RICOH Womens British Open 2012

HHHH

LAURADAVIESonthethreattohopesofhomevictory

PAULA INTHE PINKGolfing superstarCreamer on Hoylake,why golf is cool forkids – and pink!

Pages6/7

Page2

RecordbreakerheadstoWirral Page

3

Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake . 13 -16 September 2012 . www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

PLUS l Window on the world - P 5 l Best of British Day - P 6 l Course guide - Pages 10/11

SPORT Thursday, September 6, 20122 HHHH

FULLOFEASTERNPROMISEby RICHARDWILLIAMSON

SPIN OFF:Laura Davieshopes thewomen’s game willbenefit from its timein the TV spotlight


THEIR names may not be aswell-known as the desperatewannabees of reality TV, butmake no mistake – theA-listers of women’s golf areheading to Merseyside.

The Ricoh Women’s BritishOpen will attract the vastmajority of the world’s best.

And while players like YaniTseng – the world number one– may not be as familiar asmen’s rankings leader RoryMcIlroy, the dedication,commitment and technicalgolfing skill required tosucceed is just the same.

And with crowds of around70,000 predicted for Hoylake,the tournament offers an idealopportunity to get a close-upview of the women’s golfingprowess.

A new report on the futureof the men’s game haspinpointed a growing

influence of players from theFar East, but on the women’stours they are already a majorforce.

The Rolex rankings aredominated by players fromKorea and Japan withTaiwanese player Yani Tsengarriving on Wirral as thedefending British champion.

China, too, now has its firstmajor winner in any form ofthe sport. Shanshan Feng wonthe Wegmans LPGAChampionship at the age ofjust 22 and has warned thatshe will be the first of manyplayers from her homecountry to take golf’s toptitles.

She said: “I am reallylooking forward to playing in

the Ricoh Women’s BritishOpen. Hopefully I will feel alittle extra confidence to beannounced on the tee as amajor winner.

“Every year I’ve learnt alittle more about playing linksgolf and my results haveimproved each time.“

Feng added: “I am veryproud to be the first majorwinner from mainland China,although I think I’m just lucky.There are many good playersfrom China and young playerscoming through right now. Iam the first one to win a majorbut I’m sure there will be asecond, third, and manymore.”

Naturally the British title isthe one all the home players

want to have on their golfingCV, but Britain’s mostdecorated woman golfer –Laura Davies – is well aware ofwhere the biggest threat willcome from.

Davies, who won the BritishOpen in 1986 before it waselevated to major status,expects the Asian players to beto the fore despite the fieldbeing packed with fellowformer winners CatrionaMatthew fromScotland andKarenStupplesfrom Englandalongside thecream ofcountries likeAmerica,

Australia, South Africa andthe rest of Europe.

“There are so many playerscoming through from Asia,playing to such a high level,”she says. “They are veryhard-working andsingle-minded and have adisciplined approach topractising and developingtheir skills.

“The young girls in thosecountries want to becomeprofessional golfers. They seeplayers on their own Tours or

playing the big eventsabroad thanks to the TV

coverage theyreceive.

“That means incountries like

Korea and Japan,the womengolfers are very

well-knownbecause all thetournamentsare on TV. Thathelps inspireyoung girls to

want to try the game.”Davies believes a higher

profile for women’s golf holdsthe key to its futuredevelopment closer to home.

“Better prize money onTour goes hand in hand withmore TV coverage,” she says,“and both would encouragemore girls to give the sport atry and for the better playersto see it as a potential careerfor the future. Hopefully theTV coverage of the RicohWomen’s British Open canshow girls in this country thatgolf is a fun sport – and it is notjust for the boys.”

But Davies also believes thevisit to Royal Liverpoolpresents a great chance forpeople to get out of thearmchair and enjoy the liveaction.

“Anyone coming to Hoylakewill be able to enjoy a closeview of the golfing skills onshow,” she says, “and seeplayers playing with a smileon their face.”

Girl power fromAsiaposesthreat to hopesof home joy

BARN HEY

MEOLS DRIVE / A540

GRAHAM ROAD

EDDISBURY ROAD

LEA

SPA

RK

PIN

FOLD

LAN

E

STA

NLE

YR

OA

D

CLUBHOUSE

PRACTICEGROUND

SHORT-GAMEPRACTICE AREA

SHORT-GAMEPRACTICE AREA

NORTHPUBLIC

CAR PARK

SOUTHPUBLIC

CAR PARK

SPECTATORVILLAGE

RICOH CONNECTEDBUSINESS PAVILION,PLAYERS’ LOUNGE

& CHAMPIONS CLUB

MEDIACENTRE

HALFWAYHOUSE

TVCOMPOUND

MAINTENANCESHEDS

CAR PARK3

CAR PARK2

CAR PARK4

CAR PARK1

KEY

ADMINISTRATION OFFICES

LEADERBOARD

PUBLIC TOILETS

PUBLIC CATERING

PUBLIC GRANDSTAND

FIRST AID

PEDESTRIAN ENTRY

VEHICLE ENTRY

TAXI RANK

PLAYER SHUTTLE

SPECTATOR CROSSING POINT

ROYAL

STAND

COURSE

ROAD

LONG

NEW

TELEGRAPHBRIARS

DOWIE

DEE

ALPS

HILBRE

RUSHES

FIELD

LAKE

DUN

FAR

PUNCH BOWL

SPECTATORROUTE

MO

RP

ETH

RO

AD

MARSHALSHQ

RICOH ‘IMAGINE CHANGE’HOT AIR BALLOON

EVENTFUL TEMPS& WALKING

SCORERS HQ

THE

KING

’SG

AP

STATION

ROAD

AIRLIE

ROAD

3

1

2

4

16th V i 21 A t 2012

Thursday, September 6, 2012 SPORT 3HHHH

Open’sroyalascentaddscrowningglory

IT is highly fitting that in theyear of the Queen’s DiamondJubilee, the world’s best womenplayers should enjoy a meetingwith golfing royalty.

The Ricoh Women’s British Openbreaks new ground when it getsunderway at Royal Liverpool thismonth.

But the fact that the tournamentis now contested over some of thesport’s most famous links coursesshows how far it has come underthe careful stewardship of theLadies Golf Union.

“It is our flagship event,” saysLGU chief executive ShonaMalcolm, “and we are delighted tobring it to a venue like RoyalLiverpool.

“The club has always been strongsupporters of women’s golf, havingstaged events like the Curtis Cupand British championships.

“We have been running the eventsince 1976 and have been reallypleased to see how it has continuedto grow over the years.

“Becoming one of the women’sfour majors was a huge stepforward while the arrival of Ricohas title sponsors in 2007 has taken itto a new level. Weetabix werefabulous supporters of the event,but Ricoh have wanted to do thingsa bit differently and the fact thatthe event is now played on courseslike Hoylake shows how it hasgrown in stature.”

The event returns to the home ofgolf at St Andrews in 2013 beforemaking a quick return toMerseyside, with Royal Birkdalethe host course 12 months later.

“These are the kind of coursesthat attract the world’s best players

– they relish the chance to play inthe homeland of golf and play adifferent kind of golf on a linkscourse - which is where it should beplayed!

“Royal Liverpool is a great course,but it is different to some of theothers, has its own quirks and if thewind blows it can be quite a differentproposition.”

