LAURA DAVIES will be aiming for a third successive triumph here, when she competes in the £110,000 Guardian Irish Open at Citywest on July 25th to 28th. Winner of four tournaments already this year, Davies confirmed her entry yesterday at the head of a field of 124.

Though she recently relinquished her world number one position to Sweden's Annika Sorenstam, the English player's return is a tremendous boost to the sponsors, not least for her stunning performance at St Margaret's 12 months ago. With a 25-under-par aggregate of 269, she set a world record by gaining a 16-stroke winning margin over second-placed Asa Gottmo.

Other leading contenders for the title include former European number, one Corinne. Dibnah (Australia) and the richly gifted Marie-Laure de Lorenzi (France), twice leader of the European Order of Merit.