Women's British Open

The Women's Open (originally known as the Women's British Open, and still widely referred to by that name outside the UK) is a major championship in women's professional golf. It is recognised by both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour as a major. The reigning champion is Lilia Vu, who won at Walton Heath Golf Club in 2023.

The AIG Women's Open
Tournament information
LocationUnited Kingdom
Established1976, 47 years ago
Course(s)varies; Walton Heath Golf Club (2023)
Surrey, England
Par72 (in 2023)
Length6,881 yards (6,292 m) (2023)
Organised byThe R&A
Tour(s)LPGA Tour (1984, 1994–)
LET (1979–)
FormatStroke play
Prize fund$9,000,000[1]
€8,166,915
£7,053,622[2]
Month playedAugust
Tournament record score
Aggregate269 Karrie Webb (1997)
269 Karen Stupples (2004)
To par−19 Karrie Webb (1997)
−19 Karen Stupples (2004)
Current champion
United States Lilia Vu
2023 Women's British Open

Since becoming an LPGA major in 2001 it has generally been played in late July or early August. The 2012 edition was scheduled for mid-September, due to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, while the 2014 event was played in mid-July, the week prior to the Open Championship.

In 2019 it was known as the AIG Women's British Open. From 2007 to 2018, it was called the Ricoh Women's British Open while the previous twenty editions (1987–2006) were sponsored by Weetabix, a breakfast cereal.[3] In July 2020, the sponsorship agreement with AIG was extended through to 2025; as part of the deal the championship was rebranded by The R&A (which has organised the event since 2017) by removing the "British" qualifier, in line with The R&A's men's and senior men's championships, as the AIG Women's Open.[4]

History
The practice green at Sunningdale Golf Club in 2008.

The first Women's British Open was played in 1976 when the Ladies' British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship was extended to include professionals. The Amateur Stroke Play Championship had been organised by the Ladies' Golf Union since 1969. In early 1976 two professionals, Vivien Saunders and Gwen Brandom, and the LGU, agreed that the event would be opened up to professionals, with Saunders and Brandom providing £200 in prize money for the professionals.[5][6] Eventually total prize money was £500, with five professionals competing in the event.[7] An amateur, Jenny Lee Smith, won the event with Saunders the leading professional, tying for fourth place.[8] Saunders won the event in 1977 on "countback", having tied with Mary Everard but having the better final round, 76 to Everard's 79.[9] Janet Melville won in 1978, with Saunders again the leading professional and taking the first prize of £1,000.[10] Just four professionals competed.[11]

From 1979 the event was separated from the Stroke Play Championship, which returned to being an amateur-only event. Prize money of £10,000, and a first prize of £3,000, attracted a larger number of professionals. At first, it was difficult for the organisers to get the most prestigious courses to agree to host the event, with the exception of Royal Birkdale, which hosted it twice during its early days — in 1982 and 1986. After nearly folding in 1983, the tournament was held at the best of the "second-tier" courses, including Woburn Golf and Country Club for seven straight years, 1990 through 1996, as well as in 1984 and 1999.

As its prestige continued to increase, more of the links courses that are in the rotation for The Open Championship, such as Turnberry (2002) and Royal Lytham & St Annes (1998, 2003, 2006) hosted the tournament, in addition to Royal Birkdale (2000, 2005, 2010). In 2007, the tournament took place at the Old Course at St Andrews for the first time.

Since 2010, four additional Open Championship venues became first-time hosts for the women's event: Carnoustie (2011), Royal Liverpool (2012), Royal Troon (2020, year where only women had The Open), and Muirfield (2022). The tournament has yet to be played at two Open Championship courses: Royal St. George's in southeastern England, and Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. Currently, Turnberry is unable to be on the Open rota because of political ramifications of former President of the United States Donald Trump.

Unlike its male counterpart, the Women's Open has not adopted a links-only policy. This greatly increases the number of potential venues, especially the number close to the major population centres of England. Following the 2017 merger of the Ladies Golf Union with The R&A, the tournament is now organised by the same organisation as the men's tournament.

