Nine ALPG Members have made it into the final major of the year, the Ricoh Women’s British Open which gets underway this Thursday, 29th July at the majestic Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.

It will be the 35th staging of the tournament, which gained major title status in 2001.  144 players will be vying for the title, including the world’s Top-20 players from the Rolex Women’s World Golf rankings.  The defending champion is Scotland’s Catriona Matthew.

The Royal Birkdale Golf Club is no stranger to hosting major championships and tournaments, having hosted two Ryder Cups, nine Open Championships and the Women’s British Open in 2000 and 2005. South Korean Jeong Jang was the last time winner at Birkdale and will enter this week’s event with an air of confidence following a Top-10 finish at last week’s Evian Masters.
 
Of the Australians, two-time British Open winner Karrie Webb will lead the large contingent. Webb, runner-up to Matthew at last year’s Championship enjoys the challenge of the links courses and is once again looking forward to the week and what it might hold.  Compatriot Karen Lunn, a former Open champion herself, is also likely to feature.  Lunn who won the title back in 1993 broke a 13-year drought earlier this year when she captured the Portugal Ladies Open. With renewed confidence and a game suited to the demanding conditions of Open Championship golf, it would be no surprise to see Lunn in contention.

Webb and Lunn are joined in the field by Katherine Hull, Lindsey Wright, Sarah-Jane Smith, Kristie Smith and Frances Bondad all of whom made it directly into the field.  Lynnette Brooky (NZ) and Rebecca Coakley were successful in securing one of the 17 places available through the Monday qualifying at the Hillside Golf Club.  Brooky qualified first with a superb round of 5-under par 67 in wet and difficult conditions. Rebecca Flood missed out in a playoff for one of the automatic spots but will travel to Royal Birkdale as the first alternate. Should she make the field the Australian contingent will rise to ten.

American Paula Creamer is one of the hot favourites this week.  She broke through for her first major title at the recent US Women’s Open and has finished in the Top-10 in the last three Women’s British Opens.  The current Top-3 players in the world, Evian Masters winner, South Korean Jiyai Shin, Japan’s Ai Miyazato and American Cristie Kerr are also among the favourites.

The prizemoney for this year’s event is US$2.5 million.