RICOH Womens British Open 2012

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Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake . 13 - 16 September 2012 . www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

PAULA IN THE PINK

Golfing superstar Creamer on Hoylake, why golf is cool for kids â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and pink! Pages 6/7

LAURA DAVIES on the threat to hopes of home Pa2ge victory

Record breaker heads to Wirral Pa3ge - P 6 l Course guide - Pages 10/11 PLUS l Window on the world - P 5 l Best of British Day

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake . 13 - 16 September 2012 . www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

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FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE by RICHARD WILLIAMSON

THEIR names may not be as well-known as the desperate wannabees of reality TV, but make no mistake – the A-listers of women’s golf are heading to Merseyside. The Ricoh Women’s British Open will attract the vast majority of the world’s best. And while players like Yani Tseng – the world number one – may not be as familiar as men’s rankings leader Rory McIlroy, the dedication, commitment and technical golfing skill required to succeed is just the same. And with crowds of around 70,000 predicted for Hoylake, the tournament offers an ideal opportunity to get a close-up view of the women’s golfing prowess. A new report on the future of the men’s game has pinpointed a growing

Girl power from Asia poses threat to hopes of home joy

influence of players from the Far East, but on the women’s tours they are already a major force. The Rolex rankings are dominated by players from Korea and Japan with Taiwanese player Yani Tseng arriving on Wirral as the defending British champion.

China, too, now has its first major winner in any form of the sport. Shanshan Feng won the Wegmans LPGA Championship at the age of just 22 and has warned that she will be the first of many players from her home country to take golf’s top titles.

She said: “I am really looking forward to playing in

the Ricoh Women’s British Open. Hopefully I will feel a little extra confidence to be announced on the tee as a major winner. “Every year I’ve learnt a little more about playing links golf and my results have improved each time.“ Feng added: “I am very proud to be the first major winner from mainland China, although I think I’m just lucky. There are many good players from China and young players coming through right now. I am the first one to win a major but I’m sure there will be a second, third, and many more.” Naturally the British title is the one all the home players

want to have on their golfing CV, but Britain’s most decorated woman golfer – Laura Davies – is well aware of where the biggest threat will come from. Davies, who won the British Open in 1986 before it was elevated to major status, expects the Asian players to be to the fore despite the field being packed with fellow former winners Catriona Matthew from Scotland and Karen Stupples from England alongside the cream of countries like America,

SPIN OFF: Laura Davies hopes the women’s game will benefit from its time in the TV spotlight

Australia, South Africa and the rest of Europe. “There are so many players coming through from Asia, playing to such a high level,” she says. “They are very hard-working and single-minded and have a disciplined approach to practising and developing their skills. “The young girls in those countries want to become professional golfers. They see players on their own Tours or playing the big events abroad thanks to the TV coverage they receive. “That means in countries like Korea and Japan, the women golfers are very well-known because all the tournaments are on TV. That helps inspire young girls to

want to try the game.” Davies believes a higher profile for women’s golf holds the key to its future development closer to home. “Better prize money on Tour goes hand in hand with more TV coverage,” she says, “and both would encourage more girls to give the sport a try and for the better players to see it as a potential career for the future. Hopefully the TV coverage of the Ricoh Women’s British Open can show girls in this country that golf is a fun sport – and it is not just for the boys.”

But Davies also believes the visit to Royal Liverpool presents a great chance for people to get out of the armchair and enjoy the live action.

“Anyone coming to Hoylake will be able to enjoy a close view of the golfing skills on show,” she says, “and see players playing with a smile on their face.”

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake . 13 - 16 September 2012 . www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

Open’s royal ascent adds crowning glory World’s best tackle links golf as it should be

GOLF SWEEPS UP BENEFITS

by RICHARD WILLIAMSON

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T is highly fitting that in the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the world’s best women players should enjoy a meeting with golfing royalty. The Ricoh Women’s British Open breaks new ground when it gets underway at Royal Liverpool this month. But the fact that the tournament is now contested over some of the sport’s most famous links courses shows how far it has come under the careful stewardship of the Ladies Golf Union. “It is our flagship event,” says LGU chief executive Shona Malcolm, “and we are delighted to bring it to a venue like Royal Liverpool. “The club has always been strong supporters of women’s golf, having staged events like the Curtis Cup and British championships. “We have been running the event since 1976 and have been really pleased to see how it has continued to grow over the years. “Becoming one of the women’s four majors was a huge step forward while the arrival of Ricoh as title sponsors in 2007 has taken it to a new level. Weetabix were fabulous supporters of the event, but Ricoh have wanted to do things a bit differently and the fact that the event is now played on courses like Hoylake shows how it has grown in stature.” The event returns to the home of golf at St Andrews in 2013 before making a quick return to Merseyside, with Royal Birkdale the host course 12 months later. “These are the kind of courses that attract the world’s best players

