by Brendan Cole
The top players from Europe and America have already begun to pick apart the strategic test at Solheim Cup course Killeen Castle, which is also the venue for this weekend’s Ladies Irish Open.
The County Meath course hosts the Ladies Irish Open from Friday to Sunday this week. It will then act as the stage for the Solheim Cup – the premier team match in the women's game – which takes place from 23-25 September.
As a result, a host of top players are in the Irish Open field. They include English stars Laura Davies and Melissa Reid, world number three Suzann Pettersen, and top US players Angela Stanford, Christina Kim and 16-year-old Lexi Thompson.
The Jack Nicklaus-designed layout at Killeen Castle features extensive water, deep bunkering and challenging shots into raised greens.
Reid, currently second behind Davies in the European rankings and certain to play a key role for Europe, expects a tactical challenge.
Speaking to RTÉ.ie, she said: "I played it last year. It’s a great setup. It is risk reward. I think they are going to set up the course quite differently (to the Irish Open).
"But the more we play the course, the more hidden secrets you can find on certain holes and the more we will find new definitions and things like that around the course."
Kraft Nabisco winner Stacey Lewis, currently third in the US team rankings, will also use the event to figure out the 'American style' course.
Lewis won a final round battle with world number one Yani Tseng to secure her first major and is also looking forward to taking to taking on the Europeans in head-to-head play.
She said: “I love matchplay. I played in the Curtis Cup at St Andrew’s in 2008. It is just an unbelievable thing to represent your country and then to do it on such a big stage. It is going to be an awesome week."
Reid, playing in her first Solheim Cup, also expects a special atmosphere at Killeen Castle.
She added: “I have spoken to a few players like Becky Brewerton who has played two, and Laura (Davies) who has been there since the start really.
"It is so important to European golf, and obviously it is going to be a very to a very proud week. It is such a great week, and everybody says it is the best week of your life so it should be amazing."
The Ladies Irish Open takes place from 5-7 August at Killeen Castle. Tickets are €10. Visit www.ladiesirishopen.ie for more information.
