Shin seeks second British Open

BY Bruce Young | Ladies European Tour | 2010 Ricoh Womens British Open | Round Four | 27 Jul 2010

The Ricoh Women’s British Open returns to Royal Birkdale this week for the second time in the history of an event which, over the past few years, has been significantly elevated in status.

One of the reasons for that increased profile is that since 2001 it has become a major championship in the world of women’s golf but also because, in the last 12 years or so, the event has been taken to some of the Britain’s finest golfing facilities.

2010 is no exception, Royal Birkdale in Southport in Lancashire one of the venues on the Open Championship rota. It last played host to the Open Championship in 2008 when Padraig Harrington won the second of his two Open Championships although it was in 2005, when it witnessing Jeong Jang’s win over Sophie Gustafson that it last hosted this particular event.

Interestingly Gustafson was the winner when the event was first played at Royal Birkdale in 2000 although in that year it was not a major championship.

In terms of the leading players in the female game all of those who competed in last week’s Evian Masters are in this week’s field. Jiyai Shin’s position at the top of the female game was restored with her victory last week and there seems no reason why she can’t continue her amazing level of consistency with yet another victory this week.

Last week’s win was her first of the LPGA season but so consistent has she been that it would seem unlikely that she will be far from contention on Sunday.

It was in this event two years ago when Shin announced to the golfing world that she would become the force she since has when she won as a non LPGA Tour member.

She defeated Yani Tseng at Sunningdale that year and has since gone on to win a further six events on the LPGA Tour but it is her consistency that is her greatest asset. Eight times in 11 starts this season she has been inside the top five.

Cristie Kerr, Ai Miyazato, Yani Tseng and Suzann Pettersen and Na Yeon Choi are likely to be her greatest challengers as, on a golfing test such as that presented by Royal Birkdale, it is a fair assumption to believe that the cream will rise to the top.

Kerr’s ridiculous 12 shot win at the LPGA Championship a month ago must rank as one of the greatest in major championship golf in recent times. Although she has been much less impressive since, Kerr displayed her capacity to play well on British links courses when she was runner up at Royal Lytham & St Annes to Sherrie Steinhauer in 2006.

Miyazato has won an amazing four times on the LPGA Tour this season and does have form at the British Open having finished 3rd and 5th in her last two starts in the event. She is an even better player now than during her previous visits and if she was to contend for the title on Sunday then it would be no surprise.

Paula Creamer could well make 2010 an even more memorable year with a unique double of the US and British Opens. She has been a little unpredictable this season although thumb injury has played a big part in that. Her win at Oakmont was all class and on yet another great course she could again shine.

The Australasian challenge is headed by last year’s runner up to Catriona Matthew, Karrie Webb. Webb has been a three time winner of the event, once during its time as a major championship. Webb has not been at her peak this season but has not been far from it either.

If the former world number one was able to repeat the heroics she displayed when recording a round of 61 to win at Royal Pines early in the year then she could well win her fourth British Open, eight years after he third.

Of Australia’s next two best players, Lindsey Wright was the best of the Australians last week in what was generally an ordinary week for them while Katherine Hull has made a lot of cuts this season but seldom contended and does not enjoy a good record in this event.

Resurgent Karen Lunn, Sarah Jane Smith, Kristie Smith, Lynnette Brooky, Frances Bondad and the quasi Australian Rebecca Coakley are all guaranteed starts while for Rebecca Flood she awaits her fate from the reserve bench.