St Andrews set to welcome top women

History in her sights: Inbee Park is set to continue her grand slam quest this week over the Old Course

Ladies descend upon Old Course as Park continues her history bid

The world’s best female golfers are en route to St Andrews to play in this week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open.

Taking place over the Old Course for just the second time in the event’s history, the tournament is the fourth of the five ladies’ majors and this year’s championship is shaping up to be extra significant as world No.1 Inbee Park continues her quest to complete the grand slam.

South Korean Park, 25, has already won the Kraft Nabisco Championship, LPGA Championship and US Women’s Open this year. If she can win at St Andrews this week, the only thing that will stand between her and a unique piece of golf history, will be September’s Evian Championship in France, which has been given major status by the LPGA beginning this year.

Never mind five majors, no woman ever completed a four-major grand slam, although Babe Zaharias won all three majors contested in 1950 and Sandra Haynie won both majors in 1974.

Looking ahead to the latest stage of her history-making bid, Park said: “I’m really looking forward to going to St Andrews and playing for the fourth major win. Not many people, not many golfers get that kind of opportunity, winning three majors and going for a calendar grand slam in a British Open and such a great golf course and such an historical golf course.

“I think I’m just very lucky to have that kind of opportunity. I think I should be very appreciative where I’m positioned.

“I didn’t really think about doing a calendar grand slam in my career in golf ever. It’s something that I never dreamed of and achieving to the point where I thought it was impossible but I’ve put myself in a very close position to achieve that goal.”

Park, who was runner-up to compatriot Jiyai Shin at Hoylake last year, will have to outscore the world’s top female players if she is to continue her grand slam bid. The likes of Yani Tseng, Suzann Petterssen and Stacy Lewis will all be looking to stop her in her tracks, as will the 2009 champion, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew.

For more information or to buy tickets, log-on to www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com