Women's golf: Strong field assembled for Turkish Airlines Open

Dame Laura Davies, Trish Johnson and Sophie Gustafson are all competing in the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open which starts on Sunday, May 17, in Antalya.

The defending champion is Valentine Derrey who won the title last year at nearby National Golf Club.

This year’s event is being played at The Carya in Belek and Derrey is looking forward to competing again.

The 27-year-old from Paris said: “I really enjoyed the last course but this is a new one, so it feels like a new event. I’m playing well and feeling good so let’s stay patient and see what this week brings.”

Her best result so far this year is a tie for 17th at the World Ladies Championship in China.

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The field consists of 126 golfers from 32 countries, including current Order of Merit leader Gwladys Nocera from France, and English duo Melissa Reid and Holly Clyburn.

The event starts on a Sunday instead of the usual Thursday, an idea that came to fruition after discussions with broadcasters and sponsors.

Davies said: "I think it’s a great idea, a great innovation, because we get live TV, which we crave for. We don’t get it, the men get it. It’s awkward, because if you play both tours like I do, you miss two tournaments. It’s hard to miss two for one.

"For the European players it’s great because if it happens more and more the TV coverage would presumably up the profile and it would help everything, so it’s a very good idea."

Watch the final two days of the tournament on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.