NINE YEARS SINCE ANNIKA SCORED OUR LAST VICTORY IN FIRST MAJOR

IS THIS GOING TO BE EUROPE'S YEAR?

Catriona Matthew at the Kraft Nabisco

JOYCE HUNMAN REPORTS FROM THE KRAFT NABISCO

Looking back through the record books of Kraft Nabisco Championship it's clear that players from Europe haven't set the heather alight at Mission Hills and made the leap into Poppie's Pond.

The 'Dinah' has been going since 1972 and became a 'major' in 1983.  Since it's inception, only three players from Europehave won the first major trophy of the golfing year - Helen Alfredsson, Patricia Meunier-Lebouc and Annika Sorenstam.  Ok, that means the big cup has crossed the Atlantic five times but the last win was in 2005 when Annika won it for the third time.

Could 2014 be the year we have a Euro win?  

There are still two rounds to go but 14 European players have made it through the cut to play on the weekend.  Six players are inside the top 19 and at worst are 6 shots behind the leaders.

 Catriona Matthew and Anna Nordqvist are three shots behind and in a good position.  Anna is the form player on the LPGA having won twice in 2014, most recently last week when she won the Kia Classic.

It's great to see so many European players in the mix at this prestigious event and hopefully one will take a dook in the pond and wear the champion's robe on Sunday.