Championships - RICOH Women's British Open 2008
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02.07.2008
Rookie Major Winner Inbee Park Heads To Sunningdale
South Korean, Inbee Park, who became the youngest ever winner of the U.S. Women’s Open, has confirmed she will be playing in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Sunningdale Golf Club from 31 July to 3 August, 2008.The 19 year old, in only her second year on the LPGA Tour, won by a comprehensive 4 stroke margin over experienced campaigner, Helen Alfredsson. Although it was her first Tour win, she had shown signs of being a big occasion Major performer finishing 4th at the 2007 US Open and 11th at the 2007 Ricoh Women’s British Open.
Inbee was inspired to play golf by fellow South Korean Se Ri Pak, winner of the 2001 Women’s British Open, taking up golf just two days after her parents watched Se Ri become the youngest U.S. Women’s Open winner in 1998.
Inbee is looking forward to playing in the final Major of 2008 saying, “I’m excited to be playing the Ricoh Women’s British Open. It’s a major tournament and I really had a good experience at St. Andrew’s last year and hopefully I’ll have a good experience this year, too. Se Ri won the Championship when it was played at Sunningdale in 2001 so it would be very nice to be able to follow in her footsteps again!”
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).
Entries for the 2008 Championship are now closed and there are 121 players who can relax, having already secured their place in a line-up that is starting to resemble a who’s who of women’s golf. A further five qualifiers will join them from the Jamie Farr Classic. A winner of a recognised LET or LPGA event between now the event will also take their place in the starting line up.
Former Champions at Sunningdale, Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak and Karen Stupples, qualify as former winners of the event, as does World Number 2, Annika Sorenstam who won the title in 2003. World Number 4, Paula Creamer, Japan’s Yuri Fudoh - the World Number 27 and Miki Saiki - the World Number 37, have also qualified with top 15 finishes at the 2007 Championship. So too have Scottish stars Catriona Matthew and Mhairi McKay, while the 2007 Amateur Medal Winner, England’s Melissa Reid, who has built on her magnificent performance finishing tied 16th at last year’s Championship, looks set to qualify through the LET money list on which she is currently ranked 8th.
The top five players on the 2008 JLPGA money list on the 16th June 2008 have also qualified. They are Akiko Fukushima, Sakura Yokomine, Ji-Hee Lee, Miho Koga, Eun-A Lim, Bo-Bae Song and Yukari Baba.
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, has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.
For more information, including the latest news and advance ticket offers, please visit www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com or call our ticket line on +448719459421.
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