The presence of Laura Davies will once again underpin the Women's Irish Open championship which begins at Faithlegg today. The former world number one, champion in the first two years of the event at St Margaret's (1994,'95) will start as the player to beat in this, the seventh staging of the event.

Waterford Crystal in conjunction with Bord Failte are the title sponsors of an event that boasts a 114 strong field. The decision to move the event to Waterford demonstrates Bord Failte's commitment to try and broaden the base of golf in Ireland.

Dublin staged the first four Opens before the event moved north to the wonderful links of Ballyliffin and last year to Letterkenny.

Defending champion Sandrine Mendiburu - she won the title last year after a four way play-off with Davies, Raquel Carriedo (Spain) and Elisabeth Esterl (Germany) - returns and plays with Davies and Sweden's Maria Hjorth in the opening two rounds.

The presence of Sweden's Sophie Gustafsson, a winner on the US tour this season, is a significant coup for the tournament. Irish professionals Aideen Rogers, Lynn McCool and Debbie Hanna are supported by their amateur compatriots, Curtis Cup debutante Suzie O'Brien, Martina Gillen, Sinead Keane, Claire Coughlan, Elaine Dowdall and Deirdre Smith.