PARKER, Colo., September 13, 2012 - A major title won't be the only thing up for grabs this week at the RICOH Women's British Open for U.S.-born LPGA Tour players. Players will also earn double points for the 2013 Solheim Cup this week.
The LPGA Tour's final major of the year, the $2.75 million RICOH Women's British Open will be held September 13-16 at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Reigning Rolex Player of the Year and world No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan is the defending champion.
Players realize the importance of earning Solheim Cup points in non-Solheim years, especially at major championships.
"After my experience in 2005 - I made the team in 2003 and missed it in 2005 - I realized that you don't want to be behind the eight ball going into a Solheim year," said four-time U.S. Solheim Cup Team member Angela Stanford. "So, I'm always thinking about it."
Cristie Kerr can relate.
"You've got to get it done and make the team," said Kerr, who stands third in the points standings. "You can't wait to be picked. I had a chance to be picked once and wasn't. You've got to shore up your spot, no matter who you are."
Solheim Cup points were already doubled at the three prior LPGA Tour major championships this season, so players had a chance to make big jumps in one week by excelling at the majors. The same points system will apply in 2013, but players will earn one-and-a-half times as many points during the Solheim Cup year.
Players earn points for top-20 finishes at official LPGA Tour events, and only U.S.-born players are eligible. U.S. players began earning points for the 2013 Solheim Cup at the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open.
The top eight players in the U.S. Solheim Cup standings at the yet-to-be-determined cutoff date in 2013 will automatically qualify for the team, two more will qualify based on their position in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, and Captain Meg Mallon will select the final two team members.
The U.S. Solheim Cup points standings heading into this weekend:
The LPGA Tour's final major of the year, the $2.75 million RICOH Women's British Open will be held September 13-16 at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Reigning Rolex Player of the Year and world No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan is the defending champion.
Players realize the importance of earning Solheim Cup points in non-Solheim years, especially at major championships.
"After my experience in 2005 - I made the team in 2003 and missed it in 2005 - I realized that you don't want to be behind the eight ball going into a Solheim year," said four-time U.S. Solheim Cup Team member Angela Stanford. "So, I'm always thinking about it."
Cristie Kerr can relate.
"You've got to get it done and make the team," said Kerr, who stands third in the points standings. "You can't wait to be picked. I had a chance to be picked once and wasn't. You've got to shore up your spot, no matter who you are."
Solheim Cup points were already doubled at the three prior LPGA Tour major championships this season, so players had a chance to make big jumps in one week by excelling at the majors. The same points system will apply in 2013, but players will earn one-and-a-half times as many points during the Solheim Cup year.
Players earn points for top-20 finishes at official LPGA Tour events, and only U.S.-born players are eligible. U.S. players began earning points for the 2013 Solheim Cup at the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open.
The top eight players in the U.S. Solheim Cup standings at the yet-to-be-determined cutoff date in 2013 will automatically qualify for the team, two more will qualify based on their position in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, and Captain Meg Mallon will select the final two team members.
The U.S. Solheim Cup points standings heading into this weekend:
| 1 | Lewis, Stacy | 389 |
| 2 | Creamer, Paula | 201 |
| 3 | Kerr, Cristie | 196 |
| 4 | Stanford, Angela | 190 |
| 5 | Lincicome, Brittany | 161 |
| 6 | Lang, Brittany | 143 |
| 7 | Hurst, Vicky | 79 |
| 8 | Thompson, Lexi | 77 |
| 9 | Gulbis, Natalie | 74 |
| 10 | Pressel, Morgan | 70 |
| 11 | Futcher, Katie | 69 |
| 12 | Wie, Michelle | 67 |
| 13 | Piller, Gerina | 60 |
| 14 | Harigae, Mina | 56 |
| 15 | Korda, Jessica | 52 |
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