By Stuart Hall

Edina, Minn. — Three players – Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam and Paula Creamer – who have combined for 11 of the 16 LPGA Tour victories in 2008 makes picking a favorite for this week’s U.S. Women’s Open a bit difficult.

How do you pick against them? In the case of Ochoa and Sorenstam, who have combined to win the last seven Rolex Player of the Year honors, you don’t.

But as 19-year-old Yani Tseng also proved just three weeks ago at the year’s second major, the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, anything is possible.

That being said, here is a rundown of the top names to follow – and likely to contend – this week.

Lorena Ochoa: After she won the Kraft Nabisco Championship earlier this year to get halfway to the Ochoa Slam, this week was being highlighted as the coronation of that major run. But a funny thing happened on the way – Tseng won the McDonald’s LPGA Championship.

Annika Sorenstam: Sentimental swan song?

Suzann Pettersen: Minnesota’s Nordic tradition may just serve this Norwegian major champion well.

Maria Hjorth: This 34-year-old Swede has figured out how to play majors, finishing second, fourth and tied for second in her last three major championship starts. Prior to that just, she owned just one top-three finish in 35 starts.

Stacey Lewis: The 2007 NCAA Division I champion is making her professional debut after going 5-0 in the USA’s 13-7 Curtis Cup win in early June. She also was the de facto winner of the NW Arkansas Championship in September, an event that was whittled from 54 holes to 18 due to rain and thus made unofficial.

Juli Inkster: Tied with Karrie Webb with most active major wins (seven) and behind only Annika Sorenstam (10). Even at 47, she still has the game, nerve and patience to compete on courses where par is a reward.

Yani Tseng: Add the 2004 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champion to the growing list of up-and-comers in the women’s game. Her win at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship was no fluke, and more could easily be in the offing.

Paula Creamer: Has the smile of a champion, but does the 21-year-old have a major smile? Not yet, at least.

Morgan Pressel: Only 20, so plenty of time to win one of these things. The 2005 U.S. Women’s Amateuer champion has a major in the hopper (2007 Kraft Nabisco), so she has the pedigree.

Cristie Kerr: Reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion having a major hangover-type season, with only three top-10 finishes. Back-to-back champions are not uncommon – four in the last 31 years, but the list (Hollis Stacy, 1977-78; Betsy King, 1988-89; Sorenstam, 1995-96; Karrie Webb, 2000-2001) contains players who were among the top three players on tour at the time.

Amanda Blumenherst: Amateurs are not afraid of this big stage. In 2005, Pressel and Brittany Lang were co-runners-up to Birdie Kim. Two years earlier, Aree Song finished just two shots back of a three-way playoff. And just 10 years ago, Jenny Chuasiraporn lost in a 20-hole playoff to Se Ri Pak. The 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up is the reigning three-time NCAA Player of the Year and is a fellow Dukie along the lines of Lang and Chuasiriporn.

Michelle Wie: We think she was wee chance. Shot a final-round 68 at Wegmans Rochester event last week.

Birdie Kim: Won the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open, but has been more like Bogey Kim ever since with just three top-10 finishes in more than 50 LPGA starts.

The Kim Field: Christina Kim, In-Kyung Kim, Kimberly Kim, Mi Hyun Kim, Na Ri Kim, Song-Hee Kim, Young Kim: Seven professional and one amateur have combined for 11 LPGA wins, Mi Hyun Kim being the best of the group with eight titles. Kim Kim, a.k.a. Kim Squared, is the lone amateur of the group, but has a USGA title to her credit: the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur and she was a member of the 2006 USA Women’s World Amateur team and victorious 2008 USA Curtis Cup squad. In-Kyung Kim won the 2005 U.S. Girls’ Junior. Christina Kim shot a 62 in stroke-play qualifying at the ’01 U.S. Girls’ Junior.

Se Ri Pak: Hard to pick against this five-time major champion who has five top-10 finishes over the last 10 U.S. Women’s Opens. Downside for 30-year-old is a lackluster 2008 that features just eight starts.