New sponsor for Women's British Open

The Women’s British Open, which in August will become the first championship for women professionals ever to be played over the Old Course at St Andrews, has a new title sponsor.

Office equipment company Ricoh takes over after 20 years under the Weetabix banner, with prize money again just over £1million this summer and an initial three-year contract signed.

It was also announced today that next year’s event is almost certain to be at Sunningdale, with the 2009 and 2010 championships definitely at Royal Lytham and Royal Birkdale.

Now one of the four women’s majors, the staging of the Women’s Open at the Home of Golf has added an extra flavour to this summer’s event. Record crowds approaching 100,000 for the week are expected.

American star Paula Creamer played a practice round at St Andrews last week and said: “It was one of the best golfing moments of my career and I can’t wait to return in August.”

Scot Catriona Matthew, who finished runner-up to American teenager Morgan Pressel in the first women’s major of the season, added: “This is only the second time the Women’s British Open has been played in Scotland and obviously winning a professional event on the Old Course would be a dream come true.”

Annika Sorenstam, recently relegated to world number two by Mexican Lorena Ochoa and currently out of action with a back injury, stated: “It is great to hear Ricoh have committed to this historic tournament.

“With all the rising stars of Asia (the company was founded in Japan) it is not surprising that a leading international company such as Ricoh would be keen to title sponsor a major.”

The news was welcomed by the heads of the women’s tours in America and Europe.

Carolyn Bivens, the LPGA Commissioner, said: “The tournament is played on some of the world’s most famous courses and showcases many of the greatest golfers in the world.”

Alex Armas, executive director of the Ladies European Tour, commented: “It’s great news for our tour.”

It is actually the Ladies Golf Union who stage the championship and their chief executive officer Lesley Burn said: “The profile of the Women’s British Open in the world of golf continues to rise and with the backing of such a successful and established global company the future is very bright. We look forward to a successful partnership.”

The Old Course is, of course, the headquarters of the male-only Royal and Ancient Golf Club, the sport’s governing body outside the United States and Mexico.

But they have agreed that the world-famous clubhouse behind the first tee can be used by the women for the week.

“For the women’s game it’s another step forward,” added Burn. “But it’s not for me to predict what changes will be made in the years ahead.”

While the 2005 Open won by Tiger Woods was played on a links stretched to well over 7,000 yards – some tees were not even on the Old Course – the length for the women’s will be 6,638 yards.

That is a record for the event and only 641 yards shorter than the test faced by Woods.

It will also be a par 73 rather than the men’s 72, with the formidable Road Hole 17th becoming a par five measuring 453 yards.

Women’s events have played on the links many times, but all the previous ones have been amateur. Sorenstam and Matthew won the St Rule Trophy before switching to the paid ranks.

Subject to final discussions with Sunningdale, next year will see the championship hosted there for the fourth time. Australian Karrie Webb won in 1997, South Korean Se Ri Pak in 2001 and England’s Karen Stupples in 2004.

Royal Lytham has staged the event three times as well, while Birkdale will play host for the fifth time.

Next year’s Curtis Cup, the women’s amateur match between Britain and Ireland and the United States, will be at St Andrews.