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE: Lydia Ko is the newest golfing sensation at the age of just 15, while Catriona Matthew (right) will be returning to Royal Liverpool where she played in the Curtis Cup in 1992 and is a former Women’s British Open champion – they relish the chance to play in the homeland of golf and play a different kind of golf on a links course - which is where it should be played!

“Royal Liverpool is a great course, but it is different to some of the others, has its own quirks and if the wind blows it can be quite a different proposition.”

Last year’s Women’s Open tempted all but two of the world’s top 50 ranked players to Carnoustie and this year’s event will continue the trend – with the added

attraction of providing a chance to see the sport’s newest sensation in action. Lydia Ko became the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour when she captured last month’s Canadian Women’s Open. At just 15 years of age, the New Zealand amateur is already ripping through the record books, having won her first professional tournament at the New South Wales Open in January, when she was still only 14. The South Korean-born teenager

HOW YOU CAN SEE THE STARS IN ACTION THE Ricoh Women’s British Open is one of the golfing highlights of the sporting calendar. Celebrating its 37th year, the 2012 championship will see the superstars of women’s golf, including former champion Catriona Matthew, Michelle

Wie, Paula Creamer, Suzann Pettersen, Carly Booth and England’s own Laura Davies in action. The Championship takes place from Thursday, September 13, to Sunday, September 16, and tickets can

be purchased at the gate or online at www.ricohwomens britishopen.com or by phone on 0871 945 9421. Prices are: Daily adult tickets (Thursday – Sunday) £25 Daily concession tickets (senior citizens and students) £20

Season adult tickets £62 Season concession tickets £50 Best of British Day tickets * £65 Under 16’s free (when accompanied by an adult) Free public car parking is available. Groups of 20 or

more will receive a 25% discount. Please email groups@theticket factory.com or call 0800 358 0058 for enquiries. *Includes access to Championship for two people on Saturday and a bottle of Champagne, all for £65.

had qualified for the Ricoh Women’s British Open after winning the US Amateur Championship but is showing no signs of hurrying towards the paid ranks. She already has some experience of links golf along the north west coastline, having played for New Zealand in the Astor Trophy team competition at Fairhaven, near Blackpool, last year. “She is already a top class player,” added Shona, “and joined in the social side of the event with the other girls as well so I am sure a lot of golf fans are looking forward to seeing her play.”

Hopes are high that Royal Liverpool could attract record crowds – with figures of 70-75,000 being touted. “Whenever we visit the north west, whether it be Royal Lytham or Royal Birkdale we get so much support,” added Shona. “Hopefully the feelgood factor from the Olympics will continue and people will want to be involved in another major sporting event. I am sure there will be a real buzz around the place. It would be great to see a home player winning, but it will be the best player over the four days who comes out on top.”

THE clean sweep of team triumphs over the Americans has handed golf a major lift. Shona Malcolm, chief executive of the Ladies Golf Union, believes success in the Curtis Cup – which completed the set – has helped raise the profile of the women’s game. At professional level the men play for the Ryder Cup, the women in the Solheim Cup while the Walker Cup is contested by the best amateur men. The winning Curtis Cup team of the best women amateurs included Royal Birkdale’s Kelly Tidy. “That Curtis Cup win really seemed to capture the imagination – and the fact that it completed a remarkable clean sweep obviously helped,” said Shona. “There is a real feelgood factor around sport in this Olympic year and hopefully that can continue at Hoylake. “The prospect of golf returning to the Olympics in 2016 offers a chance to grow the game globally. In some countries they do not know all about the women’s majors, but they are very aware of an athlete trying to win a gold medal.” For former Women’s British Open champion Catriona Matthew, teeing up at Hoylake will complete a link back to the Curtis Cup. She played in the 1992 team that beat the Americans 10-8 at Royal LIverpool. “I don’t really remember much about Royal Liverpool,” she admitted. “It was 20 years ago now – but Prince Andrew came to watch us on the last day!”

