p.m. today.

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