Last year’s Women’s Opentempted all but two of the world’stop 50 ranked players to Carnoustieand this year’s event will continuethe trend – with the added

attraction of providing a chance tosee the sport’s newest sensation inaction.

Lydia Ko became the youngestwinner on the LPGA Tour when shecaptured last month’s CanadianWomen’s Open.

At just 15 years of age, the NewZealand amateur is already rippingthrough the record books, havingwon her first professionaltournament at the New SouthWales Open in January, when shewas still only 14.

The South Korean-born teenager

had qualified for the RicohWomen’s British Open afterwinning the US AmateurChampionship but is showing nosigns of hurrying towards the paidranks.

She already has some experienceof links golf along the north westcoastline, having played for NewZealand in the Astor Trophy teamcompetition at Fairhaven, nearBlackpool, last year.

“She is already a top classplayer,” added Shona, “and joinedin the social side of the event withthe other girls as well so I am sure alot of golf fans are looking forwardto seeing her play.”

Hopes are high that RoyalLiverpool could attract recordcrowds – with figures of 70-75,000being touted.

“Whenever we visit the northwest, whether it be Royal Lythamor Royal Birkdale we get so muchsupport,” added Shona. “Hopefullythe feelgood factor from theOlympics will continue and peoplewill want to be involved in anothermajor sporting event. I am surethere will be a real buzz around theplace. It would be great to see ahome player winning, but it will bethe best player over the four dayswho comes out on top.”

World’s besttackle linksgolfas it shouldbe

by RICHARD WILLIAMSON

HOW YOU CAN SEE THE STARS IN ACTIONTHE RicohWomen’s BritishOpen is one of thegolfing highlights ofthe sportingcalendar.

Celebrating its37th year, the 2012championship willsee the superstarsof women’s golf,including formerchampion CatrionaMatthew, Michelle

Wie, PaulaCreamer, SuzannPettersen, CarlyBooth andEngland’s ownLaura Davies inaction.

TheChampionshiptakes place fromThursday,September 13, toSunday, September16, and tickets can

be purchased at thegate or online atwww.ricohwomensbritishopen.com orby phone on 0871945 9421.

Prices are:Daily adult tickets(Thursday –Sunday) £25Daily concessiontickets (seniorcitizens andstudents) £20

Season adulttickets £62Season concessiontickets £50Best of British Daytickets * £65Under 16’s free(whenaccompanied by anadult)Free public carparking isavailable.Groups of 20 or

more will receive a25% discount.Please [email protected] or call0800 358 0058 forenquiries.

*Includes accessto Championshipfor two people onSaturday and abottle ofChampagne, all for£65.

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE: Lydia Ko is the newest golfing sensation at the age of just 15, whileCatriona Matthew (right) will be returning to Royal Liverpool where she played in the Curtis Cup in 1992and is a former Women’s British Open champion


GOLF SWEEPSUP BENEFITSTHE clean sweep ofteam triumphs over theAmericans has handedgolf a major lift.

Shona Malcolm, chiefexecutive of the LadiesGolf Union, believessuccess in the CurtisCup – which completedthe set – has helpedraise the profile of thewomen’s game.

At professional levelthe men play for theRyder Cup, the women

in the SolheimCup while theWalker Cup iscontested by thebest amateurmen.

The winningCurtis Cup teamof the bestwomenamateursincluded RoyalBirkdale’s KellyTidy.

“That CurtisCup win really seemedto capture theimagination – and thefact that it completed aremarkable clean sweepobviously helped,” saidShona.

“There is a realfeelgood factor aroundsport in this Olympicyear and hopefully thatcan continue at Hoylake.

“The prospect of golfreturning to theOlympics in 2016 offersa chance to grow thegame globally. In somecountries they do notknow all about thewomen’s majors, butthey are very aware ofan athlete trying to wina gold medal.”

For former Women’sBritish Open championCatriona Matthew,teeing up at Hoylake willcomplete a link back tothe Curtis Cup. Sheplayed in the 1992 teamthat beat the Americans10-8 at Royal LIverpool.

“I don’t reallyremember much aboutRoyal Liverpool,” sheadmitted. “It was 20years ago now – butPrince Andrew came towatch us on the lastday!”


HOW TO GET TO HOYLAKE . . . BY RAIL, ROAD AND ON FOOT


A COMPREHENSIVEtraffic and travel plan hasbeen put in place to helpmake access to RoyalLiverpool as smooth aspossible.

Following the guidebelow on how to get to thecourse should help easeyour journey.

ON FOOTIf you live within walking

distance of the course,follow the signed pedestrianroutes to enter the courseat Pinfold Lane or thefootpath opposite MorpethRoad. There is no access for

spectators via the mainentrance on Meols Drive orvia Stanley Road.

BY TRAINHoylake Station is a five

minute walk from theentrance to the course andtrains will run direct fromLiverpool every 15 minutes,except for evenings andSunday when they will runevery 30 minutes.

The journey time is just25 minutes and trains willrun from 6.21am with thelast train returning fromHoylake at 11.04pm.

More information on

public transport inMerseyside is available bylogging on towww.merseytravel.gov.ukor calling Traveline on 0871200 22 33.

BY BIKEFor spectators arriving by

cycle, there will besupervised designated cycleparking on the municipalgolf course at the parkingoffice near to the practicerange facilities.

BY TAXIPrivate hire taxis will use

a signed drop off and pickup point in The Kings Gap.These taxis must be bookedin advance - you will not beable to stop a private hiretaxi in the street. Blackcabs (hackney carriages)will be available from TheQuadrant, Market Streetfor pick up near the course.Anyone can go to this standand pick up a taxi withoutbooking.

BY CARMotorists travelling to

the Ricoh Women’s BritishOpen are advised to use thedesignated ‘AA’ route

signing. All public parkingwill be FREE and spectatorsarriving by car are advisedto follow routes from themotorway network andlocal roads to designatedparking areas located ashort walking distance fromthe course.

The main public car parkis located at Station Road inHoylake serving spectatortraffic arriving from boththe north and the southbetween Tuesday,September 11, Friday,September 14, andspectator traffic arrivingfrom the north only over

the weekend of Saturday,September 15, and Sunday,September 16.

On the weekend ofSaturday /Sunday,September 15/16,Greenbank Road in WestKirby will also operate aFREE public car park forspectator traffic arrivingfrom the south.

A designated car park fordisabled drivers will beclearly signposted.

Spectators requiringdisabled passes to thecourse can apply in advanceat www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com/disability-policy

Newclub isgoingwithaswingtohelpgolfdriveIT was a Tiger on the prowl – and

not so-called sightings of a lion –that created a real buzz on theWirral.

The return of the OpenChampionship to Royal Liverpoolafter a near 40 year absence and thechance to watch the world's No 1 atthe time pit his wits against thesecond oldest links in Englandattracted more than 220,000spectators and created a real stiramong the local community.

The upswing in interest in golfwas a factor that local golfsupporters wanted to capture forthe future to help introduce morepotential players to the sport.

Tiger Woods was the name inevery headline as he eased his wayto Open glory in 2006, but hisvictory has left a more lastinglegacy for the area.

