Here are the tv times for this weekend’s LPGA Kraft Nabisco—the season’s first major:

March 29
Golf Channel 12:00 PM -3:00 PM EST
Golf Channel 6:00 PM -9:00 PM EST

March 30
Golf Channel 12:00 PM -3:00 PM EST
Golf Channel 6:00 PM -9:00 PM EST

March 31
Golf Channel 4:30 PM -8:30 PM EST

Apr 1
Golf Channel 4:30 PM -8:30 PM EST

The Kraft Nabisco began as a 54 hole event, known as the Colgate Dinah Shore Tournament. It has always been held at the Old Course at Mission Hills Country Club. The inaugural event was won by Jane Blalock.

Nabisco became the sponsor in 1982. That year, the Dinah Shore was the first LPGA event to have all four rounds broadcast on national television (by ABC—always a friend to golf). The tournament was designed a “Major” by the LGPA the following year.

For those who are not old enough to remember, Dinah Shore was a singer, actress and pioneering television talk show host. Beginning her career in radio as a singer, she had her own program by 1943. During the Second World War, Shore was the first woman to visit troops at the front. After the war, she recorded more than 70 songs, including one called “Dinah”, which gave her the nickname (her real name was Frances Rose). She had her own television variety and talk show starting in 1951. In the late ‘60s and ‘70s, the show was called “Dinah!” and was enormously popular (my mother watched it religiously). She certainly was the pioneer who made Oprah! possible. Shore died in 1994.

For the LPGA, Shore was a tireless promoter—kind of the Bob Hope of women’s golf. Dinah Shore is the first—and only—honorary member of the LPGA Hall of Fame. She was awarded the Patty Berg Award for her contributions to women’s golf.

Shore also left her mark in the traditional celebratory swim after the event. In 1991, she joined Amy Alcott for the dunk—the “swim at the Shore.” Viewers are sure to see the swim again this year.

The current name of the tournament reflects Kraft’s 2000 purchase of Nabisco brands. Kraft Nabisco’s support for the tournament is very strong, offeirng a purse of $1.8 million.

It’s a shame, though, that Dinah Shore’s name no longer is associated with the tournament she started.

Mission Hills will play as a 6,569 yard par 72 for the tournament. The course was designed by Desmond Muirhead. The signature is the 531 yard par 5, with an island green sitting right in front of the clubhouse.

Compared to the rest of the field, the best player in golf just might be Yani Tseng. She won twelve times last year and has won three of the five LPGA Tournaments this year. She’s as dominant as Tiger ever was.

But Tseng has not made nearly the impact on golf that Tiger has. Heck, she probably gets less press than the twentieth ranked PGA Tour Player. I think the problem is that the LPGA gets little respect. When Tiger was dominating, it was because he was “the best player ever.” Tseng, it is suggested, wins because she faces weak fields. When Tiger goes twenty under for a weekend, that is taken as a sign that he overpowered the course. When Tseng goes low, it’s because the courses are too easy.

I’m no radical feminist, but the gender bias bothers me. What I know after seeing LPGA players in person at the Jamie Farr is this:  those gals are good. They are top athletes playing at the top of their game. They do things with the ball that I can’t possibly duplicate.

Starting today, Tseng leads the LPGA into its first Major of the season (and also professional golf’s first Major), the Kraft-Nabisco. This one gets some airtime, at least:

March 29
Golf Channel 12:00 PM -3:00 PM EST
Golf Channel 6:00 PM -9:00 PM EST

March 30
Golf Channel 12:00 PM -3:00 PM EST
Golf Channel 6:00 PM -9:00 PM EST

March 31
Golf Channel 4:30 PM -8:30 PM EST

Apr 1
Golf Channel 4:30 PM -8:30 PM EST

This is the weekend of the Solheim Cup, so here’s a quick primer on Solheim Cup Match Play:

Like the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup consists of Four Ball, Foursomes and Singles matches.  There are four Four Ball and four Foursomes each of the first two days. On the third day—Sunday—the Solheim Cup consists of twelve singles matches.

Foursomes consist of two teams of two, and only one ball per team. It’s sometimes also known as “Alternate Shot.” Players alternate shots and alternate on tee shots. As in any match play game, the team with the lowest score on each hole wins that hole for the team.

A “Four Ball” match sometimes also is known as “best ball.” Like foursomes, four ball is played in teams of two. In this format, each team member plays her own ball throughout the hole. Four players; four balls. Then, at the end of each hole, the team’s low score is counted to determine who wins the hole.

There is a great deal of strategy involved in playing these events—particularly for the coach, or captain. As a golf coach, I was faced with a fundamental dilemma whenever my team had to compete in a match play team event: do you combine players with similar, or contrasting skills?

