Kim In-kyung is the defending champion at the Women's British Open, due to take place at Royal Lytham and St. Annes ©Getty Images

South Korea's Kim In-kyung will seek a successful title defence when the Women's British Open begins at Royal Lytham and St. Annes tomorrow.

Kim is set to lead a strong South Korean challenge at an event which is the fourth of this year's five women's majors.

Her team-mates will include world number two Inbee Park and reigning women's Professional Golf Association champion Sung Hyun Park.

Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn starts as the world number one as she seeks to build on her US Open and Scottish Open successes this year.

Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg will be a major European challenger after her ANA Inspiration success this year.

Americans Michelle Wie, Stacy Lewis and Paula Creamer and China's Shanshan Feng will be other contenders.

The home British challenge will be led by Charley Hull and Catriona Matthew. 

Britain's Catriona Matthew celebrates with her daughters after her success at the Women's British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in 2009 only two months after giving birth ©Getty Images
Britain's Catriona Matthew celebrates with her daughters after her success at the Women's British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in 2009 only two months after giving birth ©Getty Images

Scotland's Matthew won her only major title at Lytham in 2009 two months after giving birth.

The British Open has been contested since 1976 and has been a Ladies Professional Golf Association Major since 2001.

Jutanugarn also claimed the 2016 British Open title.

The competition is taking place at the iconic Lancashire links course for the fouth time.

Action is due to begin tomorrow and continue until Sunday (August 5).