Perry Swenson will make history today when she becomes the first female professional to compete in the Bermuda Open.

The LPGA Futures Tour player from North Carolina is one of only two women to have entered the tournament, with Bermudian amateur Tariqah Walikraam also due to play.

And while Swenson is under no illusions as to her chances of winning the event, she's already thinking about coming back next year.

"It's kind of unheard of for girls to be playing in a guys' event, unless you're Michelle Wie or Anika Sorenstam," said Swenson. "I think it's a great challenge.

"Do I think I'm going to come out here and win the tournament? No. I'm really here because my season starts in March, it's cold in North Carolina, I really haven't played or practised in a month-and-a-half. This will give me a good chance to get some competition under my belt, see where I am with my game, see what I have to work on, and as long as I don't come in last I'll be happy."

For Swenson half the enjoyment is coming to the Island for the first time, and when she comes back she's planning on bringing enough friends to outnumber the men.

"I just think it's a great experience, I've never been here, it's really exciting to come to Bermuda," she said.

"I've told them (the BGA), they better watch out because next year I'm going to bring all my friends over, and it's going to turn into a women's event. They might have to start a whole new division.

"Next year, I have many friends who would love to come because really, for us, in the winter months there aren't really a whole lot of events to play in."

Not that Swenson is entirely counting herself out of this week's tournament just yet. The wind which has been battering the Island for the last few days could still level the playing field.

"If it's windy like it has been then it'll be pretty brutal," she said," and I think the windier the better for me.

"If it's perfect weather and sunny outside then all the scores are going to be low but at least if it's a little bit windy then people will have some trouble keeping it in play and it may equalise it a bit.

"And on a lot of the down wind holes it won't help the guys because they'll have to lay up and hit a four-iron off the tee-box, so the downwind holes help me because the guys can't hit it too far.

"Other than that I'm fortunate that the ground is quite dry here and I'm getting more role with my driver than I'm used too, so that shortens up some of the holes for me."

Swenson will begin her tournament alongside Bermuda professional Andrew Bissell, and Canadian Gord Burns.

Of the rest of the field, defending champion Brian McCann will again be among the favourites, especially after winning the Pro-Am yesterday, an achievement that came with a $1000 prize.

McCann will play his first round alongside Anthony Mocklow, the director of golf at the Fairmont Southampton and Riddell's Bay, and Canada pro Danny King.

Other contenders include senior tour professionals Delroy Cambridge and Graham Bannister, while the likes of Joe Horowitz, Tim Conley, Nationwide Tour player Brennan Webb, and Texan Jon Denny will all fancy their chances.

The honour of teeing off first today, however, goes to Bermuda's newest professional, Daniel Augustus, who will get things started alongside William Pugliese at –8 a.m..