World number one Nelly Korda will be hoping to rediscover her impressive early-season form when the Women’s British Open returns to the famous old course at St Andrews this week.
Korda won six times in seven starts on the LPGA Tour between January and May, including her second major at the Chevron Championship.
But the American’s best result since then was a shared 22nd place at the Olympic Games.
In the other three majors of the season, Korda missed the cut at both the US Open and the PGA Championship and finished 26th at the Evian Championship.
“I think lately I’ve been making one mistake and then another,” Korda said after a poor final-round finish at the Paris Games cost her a chance to defend the gold medal she won in Tokyo.
“I have to control the part where I don’t accumulate all the mistakes, and I’ve kind of been doing that lately.”
World number two Lilia Vu is the defending champion but has never had the experience of playing at St Andrews before and is relishing the opportunity to be at the home of golf.
“I took photos on the Swilcan Bridge yesterday and again today. It’s a surreal feeling and I’m trying to take it all in,” said the American.
“I don’t put too much pressure on myself to defend a title. When I defend something, it feels like I have something to lose.”
Vu will play alongside Korda and last year’s runner-up Charley Hull in the first two rounds.
Hull is the home hope for victory but is recovering from a shoulder injury that forced her to miss the Evian Championship last month and will be hoping that temperatures on Scotland’s east coast do not drop as much.
“When it’s cold, it (the shoulder) can hurt a little bit. I also have degenerative arthritis in it, so I just try to keep it warm. Other than that, I’m healthy and ready to go,” Hull said Tuesday.
The world number ten is still waiting for her first major victory and said that it would be even more special for her if she could achieve this in St. Andrews.
“Obviously it’s the home of golf – it would be a very special win, something you always dream of,” added Hall.
“When you go down 17 and 18 you get goosebumps, it’s cool.”
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko has just won gold in Paris and is now aiming to end her eight-year wait and win her second major title.
In Scotland, there is more at stake than just the fame and the $9 million prize money.
It is also the last qualifying tournament for the European and American teams before the Solheim Cup next month.
Europe will seek an unprecedented fourth defence of the Cup in Virginia following a dramatic 14-14 draw between the two teams in Spain last year.
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