The LPGA plays its third major championship of the 2009 season this week with the RICOH Women’s British Open being hosted at the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in England. Jiyai Shin won this event last year as a non-LPGA member as she played full time on the Korean LPGA Tour. She is the first rookie to defend a major title since Laura Davies did so at the 1987 U. S. Women’s Open.
Shin, the fourth-ranked golfer in the world, will have to fend off47 of the top 50 players in the world. Top ranked Lorena Ochoa has not won since the spring, a bit of a slump in her standards, and is looking to turn her season around. Yani Tseng finished second here as a rookie last year and Cristie Kerr, who has moved up to third in the Rolex Rankings, is having a great summer. Looking for their first win of the season are Paula Creamer and Suzann Pettersen.
The Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club was founded in 1886 and has played host to major tournaments throughout its history, crowning champions like Bobby Jones, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros and David Duval. The 6,492 yard, par-72 course has seen Open Championships for all three Tours as well as two Ryder Cup tournaments.
Preview: RICOH Women’s British Open
Shin, the fourth-ranked golfer in the world, will have to fend off47 of the top 50 players in the world. Top ranked Lorena Ochoa has not won since the spring, a bit of a slump in her standards, and is looking to turn her season around. Yani Tseng finished second here as a rookie last year and Cristie Kerr, who has moved up to third in the Rolex Rankings, is having a great summer. Looking for their first win of the season are Paula Creamer and Suzann Pettersen.
The Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club was founded in 1886 and has played host to major tournaments throughout its history, crowning champions like Bobby Jones, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros and David Duval. The 6,492 yard, par-72 course has seen Open Championships for all three Tours as well as two Ryder Cup tournaments.