World Number One Inbee Park and World Number 12 Catriona Matthew, who finished first and second respectively at the Wegmans LPGA Championship on Sunday, will headline the 2013 Ricoh Women’s British Open at St Andrews, Scotland, from 1st to 4th August.

This year’s Championship offers no end of intrigue as Park aims for a career grand slam having already won the 2013 Kraft Nabisco Championship, Wegmans LPGA Championship and the 2008 US Open. Meanwhile home favourite and 2009 Champion, Catriona Matthew, will arrive at the 2013 Ricoh Women’s British Open in top form, looking to claim her second Major title.

Park has now spent nine weeks at the top of the Rolex Rankings and at 24 years old, has won seven LPGA titles including three Majors and already has four wins under her belt this season. She is the first player since Annika Sorenstam in 2005 to win the first two Majors of the year and arrives at St Andrews with a chance to make history.

Park explained, “After I won the Kraft I thought about how much I would like to achieve a career grand slam. I wasn’t thinking about achieving it this year as I know I have time on my hands. I have had the best possible start to my year and all I can do from here is try my best and see what happens.”

Park added, “I loved playing in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at St Andrews in 2007. It was amazing to play the most famous course in the world in such an important tournament so I can’t wait to return. I remember I felt really comfortable playing the Old Course and finished just outside the top ten. I have had a lot more experience playing links golf since then so I am very excited to see what happens in August.”

Matthew, who remarkably won the 2009 Ricoh Women’s Open only 11 weeks after the birth of her second child, is hitting top form at just the right time. She commented, “Having come so close last weekend, I am now looking forward to St Andrews more than ever as I know my game is in good shape. As a proud Scot there is no place I would rather win than at the Old Course playing in front of my home fans and I will be doing everything I can to ensure I am ready for the week.”

Last year the Championship was hosted at Royal Liverpool Golf Club for the first time and, with the field including 27 nationalities and 20 Major Champions boasting 41 Major Championships between them, South Korea’s Jiyai Shin won her second Ricoh Women’s British Open title. Her first victory came at Sunningdale in 2008.

The return to St Andrews has been much anticipated by players and spectators alike and defending Champion, Jiyai Shin has already confirmed she will be in Scotland, looking to claim her third Championship. In 2007 the Ricoh Women’s British Open made history as the first ladies professional tournament to be played on the Old Course and was won by crowd favourite and then World No.1, Lorena Ochoa.

Shona Malcolm, the LGU’s CEO said, “It was fantastic to see Catriona’s performance in America at the weekend and Scottish fans will be willing her on to go one better at St Andrews. Inbee Park achievements this year have been awe-inspiring and we are delighted to welcome these two great champions to our field.”

This year fans will again be able to watch the BBC’s extensive live coverage of the Ricoh Women’s British Open in HD (high definition) on all fours days of the Championship, underlining the significance of the event in the BBC’s sports portfolio.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.

Ricoh, the leading technology provider of Managed Document Services and Production Printing, has been the title sponsor of the Ricoh Women’s British Open since 2007.

Located just six miles away from the Championship venue and in one of the most famous corners of the golfing world, Kingbarns Golf Links offers the perfect stage for up-to 70 players to go head-to-head for the last remaining spots in one of the most coveted Championships in the world.

Kingsbarns Golf Links is famous for being one of the ultimate risk and reward links courses in the world and is renowned for its unspoilt and picturesque view of the Fife coastline and North Sea. It was designed by Kyle Phillips and Mark Parsinen and despite only opening in 2000; it is amongst the top 100 courses in the world. In 2009, Golf Magazine ranked it number one in their list of Europe’s 50 greatest courses created in the last 50 years.

In comparison to its neighbouring layouts, Kingsbarns Golf Links is a young course but with features such as the rippling fairways, undulating greens and subtle humps and hollows, it is sure to an exciting test of golf and an experience that players and fans alike can be sure to enjoy as some of the world’s best women golfers prepare to do battle over a one round shootout.

2013 may be the first time that the famous course has hosted Final Qualifying for the Ricoh Women’s British Open but Kingbarns has a history of hosting prestigious events, having held the Dunhill Links Championship for the last 13 years in a row. In that time, a number of European Tour stars have walked the fairways alongside the regular stellar celebrity contingent that participate in the Pro-Am.

Notable comments on the famous links course include British actor, Hugh Grant, who said, “For the middle-aged golf addict like myself, this is like dying and going to golfing heaven.”

