Five-time champion Karrie Webb will face arguably the strongest field of the golf summer when she defends her Australian Open crown at Royal Melbourne.

Tournament director Trevor Herden is delighted by the quality of players entering the February 19-22 event, thanks in part to co-sanctioning deals with the US LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour.

“We have 15 of the top 30 players in the world rankings coming – it’s a great testament to the reputation we’ve built up in recent years,” Herden said.

The field currently includes 11 major winners and four former world No.1s in Webb, Yani Tseng, Ai Miyazato and Laura Davis, with high hopes that a fifth – 2013 champion Jiyai Shin – will join them.

The former No.1s face a huge challenge from the likes of 17-year-old New Zealand superstar Lydia Ko (world No.3) plus China’s Shanshan Feng (No.5) and South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu (No.7).

Adding to domestic interest will be Minjee Lee, with the West Australian teenager playing the Open as a professional for the first time after making a huge impression with her efforts against the pros on the ALPG Tour last summer.