Wirral golf tribute to Best of British (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral golf tribute to Best of British

3:04pm Friday 17th August 2012 in News By Geoff Barnes

A YEAR that restored national pride with the Olympics and Golden Jubilee, will be celebrated at the Ricoh Women’s Open golf championship at Royal Liverpool, with a Best of British Day.

The world’s leading women players will be asked to support the day – Saturday, September 15 - by wearing red, white and blue and spectators will be encouraged to give their Jubilee outfits a final airing .

They will enjoy a day not only of watching the highest calibre golf but one packed with family fun and festivities including a Beatles tribute act, a traditional British brass band as well as face-painters and other activities for people of all ages.

Scotland’s Catriona Mathew will lead the home challenge fresh from victory at the 2012 Irish Women’s Open.

She commented, “I think the ‘Best of British Day’ is a fantastic way to celebrate the amazing year we’ve had, starting with the Jubilee celebrations and moving into a summer sporting achievement that will be tough to rival.

“Hopefully we can manage one more amazing British performance between us that will see one of the home players winning the Ricoh Women’s British Open, the final Major of the year, to cap a fantastic summer of British sporting achievement.”

England’s Mel Reid added, “This is a great initiative and one that promises to engage sports fans across the board.

"It’s the final major of the year and I hope everyone comes down and gets involved in the amazing atmosphere.”

Other British challengers include Carly Booth who has posted two tour victories already this season and Melissa Reid, who won the Prague Golf Masters in June. British favourite Laura Davies, herself a former British Women’s Open Champion, is also showing a timely return to form despite picking up an injury to her achilles a couple of months ago while Karen Stupples, the 2004 Champion, has already started her preparations with a visit to Hoylake last week.

Organisers the Ladies Golf Union and IMG have launched a special ‘Best of British’ ticket, available by advance purchase and valid on Saturday only, which includes access to the championship for two people and a bottle of champagne for £65. Spectators can purchase the ticket via the championship website.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the Ladies Golf Union in 1976 and gained major status in 2001.