The 2010 and 2012 US Open Champions set their sights on the final Major of the year
24th July 2012
Paula Creamer (in photo) was in North West England this weekend but, while the rest of the golfing world’s focus was on events at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the 2010 US Open winner spent her weekend playing at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake. Creamer’s early preparations for the 2012 Ricoh Women’s British Open show her clear intent to challenge for the final major of the year, taking place from the 13th to 16th September.
Creamer resisted the temptation to head to the nearby Lytham to watch the exciting finale of the Open Championship where she herself had finished a credible T3rd in 2009. Instead, she spent the weekend familiarising herself with the famous Hoylake course which will play host to the Ricoh Women’s British Open for the first time this year.
She explained, "I really enjoy the test of links golf and I loved every minute of my weekend playing this historic links course for the first time. It is in great condition, the sun shone and everyone I met at the Club was so welcoming and seemed as excited as I am about the upcoming Championship.”
South Korea’s Na Yeon Choi, who won her first Major at the 2012 US Open earlier this month after finishing four shots clear of the field and catapulting to a career high second on the Rolex World Ranking, has also confirmed her entry for the 2012 Championship.
Choi commented, “I watched Se Ri Pak winning majors when I was growing up and I dreamt that one day I would follow in her footsteps. It was amazing to see her there to greet me on the 18th on Sunday and it made it even more special. I am very thankful for all that she has done for Korean golf. I have finished top ten in the last three Ricoh Women’s British Open’s and so I think I have a great chance this year, especially with the added confidence that winning my first major has given me.”
Other players already confirmed at the Ricoh Women’s British Open include World number one, Yani Tseng, American’s Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis and Michelle Wie, Korean stars, Ji Yai Shin and Na Yeon Choi, Japan’s Ai Miyazato, Sweden’s Suzann Pettersen and Australia’s Karrie Webb, herself a three time winner of the Ricoh Women’s British Open. Catriona Matthew, winner of the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open headlines the home challenge along with 1986 winner, Laura Davies and England’s rising star, Melissa Reid.
Shona Malcolm, the LGU’s CEO added, “The field is really shaping up for the final Major of the year and after the conclusion of the Open Championship on Sunday, we hope the North West of England will now look to the Ricoh Women’s British Open for their next fix of world class golf. Paula’s early foray to Hoylake this weekend shows her determination to win this great Championship and we have been delighted to hear her positive feedback on the course. We also look forward to welcoming Na Yeon Choi who has featured on the leaderboard the past three Championships and we were delighted to see her claim her maiden victory at the 2012 US Open. I think she will be a serious contender at this year’s tournament.”
This year fans will again be able to watch the BBC’s extensive coverage of the Ricoh Women’s British Open in HD (high definition) underlining the significance of the Championship in the BBC’s sports portfolio.
The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.
Ricoh, the leading technology provider of Managed Document Services and Production Printing, has been the title sponsor of the Ricoh Women’s British Open since 2007.
For further information please visit www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com
