When Karrie Webb won the 2000 Kraft Nabisco Championship she was reigning supreme at the pinnacle of the women's game.

On Thursday she heads into the same event - the first major of the season - with statistics that make less than flattering reading.

It's over a year since the 31-year-old won a title - the ANZ Ladies' Masters in Australia - and it is nearing two years since her last LPGA victory in the US.

While Webb's one time fierce rival, Sweden's Annika Sorenstam, goes from strength to strength, and a clutch of talented and media magnetic teenagers led by 16-year-old Michelle Wie make an ever-increasing mark, the Australian has slipped out of the limelight.

Yet Webb remains firm in the belief that a sensational career of 30 LPGA victories - including six majors - is not fatally flawed, just going under a period of repair.

"I must admit that I've started this season a little slower than I would have liked," she said in the wake of three starts in the US without one top 20 finish.

"But the trouble is that my outing hasn't been that great. I've also been fighting a couple of things in my swing."

After her final practice round over the Mission Hills course, she was grateful that her Australian coach, Ian Triggs, was on hand to help iron out the flaws and instil some confidence.

"I'm sure I'll be ready for Thursday," she predicted.

"And I believe I have every chance to win here again. I've got great memories here (a second and two thirds as well as the win) and it's always exciting to be back.

"This time I would say that the course is the best it has been for years.

"The rough is tough but just as you would expect it at a major and the fairways and greens are in fantastic shape."

For Sorenstam, the goal is to become the first four-time winner and start her quest for a season's clean sweep of the majors, while Wie is also high on the list of favourites.

The Hawaiian has finished ninth, fourth and 14th in her three amateur outings in the championship, and she is confident she could come out on top in her first major as a professional.

"I've got great memories of the course and feel my game is in great shape," said Wie who has four top tens in majors.

"I've added some extra length through working out with weights and I've also been working hard on my putting. I feel my whole game is in great shape."

Webb is one of four Australians in the field.

Rachel Hetherington finished tied second in 2001, while Queensland's Katherine Hull tied for 58th on her debut last year.

Albury's Lindsey Wright has one previous appearance, tying 57th as an invited amateur in 2003.

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