American women look for resurgence at U.S. Open

Cristie Kerr's ridiculous 12-stroke win in the LPGA Championship two weeks ago and her rise to No. 1 in the world ranking gives the impression that U.S. women are thriving on the LPGA Tour. But Kerr's success is an aberration this year and masks what is otherwise futility by American women. Kerr has won twice through 11 54- or 72-hole LPGA events, but no other American woman has won.
The lack of success hasn't been lost on U.S. players, and they know their national championship would be the perfect event in which to break through. "We're reminded of that every week," said Conway native Kristy McPherson. "Every interview we do everybody brings that up, so it's good to see Cristie get up there.
"When you have girls from 30 countries or whatever it is out here it's tough. The Koreans are good and play well every week. I think Cristie is leading the way and the Americans are going to be there. I look forward to Americans getting up there and back in the winner's circle more often, and I want to be one of them."
After her win in the Jamie Farr Classic, Kerr became the third player in as many weeks to hold the top position in the world ranking, following Jiyai Shin of South Korea and Ai Miyazato of Japan. She is the first American to earn the No. 1 ranking since the official world golf rankings were created.
International players occupy the next eight rankings, with Michelle Wie at No. 10 the second-highest ranking American. She's followed by Angela Stanford at No. 11, Paula Creamer at 13 and Morgan Pressel at 16.
McPherson, who is the seventh-highest ranking U.S. player in the Rolex Women's World Golf Ranking, is paired with fellow American Amanda Blumenherst and Na Yeon Choi of Korea. They go off the first tee Thursday at 7:55 a.m. and the 10th tee in Friday's second round at 1:25 p.m.