WELLINGTON — Major winner Pernilla Lindberg will become the first woman golfer to compete at the New Zealand Open on Thursday, ensuring her place in the 101-year-old tournament"s history regardless of results. The Swede, who won the 2018 ANA Inspiration, was invited to compete with the men after organizers learned she already had plans to visit Queenstown. Lindberg, ranked 178th in the women"s game, jumped at the chance to play in the picturesque South Island resort town where she married husband Daniel 12 months ago. "The opportunity to celebrate our first anniversary and combine it with a professional golf event was just too good to miss," the 33-year-old said. Tournament director Michael Glading said Lindberg"s presence was a bid to introduce "new ideas" to the event. "The fact that Pernilla is happy to come and compete in what is traditionally a men"s event makes this a very special addition to the tournament," he said. The NZ Open, co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, will be held at Millbrook Resort and The Hills from Thursday to Sunday. The first two days of the event are staged as a pro-am and will see Lindberg paired with All Blacks rugby star Beauden Barrett. Female golfers have struggled playing against men at professional level. Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie and Brittany Lincicome have all played men"s tournaments without success, although Wie did make the cut at an event in South Korea in 2006. Babe Zaharias back in 1945 remains the only woman to make the cut in a US PGA event. "I"m very realistic with expectations, it"s going to be tough competing against the guys," Lindberg told Newshub. She told The Listener magazine that her goal for the tournament, which features 156 professionals, was to "beat just one man". Bookmaker Paddypower has her as a 3,000-1 outsider to win the tournament, with the next tier of players on 1,000-1. Troon set to host 2023 British Open Royal Troon will host the 2023 British Open, 100 years after the Scottish course hosted for the first time, the R&A announced on Tuesday. Troon will host the Open for the 10th time and the first since a dazzling duel between Henrik Stenson and American great Phil Mickelson in 2016. The Swede won by three strokes to become the first Scandinavian to secure the famed Claret Jug. The 1923 edition was also closely-fought with Englishman Arthur Havers defeating American Walter Hagen by one stroke. "Royal Troon is one of the world"s greatest championships links," said Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient golf Club (R&A) which organises the Open. "It has produced many memorable moments throughout the history of The Open including the dramatic duel between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson that captivated millions of fans around the world in 2016. "We are very much looking forward to celebrating another milestone in the cherished history of The Open when we mark the 100th anniversary of the Championship first being played at Royal Troon. "It will be fascinating to see who will emerge from the world-class field to lift the Claret Jug in 2023."— AFP