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Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake . 13 - 16 September 2012 . www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

New club is going with a swing to help golf drive by RICHARD WILLIAMSON

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T was a Tiger on the prowl – and not so-called sightings of a lion – that created a real buzz on the Wirral. The return of the Open Championship to Royal Liverpool after a near 40 year absence and the chance to watch the world's No 1 at the time pit his wits against the second oldest links in England attracted more than 220,000 spectators and created a real stir among the local community. The upswing in interest in golf was a factor that local golf supporters wanted to capture for the future to help introduce more potential players to the sport. Tiger Woods was the name in every headline as he eased his way to Open glory in 2006, but his victory has left a more lasting legacy for the area. Once Hoylake's return to the Open rota was confirmed a committee of interested parties had been formed to discuss the development of the sport in the area and out of that came the new role of community golf officer as part of Wirral Council's sporting portfolio. The role was filled by Neil Price, who had started out as a junior at Arrowe Park and graduated to being a professional at Leasowe while competing on various pro tours. It is a legacy that continues to grow as Price looks to build on the success of the initial forays into Wirral primary schools to deliver Tri Golf sessions. To fill the gap that comes between Tri Golf and helping youngsters develop their skills towards future club membership, Wirral Council established the Club TG, based on the Kings Parade at New Brighton. The nine-hole pitch and putt course is open from Easter to September, six days a week, and

GOLF GUIDE: A group of Wirral brownies enjoy their day out at Club TG, organised by Neil Price, pictured in action at the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie anyone can turn up and pay to play, but for just £10 a year, membership of Club TG allows free use of the course, a regular Saturday coaching session and competitions . . . with a free cap thrown in. The club is aimed at five to 12 year-olds and from small beginnings is beginning to grow, with 55 children taking part this summer, more than double its first year of operation. "It is a chance for children, many of whom are too young to join a golf club, to learn the skills of the game and take part in competitions," explains Price. "We have our own mini Masters and mini Claret Jug

competition, for example. It means the youngsters also have an interest in the Majors when they are played. "The first couple of years in my role concentrated on going into the classrooms and introducing children to golf, but they had nowhere really to go from there. Club GT encourages them to carry on and gives them an outlet before possibly going on to join a club when they are older. "The emphasis is on a relaxed atmosphere – we had a family fun day in the summer which attracted more than 300 people and we have events like a parent and child competition – but it helps prepare

the youngsters for taking their interest further if they wish. "We are working with the clubs on Wirral to help break down the barriers to making the sport as accessible as possible." Plans for the future include taking golf out more into the local community, with backing from the HSBC Plus fund helping create

links with the Wirral Youth Service. Price has use of a portable inflatable net, which can be set up anywhere from a shopping centre to a youth club. "It can be difficult to engage older children because teenagers want to be hitting real balls with proper clubs, but the inflatable net is a chance for them to do that," explains Price. As part of the work going on to make golf open to all comers, Price has also run a number of golf disability sessions with the pitch and putt course providing an ideal starting ground. Given his own background in the sport, Price is also hoping to build up the junior offering at the municipal courses as well. Wirral offers pay and play at Arrowe Park, Warren, Brackenwood and Hoylake, with Price adding: "We already feed our youngsters into the Warren when they are ready to move onto a bigger course and that is an area we are keen to develop." The imminent arrival of the world's best women golfers will once again put golf in the spotlight. A group from Club TG will be visiting Hoylake during the tournament, which will be at the centre of a host of Get into golf activities, and Price is hoping the renewed awareness of the sport will help boost participation figures. Club GT offers free taster sessions to groups like scouts, brownies and guides and local youth groups. "Parents are looking for something for their children to do to get them some healthy exercise outdoors and not everyone is into football," he says. "Golf is a great sport that can be enjoyed on a number of levels and offers both an active hobby and social environment." Anyone interested in Club TG can contact Price on 077699 13894 or email neilprice@wirral.gov.uk

HOW TO GET TO HOYLAKE . . . BY RAIL, ROAD AND ON FOOT A COMPREHENSIVE traffic and travel plan has been put in place to help make access to Royal Liverpool as smooth as possible. Following the guide below on how to get to the course should help ease your journey.

