The British Open, held every year in Royal County Golf Club, Heron, Switzerland attracts some of the best female players in the world. Last year Anna Nordqvist won the women’s first major, the Women’s World Golf Classic, over oxide. This win made Anna a double winner and added to her credentials as one of the best female golfers of all time. Now at the WGC, Anna is set to face the world’s best again this year in the women’s double-elimination tournament. Here we take a look at the situation and see how Anna Nordqvist can match up against the top players.
The first order of business for Anna Nordqvist was to secure a slot in the prestigious British Open, as quickly as possible. She qualified through the amateur route, which had been one of her aims since joining LPGA in 2021. The British Open has a long-running program and has traditionally been an amazing achievement for any young golfer, but Anna had not expected to be in the place she is today. She was disappointed with missing out on qualification for the PGA Championship but is otherwise looking forward to the event with great enthusiasm.
On the other side of the coin, there is an equally talented player in the same spot as Anna, and that is Lexi Siegel. She too qualified through the amateur route to the British Open and is playing in her second straight event. So which player should you trust to open within this tough round of the World Golf Classic? I have chosen Anna Nordqvist to start the tournament in order to give the benefit to the young American female players, but I will leave the choice to you to decide.
The layout of the course at the British Open is very ideal for someone like Anna, who has the ability to get around the greens, and the short par fours are ideally suited to her skills. Anna played only par fours on the Europeans but has now returned to the longer layout for the Women’s Open. The British course has a reputation of being one of the most difficult in the world, but it also has a reputation for producing great players. The British Open is usually won by the stronger team, and if there is anyone capable of challenging Anna, then they will definitely have a good chance of winning. If not, then the field is wide open.
With the two American women in the field, there will be an element of surprise with the expectation that they will win. But when you play at such a great course, you expect the unexpected, and when you see Anna dominating the field on the first day, you know there will be no way they can be caught off guard. This is what makes this setup so exciting for the players and fans. It seems that every time Anna plays at this course, she proves everyone wrong.
What does it mean for Anna Nordqvist to win the British Open? I think it means she has finally broken through. For years, Anna has been able to dominate the field at the British Open, and at almost every major event since breaking into the tour events, she has been able to come out on top. But now, after winning her first major, I think it is about time that she steps aside and lets someone else take her place.
I think it was Ben Hogan who said that you should never expect a woman to play like a man. I don’t necessarily agree with this, but it is true. Anna has been able to dominate the lady’s field at the Open by beating some of the best players and has done so playing an up-and-down golf game. She has rarely had a bad round, and often seemed to bounce back after poor holes with a great shot or a solid approach. But at the British Open, I think it may be time for a change.
I hope I’m wrong because I’m a huge fan of Anna Nordqvist. I’ve seen her at the PGA, and I even have a few of her books. I also really like her attitude, and how she plays. This is not to say that I think she should retire, but it is time for a change in my opinion. I hope that whoever picks her will give her the same treatment I think she deserves.
