Dec. 22, 2004 – Four times ANZ Ladies Masters champion Karrie Webb has again underlined her commitment to Australian golf by announcing that she will play in the tournament for the 12th consecutive year next February.
In fact Webb will play for Australia with "Sister of Swing" Rachel Teske, in the Women's World Cup of Golf in South Africa two weeks before she plays in the ANZ Ladies Masters at the Royal Pines Resort on Queensland's Gold Coast.
"We are delighted that Karrie has chosen to come home after her World Cup campaign," said tournament chairman Bob Tuohy.
"It is great Karrie remains aware of her golfing heritage and keeps returning home to Queensland where she has family and so many fans. She will be playing for her fifth win in the ANZ Ladies Masters and she and Rachel will have a chance to fine tune their games beforehand with coach Ian Triggs."
It promises to be an exciting week because Webb always seems to find something extra on home soil, as her record shows. In 11 straight appearances so far, she has won four times, finished second four times and been outside the top 10 just once.
The ANZ Ladies Masters has become noted for its unconventional event promotion and the 2005 theme of "Sisters of Swing", backed by funky music and innovative video clips, is apt in the wake of the World Cup.
Two other "sisters" in the field are the English team to play in South Africa, Laura Davies and Karen Stupples. Both know their way around Royal Pines, with Davies winning in 1993, 1994 and 2003 and Stupples, the current British Open champion, finishing second to Annika Sorenstam in 2004.
Also in the field is 19-year-old Japanese sensation, Ai Miyazato. Ranked No. 2 on the JLPGA money list, Miyazato has six Tour victories to her credit and will represent her country in the inaugural Women's World Cup at the Fancourt Hotel Country Club in George, South Africa, prior to her maiden appearance in the ANZ Ladies Masters. Slight in physique, Miyazato delivers a big punch and entertains her growing band of fans with a colorful personality.
Australian Ladies Professional Golf General Manger, Warren Sevil, said the tournament co-sanction partners were again thrilled to be delivering a world-class field for the season opener.
"Between ALPG and the Robe Di Kappa Ladies European Tour, we have again received great support from our members, which highlights the importance that the ANZ Ladies Masters title carries among the players around the globe. Karrie's confirmation is the icing on the cake for an event which grows in international flavour each year. Miyazato and a number of other invited players are the future of women's professional golf. They may well join the list of many current stars, including Karrie, Karen Stupples and Se Ri Pak, who cut their teeth at the ANZ Ladies Masters."
The ANZ Ladies Masters, first played in 1990 and now in its 16th consecutive year, will carry prize money of $800,000 and be played from 24 – 27 February and will be televised by Network Ten between 12.00pm and 5.00pm ESST on Saturday and Sunday.
Source: ANZ Ladies Masters
