Ricoh Women’s British Open prepares to host international field

The final major of the year, the 2008 Ricoh Women’s British Open, will enjoy the strongest and most international field to date. The Championship will be held at Sunningdale Golf Club from July 31 to August 3, 2008.

Every player inside the World’s Top 30 will be competing at Sunningdale and each will be looking to claim the coveted Ricoh Women’s British Open title. With 126 of the 144 player field now confirmed, the final 18 places will be claimed following the Final Qualifying tournament on Monday, July 28 at the Berkshire Golf Club.

So far, 25 nationalities are represented and between them the star-studded field has won an astonishing 51 Major titles. All of the last 7 winners of the Women’s British Open since it became a Major in 2001 are in the field headed up by the defending champion and World Number 1, Lorena Ochoa.

Lorena, winner of 6 tournaments already this year including a second Major title said, “I am really looking forward to defending my title at the Ricoh Women’s British Open and I am very excited about playing at Sunningdale again. I finished 4th there in 2004 so I know the course suits my game and I have a great chance.”

For World Number 2 and 10-time Major winner, Annika Sorenstam, this will be her final Major having recently announced her decision to step away from the game at the end of this calendar year. She explained “I'm sure it will be quite emotional, just knowing that it will be the last one. But I'm also very competitive and I'm also trying to finish this season on a high note, really trying to be competitive in every event. It will be a tough good‑bye. But it's a decision I made. I'm sticking to it and I'm excited about the future.”

This year’s line-up at the Ricoh Women’s British Open resembles a who’s who of women’s golf. The star-studded field includes former Champions at Sunningdale; Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak and local favourite, Karen Stupples, along with World Number 4, Paula Creamer. Home fans will have plenty to cheer with the likes of Rolex Rankings’ 25, Catriona Matthew, Laura Davies and Mhairi McKay in the field along with rising stars in the form of the 2007 Amateur Medal Winner Melissa Reid, and back to back winner on the LET Tour this year, Rebecca Hudson.

The Championship has an impressively strong Asian representation this year including Japan’s leading golfers; Yukari Baba, Yuri Fudoh, Miki Saiki, Ai Miyazato, Momoko Ueda, and Sakura Yokomine. The popularity of Women’s golf in Korea is certainly reflected by the impressive 31 players they have in the field at this year’s tournament.

Steeped in history and the only Major to take place outside of the USA, the 2008 Ricoh Women’s British Open is set to be one of the highlights on this year’s golfing calendar, with 144 players from around the world competing for a total prize fund of GBP£1,050,000 (US$2,100,000).

The Ricoh Women’s British Open is the most international of all the Majors. Millions tuned into the 2007 Championship in August as it was televised around the world, including on the BBC in the UK, ABC network television in the USA and on TV Asahi in Japan.

Sunningdale Golf Club has a rich heritage of hosting professional and amateur events, including the Women’s British Open on three occasions, 1997, 2001 and 2004, as well as the European Open, the inaugural Seve Trophy and the Walker Cup.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the Ladies’ Golf Union in 1976 and gained Major status in 2001. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and is operated on behalf of the Ladies’ Golf Union by IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company.

For more information, including the latest news and advance ticket offers, please visit www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com or call our ticket line on +448719459421.

For further information about Ricoh please visit www.ricoh.com

About the Ladies’ Golf Union (“LGU”)

Founded in 1893, the LGU is the encompassing body for ladies’ amateur golf in Great Britain and Ireland. The LGU Executive Council includes representatives of the National Organisations (English Women’s Golf Association Ltd, Irish Ladies’ Golf Union, Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association Ltd and the Golf Union of Wales Ltd). The primary objective of the LGU is to uphold the rules of the game and to advance and safeguard the interests of ladies’ golf. In particular, the LGU has responsibility for running the Ricoh Women’s British Open (one of the four Major Tournaments for Professional Women golfers), other British Championships and Home International events, and preparing the Great Britain and Ireland teams for representative matches, including the recent Curtis Cup at the Home of Golf.

Further information about the Ladies’ Golf Union is available on www.lgu.org