The 2014 LPGA season kicks off in paradise this week at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.

The Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island hosts the event for the second year and features a star-studded field of 108 players competing over four days for a chance at a $195,000 first-place check and to etch their name on the tournament trophy.

Queenslanders Katherine Kirk (nee Hull)and Sarah Jane Smith are the only Australians kicking off their LPGA season on Paradise Island. The pair are looking to get there year off to a quick start.

Last year’s Pure Silk-Bahamas Classic winner Ilhee Lee joins five of the top 10 players in the Rolex Rankings, who are slated to be in the field this week including No. 2 Suzann Pettersen, and No. 3 Stacy Lewis.

Pettersen won four times in 2013 giving her 14 career victories while Lewis won three times last season.

Rolex Rankings No. 4 Lydia Ko will also be making her first appearance as an LPGA Tour member as she kicks off her rookie season in 2014.

Ko is certainly no stranger to winning either having captured victories at the past two CN Canadian Women’s Opens, both while still competing as an amateur.

Lee returns to defend her two-shot victory over Irene Cho in what turned out to be an unusual event for the LPGA Tour at the Ocean Club Golf Course.

Due to record torrential rain early in the week that caused much of the course to be unplayable, the Bahamas event in 2013 was shortened to a creative 12-hole layout and was contested over just three rounds.

The ISPS HANDA Women`s Australian Open is the second event of the year on the LPGA Tour schedule from 13-16 February.