Once Hoylake's return to theOpen rota was confirmed acommittee of interested parties hadbeen formed to discuss thedevelopment of the sport in thearea and out of that came the newrole of community golf officer aspart of Wirral Council's sportingportfolio. The role was filled byNeil Price, who had started out as ajunior at Arrowe Park andgraduated to being a professional atLeasowe while competing onvarious pro tours. It is a legacy thatcontinues to grow as Price looks tobuild on the success of the initialforays into Wirral primary schoolsto deliver Tri Golf sessions.

To fill the gap that comesbetween Tri Golf and helpingyoungsters develop their skillstowards future club membership,Wirral Council established theClub TG, based on the KingsParade at New Brighton.

The nine-hole pitch and puttcourse is open from Easter toSeptember, six days a week, and

anyone can turn up and pay to play,but for just £10 a year, membershipof Club TG allows free use of thecourse, a regular Saturdaycoaching session and competitions. . . with a free cap thrown in.

The club is aimed at five to 12year-olds and from smallbeginnings is beginning to grow,with 55 children taking part thissummer, more than double its firstyear of operation.

"It is a chance for children, manyof whom are too young to join a golfclub, to learn the skills of the gameand take part in competitions,"explains Price. "We have our ownmini Masters and mini Claret Jug

competition, for example. It meansthe youngsters also have an interestin the Majors when they are played.

"The first couple of years in myrole concentrated on going into theclassrooms and introducingchildren to golf, but they hadnowhere really to go from there.Club GT encourages them to carryon and gives them an outlet beforepossibly going on to join a clubwhen they are older.

"The emphasis is on a relaxedatmosphere – we had a family funday in the summer which attractedmore than 300 people and we haveevents like a parent and childcompetition – but it helps prepare

the youngsters for taking theirinterest further if they wish.

"We are working with the clubson Wirral to help break down thebarriers to making the sport asaccessible as possible."

Plans for the future includetaking golf out more into the localcommunity, with backing from theHSBC Plus fund helping create

links with the Wirral YouthService. Price has use of a portableinflatable net, which can be set upanywhere from a shopping centreto a youth club.

"It can be difficult to engageolder children because teenagerswant to be hitting real balls withproper clubs, but the inflatable netis a chance for them to do that,"explains Price.

As part of the work going on tomake golf open to all comers, Pricehas also run a number of golfdisability sessions with the pitchand putt course providing an idealstarting ground.

Given his own background in thesport, Price is also hoping to buildup the junior offering at themunicipal courses as well.

Wirral offers pay and play atArrowe Park, Warren,Brackenwood and Hoylake, withPrice adding: "We already feed ouryoungsters into the Warren whenthey are ready to move onto abigger course and that is an areawe are keen to develop."

The imminent arrival of theworld's best women golfers willonce again put golf in the spotlight.

A group from Club TG will bevisiting Hoylake during thetournament, which will be at thecentre of a host of Get into golfactivities, and Price is hoping therenewed awareness of the sport willhelp boost participation figures.Club GT offers free taster sessionsto groups like scouts, brownies andguides and local youth groups.

"Parents are looking forsomething for their children to doto get them some healthy exerciseoutdoors and not everyone is intofootball," he says. "Golf is a greatsport that can be enjoyed on anumber of levels and offers both anactive hobby and socialenvironment."

Anyone interested in Club TGcan contact Price on 077699 13894 oremail [email protected]

by RICHARD WILLIAMSON

GOLF GUIDE: A group of Wirral brownies enjoy their day out at ClubTG, organised by Neil Price, pictured in action at the 1999 OpenChampionship at Carnoustie



WindowontheworldTHE successful return of The OpenChampionship to Royal Liverpoolattracted more than 230,000 visitorsand ended a 39-year wait for thepeninsula to once again play host tothe world’s finest golfers.

And now, eight years on, Wirral isonce again set to take centre stagewhen the Ricoh Women’s BritishOpen rolls into Hoylake for the firsttime in its history.

Wirral’s Council Leader, Cllr PhilDavies, is looking forward towelcoming players and spectatorsfrom around the globe and isconvinced that they will find aborough that is confident in itsability to deliver a first-class sportingevent as well as one excited by itsown future.

Cllr Phil Davies said: “2006 was ahugely significant year for Wirral interms of our ability to deliver on aglobal scale.

“We not only hosted the bestattended Open held in England in away that made a lot of people sit upand take notice but we also beganworking with Peel Holdings on their£4.5bn vision for BirkenheadDocks…Wirral Waters.

“The scale of that particular

project is mind-boggling and it willtake a huge amount of work to bringit to fruition but we are now at apoint where work is being done toprepare the first site, theInternational Trade Centre, forconstruction.

“For me to attend Royal Liverpoolthis month and be able to talkconfidently and positively about ourregeneration and development plansis incredibly exciting.

“We’ve been over to China andIndia in recent months to assist withnegotiations and the marketing ofWirral Waters but you cannotunderestimate the impact thathosting a top class sporting event,one that has a huge Asian televisionaudience, at one of the jewels in ourcrown, will make.

“It will raise our profile and putus on the map to potential investorsin a way that we could never

normally afford.”Cllr Davies revealed that the

council is pressing ahead withplans to investigate thefeasibility of a new golf resortfor the area.

“These large-scale events canalso serve as a catalyst forinvestment in the area andwe will be promoting ourvision for aninternational golf resort

while we have many of the world’stop golf writers on our patch,” heexplained. “The improvement in ourtourism offering post 2006 is markedand we believe the development of aworld class golf resort in Hoylake isan idea that should at least beexplored.

“Our businesses are regularlyrecognised at the regional tourismawards and tourism as a sector isworth almost £270m to oureconomy and has grown by 15% overthe past five years.

“It is a major employer andalthough on a smaller scale to themen’s Open, the Ricoh Women’sBritish Open is still expected tobring with it a financial boost ofmore than £5m to Wirral.”

Cllr Davies believes thepartnership between event owners –the Ladies Golf Union – and thepromoters, IMG, is proving to be a

fruitful one.“We are pleased that IMG

and the LGU are bringing thechampionship to Wirral forthe first time,” he added.

“We believe it is anothersign of confidence in us and we

are determined to deliver,yet again, on a globalscale.

“It’s too good anopportunity to miss.”

Council chieftees upchanceto showcaseWirral’s vision

WATERWORKS:Councilleader PhilDavies(below)believes topclasssportingevents helpWirralpromote thevision ofprojects likeWirralWaters (left)

visitwirral.com/winaweekend

Discover Wirralthis weekendWith 50 miles of beautiful rural walks, 22 miles of breathtaking coastline,award-winning accommodation and fantastic places to eat - including ourvery own Michelin star restaurant - discover it all in Wirral this weekend!

(Terms and conditions apply)

For your chance to win an unforgettable stay in Wirral:

SPORT Thursday, September 6, 20126 Thursday, September 6, 2012 SPORT 7HHHH HHHH

RichardEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Williamson

Pink Panther on theprowl at Royal Liverpoolwith ahope for the future

by RICHARDWILLIAMSON

CreameraimingtorisetotopinHoylakeshowpieceIN A sport crying out for fashionable

young female role models, PaulaCreamer stands out from the crowd.And not just because of herpropensity for pink.

The young American is one of thebrightest talents in the world ofwomen's professional golf.

