(Turnberry, Scotland, August 7 2002) Four Scots and England’s most prominent female golfer of all time are bidding to stem the run of 12 consecutive foreign victors in this week’s £1,000,000 Weetabix Women’s British Open at Turnberry GC on Ayrshire’s magnificent golfing coastline.

Not since Penny Grice-Whittaker won at Woburn in 1991 has Great Britain laid claim to having a homeland winner, but this year could see the end of foreign domination in Scotland’s first ever women’s major championship.

Laura – “on the nose” at 33/1

“We played the first few holes with no real wind and you feel like you could make a lot of birdies out there,” said Davies, who rose to eighth in The Solheim Cup rankings with her victory last week.

“But on the back nine, the wind got up and you could make a couple of doubles out there. The greens are going to get a bit quicker as the week goes on, because right now, they are a little slow.

“They would normally be a bit harder and you can actually throw the ball right up to the flag and hold it, even spin it back, which is a bit unusual.”

For one who likes a ‘punt’, Davies believes there are other players to watch out for except World number one Annika Sorenstam from Sweden and defending champion Se Ri Pak from Korea.

“If you take them out of the equation, Karrie (Webb) on her best form can win anywhere. And Carin Koch, although she didn’t play very well last week, she is having an exceptional year. I’d say for a long shot, Carin, even though she did miss the cut last week.”

And discovering her generous odds brought a smile to her face earlier in the day.

“I think I have a good chance, I don’t know if I am going to win it, but I am going to play hard, especially when you really want something to happen, but I think I have a really good chance to win. Someone told me today that I was 33/1 and I said that is a great price.”

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