Other celebrities such as Hollywood Film star, Andy Garcia, have also commented on the layout, “The Kingsbarns Course reminds me a lot of some of the golf courses on the California coastline. There’s one on the Monterrey Peninsula, and Pebble Beach too. I love playing links courses and Kingsbarns is a beautiful design.”

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.

To find out more about Kingsbarns Golf Links please click the following link - http://www.kingsbarns.com/

In 2007 the Ricoh Women’s British Open made history as the first ladies professional tournament to be played on the Old Course and was won by crowd favourite and then World No.1, Lorena Ochoa. The return to St Andrews has been much anticipated by players and spectators alike and Reid enjoyed her sneak preview of the famous Old Course.

She explained, “I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to get an early feel for the course and I am really excited about playing here in August. I came here as an amateur in 2007 and finished T16th so I have amazing memories of competing here and they all came flooding back today. The Ricoh Women’s British Open is always played on fantastic courses but there is no doubt that all the players are thrilled to be returning to St Andrews this year. You can’t help but feel inspired by history of the course and the very unique atmosphere around St Andrews.”

Last year the Championship was hosted at Royal Liverpool Golf Club for the first time and, with the field including 27 nationalities and 20 Major Champions boasting 41 Major Championships between them, South Korea’s Jiyai Shin won her second Ricoh Women’s British Open title. Her first victory came at Sunningdale in 2008.

The Defending Champion earlier explained, “I loved visiting St Andrews in 2007 but at the time I wasn’t very experienced in playing links golf so this time I think I will have a much better chance. Each year I have learnt so much about playing on links courses and, at Hoylake, I managed to put everything into practice to achieve such a special win. I hope I can do the same this year as I think winning a Major on the Old Course might be the very best thing you can experience in golf.”

Shona Malcolm, the LGU’s CEO said, “The 2007 Championship was an unprecedented success and we have all been looking forward to the second edition to be held here at the Old Course. We have many of Britain’s best courses on our Championship rotation and we are delighted to once again be so warmly welcomed by the St Andrews Links Trust for what I believe will be another wonderful Championship.”

Guy Kinnings, Global Managing Director, IMG Golf, added, ‘The Ricoh Women’s British Open is one of the highlights of the global golf schedule. IMG are delighted and proud to be part of the Championship and with our partners the LGU and Ricoh and the sanctioning Tours the LPGA and Ladies European Tour. This will mark the seventh year of Ricoh’s title sponsorship and we are very grateful for their wholehearted support and commitment to growing this great Championship year on year.”

Simon Sasaki, Corporate Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Ricoh Company, Ltd. explained, “We begun our relationship with the Ricoh Women’s British Open here at St Andrews in 2007 and, having announced last year that we are extending our sponsorship to at least 2016, it is wonderful to return to the Home of Golf to celebrate this wonderful relationship.”

Mr Sasaki added, “Together with the LGU, IMG, the LPGA and Ladies European Tour we look forward to this year’s Championship and the years ahead as we aim to further develop and enhance this great tournament in-keeping with our corporate tagline, imagine. change.”

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland added, “Scotland is the home of golf and we are delighted to welcome back the Ricoh Women’s British Open to St Andrews this year. This is the second hosting of the tournament as part of our 10 year agreement to bring the world’s top women golfers to Scotland every other year, and it is one of seven leading golf events taking place in Scotland in 2013. The championship at Carnoustie in 2011 was a huge success and I am sure we will build on that and previous editions at the Old Course in August.”

The Championship Committee also today announced two significant new partners at the 2013 Championship. Edinburgh Audi, part of the Lomond Group, are confirmed as the Official Car for the Championship and will provide vehicles for the Championship Courtesy Car service. Established in 1998 the Lomond Group are now one of Europe’s largest Audi dealers, with showrooms in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Ayr. The Lomond Group employs over 350 highly experienced and dedicated staff who sell around 8,000 cars every year.

They are joined by Swinging Skirts, a private Taiwanese organization made up of both men and women amateur golfers. Its members are avid golfers and very good friends who wear skirts or kilts when they play. Their aim is to bring a fun atmosphere to the tradition that is golf. Their sponsorship of the Ricoh Women’s British Open complements their title sponsorship of the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters, launched in 2011 the tournament has become an official leg of both the Taiwan Ladies Professional Golf Association and the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Tour.

This year fans will again be able to watch the BBC’s extensive live coverage of the Ricoh Women’s British Open in HD (high definition) on all fours days of the Championship, underlining the significance of the event in the BBC’s sports portfolio.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.

