Royal Birkdale to host 2014 Women's British Open


Royal Birkdale Golf Club will host its sixth Women's British Open when the championship is staged there in 2014, continuing a strong association with the event that goes back to 1982 when Marta Figueras-Dotti took home the title.

The championship returned in 1986 when England's Laura Davies triumphed. Sophie Gustafson won in 2000 and, five years later, Korea's Jeong Jang claimed her first professional victory by defeating Gustafson and another Korean, Young Kim, by four shots at 16-under par 272. In 2010, Yani Tseng, now No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings, came out on top.

The club has a rich heritage in hosting important tournaments. In addition to five Women's British Opens, it has also held Ryder Cups in 1965 and 1969 and nine Open championships, the last won by Padraig Harrington in 2008.

Tseng recently added the Wegmans LPGA Championship to her haul of four major titles. At the age of 22 years, five months and three days, she is the youngest player ever -male or female - since Young Tom Morris in 1872 to amass four majors.

Tseng expressed delight when learning that the Women's British Open would be returning to Royal Birkdale. "Of course, I am a little biased but I think Royal Birkdale is an unbelievable course and I feel so proud to have won there," she said. "It has hosted so many great championships and I look forward to returning there in 2014 where I hope I will win again."

Michael Hadden, Captain of Royal Birkdale added, "We are very much looking forward to the return of the Ricoh Women's British Open in 2014. The positive feedback from our members and the spectators after last year's championship was universal and we look forward to welcoming the world's best women back in 2014 to show us how it is done."

For more information, visit www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com.