ON FOOT If you live within walking distance of the course, follow the signed pedestrian routes to enter the course at Pinfold Lane or the footpath opposite Morpeth Road. There is no access for

spectators via the main entrance on Meols Drive or via Stanley Road.

BY TRAIN Hoylake Station is a five minute walk from the entrance to the course and trains will run direct from Liverpool every 15 minutes, except for evenings and Sunday when they will run every 30 minutes. The journey time is just 25 minutes and trains will run from 6.21am with the last train returning from Hoylake at 11.04pm. More information on

public transport in Merseyside is available by logging on to www.merseytravel.gov.uk or calling Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.

BY BIKE For spectators arriving by cycle, there will be supervised designated cycle parking on the municipal golf course at the parking office near to the practice range facilities.

BY TAXI Private hire taxis will use

a signed drop off and pick up point in The Kings Gap. These taxis must be booked in advance - you will not be able to stop a private hire taxi in the street. Black cabs (hackney carriages) will be available from The Quadrant, Market Street for pick up near the course. Anyone can go to this stand and pick up a taxi without booking.

BY CAR Motorists travelling to the Ricoh Women’s British Open are advised to use the designated ‘AA’ route

signing. All public parking will be FREE and spectators arriving by car are advised to follow routes from the motorway network and local roads to designated parking areas located a short walking distance from the course. The main public car park is located at Station Road in Hoylake serving spectator traffic arriving from both the north and the south between Tuesday, September 11, Friday, September 14, and spectator traffic arriving from the north only over

the weekend of Saturday, September 15, and Sunday, September 16. On the weekend of Saturday /Sunday, September 15/16, Greenbank Road in West Kirby will also operate a FREE public car park for spectator traffic arriving from the south. A designated car park for disabled drivers will be clearly signposted. Spectators requiring disabled passes to the course can apply in advance at www.ricohwomensbritish open.com/disability-policy

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

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Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake . 13 - 16 September 2012 . www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

Window on the world

Council chief tees up chance to showcase Wirral’s vision THE successful return of The Open Championship to Royal Liverpool attracted more than 230,000 visitors and ended a 39-year wait for the peninsula to once again play host to the world’s finest golfers. And now, eight years on, Wirral is once again set to take centre stage when the Ricoh Women’s British Open rolls into Hoylake for the first time in its history.

Wirral’s Council Leader, Cllr Phil Davies, is looking forward to welcoming players and spectators from around the globe and is convinced that they will find a borough that is confident in its ability to deliver a first-class sporting event as well as one excited by its own future.

Cllr Phil Davies said: “2006 was a hugely significant year for Wirral in terms of our ability to deliver on a global scale. “We not only hosted the best attended Open held in England in a way that made a lot of people sit up and take notice but we also began working with Peel Holdings on their £4.5bn vision for Birkenhead Docks…Wirral Waters. “The scale of that particular

WATER WORKS: Council leader Phil Davies (below) believes top class sporting events help Wirral promote the vision of projects like Wirral Waters (left) project is mind-boggling and it will take a huge amount of work to bring it to fruition but we are now at a point where work is being done to prepare the first site, the International Trade Centre, for construction. “For me to attend Royal Liverpool this month and be able to talk confidently and positively about our regeneration and development plans is incredibly exciting.

“We’ve been over to China and India in recent months to assist with negotiations and the marketing of Wirral Waters but you cannot underestimate the impact that hosting a top class sporting event, one that has a huge Asian television audience, at one of the jewels in our crown, will make. “It will raise our profile and put us on the map to potential investors in a way that we could never

normally afford.” Cllr Davies revealed that the council is pressing ahead with plans to investigate the feasibility of a new golf resort for the area. “These large-scale events can also serve as a catalyst for investment in the area and we will be promoting our vision for an international golf resort

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while we have many of the world’s top golf writers on our patch,” he explained. “The improvement in our tourism offering post 2006 is marked and we believe the development of a world class golf resort in Hoylake is an idea that should at least be explored.

“Our businesses are regularly recognised at the regional tourism awards and tourism as a sector is worth almost £270m to our economy and has grown by 15% over the past five years.