Ricoh, the leading technology provider of Managed Document Services and Production Printing, has been the title sponsor of the Ricoh Women’s British Open since 2007.

Don’t miss out on your last chance to take advantage of a pre booking discount offer of 15% off all ticket admission fees bought before 31 July. Don’t forget that children under 16 get in for free when accompanied by an adult.

To get your tickets call the TICKET HOTLINE on 0844 581 4974 or click here

Ticket Prices (including 15% discount)

Adult daily – £21.25
Concession daily* – £17
Adult Season – £52.70
Concession Season* – £42.50
Champagne Special for 2 – £59.50

* Concession rate applies to students or customers aged 60 and over, under 16?s get in free when accompanied by an adult, car parking is free.

Champagne Special for 2 – special offer #1

Why not add a touch of sparkle to your day and indulge in the Champagne Special for 2, which includes 2 Adult daily tickets plus a bottle of Champagne. This package costs £59.50 in total, but when making your booking, please make sure you select Special Offer #1 and buy your tickets in multiples of 2.

Group Bookings
For a 25% discount on group bookings for over 20 people call this number 0800 358 0058

Hospitality Bookings
Add a little indulgence to your day with our exclusive hospitality packages. Stylish and elegant, the Champions Club is the perfect place to relax and enjoy fine food and drink at the heart of the action whilst enjoying spectacular views overlooking the world-famous Road Hole – without a doubt, one of the finest views of golf in the world.

The championship is one of the golfing highlights of the sporting calendar and, in its 38th year, all involved in the event are excited to be back at one of the most prestigious venues on the planet. In total, The Old Course at St. Andrews has hosted a record 28 Open Championships.

The first time that the event was held there in 2007, Lorena Ochoa, arguably the best Mexican golfer in history and world number one at the time, triumphed by 4 strokes from Jee Young Lee and Maria Hjorth with a total winning score of 5 under par.

Since that day, a considerable amount changed on the course – the notorious greenside bunker on the 17th hole will be widened by 20 inches and the front contour of the green has been reshaped to ensure the sand gathers more approach shots. In total, up to 9 holes will include changes and, for the first time since 1949, new bunkers will be introduced on the right side of the third fairway and on the left side of the ninth fairway, 20 yards short of the green.

The field competing for the title may also look very different to the day that Ochoa cruised to victory, as a number of new contenders have made a name for themselves in the World of Golf.

Yani Tseng, is vying for her third Ricoh Women’s British Open title, despite only teeing it up at five Ricoh Women’s British Opens previously. Her hope of replicating Ochoa’s performance will be lifted by the fact that she has recently achieved the feat of being world #1 for 100 consecutive weeks – a feat only previously achieved by Ochoa.

Last year’s runaway winner, Jiyai Shin, will also looking to add a third title to her collection, having been victorious in 2008, narrowly beating Tseng in her first appearance, and having won in such emphatic style last year at Royal Liverpool.

Catriona Matthew, along with Carly Booth, will be hoping to put in a good performance for Scotland on home soil, with Mathew having fond memories of her championship victory in 2009, there is every chance the trophy could stay in Scotland.

Remember you can follow all of the action from the championship on the official Ricoh Women’s British Open Twitter and Facebook pages.

Kingsbarns Golf Links has been selected to host the Final Qualifying for the 2013 Ricoh Women’s British Open on Monday, 29th July 2013, ahead of the Championship proper which will be played for the second time over the Old Course, St Andrews, 1st – 4th August.

Kingsbarns Golf Links is ranked amongst the top 100 courses in the world and, located just seven miles from the Old Course, provides the perfect stage for the curtain raiser to the 2013 Championship where the world’s best women will seek to show their links skills in the most famous corner of the golfing world.

Alan Hogg, Chief Executive of Kingsbarns Golf Links explained, “We are delighted that the LGU and IMG have selected us to host Final Qualifying for one of the world’s leading professional tournaments. Not only are we excited to play such an important part in the 2013 Ricoh Women’s British Open we are delighted to be supporting the Ladies Golf Union and women’s golf. We hope this will showcase the magnificent facilities we have here at Kingsbarns and very much hope it is an association that we can develop in the coming years as we look to build our Championship portfolio.”

Shona Malcolm, Ladies’ Golf Union’s CEO, added, “The Championship Committee is very happy to be adding Kingsbarns Golf Links to the rotation of prestigious clubs who host Final Qualifying for the Ricoh Women’s British Open Championship. We know Kingsbarns will be a popular choice among the players and spectators and we very much look forward to seeing which players will conquer the challenges offered by this magnificent links course and claim the qualifying places available.”

