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| Steinhauer won at Royal Lytham last year |
“I think it’s a big, big deal,” said Annika Sorenstam, who comes to St Andrews with 10 Majors and 84 worldwide titles under her belt and who also won the 1990 St Rule Trophy over the Old Course while still an amateur.
“I think it’s a huge step for women’s golf to play at St Andrews, I mean, the history St Andrews has with the men playing The Open there, I think it’s wonderful.
“It’s an amazing place and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it,” the 2003 champion and former world No. 1 added.
Laura Davies (4 Majors and 66 titles), Julie Inkster (7 and 32), Se Ri Pak (5 and 30), Sherri Steinhauer (2 and 6) and Karrie Webb (7 and 43), are also multiple Major champions who are competing and current World No. 1, Lorena Ochoa from Mexico would love to start emulating them by winning her first Major title at the Home of Golf.
Ochoa is another competitor who understands just what it means for the leading women to compete for the first time on the Old Course.
“It’s a dream come true and it’s going to be the most special week for us,” said the 25-year-old who single-handedly has put the game of golf on the map in her home country.
“We’re just really excited to go. I’m going to have lots of support. My family is coming, and some friends from Mexico are coming, so there will be a lot of people carrying the Mexican flag around. I’m very excited to be here.”
Young American, Paula Creamer, who celebrates her 21st birthday on the final day of the Championship, made a special trip across the Atlantic in May to play some practice rounds and that experience has whetted her appetite for the big occasion.
“I think everybody is very excited to be here,” said the girl nicknamed the Pink Panther due to her penchant for wearing pink clothing and using similar coloured golf balls, “I mean it’s St Andrews. To have the first Women’s British Open there in 2007 is kind of odd, but it had to happen sooner or later.
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