Through 1993, the tournament was an official stop only on the Ladies European Tour, with the exception of the 1984 edition, which was co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour. Starting in 1994, it became a permanent LPGA Tour event, which increased both the quality of the field and the event's prestige. It has been an official LPGA major since 2001, when it replaced the du Maurier Classic, which lost its title sponsor because of sponsorship regulations. In 2005, the starting field size was increased to 150, but only the low 65 (plus ties) survive the cut after the second round. In both 2007 and 2008 the prize fund was £1.05 million. Starting in 2009, the prize fund changed from being fixed in pounds to U.S. dollars.

Tied for most victories in the Women's British Open with three each are Karrie Webb of Australia and Sherri Steinhauer of the United States. Both won the tournament twice before it became an LPGA major and once after. Yani Tseng of Taiwan and Jiyai Shin of South Korea are the only multiple winners of the championship as a major.[12] The other multiple winner is Debbie Massey of the U.S., with consecutive wins (1980 and 1981) well before it was an LPGA co-sanctioned event.

Winners
See also: List of Women's British Open champions
YearDatesChampionVenueScoreTo parMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-upPurse
($)		Winner's
share ($)		Ref
AIG Women's Open
202310–13 AugUnited States Lilia VuWalton Heath274−146 strokesEngland Charley Hull9,000,0001,350,000
20224–7 AugSouth Africa Ashleigh BuhaiMuirfield274−10Playoff[lower-alpha 1]South Korea Chun In-gee7,300,0001,095,000
202119–22 AugSweden Anna NordqvistCarnoustie, Championship276−121 strokeEngland Georgia Hall
Sweden Madelene Sagström
United States Lizette Salas		5,800,000870,000
202020–23 AugGermany Sophia PopovRoyal Troon, Old Course277−72 strokesThailand Thidapa Suwannapura4,500,000675,000
AIG Women's British Open
20191–4 AugJapan Hinako ShibunoWoburn, Marquess Course270−181 strokeUnited States Lizette Salas4,500,000675,000
Ricoh Women's British Open
20182–5 AugEngland Georgia HallRoyal Lytham & St Annes271−172 strokesThailand Pornanong Phatlum3,250,000490,000
20173–6 AugSouth Korea In-Kyung KimKingsbarns270−182 strokesEngland Jodi Ewart Shadoff3,250,000504,821
201628–31 JulThailand Ariya JutanugarnWoburn, Marquess Course272−163 strokesSouth Korea Mirim Lee
United States Mo Martin		3,000,000412,047
201530 Jul – 2 AugSouth Korea Inbee ParkTurnberry276−123 strokesSouth Korea Ko Jin-young3,000,000464,817
201410–13 JulUnited States Mo MartinRoyal Birkdale287−11 strokeChina Shanshan Feng
Norway Suzann Pettersen		3,000,000474,575
20131–4 AugUnited States Stacy LewisSt Andrews280−82 strokesSouth Korea Na Yeon Choi
South Korea Hee Young Park		2,750,000402,583
201213–16 SepSouth Korea Jiyai ShinRoyal Liverpool279−99 strokesSouth Korea Inbee Park2,750,000428,650
201128–31 JulTaiwan Yani TsengCarnoustie272−164 strokesUnited States Brittany Lang2,500,000392,133
Women's British Open
201029 Jul – 1 AugTaiwan Yani TsengRoyal Birkdale277−111 strokeAustralia Katherine Hull2,500,000408,714
200930 Jul – 2 AugScotland Catriona MatthewRoyal Lytham & St Annes285−33 strokesAustralia Karrie Webb2,200,000335,000
200831 Jul – 3 AugSouth Korea Jiyai ShinSunningdale270−183 strokesTaiwan Yani Tseng2,100,000314,464
20072–5 AugMexico Lorena Ochoa St Andrews287−54 strokesSweden Maria Hjorth
South Korea Jee Young Lee		2,000,000320,512
20063–6 AugUnited States Sherri SteinhauerRoyal Lytham & St Annes281−73 strokesSweden Sophie Gustafson