She already has one major under herbelt – winning the US Women's Opentwo years ago despite being in recoveryfrom a thumb injury – and that makesher one of the leading candidates for theBritish version as it unfolds at RoyalLiverpool next week.

Creamer is still only 25, but has madea big impression on the sport from apersonal point of view, running up 11tournament victories so far and a highon the world rankings of second.

But, equally, she is fully aware of theimpact she can make in inspiring a newgeneration of girl golfers.

She is actively involved in the FirstTee charity – which aims to helpchildren by teaching them values likeintegrity, respect and perseverancethrough playing golf – while insistingthat it is a game that can be every bit asappealing to young women.

“Of course golf can be cool and fun,”she says while sitting in a club roomthat bears witness to more than 100years of history at Royal Liverpool. Thewalls are adorned with pictures of clubcaptains, all resplendent in their redjackets that come with their year inoffice, dating back to the 1800s.

“It is not just a game for the boys.Girls can – and should – play with theirfriends. It can be an incredibly athleticgame – I work out every day – and canteach you things about nutrition, forexample.

“There is also the travelling –wherever you are in the world you willfind a golf course.

“It is not necessarily an easy game,but that is part of the challenge and fun.I am with Adidas and they areproducing clothing that is athletic, butstill feminine, so that it is appealing toyounger players.

“It is not just about creatingprofessional golfers but what you canlearn from playing golf and the life lessonswhich are so important – things likeresponsibility, of having the right attitudeat all times – which can all stay with youthroughout life.

“At First Tee we have nine corevalues for life, nine healthy habits and acode of conduct that applies to golf andlife. ”

However Creamer is aware that thelong, drawn-out nature of the game issomething that might be putting offprospective players.

“I think the pace of play is a big

factor – people just do not have fivehours to play the game,” she said. “AtFirst Tee we have a project called 'Playit forward' which involves moving teeboxes forward andplaying a shorterversion of the game.”

It is a factor thathas been recognisedby the governingbodies in this country,

too, with the England Golf Partnershipannouncing a tie-up with 60 60 Golf – anew test of golfing skill played atdriving ranges in an hour.

There will alsobe a host of ‘getinto golf ’ activitysurrounding theevent to helpprovide pathwaysinto the sport fornew players of allages.

Creamer's ownroute into golf is,in many ways, awell-trodden one.A family member– in her case dadPaul – played thegame and after

inviting her down to play found he hada daughter with a prodigious talent forthe game allied with a fiercecompetitive streak backed up by thenecessary work ethic.

“Dad took me down to the course acouple of times when I was about 10,”she explained. “It was all about dance atthat stage, but I really picked up on thegolf and started to have success with it.

“It reached a point where I had tochoose between golf and being acheerleader.

“I always remember my dad saying tome, you can either cheer for otherpeople or have people cheering for you!

“As a dancer or gymnast I alwaysfound people were judging me on how Iperformed – and I did not really likethat. I am very competitive and in golf itis up to you to take yourself to the next

level or how you play the next shot. Ifthings do not work out at first, it is upto you to work hard and practise.”

Creamer took the opportunity pay afirst visit to the famous Hoylake links,which celebrates its 150th anniversaryin 2019, ahead of the Evian Masters inFrance and was impressed by thecalibre of a venue that returned to themen's Open roster six years ago after anear 40 years absence.

“This is a great test of golf,” sheenthused after a first viewing in whichshe managed to avoid falling victim tothe daunting sand traps, “ a classiclinks course. I love it!

“It is all about putting the ball in theright place and getting the clubselection right. It was narrower than Iwas expecting and the rough is up,which all means you have to keep the

ball extra straight. It is not about beingaggressive, but thinking your wayround. It is strategy golf and that isright up my alley.”

Such is the growing stature of theRicoh Women's British Open – it wasnot even considered one of the majorsback in the 1980s – that the venues nowlargely match those used for the men’sequivalent.

“Ricoh have done a great job puttingthe tournament on at venues like this –it’s where we should be,” said Creamer,who caught the course on the mostbenign of days but knows it will show adifferent face if the wind blows.

“This is a great chance to showcasewomen's golf and there is no reason whywe cannot contend with the course,which has a great set of par 3s.

“It is a fantastic experience to be able

POINTING THEWAY FORWARD:Paula Creamerbelieves young peoplecan learn manylessons for life fromplaying golf

Ross’sroyalappointmentforBritishdayIN 15 years working onthe Women’s BritishOpen Ross Hallett hasovercome a variety ofobstacles andchallenges to stagingone of the world’s topevents.

But the idea ofembracing the patrioticfervour sweeping thecountry on the back ofthe Olympics in theQueen’s DiamondJubilee year threw upone or two moreunusual items on his‘to do’ list.

As tournamentdirector, Ross isresponsible forensuring the event runssmoothly – both for theworld’s best players andthe spectators lookingto enjoy their day at thegolf.

The championship ismaking its first ventureto Royal Liverpool andwill feature a specialBest of British day onthe third day(Saturday), which leftRoss searching for abrass band, a Queenlookalike and a Beatlestribute band to add tothe unique occasion.

Players will bedecked out in white, redand blue andorganisers are hopingthe spectators get in theswing by wearing thesame colours.

“The Ricoh Women’sBritish Open is a lotmore accessible forspectators,” he says,“and there is theopportunity to getcloser to the action in amore relaxedatmosphere withoutneeding to watch theplayers through crowdsfive or six deep.

“The activities

planned for Best ofBritish day will make ita fun occasion with alot of the focus onfamilies.

“As well as thetraditional golf fan, weare hoping that Best ofBritish day will appealto people who may nothave an immediateinterest in golf but whoare looking for a greatday out and a newexperience.

“The tournament is agreat chance for allthose who attend to getto know some of theworld’s best playerswho are rarely seen inthis country andadmire the fantasticway they play the game.

“They might not behitting the ball over 300yards, but they are verystraight, very skilful anda lot of club golfers willbe able to relate to whatthey are watching.”

Hallett is delightedthat courses of thestature of RoyalLiverpool are nowhosting thetournament.

“It is only right thebest women golfers areplaying on the bestcourses,” he adds.

“The enthusiasm andexpertise shown by theclub and local authorityon Wirral has beengreat for the event.

“There has been areal feelgood factor inthe local communityand we are hoping toattract around 70,000spectators to whatpromises to be a veryexciting contest.”

Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake . 13 -16 September 2012 . www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake . 13 -16 September 2012 . www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

to play at places like here, St Andrewsand Carnoustie. It can only helpwomen's golf get even stronger.”

On her penchant for pink – she neverplays without some element of thecolour on her outfit, while she has evenused a pink ball – Creamer explained: “Ihave always loved the colour pink and agood friend of mine, Casey Wittenburg,asked whether I was trying to be thePink Panther and the nickname stuck.

“I was not setting out to createsomething, but then it is great to beplaying in an event and see a wave ofpink among the spectators supportingme. It is a very humbling experience.

“If in turn that has the effect ofencouraging just one boy or girl to givegolf a go then that is great.”

It means Creamer is an easilyidentifiable presence out on the course –especially when you add in her PinkPanther head covers – but while it alladds to the fun aspect of the sport, sheis deadly serious when it comes tocompeting.

“I have always wanted to win a BritishOpen,” she says. “It shows you can play inany kind of climate and on a differentkind of golf course.

