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Young guns -- including PH's Saso -- eye more major success at Women's British Open

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Elspeth Burnside, Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Yuka Saso of the Philippines in action. Murad Sezer, Reuters" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/08/19/saso.jpg"/><figcaption>Yuka Saso of the Philippines in action. Murad Sezer, Reuters</figcaption></figure></div>CARNOUSTIE, United Kingdom -- A women&#x27;s major golf season dominated by youngsters and newcomers culminates with the Women&#x27;s British Open at Carnoustie starting on Thursday.Patty Tavatanakit, Yuka Saso, Nelly Korda and Minjee Lee have all become first-time major winners aged 25 or under this season, but experience could yet prove important over a tricky Scottish links course with a brutal reputation.Korda, who became world number one after her win in the LPGA Championship in June, enhanced her status as a rising star by claiming the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo last month.Now she is preparing herself for the rather cooler climes of the North Sea coast of Scotland.&quot;This is the most &#x27;linksy&#x27; course I have ever played,&quot; said Korda on the eve of the fifth and final major of 2021. &quot;It is certainly going to be a tough challenge.&quot;The 23-year-old, who had earlier declined formal press interviews, added: &quot;It was so hot in Tokyo and this week I&#x27;m expecting it to be chilly and rainy.&quot;But I have to mentally prepare myself for hitting some bad or unlucky shots. I do like the course. It is very, very nice and it will be an interesting test over the next four days.&quot;<div>- &#x27;Dominant force&#x27; -</div>Scotland&#x27;s Catriona Matthew, who won the title in 2009 and is aiming to captain Europe to a second successive Solheim Cup win in the United States next month, has no doubt Korda is a blossoming talent.&quot;She has the potential to be a dominant force and I think that would be good for women&#x27;s golf,&quot; said the 51-year-old home hope.&quot;It is always good to have a stand-out player, someone who is known outside the golfing bubble.&quot;Korda has already shown form in the British Open, finishing ninth at Woburn in England two years ago, but links or coastal golf is a different matter.Tavatanakit, one of a generation of world-class women golfers from Thailand, has specifically targeted a victory at Carnoustie.&quot;I played in my first British Open at Troon (another Scottish links course) last year and I didn&#x27;t do too well (Tavatanakit missed the cut) so I told my coach I needed to develop my links game,&quot; she said.&quot;I wanted to be able to shape the ball in the wind, make my game more wholesome. I feel so much better prepared this year.&quot;Last year, I was trying to hit everything perfect but I have learnt that it is never going to happen in tough courses.&quot;So you just have to take your medicine and be very patient. I am so excited about the next four days.&quot;Sophia Popov, a shock winner a year ago, has built on her Troon triumph to secure a place in Matthew&#x27;s Solheim Cup side that will be named on Monday.&quot;I always knew I was capable of doing well out here, and Troon proved it and gave me the perfect confidence boost,&quot; explained Popov.&quot;I am going to enjoy every minute this week,&quot; the 28-year-old German added.Popov is also happy that having won behind closed doors last year due to Covid-19 restrictions, she will be able to defend her title in front of spectators, with 8,000 fans expected to be lining the course on each of the four days&#x27; play at Carnoustie.<div>© Agence France-Presse</div>

Patty Tavatanakit, Yuka Saso, Nelly Korda and Minjee Lee have all become first-time major winners aged 25 or under this season.

Young guns -- including PH's Saso -- eye more major success at Women's British Open

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Young guns -- including PH's Saso -- eye more major success at Women's British Open

Elspeth Burnside,

Agence France-Presse

Published Aug 19, 2021 11:34 AM PHT

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golf

Women's British Open

Yuka Saso

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