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.

The fourth of five majors in the LPGA’s 2013 season, the RICOH Women’s British Open is slated for August 1-4, and will serve as the cutoff for players to earn Solheim Cup points. U.S. Captain Meg Mallon and European Captain Liselotte Neumann will be on-hand in Scotland to announce their captain’s picks at the conclusion of the 72-hole tournament once the points are finalised.

St. Andrews will be a fitting location for the finalization of both 12-member teams that will converge on Colorado Golf Club Aug. 13-18 for the 13th staging of the Solheim Cup. St. Andrews has a rich British Open Championship history and was the site of LPGA Tour and World Golf Hall of Famer Lorena Ochoa’s first major triumph in 2007.

“It’s one of my favourite places to play on the planet,” Mallon said of St. Andrews. “Seeing the tournament finish there and having the teams finalized there will be very special. It’s going to be an intense hour or so around the finish of the tournament.”

Neumann is equally thrilled to have such a prestigious site to announce her European team. “It is great and very fitting that I will announce the European Solheim Cup Team at St. Andrews, the Home of Golf, after the completion of the Ricoh Women’s British Open,” Neumann said.

Players earn points for top-20 finishes at official LPGA Tour events, and only U.S.-born players are eligible for the U.S. team. U.S. players began earning points for the 2013 Solheim Cup at the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open, and all players will earn 1.5 times the points in 2013, with points doubled at majors.

The top eight players in the U.S. Solheim Cup standings will automatically qualify for the team, two more will qualify based on their position in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, and Mallon will select the final two team members. On the European side, points have been available since the 2011 Lacoste Ladies Open de France. Four players will qualify through the European Solheim Cup points, four more through their Rolex ranking and the final four will be captain’s picks.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open is one of the golfing highlights of the sporting calendar. In its 38th year, this year’s Championship is the second time it has been staged at the most famous course in the world and the “Home of Golf” the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. The Old Course has been host to a record 28 Open Championships and is a fitting stage on which to perform for the world’s leading players over what will be 4 memorable days from the 1st – 4th of August, 2013.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the Ladies’ Golf Union in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.

Ricoh, global technology and document services expert, signed an agreement during last year’s Championship which confirmed that it will continue as title sponsor of the Ricoh Women’s British Open until at least the 2016 Championship, and the ten year anniversary from its first participation in 2007. Ricoh will also continue to support the tournament organisers with its document services, which it ensures are carbon neutral through its Sustainability Optimisation programme. The announcement confirms the importance and strength of the Championship and the relationship between the primary stakeholders Ricoh, the Ladies Golf Union and IMG.

It was a performance which produced the biggest margin of victory since the Ricoh Women’s British Open became a major back in 2001 and it extended Asian golf’s current domination of the women’s professional game.

Shin’s victory means that for the first time in history Asians have won all four of the women’s Majors in a single calendar year with South Korea’s Sun Young Yoo winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship, China’s Shanshan Feng claiming the LPGA Championship and South Korea’s Na Yeon Choi beating the field at the US Women’s Open earlier this year.

The South Korean’s performance extends Asia’s winning sequence in the women’s Majors to seven with Taiwan’s Yani Tseng (LPGA Championship and Ricoh Women’s British Open) and So Yeon Ryu (US Women’s Open) emerging victorious in the last three majors in 2011.

It also means that Asians have now won four out of the five last Ricoh Women’s British Opens with Shin’s own victory at Sunningdale in 2008 being followed by consecutive victories by Tseng at Royal Birkdale in 2010 and Carnoustie in 2011.

Shin arrived on Merseyside fresh from a play-off win at last week’s Kingsmill Championship in Virginia and she maintained that sort of sparkling form with rounds of 71, 64, 71 and 73 for a nine under par total of 279 and a nine shot victory over compatriot Inbee Park.

Park closed with a 76 to finish a single shot ahead of Paula Creamer who started  the last round in 10th place but battled through the pack with a magnificent level par 72. That left the American in third place on 289 with Japan’s Mika Miyazato on 290 after a 77 and Australia’s Karrie Webb and South Korean So Yeon Ryu in fifth place on 291.

Americans, Stacey Lewis and Katie Futcher, finished tied eighth on 294 while 2009 Ricoh British Women’s Open champion, Catriona Matthew, showed characteristic grit by finishing with a 75 to squeeze into a share of tenth place with Korea’s In Kyung Kim and Chella Choi.

