IRISH WOMEN'S OPEN: There will be an another member of Carin Koch's family - her three-month-old son Simzon - at Killarney Golf Club this weekend for the Women's Irish Open starting on Friday. The Swedish Solheim Cup star makes a welcome return to Tour golf after giving birth to her second son last April.
Koch, winner of 7½ points in the Solheim Cup clash against the Americans, has also confirmed she will be playing in the French Open at Arras GC in Northern France from June 19th-22nd.
"I am very much looking forward to playing in Ireland and France," said Koch. "I'm excited to start competing again and I think my game is okay. But it has been hard to get a good short-game practice in Sweden as we've had a lot of rain recently.
"I've practiced a little bit since Simzon was born but I've only played a couple of nine-holers between feedings. Just a few days after he was born I was chipping and putting and I played my first nine holes two weeks after giving birth. I had Simzon in a cart when we were at home in Phoenix strapped up in his car seat! I would love some Solheim points, and I want to be there in September, but at the moment I am focusing on getting back to competing and travelling with two kids."
Joining Koch at Killarney is compatriot Sophie Gustafson and England's Laura Davies, both of whom will be looking for a return to form after missing the cut at the McDonald's Championship in Delaware.
Davies, who leads the European Order of Merit, will be joined at Killarney by the defending champion Iben Tinning from Denmark.
Since winning her maiden victory at last year's Irish Open, Tinning has gone from strength to strength winning two events and making a place in the 2002 Solheim Cup team. "The competition is a bit harder this year but I'm feeling confident," said Tinning.
Former Irish Amateur Champion Rebecca Coakley, who won the women's Strokeplay and Close Championship last year, returns from Australia after joining the paid ranks while home interest will also centre on former Curtis Cup player Susanne O'Brien, Lynn McCool, Hazel Kavanagh, Yvonne Cassidy and amateur Gillian O'Leary.
