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England's Melissa Reid says she is calm going into this week's Women's British Open at Carnoustie having recorded her second tournament win.

Reid, 23, has five top-10 finishes on the Ladies European Tour this season and won the Dutch Open in June.

"The win in Holland came at a good time and I certainly feel that my game is much more mature than what it was a year ago," said the Derby golfer.

"My swing feels a lot better and I feel very calm about this week."

Reid is the second-highest ranked Briton in the field behind 2009 winner Catriona Matthew of Scotland - the last time a home player won the event.

Defending champion Yani Tseng leads the LPGA money list and is favourite with the bookmakers to win again.

"There is a lot of pressure this week," said Tseng. "But I love the course. Already, I think it is one of toughest and one of my favourites.

"There are so many ways to approach it. You can be aggressive, you can play safe and you need to be patient and imaginative."

Tseng said she was disappointed that the 18th, made famous when Frenchman Jean Van de Velde hit into the burn guarding the green and threw away the 1999 Open Championship, was made shorter.

The hole played 499 yards for the men's Open, but it is just 386 yards for the women. Overall, the course has been cut by around 900 yards to 6,490 yards.

"I was hitting just 80 yards for my second shot at the 18th and it's totally different (from the men's Open)," said the 22-year-old world number one from Taiwan.

"They have put all the bunkers out of play. For me, it would have been an advantage to be playing from further back. But a lot will depend on the wind. If it blows, it will still be tough."

Tseng has six victories this season and has won three of the past seven women's majors, finishing inside the top 20 on the other four occasions.

Paula Creamer, last year's US Women's Open Champion, was also surprised by the alteration to the final hole.

"I don't think it is playing they way it should be played," said the 24-year-old American.

"I did think the set-up would be more difficult. But it is the first time we have played here and I still love the course. It is hard but fair."

The last American to win the British Open was three-time champion Sherri Steinhauer in 2006. Steinhauer is one of nine former champions in the field that includes Laura Davies of England who won at Royal Birkdale in 1986, and Karrie Webb of Australia, also a victor on three previous occasions.