“It is a major employer and although on a smaller scale to the men’s Open, the Ricoh Women’s British Open is still expected to bring with it a financial boost of more than £5m to Wirral.” Cllr Davies believes the partnership between event owners – the Ladies Golf Union – and the promoters, IMG, is proving to be a fruitful one. “We are pleased that IMG and the LGU are bringing the championship to Wirral for the first time,” he added. “We believe it is another sign of confidence in us and we are determined to deliver, yet again, on a global scale. “It’s too good an opportunity to miss.”

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

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Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake . 13 - 16 September 2012 . www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

TOP TEAM:

Tournament organiser Ross Hallett with some of his team at Carnoustie last year, alongside winner Yani Tseng, who will be bidding to complete her hat-trick at Hoylake

Ross’s royal appointment for British day IN 15 years working on the Women’s British Open Ross Hallett has overcome a variety of obstacles and challenges to staging one of the world’s top events. But the idea of embracing the patriotic fervour sweeping the country on the back of the Olympics in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year threw up one or two more unusual items on his ‘to do’ list. As tournament director, Ross is responsible for ensuring the event runs smoothly – both for the world’s best players and the spectators looking to enjoy their day at the golf. The championship is making its first venture to Royal Liverpool and will feature a special Best of British day on the third day (Saturday), which left Ross searching for a brass band, a Queen lookalike and a Beatles tribute band to add to the unique occasion. Players will be decked out in white, red and blue and organisers are hoping the spectators get in the swing by wearing the same colours. “The Ricoh Women’s British Open is a lot more accessible for spectators,” he says, “and there is the opportunity to get closer to the action in a more relaxed atmosphere without needing to watch the players through crowds five or six deep. “The activities

by RICHARD WILLIAMSON planned for Best of British day will make it a fun occasion with a lot of the focus on families. “As well as the traditional golf fan, we are hoping that Best of British day will appeal to people who may not have an immediate interest in golf but who are looking for a great day out and a new experience. “The tournament is a great chance for all those who attend to get to know some of the world’s best players who are rarely seen in this country and admire the fantastic way they play the game.

“They might not be hitting the ball over 300 yards, but they are very straight, very skilful and a lot of club golfers will be able to relate to what they are watching.”

Hallett is delighted that courses of the stature of Royal Liverpool are now hosting the tournament. “It is only right the best women golfers are playing on the best courses,” he adds. “The enthusiasm and expertise shown by the club and local authority on Wirral has been great for the event. “There has been a real feelgood factor in the local community and we are hoping to attract around 70,000 spectators to what promises to be a very exciting contest.”

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake . 13 - 16 September 2012 . www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

Creamer aiming to rise to top in Hoylake showpiece I

N A sport crying out for fashionable young female role models, Paula Creamer stands out from the crowd. And not just because of her propensity for pink. The young American is one of the brightest talents in the world of women's professional golf. She already has one major under her belt – winning the US Women's Open two years ago despite being in recovery from a thumb injury – and that makes her one of the leading candidates for the British version as it unfolds at Royal Liverpool next week. Creamer is still only 25, but has made a big impression on the sport from a personal point of view, running up 11 tournament victories so far and a high on the world rankings of second. But, equally, she is fully aware of the impact she can make in inspiring a new generation of girl golfers. She is actively involved in the First Tee charity – which aims to help children by teaching them values like integrity, respect and perseverance through playing golf – while insisting that it is a game that can be every bit as appealing to young women. “Of course golf can be cool and fun,” she says while sitting in a club room that bears witness to more than 100 years of history at Royal Liverpool. The walls are adorned with pictures of club captains, all resplendent in their red jackets that come with their year in office, dating back to the 1800s. “It is not just a game for the boys. Girls can – and should – play with their friends. It can be an incredibly athletic game – I work out every day – and can teach you things about nutrition, for example.

SIGNING IN

Paula Creamer leaves her mark on the poster promoting the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Liverpool during a private visit to the course, when she took the opportunity to try out the famous Hoylake links

TV TIMES

Richard

Williamson EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Pink Panther on the prowl at Royal Liverpool with a hope for the future “There is also the travelling – wherever you are in the world you will find a golf course. “It is not necessarily an easy game, but that is part of the challenge and fun. I am with Adidas and they are producing clothing that is athletic, but still feminine, so that it is appealing to younger players.