“The Asian golfers will be strong –they work so hard, they put a lot intotheir golf and they start out young athome. They are fast starters and thereare always new players coming through.

“We are outnumbered and I am surethe way players from Asia havedominated the women's game will beseen in the men's game in years tocome.

“But when it comes to winning theRicoh Women's Open, the biggest threatwill probably come from myself. It isimportant I don't get in the way of myown chances of winning.”

SIGNING IN Paula Creamer leaves hermark on the poster promoting the RicohWomen’s British Open at Royal Liverpoolduring a private visit to the course, whenshe took the opportunity to try out thefamous Hoylake links

TV TIMESTHE Ricoh Women’sBritish Open will bescreened by the BBCat the followingtimes:Thursday and Friday:1pm-5.15pm (BBC2)Saturday:2.30pm-5.00pm(BBC1)Sunday: 2pm-5pm(BBC2)

ESPN will followall four days between2pm and 5pm

TOP TEAM: Tournament organiser Ross Hallettwith some of his team at Carnoustie last year,alongside winner Yani Tseng, who will be bidding tocomplete her hat-trick at Hoylake


RichardEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Williamson

Pink Panther on theprowl at Royal Liverpoolwith ahope for the future


CreameraimingtorisetotopinHoylakeshowpieceIN A sport crying out for fashionable

young female role models, PaulaCreamer stands out from the crowd.And not just because of herpropensity for pink.

The young American is one of thebrightest talents in the world ofwomen's professional golf.

She already has one major under herbelt – winning the US Women's Opentwo years ago despite being in recoveryfrom a thumb injury – and that makesher one of the leading candidates for theBritish version as it unfolds at RoyalLiverpool next week.

Creamer is still only 25, but has madea big impression on the sport from apersonal point of view, running up 11tournament victories so far and a highon the world rankings of second.

But, equally, she is fully aware of theimpact she can make in inspiring a newgeneration of girl golfers.

She is actively involved in the FirstTee charity – which aims to helpchildren by teaching them values likeintegrity, respect and perseverancethrough playing golf – while insistingthat it is a game that can be every bit asappealing to young women.

“Of course golf can be cool and fun,”she says while sitting in a club roomthat bears witness to more than 100years of history at Royal Liverpool. Thewalls are adorned with pictures of clubcaptains, all resplendent in their redjackets that come with their year inoffice, dating back to the 1800s.

“It is not just a game for the boys.Girls can – and should – play with theirfriends. It can be an incredibly athleticgame – I work out every day – and canteach you things about nutrition, forexample.

“There is also the travelling –wherever you are in the world you willfind a golf course.

“It is not necessarily an easy game,but that is part of the challenge and fun.I am with Adidas and they areproducing clothing that is athletic, butstill feminine, so that it is appealing toyounger players.

“It is not just about creatingprofessional golfers but what you canlearn from playing golf and the life lessonswhich are so important – things likeresponsibility, of having the right attitudeat all times – which can all stay with youthroughout life.

“At First Tee we have nine corevalues for life, nine healthy habits and acode of conduct that applies to golf andlife. ”

However Creamer is aware that thelong, drawn-out nature of the game issomething that might be putting offprospective players.

“I think the pace of play is a big

factor – people just do not have fivehours to play the game,” she said. “AtFirst Tee we have a project called 'Playit forward' which involves moving teeboxes forward andplaying a shorterversion of the game.”

It is a factor thathas been recognisedby the governingbodies in this country,

too, with the England Golf Partnershipannouncing a tie-up with 60 60 Golf – anew test of golfing skill played atdriving ranges in an hour.

There will alsobe a host of ‘getinto golf ’ activitysurrounding theevent to helpprovide pathwaysinto the sport fornew players of allages.

Creamer's ownroute into golf is,in many ways, awell-trodden one.A family member– in her case dadPaul – played thegame and after

inviting her down to play found he hada daughter with a prodigious talent forthe game allied with a fiercecompetitive streak backed up by thenecessary work ethic.

“Dad took me down to the course acouple of times when I was about 10,”she explained. “It was all about dance atthat stage, but I really picked up on thegolf and started to have success with it.

“It reached a point where I had tochoose between golf and being acheerleader.

“I always remember my dad saying tome, you can either cheer for otherpeople or have people cheering for you!

“As a dancer or gymnast I alwaysfound people were judging me on how Iperformed – and I did not really likethat. I am very competitive and in golf itis up to you to take yourself to the next

level or how you play the next shot. Ifthings do not work out at first, it is upto you to work hard and practise.”

Creamer took the opportunity pay afirst visit to the famous Hoylake links,which celebrates its 150th anniversaryin 2019, ahead of the Evian Masters inFrance and was impressed by thecalibre of a venue that returned to themen's Open roster six years ago after anear 40 years absence.

“This is a great test of golf,” sheenthused after a first viewing in whichshe managed to avoid falling victim tothe daunting sand traps, “ a classiclinks course. I love it!

“It is all about putting the ball in theright place and getting the clubselection right. It was narrower than Iwas expecting and the rough is up,which all means you have to keep the

ball extra straight. It is not about beingaggressive, but thinking your wayround. It is strategy golf and that isright up my alley.”

Such is the growing stature of theRicoh Women's British Open – it wasnot even considered one of the majorsback in the 1980s – that the venues nowlargely match those used for the men’sequivalent.

“Ricoh have done a great job puttingthe tournament on at venues like this –it’s where we should be,” said Creamer,who caught the course on the mostbenign of days but knows it will show adifferent face if the wind blows.

“This is a great chance to showcasewomen's golf and there is no reason whywe cannot contend with the course,which has a great set of par 3s.

“It is a fantastic experience to be able

POINTING THEWAY FORWARD:Paula Creamerbelieves young peoplecan learn manylessons for life fromplaying golf

Ross’sroyalappointmentforBritishdayIN 15 years working onthe Women’s BritishOpen Ross Hallett hasovercome a variety ofobstacles andchallenges to stagingone of the world’s topevents.

But the idea ofembracing the patrioticfervour sweeping thecountry on the back ofthe Olympics in theQueen’s DiamondJubilee year threw upone or two moreunusual items on his‘to do’ list.

As tournamentdirector, Ross isresponsible forensuring the event runssmoothly – both for theworld’s best players andthe spectators lookingto enjoy their day at thegolf.

The championship ismaking its first ventureto Royal Liverpool andwill feature a specialBest of British day onthe third day(Saturday), which leftRoss searching for abrass band, a Queenlookalike and a Beatlestribute band to add tothe unique occasion.

Players will bedecked out in white, redand blue andorganisers are hopingthe spectators get in theswing by wearing thesame colours.

“The Ricoh Women’sBritish Open is a lotmore accessible forspectators,” he says,“and there is theopportunity to getcloser to the action in amore relaxedatmosphere withoutneeding to watch theplayers through crowdsfive or six deep.

“The activities

planned for Best ofBritish day will make ita fun occasion with alot of the focus onfamilies.

“As well as thetraditional golf fan, weare hoping that Best ofBritish day will appealto people who may nothave an immediateinterest in golf but whoare looking for a greatday out and a newexperience.

“The tournament is agreat chance for allthose who attend to getto know some of theworld’s best playerswho are rarely seen inthis country andadmire the fantasticway they play the game.

