Regardless of the absence of the world primary, Annnika Sorenstam, who confirmed as soon as once more eventually weekaE™s ANZ Girls Masters that she is the category act in women golf, this weekaE™s AAMI Australian WomenaE™s Open will see a match up between 4 of the feminine gameaE™s finest golfers. Karrie Webb, Rachel Teske, Laura Davies and Sophie Gustafson will head the sector, the frustration for the organisers, little doubt, the absence of Sorenstam and the very spectacular runner up final week, Karen Stupples. Stupples was desiring to play the occasion and arrived in Sydney. When she enquired as as to if she had a spot within the professional am nonetheless she was suggested that she was not even within the occasion, having not entered. It was a expensive misunderstanding for each her and the event organisers who may have used the additional benefit of a participant of her functionality within the discipline. The defending champion Mhairi McKay, who was 12th final week in Queensland, is nonetheless, again to defend her title. Additionally within the discipline is the shock 2003 US WomenaE™s Open Champion Hilary Lunke, however her type following that win and final week in Queensland, the place she missed the minimize by two, suggests she is just not fairly prepared for a repeat of that historic win in Oregon. Webb definitely appeared rusty final week at Royal Pines the place, for the primary time in seven years at that occasion, she completed outdoors the highest two. She did have a major break from golf in January nonetheless and is just too good a participant to not bounce again rapidly. We will count on a greater displaying from her this weekend. TeskeaE™s type was additionally patchy final week. She appeared to expire of steam over the again 9 after good begins to each her weekend rounds, however following on from her nice 2003 season the place she gained twice and had her finest yr on the LPGA Tour cash checklist, we are able to count on large issues from the Queenslander this week. She was eighth final week and did play on the ABC Studying Centres Basic the week previous to the ANZ Girls Masters as a heat up, so it might be that with two runs beneath her belt she is able to peak earlier than the others. Teske has not gained an occasion of significance in Australia though she has been second twice and third as soon as on this occasion, albeit on different programs to this weekaE™s venue. She could be able to ship her maiden Australian win it could appear.
Additionally within the class of occasions already performed this season, is Laura Davies who performed the menaE™s European Tour occasion, the ANZ Championship in February, and was then third on the ABC Studying Centres Basic on the Gold Coast and adopted that with an eighth place final week on the ANZ Girls Masters at Royal Pines. She has but to win this title however her chances are high good right here. Including additional curiosity to the occasion would be the look of a number of of Australian golfaE™s rising feminine expertise. Final weekaE™s third positioned, Kylie Pratt, will get one other likelihood to point out that her two consecutive third placings over the past two weeks haven’t been only a flash within the pan. Her final spherical 65 at Royal Pines final week exhibits she has extra recreation than she had proven previous to her latest performances. Katherine Hull and Lindsey Wright, two members of the profitable Espirito Santo workforce in 2002 and stars throughout their collegiate careers at Pepperdine College in California, will line up as will Anne Marie Knight whose fifth place final week confirmed that the potential she confirmed as an beginner will quickly be realised. It wasnaE™t simply her inserting final week however the method of it, which gave an perception into her nice expertise. One other attraction for the event and positively an angle for the promotion of the occasion, has been the invitation by WomenaE™s Golf Australia to transsexual Mianne Bagger. Bagger was raised in Denmark however has spent her previous couple of years in Australia. Born a male, Bagger underwent a intercourse change within the mid 1990aE™s previous to coming to Australia and has competed as a girl since, profitable a number of state titles in Australia. Her participation has had the specified impact with a lot curiosity in her story and her recreation up to now. The Harmony course in SydneyaE™s interior west, has a protracted historical past in Australian golf. Constructed initially in the previous few years of the 19th century, the course underwent main remodelling virtually 100 years later within the mid 1990aE™s. Initially designed by native {golfing} hero, Dan Soutar, the courseaE™s upgrading was carried out by Queensland designer Ross Watson. Since that point the ANZ Tour Championship, gained by Peter Lonard, was performed right here in 2001. The course has a few of the finest placing surfaces within the land with A4 bent having been launched on the time of the remodelling work. This week the greens can be agency and quick heightening the diploma of issue the 6250 yard format will current for the women. Once more the occasion struggles when it comes to prizemoney though this yr has seen an extra improve over final yearaE™s $A500,000. This yr it will likely be $A550,000 with the primary prize of $A82,500. The event begins on Thursday and can be performed over 72 holes.