MICHELLE WIE ENTERS THE
2009 RICOH WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN

Michelle Wie is the latest star to confirm her entry into the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, July 30-August 2.
Michelle, who has been combining golf with her studies at Stanford University for the past couple of years, secured her 2009 LPGA card at qualifying school and is looking forward to playing her first full year on the LPGA Tour.
Michelle explained the benefits she is enjoying as a full LPGA Tour member, “I think the fact that I know that I can play more than six tournaments a year allows me to build on my progress each week and work towards getting my first LPGA Tour win. I feel like this season represents a ‘fresh start’ for me and I’m able to work towards the goals I set for myself. Obviously winning the Ricoh Women’s British Open would be a huge accomplishment and it is certainly something I want to experience in my career.”
Michelle’s best finish in the Women’s British Open was 3rd place in 2005 when she won the leading amateur medal. She is delighted to be returning to Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club having missed the Championship last year. She explained, “I’m really looking forward to playing in the Ricoh Women’s British Open this summer. I enjoy the challenges that links golf presents and think I’ve have handled it pretty well in the past. I played at Royal Lytham in 2006 and finished tied 26th so I will be looking to use that experience to help me improve on that finish. I’ve really enjoyed all my visits to the UK and I’ve especially enjoyed the experience of playing on world famous links golf courses in front of the knowledgeable British golf fans. Travelling around the world is definitely one of the best things about being a golf professional and I am looking forward to going back to the North West of England.”
Michelle will be joining a star-studded field including defending champion, Jiyai Shin, 2009 Kraft Nabisco Champion, Brittany Lincicome, Natalie Gulbis, Gwladys Nocera, Suzann Pettersen and Paula Creamer. All of the world’s top players are expected to play and the event is given additional importance given that it will be the final qualifying event before the teams are announced for the 2009 Solheim Cup matches.
Shona Malcolm, Ladies’ Golf Union’s CEO, observed; “I am delighted that Michelle Wie will be in the field this year. She has a lot of fans in the UK who have followed her career since her phenomenal 3rd place finish as the leading amateur at Royal Birkdale in 2005. I know there were a lot of disappointed youngsters who hoped to see Michelle play last year and they will be thrilled to hear she will be will be returning to Royal Lytham to compete for this coveted title.”
This year’s Championship will take place at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in the North West of England. Its credentials as a Championship venue are impressive. As well as holding three Women’s British Opens - in 1998, 2003 and 2006 - Royal Lytham has hosted an impressive 10 men’s Open Championships and two Ryder Cups.
With Annika Sorenstam, the winner at Royal Lytham in 2003, recently retired from the Tour and Sherri Steinhauer, the 1998 and 2006 Champion, having played no events in over 6 months, the North West golf fans look set to witness a new winner crowned at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club in August.
Steeped in history and the only Major to take place outside of the USA, the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open is set to be one of the highlights on this year’s golfing calendar. It is the most international of all the Majors with millions tuning into the 2008 Championship coverage as it was televised around the world, including on the BBC in the UK, ABC network television in the USA and on TV Asahi in Japan.
The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the Ladies’ Golf Union in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.
For more information, including the latest news and advance ticket offers, please visit www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com or call our ticket line on +448719459421.
About the Ladies’ Golf Union (“LGU”)
Founded in 1893, the LGU is the encompassing body for ladies’ amateur golf in Great Britain and Ireland. The LGU Executive Council includes representatives of the National Organisations (English Women’s Golf Association Ltd, Irish Ladies’ Golf Union Ltd, Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association Ltd and the Golf Union of Wales Ltd). The primary objective of the LGU is to uphold the rules of the game and to advance and safeguard the interests of ladies’ golf. In particular, the LGU owns the Ricoh Women’s British Open (one of the four Major Tournaments for Professional Women golfers), and has responsibility for running other British Championships and Home International events, and preparing the Great Britain and Ireland teams for representative matches, such as the Curtis Cup and the Vagliano Trophy.
Further information about the Ladies’ Golf Union is available on www.lgu.org