Women's British Open

The Women's British Open 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 Sophia Popov, who won by two strokes at Royal Troon Golf Club in 2020.

Women's British Open
Tournament information
LocationUnited Kingdom
Established1976, 45 years ago
Course(s)varies; Royal Troon Golf Club, Old Course (in 2020)
South Ayrshire, Scotland
Par71 (in 2020)
Length7,175 yards (6,561 m) (in 2020)
Organized byThe R&A
Tour(s)LPGA Tour (1984, 1994–)
LET (1979–)
FormatStroke play
Prize fund$4,500,000
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
Sophia Popov
2020 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.[1] In July 2020, the sponsorship agreement with AIG was extended through to 2025; as part of the deal the championship was rebranded, removing the word "British", as the AIG Women's Open.[2]

History
The practice green at Sunningdale Golf Club in 2008.

The Women's British Open was established by the Ladies' Golf Union in 1976 and was intended to serve as the women's equivalent of The Open Championship. 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.

In the 2010s, two additional Open Championship venues became first-time hosts for the women's event: Carnoustie (2011) and Royal Liverpool (2012). In 2020, Royal Troon hosted. The tournament has yet to be played at three Open Championship courses: Muirfield in Scotland, Royal St. George's in southeastern England, and Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

Unlike its male counterpart, the Women's British 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 in Canada. 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 multiple winners as a major championship. 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
YearDatesChampionCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-upPurse
($)		Winner's
share ($)		Ref
202020–23 AugSophia Popov GermanyRoyal Troon, Old Course277−72 strokes Thidapa Suwannapura4,500,000675,000
20191–4 AugHinako Shibuno JapanWoburn, Marquess Course270−181 stroke Lizette Salas4,500,000675,000
20182–5 AugGeorgia Hall EnglandRoyal Lytham & St Annes271−172 strokes Pornanong Phatlum3,250,000490,000
20173–6 AugIn-Kyung Kim South KoreaKingsbarns270−182 strokes Jodi Ewart Shadoff3,250,000504,821
201628–31 JulAriya Jutanugarn ThailandWoburn, Marquess Course272−163 strokes Mirim Lee
Mo Martin		3,000,000412,047
201530 Jul – 2 AugInbee Park South KoreaTurnberry Ailsa276−123 strokes Ko Jin-young3,000,000464,817
201410–13 JulMo Martin United StatesRoyal Birkdale287−11 stroke Shanshan Feng
Suzann Pettersen		3,000,000474,575
20131–4 AugStacy Lewis United StatesSt Andrews280−82 strokes Na Yeon Choi
Hee Young Park		2,750,000402,583
201213–16 SepJiyai Shin South KoreaRoyal Liverpool279−99 strokes Inbee Park2,750,000428,650
201128–31 JulYani Tseng TaiwanCarnoustie272−164 strokes Brittany Lang2,500,000392,133
201029 Jul – 1 AugYani Tseng TaiwanRoyal Birkdale277−111 stroke Katherine Hull2,500,000408,714
200930 Jul – 2 AugCatriona Matthew ScotlandRoyal Lytham & St Annes285−33 strokes Karrie Webb2,200,000335,000
200831 Jul – 3 AugJiyai Shin South KoreaSunningdale270−183 strokes Yani Tseng2,100,000314,464
20072–5 AugLorena Ochoa MexicoSt Andrews287−54 strokes Maria Hjorth
Jee Young Lee		2,000,000320,512
20063–6 AugSherri Steinhauer United StatesRoyal Lytham & St Annes281−73 strokes Sophie Gustafson
Cristie Kerr		1,800,000305,440
200528–31 JulyJeong Jang South KoreaRoyal Birkdale272−164 strokes Sophie Gustafson1,800,000280,208
200429 July – 1 AugKaren Stupples EnglandSunningdale269−195 strokes Rachel Hetherington1,600,000290,880
200331 July – 3 AugAnnika Sörenstam SwedenRoyal Lytham & St Annes278−101 stroke Se Ri Pak1,600,000254,880
20028–11 AugKarrie Webb AustraliaTurnberry Ailsa273−152 strokes Michelle Ellis
Paula Martí		1,500,000236,383
20012–5 AugSe Ri Pak South KoreaSunningdale277−112 strokes Mi Hyun Kim1,500,000221,650
