The Ladies Irish Open Golf gets underway this morning at Killeen Castle in County Meath.  A number of the players who won the Solheim Cup at the same venue are back on familiar ground, including last year’s winner Suzann Petterson and legend of the game Laura Davies. 
Irish hopes will be carried by Rebecca Codd, Leona and Lisa Maguire, Tara Delaney and Danielle McVeigh.   Leona Maguire, still only 17 years old will be in the most followed grouping playing alongside Petterson and four time winner of the irish Open Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson.
Spectators who are members of the GUI or ILGU who arrive at the course wearing pink today will gain free admission as part of a collection drive aimed at raising money for breast cancer charities.
This is the fifth year of a five year deal with Fáilte Ireland that was originally signed to support the road to last year’s Solheim Cup.
No decision has been made public about the longer term future of commercial support for the tournament but it is hoped that a strong crowd and high level of attention over the weekend will prompt fresh commitment from 2013.  Dundrum Town Centre, Volkswagen and L’Oreal are among the other commercial supporters of the tournament.
This years prize fund is €350,000.
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