| RICOH Women's British Open wraps up 2008 major championships; Ochoa defends
A major championship is one of the pinnacle victories most sought after by a professional golfer in their career. When Lorena Ochoa started with a 9-under-par 64 in the opening round of the 2007 RICOH Women's British Open, she silenced a few of her critics who claimed her career was not complete without a major championship. When she won, it was only the beginning.
In a season where Ochoa would earn eight victories, it was at the birthplace of golf - the Old Course at St. Andrews - where the number one player in the world secured her first major championship victory by two strokes over Maria Hjorth and Jee Young Lee. Instead of being satisfied, Ochoa left Europe energized and would go on to win the next two events she would compete - in different countries: the CN Canadian Women's Open and the Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi in Portland, Ore.
Although Ochoa's six 2008 wins at least double that of the season's other multiple winners Paula Creamer (3), Seon Hwa Lee (3) and Annika Sorenstam (3), the story lines abound to include a long list of reasons why any player could win this week. Sunningdale Golf Club last played host to the final LPGA major championship of the season in 2004 and England's own Karen Stupples won the event. The pride of winning a major championship was matched one year ago for Stupples when joined the cadre of LPGA Tour members who are also mothers. Returning to competition this season, Stupples has successfully balanced motherhood with a professional golf career with four top-10 finishes.
For many, winning the RICOH Women's British Open will lead to additional accolades. Consistently one of England's top professional golfers, Laura Davies will be competing in her 60th consecutive major championship - the longest active streak on the LPGA Tour. In her 21st year on the LPGA Tour, the long-driver from England has played in every major championship since the 1994 Kraft Nabisco Championship. Since earning her card in 1988, Davies has only missed the 1990 LPGA Championship and 1993 du Maurier Ltd. No one is more aware than Davies of the fact that a fifth LPGA Tour major championship title would secure her spot in the LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame.
Already a member of the LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame, Juli Inkster will be looking for her first major championship victory since the 2002 U.S. Women's Open. An eighth major championship win would make Inkster just the second player to complete the Super Career Grand Slam, in which a player wins all eligible majors in her career. Inkster is a two-time winner of the Kraft Nabisco Championship (1984, 89) and McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola (1999, 2000). She also won the 1984 du Maurier Classic, which was the Tour's fourth major before the RICOH Women's British Open.
Finally, the 144 players in field have their eyes on the US$2.1 million purse, which also designates the RICOH Women's British Open as a Winner Event in LPGA Playoffs 2008. With a win, the champion will also have secured her place in the 32-player, $1 million-to-the-winner ADT Championship, which Ochoa claimed as her final victory of the 2007 campaign - just days after accepting her awards for Rolex Player of the Year and Vare Trophy honors for the second-consecutive year.
19 of the 144 available spots will be filled following the conclusion of Monday's qualifier. Click here to see the current field and check back Monday afternoon for the updated field including Monday's qualifiers.
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