“They might not behitting the ball over 300yards, but they are verystraight, very skilful anda lot of club golfers willbe able to relate to whatthey are watching.”

Hallett is delightedthat courses of thestature of RoyalLiverpool are nowhosting thetournament.

“It is only right thebest women golfers areplaying on the bestcourses,” he adds.

“The enthusiasm andexpertise shown by theclub and local authorityon Wirral has beengreat for the event.

“There has been areal feelgood factor inthe local communityand we are hoping toattract around 70,000spectators to whatpromises to be a veryexciting contest.”


to play at places like here, St Andrewsand Carnoustie. It can only helpwomen's golf get even stronger.”

On her penchant for pink – she neverplays without some element of thecolour on her outfit, while she has evenused a pink ball – Creamer explained: “Ihave always loved the colour pink and agood friend of mine, Casey Wittenburg,asked whether I was trying to be thePink Panther and the nickname stuck.

“I was not setting out to createsomething, but then it is great to beplaying in an event and see a wave ofpink among the spectators supportingme. It is a very humbling experience.

“If in turn that has the effect ofencouraging just one boy or girl to givegolf a go then that is great.”

It means Creamer is an easilyidentifiable presence out on the course –especially when you add in her PinkPanther head covers – but while it alladds to the fun aspect of the sport, sheis deadly serious when it comes tocompeting.

“I have always wanted to win a BritishOpen,” she says. “It shows you can play inany kind of climate and on a differentkind of golf course.

“The Asian golfers will be strong –they work so hard, they put a lot intotheir golf and they start out young athome. They are fast starters and thereare always new players coming through.

“We are outnumbered and I am surethe way players from Asia havedominated the women's game will beseen in the men's game in years tocome.

“But when it comes to winning theRicoh Women's Open, the biggest threatwill probably come from myself. It isimportant I don't get in the way of myown chances of winning.”

SIGNING IN Paula Creamer leaves hermark on the poster promoting the RicohWomen’s British Open at Royal Liverpoolduring a private visit to the course, whenshe took the opportunity to try out thefamous Hoylake links

TV TIMESTHE Ricoh Women’sBritish Open will bescreened by the BBCat the followingtimes:Thursday and Friday:1pm-5.15pm (BBC2)Saturday:2.30pm-5.00pm(BBC1)Sunday: 2pm-5pm(BBC2)

ESPN will followall four days between2pm and 5pm

TOP TEAM: Tournament organiser Ross Hallettwith some of his team at Carnoustie last year,alongside winner Yani Tseng, who will be bidding tocomplete her hat-trick at Hoylake


Optio LS465着せ替えシト案

西洋模様西洋模様西洋模様

ヨーロッパ地図日本の折り紙模様

ヘアーライン

イギリス国旗

革イメージイギリス国旗

ギャルの携帯電話のデコレーションぽいものヘアーラインゴールドイメージ


Advertising FeatureRicoh cameras

GetsnappyandfocusoncapturingauniqueshotSHOOT on the go with theRicoh CX6 Digital Camera, astylish, easy-to-use compactcamera that captures theworld as you see it.

The CX6 boasts a backilluminated 10MP CMOSimage sensor combined withan advanced smooth ImagingEngine IV to ensure poorly-litindoor or night scenes arerendered in pure,unblemished quality.

The wide-angle 28-300mmlens allows you to capture allsubjects, from close up 1cmMacro, to landscapes at 28mmwide and stunning wildlife atmaximum 300mm zoom.

Ultra-high speed AF at 0.1soperates, even duringcontinuous shooting, to makesure your subject is always infocus.

Shooting modes includeAperture priority, Shutterpriority, Dynamic rangedouble shot, Bleach bypass,Soft focus, Cross process, Toycamera, Miniaturise and Highcontrast B&W.

There are also 13 differentscene modes to makeprofessional levelphotography as easy asselecting a mode.

Other features of the RicohCX6 include 720p HD movierecording, high-continuousshooting of up to 5fps and athree inch LCD screen.

Ricoh CX6GET IN THESWING WITHRICOH’S HELPTHE Ricoh CX6 is perfect forany golf fan. With the ‘GolfSwing Continuous Mode’ avidgolfers can analyse their owngolf swing.

This mode allows you torecord 26 consecutive framesin just two seconds, once yourelease the shutter releasebutton. The captured framesare automatically groupedtogether as a set andrecorded as onemulti-picture file.

This year Ricoh will begiving spectators the chanceto have their swingprofessionally analysed byqualified instructors in theRicoh Experience Tent.

Come along to have yourgrip, swingand stanceshown on abig screen bya Ricohprojector.

Whoknows youmay go awaya shot ortwo betteroff!

Astylishwaytoputyourself intheframeatHoylake

THE Optio LS465 not onlyoffers a host of advanced,user-friendly featuresassuring the simple,effortless capture ofbeautiful, high-qualityimages, but also comes ina low profile body that isboth compact and stylish;one you can carry alongon every occasion.

The Optio LS465 ismuch smaller and lighterthan conventionalstandard-class models,despite its outstandingbasic specifications thatinclude high-resolutionimages assured by 16effective megapixels, anoptical 5X zoom lens with

a 28mm wide-anglecoverage, and apushbutton start of HDmovie recording.

Its unique low profilebody is just 46.5mm inheight, so the user cancarry it even ina small pocketor the sparecorner of a bag,as if carrying afashionableaccessory.

By attachinga dress-upsheet to thecamera’s frontpanel, the usercan easily change its lookto match a particularfashion, mood oroccasion.

By combiningoutstanding portability

and stylishness with ahost of imaging tools, theOptio LS465 makeshigh-quality digitalphotography fun andeffortless for all types ofsubjects and scenes.

The Optio LS465 alsooffers a choice of bodycolours: Sapphire black,Ruby pink and Amethystpurple.

And at the RicohWomen’s British Open

you can get yourexclusivecommemorative cover.

Thanks to aneasy-to-removetransparent acrylic panelplaced on the camera

front, the usercan easily andquickly changethe Optio LS465’sappearance.

What betterway to celebrateThe RicohWomen’s BritishOpen than tooffer spectatorsthe chance to

purchase an exclusiveChampionship cover.With 12 different coverdesigns to choose fromthere is something to suitany golfing style.

Pentax OptioLS465

IN THESWING:Spectators canhave their golfgrip, swing andstance shownon a big screenby a Ricohprojector inthe RicohExperienceTent.



Keyholes thatwill decide thebattle ofworld’sbest players

10 TOP NAMES TO FOLLOW


WheretheOpen willbewonandlost

WHEN theworld’s bestwomen golfersgather alongthe edge of the

River Dee to pit their witsagainst one of golf ’s oldestchallenges, it will be with oneeye on the weather.

For Hoylake – which isplaying host to the RicohWomen’s British Open for thefirst time in its long anddistinguished history – offersup a classic links test.

Only a few of the holesactually duck and dive throughthe dunes – the majority of thecourse is wide open to theravages of any winds that whipacross the Wirral peninsula.

The combination of abeguiling series of holes whichcan alter character in Jekylland Hyde mould promptedlegendary golf writer BernardDarwin's to declare: "Hoylake,blown upon by mighty winds,breeder of mighty champions."

Wind is Hoylake’s greatestnatural defence – although theplayers will find plenty ofbunkers that can wreck around and a putting challengethat will require a keen eye anda sure touch.

