Wie picked up the silver medal as the leading amateur at the Southport course in 2005, when, aged 15, she finished in third place on her first outing in the Championship.

Her performance then suggested that the Hawaiian was set to be a real force in the Majors but it was not until her two-shot victory at Pinehurst Resort in California last month that she eventually managed to secure one of the big five tournaments in the women's game.

Now 24-years-old, Wie is looking forward to getting back to the Royal Birkdale course and believes that the confidence gained from breaking her major duck allied to the uniqueness of playing links golf hold her in good stead for the challenge ahead of this tournament, which is due to start tomorrow. 

As a fresh-faced 15-year-old, Wie finished as the leading amateur at the 2005 Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale ©AFP/Getty Images



"There is something so special and unique about the Ricoh Women's British Open - I love the fact we play on all the famous Open courses and everything feels so steeped in history," said the world ranked number six.

"I think my game really suits links golf and obviously David Leadbetter, my coach, has helped me so much with all his experience and advice.

"I had my best finish in the Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale so I know it suits my game and I have some really great memories of playing there.

"I'll be heading over there with really high expectations, especially now I've proved to myself I can get over the line.

"It will really be something to be announced on the tee as the US Open Champion."

Wie is one of four Americans in the world's top ten that will be teeing off at Royal Birkdale, including defending champion and world number one Stacy Lewis, Kraft Nabisco Championship winner Lexi Thompson and world number ten Cristie Kerr.

Lewis will defending the title she won at St Andrews last year and comes into the Championship with three Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour wins this year, while she has third and second place finishes to her name in the first two majors so far this season.

Stacy Lewis will be looking to defend the title she won at St Andrews last year ©Getty Images



Like Wie, Thompson secured her first major win at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Mission Hills, California, back in April and was in contention after the first two rounds at Pinehurst last month before struggling on the final two days.

The British challenge will be led by 2009 champion Catriona Matthew of Scotland while youngsters Charley Hull of England and Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow will also be looking to impress.

Meadow, 22, announced her arrival on the international stage by claiming an impressive third place finish at the US Women's Open in her first tournament as a professional golfer and followed that up with another third at the European Masters in Denham last Sunday (July 6).

After five runner-up finishes on the Ladies European Tour last year, 18-year-old Hull has followed those up with a maiden victory at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco in March.

Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow will be hoping to continue an impressive start to her professional career at Royal Birkdale ©Getty Images



Another teenage star is expected to be challenging at the business end this coming weekend in the form of New Zealand's Lydia Ko who finished as the leading amateur at last year's event.

The 17-year-old has rocketed to number two in the world after a string of impressive performances since turning professional last October including her third career LPGA Tour win at the Swinging Skirts Classic in San Francisco in April.

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