Excitement builds for Ricoh Women’s British Open
Ricoh Women’s British Open is just round the corner and players everywhere are eagerly awaiting the chance to playing the event.
Why is the event so popular among the women golfers everywhere?
One reason is the prestige attached to the title. It was established in 1976. At that time, it was a minor national event and was mainly contested by the British players. It was considered as a second tier event. At times, it was even difficult to find a
golf course interested in hosting the event.
It all changed in 1993 when it was sanctioned by the LET. This was a turning point in the history of the event. With LET’s sanction, major players started to take interest in the event. Golf courses across the UK opened their doors to the event.
The high point of the Women’s British Open came in 1994 when it received sanctioning by LPGA. This further increased the prestige of the event and the top talent of the women golf was now a regular feature of the tournament.
The event became a major on the LPGA calendar in 2001. Since then, it is considered to be among the top golf tournaments in the world.
The event always features great golf. Unlike many tournaments, many upsets in Women’s British Open usually happen in the later stages of the event. A case in point is the 2011 edition of the event.
When the entry list of the 2011 Ricoh Women’s British Open was announced, it caused a great stir. The list featured top names in women golf and many of them were tagged as hot favourites by various experts.
The field was set for a great game of golf and both, fans and experts, were anxious for the final rankings. The first round ended with a relative newcomer, Meena Lee, taking the lead.
The third place was populated by more popular names, like Sophie Gustafson and Caroline Masson. It was clear that the rankings will change in the coming rounds, as the top players were making their moves towards the top positions.
The second round sort of settled the rankings with Caroline Masson leading the tournament. She was followed by top Asian talent, such as Inbee Park and Se Ri Pak. World’s number one Yani Tseng was way down in the 7th position.
Many observers were now sure that Caroline Masson from Germany will win the event. She appeared to be the top player and was playing a great game. Some even named her as the winner, even at this early stage.
The third round proved many of them right. Masson consolidated her lead and led the round. However, she appeared to be in trouble, as there was great turmoil in the lower ranks.
Many of the top players moved up the rankings and posed a serious threat to Caroline Masson. At this point, Yani Tseng was in the second place.
The final round was where it all happened. The round saw the top players playing great golf while the top rated players fell down. To this day, Caroline Masson is unable to explain what happened in that round. She finished the tournament in the fifth place.
This history will surely repeat itself this year. Many top players have announced their availability for the tournament. This year’s Women’s British Open will provide excellent entertainment for fans all over the globe.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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