Carr thrilled with American invasion

GOLF:IN WHAT purports to be a tasty appetiser before the real feast, four top-ranked Americans – including current major champion Stacy Lewis, winner of the Kraft Nabisco championship earlier this season – have been confirmed for the Irish Women's Open, supported by Fáilte Ireland, which takes place at Killeen Castle in Dunsany, Co Meath, on August 5th-7th.

By a twist of fate, the Irish Ladies Open has benefited from the failure of the China Open – a $2 million (€1.4m) tournament on the US LPGA Tour which originally occupied the same date – to go ahead at that time, with the result that world number 15 Lewis will be joined by three-time Solheim Cup player Angela Stanford, Christina Kim and the up-and-coming teenager Alexis Thompson in the field.

“It’s the strongest-ever field for an Irish Ladies Open,” opined tournament director Roddy Carr yesterday in confirming a mini-American invasion to the Jack Nicklaus-designed course for the August tournament which carries a prize fund of €400,000, placing it among the top-five events on the year-long schedule in terms of prize money.

One of the primary attractions for Lewis, Stanford and Kim to play in the Irish Open is that it will be played on the same course as the Solheim Cup, the biggest event in the women’s calendar, which takes place at the end of September – and, consequently, many prospective members of the European team for that showdown have also been confirmed for the tournament among them Laura Davies and Melissa Reid who currently occupy the top two places on the European qualifying standings.

Two of Europe’s US LPGA Tour-based players – Sweden’s Maria Hjorth, currently ranked 17th in the world, and Germany’s Sandra Gal, a winner of the recent Kia Classic on the US circuit – will also be in action in Killeen Castle where Swede Sophie Gustafson will defend her title.

Incidentally, Thompson – just 16 years of age – turned professional after last year’s Curtis Cup match in Massachusetts and, despite her late start in garnering US qualifying points, could yet form part of their Solheim Cup team come September.

Thompson, for sure, will get reacquainted with Leona and Lisa Maguire, who were part of the Britain and Ireland team in Boston last year, as the Cavan twins have received invites to play in the Irish Open.

Danielle McVeigh, who was also on last year’s Curtis Cup team, will also play in the tournament, while Rebecca Codd – currently 25th in Europe’s Solheim Cup standings – will lead the home challenge.

The prime date in the calendar – coming immediately after the big-money Evian Masters in Paris and the Women’s British Open – has contributed to a very strong field, with seven of the world’s top 50 in action. “We’re delighted with the strength of the field . . . spectators are in store for a feast of world-class golf,” said Carr.

Adult tickets for the event are priced at €10 (daily) and €25 (three-day season), with children and senior citizens admitted free of charge.