United States Cristie Kerr		1,800,000305,440
200528–31 JulySouth Korea Jeong JangRoyal Birkdale272−164 strokesSweden Sophie Gustafson1,800,000280,208
200429 July – 1 AugEngland Karen StupplesSunningdale269−195 strokesAustralia Rachel Hetherington1,600,000290,880
200331 July – 3 AugSweden Annika SörenstamRoyal Lytham & St Annes278−101 strokeSouth Korea Se Ri Pak1,600,000254,880
20028–11 AugAustralia Karrie WebbTurnberry273−152 strokesAustralia Michelle Ellis
Spain Paula Martí		1,500,000236,383
20012–5 AugSouth Korea Se Ri PakSunningdale277−112 strokesSouth Korea Mi Hyun Kim1,500,000221,650
200017–20 AugSweden Sophie GustafsonRoyal Birkdale282−62 strokesUnited States Becky Iverson
United States Meg Mallon
Sweden Liselotte Neumann
England Kirsty Taylor		1,250,000178,000
199912–15 AugUnited States Sherri SteinhauerWoburn, Duke's Course283−51 strokeSweden Annika Sörenstam1,000,000160,000
199813–16 AugUnited States Sherri SteinhauerRoyal Lytham & St Annes292+41 strokeUnited States Brandie Burton
Sweden Sophie Gustafson		1,000,000162,000
199714–17 AugAustralia Karrie WebbSunningdale269−198 strokesUnited States Rosie Jones900,000129,938
199615–18 AugUnited States Emilee KleinWoburn, Duke's Course277−117 strokesUnited States Amy Alcott
United States Penny Hammel		850,000124,000
199517–20 AugAustralia Karrie WebbWoburn, Duke's Course278−106 strokesSweden Annika Sörenstam
United States Jill McGill		600,00092,400
199411–14 AugSweden Liselotte NeumannWoburn, Duke's Course280−83 strokesSweden Annika Sörenstam500,00080,325
Weetabix Women's British Open
1993Australia Karen LunnWoburn, Duke's Course2758 strokesUnited States Brandie Burton£300,000£50,000
1992United States Patty SheehanWoburn, Duke's Course207[lower-alpha 2]3 strokesAustralia Corinne Dibnah£300,000£50,000
1991England Penny Grice-WhittakerWoburn, Duke's Course2843 strokesSweden Helen Alfredsson
England Diane Barnard		£150,000£25,000
1990Sweden Helen AlfredssonWoburn, Duke's Course288Playoff[lower-alpha 3]Zimbabwe Jane Hill£130,000£20,000
1989United States Jane GeddesFerndown2742 strokesBelgium Florence Descampe£120,000£18,000[13]
1988Australia Corinne DibnahLindrick295Playoff[lower-alpha 4]United States Sally Little£100,000£15,000
1987England Alison NicholasSt Mellion2961 strokeEngland Laura Davies
United States Muffin Spencer-Devlin		£100,000£15,000[14]
Women's British Open
1986England Laura DaviesRoyal Birkdale2834 strokesUnited States Peggy Conley
Spain Marta Figueras-Dotti		£60,000£9,000[15]
Burberry Women's British Open
1985United States Betsy KingMoor Park3002 strokesSpain Marta Figueras-Dotti£60,000£9,000[16]
Hitachi Women's British Open
1984Japan Ayako OkamotoWoburn, Duke's Course28911 strokesUnited States Betsy King
Scotland Dale Reid		£160,000[lower-alpha 5]£24,000[17]
1983Cancelled[18]
Pretty Polly Women's British Open
1982Spain Marta Figueras-Dotti (a)Royal Birkdale2961 strokeUnited States Rosie Jones
England Jenny Lee Smith		£23,000(£6,000)[19]
1981United States Debbie MasseyNorthumberland2954 strokesScotland Belle Robertson (a)£19,000£5,600[20]
1980United States Debbie MasseyWentworth2941 strokeSpain Marta Figueras-Dotti (a)
Scotland Belle Robertson (a)		£15,000£4,500[21]
1979South Africa Alison SheardSouthport & Ainsdale3013 strokesEngland Mickey Walker£10,000£3,000[22]
Women's British Open
1978England Janet Melville (a)Foxhills3102 strokesScotland Wilma Aitken (a)(£1,000)[10]
1977England Vivien SaundersLindrick Golf Club306Countback[lower-alpha 6]England Mary Everard (a)£500£210[9]
1976England Jenny Lee Smith (a)Fulford2992 strokesRepublic of Ireland Mary McKenna (a)£500(£210)[8]