Shin started the final day with a five shot lead over compatriot Park but was just three shots ahead of 37 year-old Webb after the Australian fired a fine four under par 68 in a third round which had been put back until Sunday morning because  violent winds caused play to be abandoned two days earlier.

Three-time champion, Webb, looked the most serious threat to the Asian hegemony but she was to drop four shots on the first three holes of her final round and went on to card an 82 to lose the chance to add to her previous Ricoh Women’s British Open victories at Woburn in 1995, Sunningdale in 1997 and Turnberry in 2002.

Shin also dropped back with a calamitous triple bogey seven on the 392-yard par-4 first but quickly adapted to the treacherous conditions. She regained her momentum with birdies on the 157-yard par-3 6th and the 383-yard par-4 7th and was four ahead of Webb when she reached in the turn in two over par 37 after a bogey on the 382-yard par-4 8th.

Strong wind, coupled with torrential rain, resulted in a brief suspension in play after Shin carded a par down the long 493-yard par-5 10th. She dropped a shot on the subsequent hole but then produced battling birdies on the 13th, 15th and 16th before carding a bogey on her penultimate hole which left her nine shots in front and just two shots away for equalling Ayako Okamoto’s record for the biggest win in the Championship’s history set at Woburn in 1984.

“I can’t put into words how happy I feel to win the title for a second time,” said Shin after collecting a winner’s cheque for £266,143.

“My first win in 2008 changed my life. This week, this win, I think it will change it too.  I said at the start of the week I wanted to play every round in one under par so to get to nine under in this weather on a course as tough as this is incredible. Now I know I can get a good score on any course, I’m pretty sure of that”

“I can’t tell you why so many Asian players are winning majors at the moment,” she added. “Maybe it’s down to hard work. Maybe it’s luck, or a bit of both.”

The Smyth Salver awarded to the leading amateur went to New Zealand’s Lydia Ko who put together rounds of 72, 71, 76 and78 for a nine over par total of 297 and a two stroke victory over England’s Holly Clyburn.

Ko arrived at Hoylake having won this year’s US Women’s Amateur and then followed that up by becoming the youngest ever winner on the LPGA Tour by winning the CN Canadian Open at the age of 15 years, four months and two days.

The Korean-born Ko started the final round tied with Clyburn on three over par 219 but was all-but guaranteed a prize won in the past by the likes of Michelle Wie (2005), Amy Yang (2006), Melissa Reid (2007), Anna Nordqvist (2008), Caroline Hedwall (2010) and Danielle Kang (2011) when Clyburn struggled to the turn in 44. The English Curtis Cup player fought back by carding a one under par 36 over the second nine but could not do quite enough to repair the damage.

“I have got the award for the leading amateur and that’s what I wanted after I made the cut,” said Ko. “This is my first experience of the British Open. I didn’t play as well as I wanted but I have won the amateur prize so it wasn’t a bad day.

“It was playing really tough out there,” she added. “This is one of the hardest courses I have ever played and there were times when the weather made it almost impossible to play.”

Four out of the ten amateurs in this year’s field made the cut which was reduced to the top-50 and ties due to the inclement weather. Bronte Law closed with a 77 to finish one shot behind Clyburn on 300 while China’s Jing Yan finished on 304 after a 78.

The 2008 champion started the day a single shot behind compatriots, Haeji Kang and So Yeon Ryu, but stormed to the turn in six under par 31 and then came home in two under par 33 to leave the rest of the strong international field trailing in her wake.

The diminutive Shin goes into the tomorrow morning’s penultimate round on nine under par 135 and with a five shot lead over her compatriot Inbee Park who returned a four under par 68 to claim outright second place on 140.

Japan’s Mika Miyazako and Australia’s Karrie Webb both carded two under par rounds of 70 to share third place on three under par 141 while America’s Katie Futcher is alone in fifth place on 142 after a second successive 71.

The leading amateur in the field is World No. 1, Lydia Ko.  A couple of weeks ago the 15 year-old from New Zealand won the CN Canadian Open to become the youngest player ever to win an official LPGA Tour title and she added a one under par 71 to her opening 72 to claim a share of sixth place with Japan’s Ai Miyazato, Sweden’s Carin Koch, South Korea’s Jenny Shin and America’s Vicky Hurst on one under par 143.

Shin won last week’s Kingsmill tournament on the LPGA Tour and she may well complete a rare double after a superb round in which hit all 18 greens in regulation and missed just one fairway from the tee.

