The 2009 LPGA tournament schedule begins this Thursday in Hawaii amid what seems to be an unprecedented amount of fluctuation. The world financial situation has resulted in a shocking four tournaments being lopped off of the schedule from last year. One has to wonder how many others are on shaky ground.

The great Annika Sorenstam has hung up her Hall of Fame soft spikes to pursue other challenges in life. While she had been quite the box office draw, will the promising career of Michelle Wie finally come to fruition and help fill the void? Lorena Ochoa is currently number one in the world but it may be that 20 year old Ji Yai Shin hunts her down this year. Virtually overlooked by the golfing world is the fact that this incredibly mature youngster won three times in just 10 LPGA events last year while playing as a non-member. First was the British Open and the last was the Tour Championship, both against the best fields in women’s golf. With a full schedule, who knows how much she will accomplish?

And finally, fashion plate Anna Rawson uttered a few thoughts on the age-old lesbian issue, using less than flattering terms. And this, coming on the heels of last year’s PR disaster regarding speaking English. Fortunately for Rawson and golf, the offending words were spoken during an interview on an Australian radio broadcast and not on television. Certainly, there will be punishment meted out and it will likely be kept very hush, hush. This can of worms is one the LPGA really wants to avoid opening.

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