(a) denotes amateur

Source for later tournaments:[23]
  1. Buhai won with a par at the fourth extra hole.
  2. In 1992 the second day was washed-out and the event reduced to 54 holes.
  3. Alfredsson won with a par at the fourth extra hole.
  4. Dibnah won with a birdie at the second extra hole.
  5. Tournament was co-sanctioned by the LET and LPGA Tour. Prize money for this event was in US dollars; £ values here are based on an exchange rate of $1.25–£1.
  6. Saunders won the title because she had a better last round; 76 to Everard's 79.

Host courses

The Women's Open has been played at the following courses, listed in order of number of times hosted (as of 2023):

Future venues
YearEditionCourseLocationDatesPreviously hosted
2024[24]48thSt Andrews Links (Old Course)St Andrews, Fife, Scotland22―25 August2007, 2013
2025[24]49thRoyal Porthcawl Golf Club[lower-alpha 1]Porthcawl, Bridgend, WalesTBD
  1. Originally scheduled to host in 2021.[25]

Smyth Salver

The Smyth Salver is awarded to the leading amateur, provided that the player completes all 72 holes, for one year. The winner also receives a silver medal. The salver was donated by Moira Smyth, a past president of the Ladies' Golf Union.[26]

References
  1. Hall, Mike (9 August 2023). "AIG Women's Open Purse And Prize Money 2023". Golf Monthly. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  2. "Currency converter". xe.com. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. "Championship History". Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  4. "Women's Open drops 'British' from title in sponsorship rebrand". BBC Sport. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  5. "Women put up own prize money". The Glasgow Herald. 1 July 1976. p. 15.
  6. "Julia Greenhalgh". The Glasgow Herald. 1 September 1976. p. 15.
  7. "Sandra's challenge fades". The Glasgow Herald. 3 September 1976. p. 23.
  8. "Sandra's hopes dashed". The Glasgow Herald. 4 September 1976. p. 14.
  9. "Vivien's title on last 18". The Glasgow Herald. 3 September 1977. p. 16.
  10. "Janet in youngest British champion". The Glasgow Herald. 29 July 1978. p. 15.
  11. "Cathy's 79 is fine as open scores rocket". The Glasgow Herald. 27 July 1978. p. 14.
  12. "She's Back in the Picture". www.golfdigest.com. Golf Digest. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  13. "Descampe charges but Geddes is champion". The Glasgow Herald. 7 August 1989. p. 18.
  14. "Nicholas breaks through at last". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1987. p. 10.
  15. "Laura outscores foreign invaders". The Glasgow Herald. 13 October 1986. p. 10.
  16. "Miss King begins a new reign". The Glasgow Herald. 7 October 1985. p. 8.
  17. "Dale deserves prize for her lone battle". The Glasgow Herald. 8 October 1984. p. 17.
  18. "Hitachi pull the plug". The Guardian. 12 March 1983. p. 13. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Professional win for a new Spanish graduate". The Glasgow Herald. 2 August 1982. p. 15.
  20. "Debbie pulls away from the field". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1981. p. 15.
  21. "Belle second with a 69". The Glasgow Herald. 28 July 1980. p. 13.
  22. "Birdie finish gives Alison British title". The Glasgow Herald. 30 July 1979. p. 15.
  23. "Ricoh Women's British Open Past Winners". LPGA. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  24. Stafford, Ali (19 August 2020). "AIG Women's Open: Muirfield among three new venues for the major". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  25. "Royal Porthcawl set for AIG Women's British Open debut in 2021". Today's Gofler. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  26. https://issuu.com/lgucl/docs/lguyearbook2016 LGU 2016 Yearbook
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