WOBURN (England) • Ko Jin-young first attracted international attention when she finished runner-up to Park In-bee at the 2015 Women's British Open at Turnberry.
Four years on, Ko arrives in Woburn for the latest edition as the world No. 1 and seeking to join an elite group of golfers who have won three Majors in one season.
She claimed the first Major of the season, the ANA Inspiration, to reach the summit of women's golf. She snatched top spot back from fellow South Korean Park Sung-hyun with victory in the Evian Championship on Sunday.
Winning back-to-back Majors would be a huge feat and the 24-year-old would become only the seventh player to gather three Majors in a single season.
Ben Hogan (1953) and Tiger Woods (2000) have done it in the men's game and Babe Zaharias (1950), Mickey Wright (1961), Pat Bradley (1986) and Park In-bee (2013) are the women who have achieved the same feat.
"I was always looking forward to this week, but to win in Evian has made it even more special," Ko said.
"I honestly can't remember much about Turnberry but I missed the cut last year. My game has undergone a big change since then. I got a new short-game coach and a mental trainer. That's the difference.
"Because it is two Majors in a row I am feeling like there is no Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. It is two straight four days. But to win two or three Majors in a year is really tough. I have a chance this week and I will do my best."
Next year, Ko has another big goal as she targets an Olympic debut in Tokyo.
"I'm excited that I might play in the Tokyo Olympics," she admitted.
"The Olympics are really important for Korea. It would be so good."
Georgia Hall melted home hearts last year, when she won the Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes with her father Wayne as her caddie.
The defending champion heads a strong cast from the host country.
Charley Hull, who grew up playing at Woburn, and Melissa Reid, third in the LPGA Championship this term, will also be aiming to mount a serious challenge.
"The year has gone by very quickly," said Hall. "I'm excited to be back and to be able to be in England. I think it is really cool.
"I haven't played the course at all this year. When it was here three years ago, I practised quite a bit and I didn't do very well. So I decided to take the same approach as last year and just play it the week of the tournament.
"And dad is on the bag again. He always works the British Open, so it's very nice for him to be back and to have my mum here as well."
One downside over the year for Hall was when the replica trophy was stolen from her car in London. It has never been found.
"Someone smashed my back window at 12 o'clock in the middle of the day, and just took it," she said.
"There was no CCTV. Now I'm trying to find out if I can get another one."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN
Day 1: Singtel TV Ch115 & StarHub Ch209, 6pm
