Rancho Mirage, CA (AHN) - 2006 champion Karrie Webb is back to lead an elite field of 101 players in the first LPGA major of the season, the Kraft-Nabisco Championship.

Webb provided plenty of dramatics en route to the win last year, firing a final round 7-under par score of 65, which included a hole out for eagle on the 72nd hole that helped her reach a playoff with Lorena Ochoa.

Webb went on to birdie the first hole of sudden death to win the seventh major in her stellar career.

19 of the top-20 players in the World Rankings are in the field, including the looming presence of three-time Kraft-Nabisco winner Annika Sorenstam.

The only notable name missing from the event is Michelle Wie, who will miss the tournament after suffering an injury to her wrist earlier this season while training.

Sorenstam has enjoyed plenty of success at this tournament and will be one of the prohibitive favorites.

Since 1996, in addition to her three wins, Sorenstam has also finished second twice and in the top-eight nine times.

Wie was also in contention during the final round and had the lead on the back nine, but could only manage to par the final two holes to miss out on the playoff.

Five time major winner Se Ri Pak, and Americans Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis, who finished in third place in this event last year, will also be vying for the title and $300,000 winner's check.

The Kraft-Nabisco is set to tee off on Thursday.