St Andrews hosts first women's pro event

Scotland has experienced a busy run of tournament golf of late with one high-profile event after another staged along the east coast.

It began with Pádraig Harrington's win at Carnoustie and culminates with this week's Ricoh Women's British Open at St Andrews, the first women's professional event to be held at the prestigious course.

The "home of golf" has staged the men's Open Championship on no fewer than 27 occasions but never before has it been used for a women's professional event.

"This is a milestone in the history of women's golf in St Andrews," said Alan McGregor, general manager of St Andrews Links Trust.

Not only that, but the great male bastion that is the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) opened its doors for the first time to allow this week's organisers, the Ladies' Golf Union (LGU), players and officials full use of their famous clubhouse, situated directly behind the first tee.

Granted, there have been a number of ladies' events at St Andrews but those halcyon days were primarily in the first half of the last century.

This week will see the modern-day stars of the women's game strut their stuff as they finally get their chance to test their mettle over the Old Course.

There was a buzz around St Andrews this week as organisers erected sponsorship hoardings, raised television gantries and put the finishing touches to the grandstands while the main protagonists got in some practice under the watchful gaze of spectators.

The very best from the women's game will be on show with the spotlight surely cast on players such as former world number one Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer or the ladies' tour's glamour girl Natalie Gulbis, who won last week's Evian Masters in France.