Ladies irish Open preview The game fOr The ThrOne After a stunning victory in last year’s Ladies Irish Open, Suzann Pettersen is looking for a repeat, but she’ll have to fend off competition from her Solheim Cup teammates to do it. By Aaron Diamond Its a mostly sunny afternoon it out to be crowned queen of on the east coast of Ireland in the castle. County Meath. Standing in the Pettersen started off shadow of Killeen Castle on the this year with three top ten 18th hole, Suzann Pettersen finishes on the LPGA tour. lines up her shot. After However, she’s pining for shooting a course record 63 a trophy. Pettersen came the previous day, she now sits close at the Wegmans LPGA comfortably in the lead at 18 Championship in June where under par. In no time at all she’s she tied for second behind on the green completing an Shanshan Feng. Suzann is on almost record-matching round course for another spectacular of 64, taking home her second year; however, hot on her tails Ladies Irish Open. is 2010 Ladies Irish Open Those memorable scenes Champion, Sophie Gustafson. from last summer epitomised Gustafson knows what it the year for Norway’s takes to win in Ireland. Over Pettersen, who was at the top her career she has won six titles of her game for 2011. After on Irish soil. In an interview winning the Open at Killeen with the Golf Channel last year, Castle, she went on to help Gustafson called Ireland her bring the European Solheim ‘second home’. The Sweden Cup team to victory on the native is a real contender for same course. Pettersen, as well the Open. She showed what as many of her Solheim Cup she can do at the Solheim Cup. teammates, will be returning Gustafson won every one of her to the great course of Killeen matches against the Americans Castle in August. Their - the closest contest being camaraderie will be put aside against Brittany Lang and Juli Sophie Gustafson Catriona Matthew for the moment as they battle Inkster. Playing with Pettersen, IRELAND’S BIGGEST-SELLING GOLF MAGAZINE 67 the pair pulled out a birdie on the final hole to go 1-up, keeping the title within range. Another European Solheim Cup teammate joining in the fight for the Open is Catriona Matthew. Matthew is no stranger to the area. Hailing from Scotland, she knows how to handle the landscape and weather that makes this land so unique. She has performed well before in the Open. Last year she placed sixth with 8 under par. Following up this effort were her win at the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open at Archerfield Links and an amazing triumph in the Solheim Cup. When mentioning the Solheim Cup, one player cannot be forgotten – Laura Davies. Having played in every Solheim Cup (12 this past year), Davies is a legend through and through. She is a staple of women’s golf Pettersen, as well as many of her Solheim Cup teammates, will be returning helping bring it to where it to the great course of Killeen Castle in August. stands today. At the ripe age of 48 she has no plans of slowing another go at Killeen, the ever the game. She’s prepping her to reclaim it. Snapping at their down. Davies wants to continue effervescent Kim is looking arsenal, ready for the Castle heels will be Catriona Matthew, to add to her amazing tally of for her second european tour siege in August. Laura Davies and the American 81 tour victories with an Irish win. She picked up her first last Last year’s tournament Christina Kim. The field is Open trophy. She returns to October – the Sicilian Ladies brought record-breaking shaping up nicely, and with the Killeen Castle in hopes of Italian Open. She held her own crowds, media coverage and Solheim Cup still fresh in the improving on her 11th place in the Cup against Sweden’s course scores. In it’s third year memory there is sure to be some finish last year. Laura Davies can Maria Hjorth, taking it 4 and 2. at Killeen Castle, the Ladies good action. always be counted on to bring Kim is a character on and off the Irish Open is stacking up to Prepare for some heated her best game and attitude to golf course. She’s well-known break more records. Returning competition as these women the battle field. for energising the crowds during champ, Suzann Pettersen is fight for the title and the right to Teeing up once again against Cup matches and mixing it up looking to hold on to her title, be crowned queen of the castle. the European contingent will a bit with her attire. However, while fellow Solheim teammate The battle begins 3 August at be Christina Kim. Back for Christina is serious about Sophie Gustafson is fighting Killeen Castle, County Meath. 68 IRELAND’S BIGGEST-SELLING GOLF MAGAZINE.