I like the US Open. But I like the US Women's Open even more. Why? a) I'm a woman, I can't help it, b) For the same reason I read the occasional US Weekly--I find the meow factor intriguing, and c) Any LPGA event with Michelle Wie in it means I'll have plenty to write home about.

This weekend I'll be joining Brandon Tucker at the Women's Open down there at Pine Needles (now a three-time host of the event) watching Annika defend her title, Morgan Pressel and Suzann Pettersen try to prove that their first majors weren't flukes, and Michelle Wie attempt to get back on that uncooperative horse.

The festivities begin Thursday. If you're lucky enough to be on-site, a good place to start watching is the 8:06 pairing on hole 1, featuring Christina Kim, Natalie Gulbis, and the aforementioned Wie, followed at 8:17 by Ai Miyazato, Stacy Prammanasudh, and Lorena Ochoa.

Another option is the hole-10 8:06 alternative, which includes Karrie Webb, Morgan Pressel, and Nicole Castrale, immediately followed by Brittany Lincicome, Suzann Pettersen, and Se Ri Pak. Would that I could be in two places at once, because those are some highly watchable sets of threesomes.

So who's it gonna be?

Personally I think trying to pick a winner out of a field of 156 is absurd, but of course that doesn't stop me from doing it anyway. My top three: Pettersen, Ochoa, and Webb, in that order.

LPGA.com's straw poll has Ochoa on top, but what do they know? They have someone named Other coming in second, and there's no such person even in the field!

Anyone else think they know something we don't? Shanks? Baldwin? Let's hear it.

Thursday June 28 ESPN 2:00-6:00 PM ET

Friday June 29 ESPN 2:00-6:00 PM ET

Saturday June 30 NBC 3:00-6:00 PM ET

Sunday July 1 NBC 3:00-6:00 PM ET

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