There are plenty of whiteposts indicating ‘Out ofBounds’, too, with ten holesposing a threat to the wayward.

The wind went missing inthe summer of 2006 when thecourse returned to the Openroster for the first time in 40years, but a Tiger Woods at theheight of his playing powersoffered the utmost respect bykeeping his driver under wrapsfor the Championship andplotting his way to amemorable victory.

This summer’srain-drenched summer isunlikely to produce a repeat ofsix years ago when the groundwas baked dry and the roughstruggled to survive.

Hoylake’s roots go back to1869 when it was established onthe site of the racecourse of theLiverpool Hunt Club and is thesecond oldest of all the Englishseaside courses, pipped by afew years by Royal NorthDevon.

Robert Chambers andGeorge Morris laid out theoriginal course, which wasextended to 18 holes in 1871, theyear it received its Royal titledue to the patronage of HRHThe Duke of Connaught.

For the Open – as when themen visited – the order theholes are played in will beshuffled from the usual dailyroutine to offer up the potentialfor a dramatic finish.

The existing first hole playsas the third, with competitorsstarting out at what is todaythe 17th and the 18th. It meansthe championship will come toa crescendo on what is now the16th – a par five which offersup the chance to a big swing infortunes.

Club secretary David Cromiehas no doubts about what willbe the biggest challenge for theplayers.

“The wind, if it blows,” hesays, “but the rough is alsoquite penal.”

There will be an adjustment

to the yardage of the course –with the ladies taking on 6,600yards, rather than the usual6,000 a visiting female playerwould be asked to navigate.The men’s championshipcourse reached 7,350 yards.

One of the features of thecourse is the collection of par3s, with David Cromieexplaining: “The par 3s arestrong and unique as they allpoint in different directions ofthe compass, which means theyall offer different challengesparticularly in the wind!

“The players will also find 83bunkers and all can only beescaped with a sand iron – thefairway bunkers are likely toresult in the loss of a shot!

“As a links, it never plays thesame two days in row.

“But Royal Liverpool is acourse that rewards accurategolf – and severely punishesthe wayward.”

So where will thechampionship crown be wonand lost. David Cromie offersup the following key holeswhich any player with titleaspirations must negotiatesafely to keep their dreamintact.

1st: 392 yards, par 4Difficult Par 4 hole that has beenconsiderably lengthened andreshaped.

A very difficult opening teeshot with tight bunkering, youcan lay back to leave a longersecond into a funky green thatis unusually undulating at thefront. Into the prevailing wind

the second can play as long asa 3 Wood. Happy to walk offwith a par.

6th: 157 yards, par 3A stunning golf hole. A smallgreen runs across you from thetee and the wind tends to beinto and off the right.

The left traps are very deep,making a left pin positionvery difficult. Think four-ironinto the middle of the greenand four easy two-putt pars.

8th: 382 yards, par 4Not everyone’s favourite holebecause of the blind tee shotover the orchard.

A driver brings the gorseinto play, so it's probably athree-wood with an five-ironin. You can take a lot if you're

not smart, but otherwise abirdie opportunity.

12th: 397 yards,par 4

It's a long way back to thenew tee box and is avery toughdrive.

It's a six orfive-iron in andif the wind isoff the left youare fighting itall the way.Possibly thetoughest holeon the course.

You ought toget a gold medalfor par on all fourdays and would bewell on the way to

TEST: RoyalLiverpoolsecretaryDavidCromiesays howthe players

cope withthe elementswill be a crucialfactor

HILBRE: A dramatic view of the 412 yards par 4, ‘Hilbre’ hole that will play as the 14th when the world’s best women golfers visit Hoylake Picture by DAVID CANNON/GETTY IMAGES APPROACH: The shot into the 11th hole at Hoylake

GUARDIANS: The bunkers that guard the opening hole as it will face the players

Stacy LewisWinner of her first Major

last year at the KraftNabisco Championship, twowins this time round havelifted the 27 year-oldAmerican to second in theworld rankings. She was11th at Carnoustie last year.

Suzann PettersenWinner of the LPGA

Championship in 2007, shehas two top tens out ofthree in this year’s majors.The 31 year-old Norwegianis sixth in the worldrankings.

Yani TsengThe 23 year-old from

Taiwan burst onto scene bywinning 2008 LPGAChampionship. World No 1is bidding for a hat-trick ofRicoh Women’s BritishOpen wins.

Carly BoothTwo tournament wins this

season have put the 20year-old Scot at the top ofthe Ladies European Tourrankings. Turned pro at ageof 17 after prolific amateurcareer.

Na Yeon ChoiSouth Korean broke her

LPGA duck in 2009 atSamsung WorldChampionship. The 24year-old secured her firstmajor this year with afour-shot victory in the USWomen’s Open.

Paula CreamerFamous for playing in

pink, the ‘Pink Panther’won 2010 US Open by fourstrokes at Oakmontdespite thumb injury toclaim first major title.Eleven tournament wins.

Inbee ParkThe 2008 US Women’s

Open winner from Koreatops the LPGA rankingsafter winning the EvianMasters, which is tobecome the fifth women’smajor.

Caroline MassonLed the Ricoh Women’s

British Open going into thefinal round last year beforefalling back to fifth. TheGerman won her maidenLET title in South Africa.

Catriona MatthewThe last home player to

win the British Women’sOpen title, the 43 year-oldScot triumphed at RoyalLytham. The mum of twowon this year’s Ladies IrishOpen and has four LPGAwins to her credit.

Michelle WieHas combined university

studies at Stanford withgolf, but still looking for firstmajor after turning pro atthe age of 16. Good trackrecord on British soil withthree top 20 finishes.


the Championship.


The fairway cambers infrom the left and is

typical of a verytough drivingcourse. Hit itdown the right

side short of the traps with adriver or three-wooddepending on the wind.

Favour a miss short rightwith the second shot, becauseanything left is just hassle.Play the run from 11 through14 in level par and you couldwin.

17th: 457 yards, par 4Did I say the 12th? Now the 17thlooks like the most difficulthole on the course. It's verynarrow, usually into the wind,you must hit the fairway andeven then only half the job isdone. It's still anything from afour-iron to a three wood into anarrow, slopey green. If youmake par on all four days youwill make up two shots or moreon the field.


A great finishing hole.The Out of Bounds on the

right is in play and it issuch a fiery fairway that theball can take one hop and begone.

It's narrower than it feelsfrom the tee and if a playerdecides to play safe to theleft it leaves too long a shotinto the green.

But hit the fairway and it'san eagle chance with a fouror five-iron.

Down wind for the longerhitters, it offers a greatclimax in front of theclubhouse.

Three strokes could changehands here and there is everychance of high drama.


Keyholes thatwill decide thebattle ofworld’sbest players

10 TOP NAMES TO FOLLOW


WheretheOpen willbewonandlost

WHEN theworld’s bestwomen golfersgather alongthe edge of the

River Dee to pit their witsagainst one of golf ’s oldestchallenges, it will be with oneeye on the weather.

For Hoylake – which isplaying host to the RicohWomen’s British Open for thefirst time in its long anddistinguished history – offersup a classic links test.

