Golf: Field confirmed for New Zealand Women's Open

Yani Tseng is the most credentialed player in the field. Photo / Getty

Eight major winners are among the 90 LPGA Tour players confirmed to contest the New Zealand Women's Open south of Auckland.

Kiwi Lydia Ko is among the eight players who have lodged 14 major wins between them and are committed to the historic $1.8 million event at Windross Farm Golf Course from September 28.

It is the first LPGA Tour event to be played on New Zealand soil.

Joining Ko are former major winners Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Danielle Kang - who all part of the winning American team at last week's Solheim Cup - Canada's Brooke Henderson, Korea's Na Yeon Choi, Taiwan's Yani Tseng and Scotand's Catriona Matthew.

Attracting a number of the world's highest-ranked players has proved difficult for organisers, with the tournament falling just before the Tour's Asian swing, and several players withdrawing from the event.

A further eight players in the field have notched a total of 29 LPGA or Ladies European Tour titles between them.

They are Mel Reid (England, six titles), Angela Stanford (USA, five), Caroline Hedwell (England, five), Christina Kim (USA, four), Beatrice Recari (Spain, four), Katherine Kirk (Australia, three), Su Oh (Australia, one) and Mariajo Uribe (Colombia, one).

Tournament director Michael Goldstein was delighted to see so many accomplished players confirm their availability.

"We have a large number of proven champions in the women's game competing in Auckland, and it will be a privilege for New Zealand fans to watch players of this calibre in action," he said.

"It is a level of golf that has never been seen in this country before."

The remainder of a final field of 132 will come from Australian Ladies Professional Golf (15 golfers), New Zealand Golf (10) and sponsor invites (17).

- NZN