In a foursomes, the first instinct is to combine players with dissimilar, but complementary skills.  You might, for example, combine a long hitter with a short game specialist. Taking a look at the course, a coach then can identify the hole that confers the biggest advantage to the long hitter and assign her to tee off on that hole. This then determines who tees off on all the others, since tee shots are alternated between team mates.

Teaming players with different skills also can help to minimize the damage on any one hole. If a short hitter tees off, then the longer hitter can hit a higher numbered iron into the green, where, presumably, the short game player can make a good putt.

The problem with this, however, is that it takes a player out of her usual game. If the bomber is used to taking wedges into a green, she will be uncomfortable hitting a longer iron after a wedge-and-putter player’s tee shot. So, the other approach to foursomes is to combine players with similar styles. This ensures that players generally are hitting shots that are familiar.

On the course in foursomes, team mates must be constantly aware of the other’s abilities. Each must ensure that her shot puts the other in a position that plays to their strengths. It’s not simply a matter of hitting the best shot that she can.

For example, Michelle Wie might be able to reach a par 5 in two. In doing so, however, the risk is that the ball ends up in a greenside bunker. If her partner is a sand wizard, that might be an acceptable risk; if not, she should lay up to her partner’s best distance.

Four Ball is a somewhat easier game on the coach. There, I usually combined players with different skill sets, on the theory that each hole would play to at least one of their strengths or weaknesses.

Another way of pairing players is by style. It’s often advantageous to pair a gambler with a cautious player. One can go for birdies, while the other plays for par.

On the course in a four ball match, the partners need to keep a good eye on how the other is doing. If player A has hit a ball to a safe spot, her partner might be able to attempt a riskier shot. If the risk fails to produce reward, the other player at least has a good chance. I like this format because played well, it encourages a gambling style of play.

Match Play in general also deserves an explanation.

The Solheim Cup is in play this weekend, bringing with it a large number of relatively unfamiliar terms and concepts associated with Match Play: Halve, All Square,  Dormie, 1-Up and scores like 3 and 2 or 5 and 4 mean.

American golf fans are used to what is known as “stroke play.” In stroke play, golfers play a set number of holes—and the number of holes is known from the beginning—and the player with the lowest combined total score wins.

Not so in Match Play. In that format, the golfers are pitted against each other in a mano-a-mano format. In match play, players are concerned—not with the field—but with beating the player they are playing with.

The most confusing part of Match Play is in the scoring. Each hole in a Match is a separate event, and is taken in isolation. The player who finishes the hole in the fewest strokes wins the hole. The player who wins the most holes out of eighteen wins the match.

The hole-by-hole format means that it’s possible (and probable) that one player will get far enough ahead that the other has no chance of winning. For example, if Helen Alfredsson and Michelle Wie finish the 16th hole, and Alfredsson has won three more than Wie, there is no need to continue. At best, Wie could win more holes, and still would be one hole down to Alfredsson. So the match is called at 16. The final result would be Alfredsson 3 and 2. That means that Alfredsson won because she was up by three holes, with two holes left.

The Solheim Cup this year is Sept. 23 - 25 and the US team is set. The automatic qualifiers, based on point rankings are Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Morgan Pressel, Angela Stanford, Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Brittany Lincicome, Brittany Lang, Juli Inkster and Christina Kim. In addition, captain Rosie Jones has chosen Vicky Hurst and LPGA rookie Ryann O’Toole as her captain’s picks.

A couple of interesting stories here. First, following the last Solheim Cup, the fifty one year old Julie Inkster indicated that she was retiring from the competition. To her apparent surprise, however, she’s made it on the team on points. Apparently not wanting to let Team USA down, she’s “unretired,” and will be a player as well as assistant captain.

As an aside, I wonder about the Assistant Captain title. Shouldn’t that be “first mate,” or “lieutenant”?

Rookie Ryann O’Toole is a graduate of the Golf Channel’s Big Break, and has had an outstanding maiden voyage. She finished ninth at the US Women’s Open and fifth at the Safeway. Jones says that she likes O’Toole’s enthusiasm.

For my part, I’ll be sure to watch the Solheim Cup television coverage. I love match play.

Here’s an interesting couple: he’s on the PGA Tour; she’s on the LPGA. Gerina and Martin Pillar have been married seven months.

Last week’s Viking Classic was Martin’s 15th event of the season. His best finish has been a tie for 23rd at the Valero Texas Open.

Gerina has played in six events, making four cuts. Her best finish has been a tie for 19th at the LPGA State Farm Classic. Her next event will be the British Open starting July 28.