Karen Stupples returns to the scene of her greatest golfing triumph on Thursday when she tees off in the first round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Sunningdale.

It was in 2004 that Stupples won the British Open title on the same Berkshire course, and her performances in America so far this year suggest that she is very capable of making another strong showing in the championship four years on.

The Deal 35-year-old is the leading British player on the US Women’s moneylist this year with earnings approaching $500,000, and Stupples says: "I honestly believe that I am a better player now than I was in 2004.

"Although I was swinging the club really well in 2004, I feel I am much more consistent now. Every time I go on to the course I expect to shoot nothing worse than two-under-par, and if I can cut that down just a little bit more I will be challenging for titles again."

Stupples’ preparations for the British Open suffered a setback when she was forced to withdraw from last week’s Evian Masters in France because of suspected tonsillitis.

That was due to be Stupples’ first appearance of the season on the European Tour, and she will hoping that some antibiotics do the trick as she takes on many of the world’s best women golfers at Sunningdale.