The Associated Press

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - The most prestigious tournament in women's golf, $560,000 of the $3.1 million purse going to the winner, gets under way today with some story lines that have become typical at the U.S. Women's Open.

There is a quiet charm to this tournament, starting with small roads winding through tiny New England towns that lead to Orchards Golf Club.

Only when they set foot on the Donald Ross design do players get a rude reminder what is at stake. The Women's Open is the toughest test they face all year.

Orchards is 6,473 yards and plays even longer because of the heavy New England air, moist grass, gentle bends in the tree-lined fairways and elevated greens that must be carried to certain spots.

Beth Daniel got a taste of that during her final nine holes of practice with Meg Mallon, Liselotte Neumann and 17-year-old Paula Creamer. All of them hammered drives on the 16th, a par-4 that is 439 yards.

All of them reached for fairway metals, and all of them barely cleared a creek in front of the green. The closing hole is no bargain at 412 yards. Lorena Ochoa had to rip a 3-wood to give herself a birdie putt.

Annika Sorenstam is trying to win her second major in three weeks. Grace Park also is going after her second major of the year, while Juli Inkster, Karrie Webb and Se Ri Pak also expected to contend.

A record 16 teenagers are in the field. Michelle Wie is getting most of the attention because the USGA gave her an exemption from qualifying.

But Wie, Creamer, 17-year-old Jane Park and 18-year-old Aree Song all have the game to win.