There is, one must admit, a certain repetitiveness to these Major championship forecasts, particularly on the women’s side where the world’s elite tend to dominate on a week in, week out basis. So much like Bethpage last month, we will simply assess the chances of the world’s top dozen at Saucon Valley...because it would seem a good bet that this week’s champion will emerge from this group.

Any real variety to the process? Well...actually yes, as Lorena Ochoa will not be this website’s odds-on choice for the first time in its existence. And as far as longshots go, my gut feeling was that it might finally have been Michelle Wie’s time (a hunch I had before her Sunday 64 in Ohio)....except that she managed not to qualify herself into the Open field. So perhaps Morgan Pressel? But that too is hardly a bold call after her strong showing in Sylvania.

So on that courageous note...

Lorena Ochoa (10-1) – Okay, on balance she’s still the world’s best player, but while she’s won twice already in nine 2009 starts, she’s also been out of the top 10 frequently, including T19 and T23 at the Sybase and the LPGA Championship, respectively. Toss in a 12th at the Kraft Nabisco (and that only on the strength of a final-round 69) and this is a player not precisely at the top of her game. But you’d hardly count her out...

Yani Tseng (13-1) – The world number two has been riding a bit of an up-and-down wave herself in ’09, winning the Corning Classic in late May, twice tying for 2nd and finishing five times among the top five in 14 starts. But she’s also been outside the top 20 three times (in seven starts) since early May, so...

Jiyai Shin (9-1) – Though the world number three was outside the top 10 in four straight April/May starts, she has already won twice in ’09, including two weeks ago at Rochester. Her ascent towards the top of the world rankings has been steady, and at the ripe old age of 21, she’s already a Major champion, having won the 2008 Women’s British Open. A victory here would bring world number one status into view.

Paula Creamer (15-1) – The talented young Creamer has an iffy record at the Open, only once bettering 13th (last year’s T6 at Interlachen) in six starts dating back to 2003. Has been up and down in ’09, finding form between the Kraft Nabisco and the LPGA Championship when she finished T3, T2 and T6 at Sybase, Corning and the State Farm respectively. Seems unfair but the pressure to “finally” win a Major is building...and she’s only 22! Note: Push her odds to 25-1 if the thumb injury which forced her withdrawal at the Jamie Farr is still hurting.

Cristie Kerr (16-1) – Another up-and-down ’09 performer, with four top 5s (including a win at the Michelob Ultra, and a T2 at the Kraft Nabisco) in 14 starts, but also three finishes no better than 22nd since mid-May. Won the 2007 Open at Pine Needles, so she knows what it takes.

Suzann Pettersen (10-1) – Though winless in 2009, Pettersen seemed on pretty solid form before being felled by a viral infection in June, leading to her withdrawl at the LPGA Championship (after 54 holes) and the Wegman’s. Seems fully recovered after a T6 at the Jamie Farr, however, and despite a mediocre Open record (T52 in 2005, MC in 2007) she feels like she’s ready to roll...

Angela Stanford (18-1) – One of the Tour’s most consistent players in ’09, with seven top 10s in 10 starts, including a win at the season-opening SBS Open in Hawaii. Other than a flukish T65 at Sybase (mostly due to a third-round 80), hasn’t finished worse than 7th since the Kraft Nabisco. Tied for 2nd at the 2002 Open, but otherwise has never bettered 10th in 30 career Major starts.

In Kyung Kim (21-1) – The world’s highest-ranked Kim is in strong form, with four top 10s in six starts since early May, including her second career win at the State Farm. Tied for 3rd at last year’s Open, and 9th at the ’08 Women’s British, so her Major championship form is improving...

Karrie Webb (30-1) – Webb’s foothold on a top-10 ranking is getting precarious after a solid early ’09 which saw her win in Phoenix, but largely struggle thereafter. Her last five starts have resulted in T39, T23, MC, T49 and T24 so at present, the elevator appears to be descending.

Helen Alfredsson (33-1) – Another battle-hardened veteran whose world ranking is based more on 2008 and early ’09 than recent form, though she ws among the top 15 (but no better than 11th) in four out of five LPGA starts from April though early June. Has played in 16 U.S. Women’s Opens, finishing 2nd both last year and back in 1993.

Song-Hee Kim (27-1) – This young Korean has never bettered 21st in six career Major starts and has been riding a seesaw of late, missing the cut at Wegman’s but also logging four top 10s in her last seven starts.

Lindsey Wright (20-1) – Talk about your wildcards... The up-and-coming Wright finished 4th at the Kraft Nabisco and 2nd at the LPGA Championship, yet missed the cut at both Sybase and State Farm in between. Was only once better than 16th in 15 career Major starts prior to 2009, that a 4th at the 2007 LPGA Championship.