“It is not just about creating professional golfers but what you can learn from playing golf and the life lessons which are so important – things like responsibility, of having the right attitude at all times – which can all stay with you throughout life. “At First Tee we have nine core values for life, nine healthy habits and a code of conduct that applies to golf and life. ” However Creamer is aware that the long, drawn-out nature of the game is something that might be putting off prospective players. “I think the pace of play is a big

factor – people just do not have five hours to play the game,” she said. “At First Tee we have a project called 'Play it forward' which involves moving tee boxes forward and playing a shorter version of the game.” It is a factor that has been recognised by the governing bodies in this country,

POINTING THE WAY FORWARD:

Paula Creamer believes young people can learn many lessons for life from playing golf

SPORT 7

too, with the England Golf Partnership announcing a tie-up with 60 60 Golf – a new test of golfing skill played at driving ranges in an hour. There will also be a host of ‘get into golf ’ activity surrounding the event to help provide pathways into the sport for new players of all ages. Creamer's own route into golf is, in many ways, a well-trodden one. A family member – in her case dad Paul – played the game and after

inviting her down to play found he had a daughter with a prodigious talent for the game allied with a fierce competitive streak backed up by the necessary work ethic. “Dad took me down to the course a couple of times when I was about 10,” she explained. “It was all about dance at that stage, but I really picked up on the golf and started to have success with it. “It reached a point where I had to choose between golf and being a cheerleader.

“I always remember my dad saying to me, you can either cheer for other people or have people cheering for you!

“As a dancer or gymnast I always found people were judging me on how I performed – and I did not really like that. I am very competitive and in golf it is up to you to take yourself to the next

level or how you play the next shot. If things do not work out at first, it is up to you to work hard and practise.” Creamer took the opportunity pay a first visit to the famous Hoylake links, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019, ahead of the Evian Masters in France and was impressed by the calibre of a venue that returned to the men's Open roster six years ago after a near 40 years absence. “This is a great test of golf,” she enthused after a first viewing in which she managed to avoid falling victim to the daunting sand traps, “ a classic links course. I love it! “It is all about putting the ball in the right place and getting the club selection right. It was narrower than I was expecting and the rough is up, which all means you have to keep the

THE Ricoh Women’s British Open will be screened by the BBC at the following times: Thursday and Friday: 1pm-5.15pm (BBC2) Saturday: 2.30pm-5.00pm (BBC1) Sunday: 2pm-5pm (BBC2) ESPN will follow all four days between 2pm and 5pm

ball extra straight. It is not about being aggressive, but thinking your way round. It is strategy golf and that is right up my alley.” Such is the growing stature of the Ricoh Women's British Open – it was not even considered one of the majors back in the 1980s – that the venues now largely match those used for the men’s equivalent. “Ricoh have done a great job putting the tournament on at venues like this – it’s where we should be,” said Creamer, who caught the course on the most benign of days but knows it will show a different face if the wind blows. “This is a great chance to showcase women's golf and there is no reason why we cannot contend with the course, which has a great set of par 3s. “It is a fantastic experience to be able

to play at places like here, St Andrews and Carnoustie. It can only help women's golf get even stronger.” On her penchant for pink – she never plays without some element of the colour on her outfit, while she has even used a pink ball – Creamer explained: “I have always loved the colour pink and a good friend of mine, Casey Wittenburg, asked whether I was trying to be the Pink Panther and the nickname stuck. “I was not setting out to create something, but then it is great to be playing in an event and see a wave of pink among the spectators supporting me. It is a very humbling experience. “If in turn that has the effect of encouraging just one boy or girl to give golf a go then that is great.” It means Creamer is an easily identifiable presence out on the course – especially when you add in her Pink Panther head covers – but while it all adds to the fun aspect of the sport, she is deadly serious when it comes to competing.

“I have always wanted to win a British Open,” she says. “It shows you can play in any kind of climate and on a different kind of golf course.

“The Asian golfers will be strong – they work so hard, they put a lot into their golf and they start out young at home. They are fast starters and there are always new players coming through. “We are outnumbered and I am sure the way players from Asia have dominated the women's game will be seen in the men's game in years to come. “But when it comes to winning the Ricoh Women's Open, the biggest threat will probably come from myself. It is important I don't get in the way of my own chances of winning.”