U.S. Women's Open player capsules

A capsule look at 10 players in the 62nd U.S. Women's Open, to be played June 28 to July 1 at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C. (listed in predicted order of finish):

The Top 10
	PAULA CREAMER Age: 20. Country: United States. World ranking: 6. LPGA victories: 3. Majors: None. Best finish in a U.S. Women's Open: T13. Backspin: Her best U.S. Women's Open came as a 17-year-old amateur, and she has yet to mount a serious challenge on the back nine of any major. But if any 20-year-old can be considered "due" to win a major, she's the one. She does everything very well when she's at her best, is streaky with her irons in a good way and is one of the better putters on the LPGA Tour. Inspiration comes from Morgan Pressel beating her to a major. Could earn a little more credibility if she would ditch the pink golf ball on Sunday.
	ANNIKA SORENSTAM Age: 36. Country: Sweden World ranking: 3. LPGA victories: 69. Majors: Kraft Nabisco (2001, 2002, 2005), LPGA Championship (2003, 2004, 2005), U.S. Women's Open (1995, 1996, 2006), Women's British Open (2003). Best finish in a U.S. Women's Open: Won. Backspin: Her tie for 15th at the LPGA Championship showed rapid progress from missing two months of competition with back and neck injuries, and returning to Pine Needles should only accelerate the rehab. She was vintage Sorenstam in 1996, rarely missing a fairway or green over 72 holes. Given the increase in competition, she won't be able to afford too many mistakes.
	LORENA OCHOA Age: 25. Country: Mexico. World ranking: 1. LPGA victories: 11. Majors: None. Best finish in a U.S. Women's Open: T6. Backspin: No one this young, with Michelle Wie perhaps being an exception, has ever been under this much scrutiny to win a major. She already has won twice this year and replaced Annika Sorenstam at No. 1, but the questions on the glaring gap in her resume are starting to stack up. She'll need to be more accurate off the tee, and she'll have to avoid the big number that cost her at the Kraft Nabisco.
	KARRIE WEBB Age: 32. Country: Australia. World ranking: 2. LPGA victories:35. Majors: Kraft Nabisco (2000, 2006), LPGA Championship (2001), U.S. Women's Open (2000, 2001), Du Maurier (1999), Women's British Open (2002). Best finish in a U.S. Women's Open: Won. Backspin: The only LPGA Tour player with the "Super Slam," winning five majors. She was at the peak of her game at Pine Needles six years ago when she won by eight shots, and she is headed in the right direction now. Her ball-striking has been superb the last month, but needs to see a few putts inside 12 feet go in for the confidence to fully return.
	MORGAN PRESSEL Age: 19. Country: United States. World ranking: 5. LPGA victories: 1. Majors: Kraft Nabisco (2007). Best finish in a U.S. Women's Open: T2. Backspin: She played Pine Needles in 2001 as a 13-year-old qualifier, returns as a major champion. This always figured to be her best major because of the need to keep tee shots in the short grass, the premium on putting and the fight required in the battle for par. She won the Kraft Nabisco by not making a bogey over the final 24 holes. Putting and patience need to be at their best.
	SUZANN PETTERSEN Age: 26 Country: Norway. World ranking: 4. LPGA victories: 2. Majors: LPGA Championship (2007). Best finish in a U.S. Women's Open: T10. Backspin: If not for a collapse at the Kraft Nabisco, she could be going for the third leg of the Grand Slam. She blew a three-shot lead on the last four holes at Mission Hills, but didn't budge at Bulle Rock by hitting every green in regulation on the back nine Sunday, only twice outside 12 feet. One of the longest hitters, a dynamic iron player and someone who's confidence is soaring.
	JULI INKSTER Age: 47. Country: United States. World ranking: 8. LPGA victories: 31. Majors: Kraft Nabisco (1984, 1989), LPGA Championship (1999, 2000), U.S. Women's Open (1999, 2002), Du Maurier (1984). Best finish in a U.S. Women's Open: Won. Backspin: She was in position to win at Newport last year until stalling on the back nine. This is her favorite major, but time is no longer on her side. Celebrates her 47th birthday the Sunday before the tournament. Still grinds as though she were a 22-year-old rookie, not a Hall of Famer. Has the experience to know how to post a good score. As usual, putting holds the key.
	SE RI PAK Age: 29. Country: South Korea. World ranking: 9. LPGA victories: 23. Majors: LPGA Championship (1998, 2002, 2006), U.S. Women's Open (1998), Women's British Open (2001) Best finish in a U.S. Women's Open: Won. Backspin: Would like nothing more than to enter the Hall of Fame in November with the major that helped put her on the map in 1998. Has not won this year, but she has had her chances. Tied for the lead going into the last round of the Kraft Nabisco until closing with a 77. Never had a good chance at the LPGA Championship, but might have been distracted by Hall of Fame hoopla.
	BRITTANY LINCICOME Age: 21. Country: United States. World ranking: 11. LPGA victories: 2. Majors: None. Best finish in a U.S. Women's Open: 7. Backspin: First noticed at the Women's Open three years ago when she holed out from the fairway on her final hole for eagle to lead after the first round. One of the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour, her biggest weakness might be concentration. She already made it through the first "survival test" by winning the wind-blown Ginn Open. A win would be the second major for an American under age 21.
	MICHELLE WIE Age: 17. Country: United States. World ranking: 31. LPGA victories: None. Majors: None. Best finish in a U.S. Women's Open: T3. Backspin: The only "Wie Watch" for Pine Needles is whether she makes it to the weekend. A combination of injured wrists and badly bruised confidence as sent the 17-year-old into a tailspin. After missing four months with injury, she withdrew from one tournament at 14 over after 16 holes, and finished last by 10 shots with her highest score ever (309) at the LPGA Championship. Spent two weeks working on her game, but expectations are as low as they have ever been.