As the women make their annual return to Bulle Rock for the LPGA Championship, here are my personal favorites to contend for the title, with odds based upon their realistic chances of winning, not the betting handle...

Lorena Ochoa (7-1) – Okay, so she’s not steamrolling the world as she was a year ago at this time, but the world number one has won twice (and finished 2nd once) in eight ’09 starts – pretty decent numbers for anyone else. Of course, she hasn’t bettered 71 in her last six competitive rounds (dating back to mid-May) but even being slightly off form, how easily can one bet against her?

Paula Creamer (10-1) – Following early 3rd-place finishes in Thailand and Singapore, it had been a lean run for the world number three right on through April. But with finishes of T3, T2 and T6 in her last three outings, she suddenly appears very much on form – and nobody is hungrier for a Major.

Suzann Pettersen (11-1) – The world number six has gone winless on the LPGA Tour since October of 2007, but her form has certainly been strong of late, with six top 10s (including two solo 2nds) in her last eight starts. Won this event, on this golf course, in 2007, so her confidence figures to be high.

Cristie Kerr (12-1) – The LPGA Tour’s leading money winner is in strong form, logging top-10s in six of her last eight starts, including a win at May’s Michelob Ultra Open and a T2 at the Kraft Nabisco. Has two top 10s in four starts at Bulle Rock.

Yani Tseng (12-1) – The world number two claimed her first ’09 victory two weeks ago at the Corning Classic, and is also the defending champion, having torched Bulle Rock with weekend rounds of 65-68 in 2008. Finished 2nd at last year’s Women’s British Open, so she’s obviously at home on the big stage.

Angela Stanford (14-1) – Still riding a long, consistent run of strong play dating back to last September, the world number seven has finished worse than 15th only once in nine ’09 starts, including a season-opening win in Hawaii and a total of six top 10s.

In-Kyung Kim (15-1) – Though riding high off a win at last week’s State Farm Classic, Kim had already cracked the world top 10 on the strength of three top-5 finishes in five starts between late March and mid-May. A highly consistent ball-striker who has shot 65 or better three times in her last 15 competitive rounds.

Jiyai Shin (15-1) – The world number five’s fortunes have been a bit up-and-down thus far in ’09 as she adjusts to playing in America full-time. Has only two top 10s in 10 starts, but one of those was a victory at the prestigious HSBC Champions back in March. Seems comfortable on the Major stage (she’s the reigning British Open champion) but this is her first time at Bulle Rock.

Michelle Wie (17-1) – Admittedly a bit of a wildcard choice given that the former phenom has finished T26 and T54 in her last two starts, and has logged only three top 10s in eight ’09 events. But Wie’s game has been showing signs of life lately, and she has contended here before, finishing 2nd in ’05 and T5 in ’06.