Five past champions have confirmed their intention to challenge for the $2 million purse at the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open being held Aug. 20-26 at Coquitlam's Vancouver Golf Club, it was announced Monday.
Leading the way is defending champion Brittany Lincicome, currently the 13th ranked player in the world. Lincicome, a five-time winner on the LPGA Tour, had six top-10 finishes in 2011, highlighted by her victories at the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open and the 2011 ShopRite LPGA Classic event.
Lincicome will be joined by a group of former CN Canadian Women's Open champions - world No. 4 Suzann Pettersen, world No. 8 Cristie Kerr, world No. 38 Michelle Wie and world No. 45 Katherine Hull.
Pettersen is an eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour including the 2009 CN Canadian Women's Open, while Kerr's victory at the 2006 CN Canadian Women's Open is one of 14 career LPGA Tour victories.
Wie, the 2010 CN Canadian Women's Open champion, is a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour and Hull, the 2008 CN Canadian Women's Open champion, has also captured two LPGA Tour events during the course of her career.
Lincicome, Pettersen, Kerr, Wie and Hull will be joined at the Vancouver Golf Club by a duo of previously confirmed stars - world No. 1 Yani Tseng and New Zealand teen sensation Lydia Ko, the world's top ranked amateur.
"Two months out from the championship, we are very pleased with how our field is coming together and expect that all of the world's best players will be at the Vancouver Golf Club," said Sean Van Kesteren, Tournament Director, CN Canadian Women's Open. "Brittany, Michelle, Suzann, Cristie and Katherine are tremendous talents and I'm sure together with world number one Yani Tseng will be among the crowd favourites during this year's championship."
A field of 156 competitors are slated to compete, while the deadline for players to confirm is Tuesday, Aug. 14.
Canada's national amateur team will also be represented as Team Canada athletes Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, and 14-year old Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. have already earned exemptions.
Additional competitors including notable LPGA stars and Canadians will be announced in the coming weeks.
