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**truebluefan** · 05-26-2008, 03:26 AM

Berkshire, England $2,100,000

**truebluefan** · 08-02-2008, 11:30 AM

Michelle Wie has heard the criticism of her decision to play in the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open this week instead of attempting to qualify for the Ricoh Women's British Open.

Like most teenagers, the 18-year-old just wants to have a good time. She isn't worried about what Annika Sorenstam and other top LPGA players think of her decision, either.

"There are going to be criticisms entering this tournament, but at the same time I'm just doing what I feel like I want to do and it's going to be a lot of fun," Wie said.

Reno sports books have made Wie a 500-1 long shot in the second-tier tournament, which opens Thursday. They aren't her only doubters.

Sorenstam, who failed to make the cut in her only PGA Tour appearance, said at the Women's British Open earlier this week that if Wie can't qualify for a women's major, she has no business playing with the men.

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**truebluefan** · 08-02-2008, 11:31 AM

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.

**truebluefan** · 08-02-2008, 11:32 AM

Yuri Fudoh of Japan and Ji-Yai Shin of South Korea shot a 4-under 68 Friday to lead by one stroke and equal the halfway record at the Ricoh Women's British Open, while Annika Sorenstam's 72 will be just enough to make the cut.

Fudoh and Shin were at 10-under 134 to tie the record set by Jeong Jang of South Korea, who won three years ago at Royal Birkdale. American Juli Inkster (70) is one shot back, with Bo Bae Song (68) two strokes behind the leader.

Sorenstam stumbled over the front nine for the second day in a row, bogeying the fifth, sixth and seventh holes.

After shooting 72 Thursday, Sorenstam was at 3 over after seven holes and in danger of failing to make it to the weekend of her final major before she quits tournament golf at the end of the year.

The 37-year-old Swede, owner of 10 majors and 72 career titles on the LPGA Tour, responded with three birdies in a row at the ninth, 10th and 11th holes to finish at even-par 144 -- safe from the projected cut of 1 over.

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**truebluefan** · 08-03-2008, 09:44 PM

South Korea’s Ji Yai Shin might not have been a household name when she arrived this week at Sunningdale but that is about to change now that she has emulated her more celebrated compatriot Se Ri Pak and won the Ricoh Women’s British Open title.

It was a victory worth £160,000 to the diminutive 20 year-old and it also allows her take out membership of the US LPGA Tour. However, much more important than that it has also transformed her into a Major champion and means that for the rest of her life her countrymen will fete her wherever she goes.

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