Strong field to test Ariya’s ingenuity in British Open
New world No.1 Ariya Jutanugarn will face a tough test at the Women’s British Open this week.
The 22-year-old Thai regained the top ranking on Monday after winning the Ladies Scottish Open on Sunday.
The Women’s British Open, which tees off tomorrow, features 19 of the top 20 players in the world rankings.
No.5 Lexi Thompson is the only player in the top 20 absent from the field in the year’s fourth major at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The highest-ranked American withdrew from the championship last week to rest and recharge after what Thompson described as a difficult year and a half, which has “taken a tremendous toll” both mentally and emotionally.
Ariya headlines the field as the new topranked player after climbing from No.3 to No.1 replacing South Korea’s Park In-Bee.
Ariya won the Women’s British Open at Woburn in 2016 to become the first Thai, male or female, from her country to win one of golf’s major championships.
She added a second major to her resume in May at the US Women’s Open.
Since joining the LPGA Tour in 2015, the Thai has won 10 titles including three this year.
Also in the field this week is No.3 Park Sung-Hyun of South Korea who won the 2018 Women’s PGA Championship for her second major title.
She defeated No.4 and compatriot Ryo So-Yeon, who is also in the field in England this week.
Rounding out the top 10 in the field are No.6 Feng Shanshan of China, No.7 Kim In-Kyung from South Korea, No.8 Minjee Lee of Australia, No.9 Jessica Korda of the US and No.10 Choi Hye-Jin.
Other Thais in the field include Ariya’s sister Moriya, who won the LA Open this year, and Thidapa Suwannapura, who earned a ticket to the Open after winning the Marathon Classic.
Meanwhile, Park In-Bee returns to action this week. She has not competed on the tour since missing the cut at the Women’s PGA Championship in June.