The South Korean started with an eagle three on the 493-yard par-5 10th where she holed a pitch from 30 yards. She also birdied the 382-yard par-4 11th, the 397-yard par-4 12th and the 151-yard par-3 13th before moving further ahead of her rivals with a four on the 519-yard par-5 16th where she laid up in three and then got up-and-down from 60 yards.

The wind start to rise as Ko entered her second nine of the day but that did not stop her firing seven pars and two further birdies on the 358-yard par-4 4th and the 383-yard par-4 7th to go into the last round with a great chance to claim her second Ricoh Women’s British Open title.

“That might well be the best round I have ever played,” said the 24 year-old who lost her mother in a car accident when she was only 16 and missed a couple of months of this season after an operation to solve a wrist problem.

“I hit a nine under par round when I won (last week) at Kingsmill but this is a really tough course so this round might have been even better.

“Today I was bogey-free and bunker free. I hit all 18 greens and missed just one fairway. This week my goal was to score one under par every day so to hit eight under is very special.

“I love coming back over here. The win here in 2008 changed my life and I have got lots of fans in England. Today there were a lot of people out there and they kept cheering me on.

“It has been a fantastic day and I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” she added. I have got a five shot lead but on this course you never know what’s going to happen. There are a lot of great players out here. I’m just going to keep focussed on myself.”

Inbee Park will start the final day as Shin’s nearest rival. She played the opening 36-holes in the same group as the leader and will accompany here over the last 36 holes after rounds of 72 and 68.

Park began her second round with a birdie on the 10th and added another on the 457-yard par-4 17th before carding an eagle-3 on the 18th. She went on to play the remaining nine holes in level par 35 after a birdie on the 392-yard 1st and her only bogey of the day on the treacherous 405-yard par-4 3rd.

“I’ve been playing the back nine well all week,” said the 24 year-old from Seoul. “I’m going to need lots of patience tomorrow but I’m looking forward to it.

“It’s a really great golf course. You can feel the history of the golf course. It’s great.”

Ko was one of four amateurs who made the cut and will now be battling it out over the last 36-holes to claim the Smyth Salver awarded to the leading amateur who completes all 18 holes. Ko is currently on one under par 143 and two shots ahead of English Curtis Cup player, Holly Clyburn, who eagled the last for a 73 and a total of 145. Clyburn’s Curtis Cup colleague, Bronte Law, posted a 71 to sit one shot further back while China’s  Jing Yang moved up to a share of 42nd place on 149 after a fine three under par 69.

Amateur, Charley Hull, opened with a one under par 71 but fell away with an eight over par 80 which saw her miss out on 151. A total of 57 players made the cut on 149 or better. Among the others to fail to make the last 36 holes were Sophie Gustafson (150), Suzann Pettersen (151), Anna Nordqvist (152), Caroline Hedwall (153), Carly Booth (154), Brittany Lincicome (155) and Karen Stupples (157). Laura Davies withdrew mid-way through her second round suffering from an Achilles injury.

•    Round Two will be played on Saturday to completion and a cut will be made in accordance with the amended condition published below. The cut will be reduced from 65 plus ties to 50 plus ties, including amateurs.

•    Rounds 3 & 4 will be played on Sunday, with no redraw after Round 3. A two tee start will be utilised.

•    Prize money will be paid as normal to those players who make the cut. In addition, official prize money will be paid to those who would have normally made the cut under the original conditions of play.

REFERENCES

REGULATION (F) OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONDITIONS
The Championship Committee reserves the right to amend the Championship Conditions and the decision of the Championship Committee shall, in all matters, be final.

AMENDMENT TO CONDITIONS OF PLAY
Original Condition 8(c)
One round of 18 holes shall be played on each of the first two days for which one draw shall be made. The players returning the 65 lowest scores and anyone tying for 65th place over the first 36 holes shall qualify for the final 36 holes over the last two days. For the final 36 holes, the pairings and starting times shall be determined in accordance with the qualifying scores, players with the lowest scores starting last.

Amended Condition 8(c)
One round of 18 holes shall be played on each of the first two days for which one draw shall be made. The players returning the 50 lowest scores and anyone tying for 50th place over the first 36 holes shall qualify for the final 36 holes over the last day. For the third round the pairings and starting times shall be determined in accordance with the qualifying scores with players with the lowest scores starting last. For the final round the pairings and starting times will be based upon the order of the third round draw (ie there will be no redraw in score order). A two tee start will be utilised for both the third and final rounds.