Only a few of the holesactually duck and dive throughthe dunes – the majority of thecourse is wide open to theravages of any winds that whipacross the Wirral peninsula.

The combination of abeguiling series of holes whichcan alter character in Jekylland Hyde mould promptedlegendary golf writer BernardDarwin's to declare: "Hoylake,blown upon by mighty winds,breeder of mighty champions."

Wind is Hoylake’s greatestnatural defence – although theplayers will find plenty ofbunkers that can wreck around and a putting challengethat will require a keen eye anda sure touch.

There are plenty of whiteposts indicating ‘Out ofBounds’, too, with ten holesposing a threat to the wayward.

The wind went missing inthe summer of 2006 when thecourse returned to the Openroster for the first time in 40years, but a Tiger Woods at theheight of his playing powersoffered the utmost respect bykeeping his driver under wrapsfor the Championship andplotting his way to amemorable victory.

This summer’srain-drenched summer isunlikely to produce a repeat ofsix years ago when the groundwas baked dry and the roughstruggled to survive.

Hoylake’s roots go back to1869 when it was established onthe site of the racecourse of theLiverpool Hunt Club and is thesecond oldest of all the Englishseaside courses, pipped by afew years by Royal NorthDevon.

Robert Chambers andGeorge Morris laid out theoriginal course, which wasextended to 18 holes in 1871, theyear it received its Royal titledue to the patronage of HRHThe Duke of Connaught.

For the Open – as when themen visited – the order theholes are played in will beshuffled from the usual dailyroutine to offer up the potentialfor a dramatic finish.

The existing first hole playsas the third, with competitorsstarting out at what is todaythe 17th and the 18th. It meansthe championship will come toa crescendo on what is now the16th – a par five which offersup the chance to a big swing infortunes.

Club secretary David Cromiehas no doubts about what willbe the biggest challenge for theplayers.

“The wind, if it blows,” hesays, “but the rough is alsoquite penal.”

There will be an adjustment

to the yardage of the course –with the ladies taking on 6,600yards, rather than the usual6,000 a visiting female playerwould be asked to navigate.The men’s championshipcourse reached 7,350 yards.

One of the features of thecourse is the collection of par3s, with David Cromieexplaining: “The par 3s arestrong and unique as they allpoint in different directions ofthe compass, which means theyall offer different challengesparticularly in the wind!

“The players will also find 83bunkers and all can only beescaped with a sand iron – thefairway bunkers are likely toresult in the loss of a shot!

“As a links, it never plays thesame two days in row.

“But Royal Liverpool is acourse that rewards accurategolf – and severely punishesthe wayward.”

So where will thechampionship crown be wonand lost. David Cromie offersup the following key holeswhich any player with titleaspirations must negotiatesafely to keep their dreamintact.

1st: 392 yards, par 4Difficult Par 4 hole that has beenconsiderably lengthened andreshaped.

A very difficult opening teeshot with tight bunkering, youcan lay back to leave a longersecond into a funky green thatis unusually undulating at thefront. Into the prevailing wind

the second can play as long asa 3 Wood. Happy to walk offwith a par.

6th: 157 yards, par 3A stunning golf hole. A smallgreen runs across you from thetee and the wind tends to beinto and off the right.

The left traps are very deep,making a left pin positionvery difficult. Think four-ironinto the middle of the greenand four easy two-putt pars.

8th: 382 yards, par 4Not everyone’s favourite holebecause of the blind tee shotover the orchard.

A driver brings the gorseinto play, so it's probably athree-wood with an five-ironin. You can take a lot if you're

not smart, but otherwise abirdie opportunity.


It's a long way back to thenew tee box and is avery toughdrive.

It's a six orfive-iron in andif the wind isoff the left youare fighting itall the way.Possibly thetoughest holeon the course.

You ought toget a gold medalfor par on all fourdays and would bewell on the way to

TEST: RoyalLiverpoolsecretaryDavidCromiesays howthe players

cope withthe elementswill be a crucialfactor

HILBRE: A dramatic view of the 412 yards par 4, ‘Hilbre’ hole that will play as the 14th when the world’s best women golfers visit Hoylake Picture by DAVID CANNON/GETTY IMAGES APPROACH: The shot into the 11th hole at Hoylake

GUARDIANS: The bunkers that guard the opening hole as it will face the players

Stacy LewisWinner of her first Major

last year at the KraftNabisco Championship, twowins this time round havelifted the 27 year-oldAmerican to second in theworld rankings. She was11th at Carnoustie last year.

Suzann PettersenWinner of the LPGA

Championship in 2007, shehas two top tens out ofthree in this year’s majors.The 31 year-old Norwegianis sixth in the worldrankings.

Yani TsengThe 23 year-old from

Taiwan burst onto scene bywinning 2008 LPGAChampionship. World No 1is bidding for a hat-trick ofRicoh Women’s BritishOpen wins.

Carly BoothTwo tournament wins this

season have put the 20year-old Scot at the top ofthe Ladies European Tourrankings. Turned pro at ageof 17 after prolific amateurcareer.

Na Yeon ChoiSouth Korean broke her

LPGA duck in 2009 atSamsung WorldChampionship. The 24year-old secured her firstmajor this year with afour-shot victory in the USWomen’s Open.

Paula CreamerFamous for playing in

pink, the ‘Pink Panther’won 2010 US Open by fourstrokes at Oakmontdespite thumb injury toclaim first major title.Eleven tournament wins.

Inbee ParkThe 2008 US Women’s

Open winner from Koreatops the LPGA rankingsafter winning the EvianMasters, which is tobecome the fifth women’smajor.

Caroline MassonLed the Ricoh Women’s

British Open going into thefinal round last year beforefalling back to fifth. TheGerman won her maidenLET title in South Africa.

Catriona MatthewThe last home player to

win the British Women’sOpen title, the 43 year-oldScot triumphed at RoyalLytham. The mum of twowon this year’s Ladies IrishOpen and has four LPGAwins to her credit.

Michelle WieHas combined university

studies at Stanford withgolf, but still looking for firstmajor after turning pro atthe age of 16. Good trackrecord on British soil withthree top 20 finishes.


the Championship.


The fairway cambers infrom the left and is

typical of a verytough drivingcourse. Hit itdown the right

side short of the traps with adriver or three-wooddepending on the wind.

Favour a miss short rightwith the second shot, becauseanything left is just hassle.Play the run from 11 through14 in level par and you couldwin.

17th: 457 yards, par 4Did I say the 12th? Now the 17thlooks like the most difficulthole on the course. It's verynarrow, usually into the wind,you must hit the fairway andeven then only half the job isdone. It's still anything from afour-iron to a three wood into anarrow, slopey green. If youmake par on all four days youwill make up two shots or moreon the field.


A great finishing hole.The Out of Bounds on the

right is in play and it issuch a fiery fairway that theball can take one hop and begone.

It's narrower than it feelsfrom the tee and if a playerdecides to play safe to theleft it leaves too long a shotinto the green.

But hit the fairway and it'san eagle chance with a fouror five-iron.

Down wind for the longerhitters, it offers a greatclimax in front of theclubhouse.

Three strokes could changehands here and there is everychance of high drama.


Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake13 - 16 September 2012

Ticket Hotline: 0871 945 9421www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

Be part of history, tradition and excellenceat Hoylake this summer

Documents

RICOH Womens British Open 2012