200017–20 AugSophie Gustafson SwedenRoyal Birkdale282−62 strokes Becky Iverson
Meg Mallon
Liselotte Neumann
Kirsty Taylor		1,250,000178,000
199912–15 AugSherri Steinhauer United StatesWoburn, Duke's Course283−51 stroke Annika Sörenstam1,000,000160,000
199813–16 AugSherri Steinhauer United StatesRoyal Lytham &
St Annes		292+41 stroke Brandie Burton
Sophie Gustafson		1,000,000162,000
199714–17 AugKarrie Webb AustraliaSunningdale269−198 strokes Rosie Jones900,000129,938
199615–18 AugEmilee Klein United StatesWoburn, Duke's Course277−117 strokes Amy Alcott
Penny Hammel		850,000124,000
199517–20 AugKarrie Webb AustraliaWoburn, Duke's Course278−106 strokes Annika Sörenstam
Jill McGill		600,00092,400
199411–14 AugLiselotte Neumann SwedenWoburn, Duke's Course280−83 strokes Annika Sörenstam500,00080,325
Weetabix Women's British Open
1993Karen Lunn AustraliaWoburn, Duke's Course2758 strokes Brandie Burton£300,000£50,000
1992Patty Sheehan United StatesWoburn, Duke's Course207[lower-alpha 1]3 strokes Corinne Dibnah£300,000£50,000
1991Penny Grice-Whittaker EnglandWoburn, Duke's Course2843 strokes Helen Alfredsson
Diane Barnard		£150,000£25,000
1990Helen Alfredsson SwedenWoburn, Duke's Course288Playoff[lower-alpha 2] Jane Hill£130,000£20,000
1989Jane Geddes United StatesFerndown2742 strokes Florence Descampe£120,000£18,000[3]
1988Corinne Dibnah AustraliaLindrick295Playoff[lower-alpha 3] Sally Little£100,000£15,000
1987Alison Nicholas EnglandSt Mellion2961 stroke Laura Davies
Muffin Spencer-Devlin		£100,000£15,000[4]
Women's British Open
1986Laura Davies EnglandRoyal Birkdale2834 strokes Peggy Conley
Marta Figueras-Dotti		£60,000£9,000[5]
Burberry Women's British Open
1985Betsy King United StatesMoor Park3002 strokes Marta Figueras-Dotti£60,000£9,000[6]
Hitachi Women's British Open
1984Ayako Okamoto JapanWoburn, Duke's Course28911 strokes Betsy King
Dale Reid		£160,000[lower-alpha 4]£24,000[7]
1983Cancelled[8]
Pretty Polly Women's British Open
1982Marta Figueras-Dotti (a) SpainRoyal Birkdale2961 stroke Rosie Jones
Jenny Lee Smith		£23,000(£6,000)[9]
1981Debbie Massey United StatesNorthumberland2954 strokes Belle Robertson (a)£19,000£5,600[10]
1980Debbie Massey United StatesWentworth2941 stroke Marta Figueras-Dotti (a)
Belle Robertson (a)		£15,000£4,500[11]
1979Alison Sheard South AfricaSouthport & Ainsdale3013 strokes Mickey Walker£10,000£3,000[12]
1978Janet Melville (a) EnglandFoxhills3102 strokes Wilma Aikten (a)(£1,000)[13]
Women's British Open
1977Vivien Saunders EnglandLindrick306Countback[lower-alpha 5] Mary Everard (a)£500£210[14]
1976Jenny Lee Smith (a) EnglandFulford2992 strokes Mary McKenna (a)(£210)[15]

(a) denotes amateur

Source for later tournaments:[16]
  1. In 1992 the second day was washed-out and the event reduced to 54 holes.
  2. Alfredsson won with a par at the fourth extra hole.
  3. Dibnah won with a birdie at the second extra hole.
  4. 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.
  5. 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 2020):

Future venues
YearEditionCourseLocationDatesPreviously hosted
2021[17]45thCarnoustie Golf LinksCarnoustie, Angus, ScotlandTBD2011
2022[17]46thMuirfieldGullane, East Lothian, ScotlandTBD
2023[17]47thWalton Heath Golf ClubWalton-on-the-Hill, Surrey, EnglandTBD
2024[17]48thOld Course at St AndrewsSt Andrews, Fife, ScotlandTBD2007, 2013
2025[17]49thRoyal Porthcawl Golf Club[lower-alpha 1]Porthcawl, Bridgend, WalesTBD
  1. Originally scheduled to host in 2021.[18]

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.[19]

References
  1. "Championship History". Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  2. "Women's Open drops 'British' from title in sponsorship rebrand". BBC Sport. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  3. "Descampe charges but Geddes is champion". The Glasgow Herald. 7 August 1989. p. 18.
  4. "Nicholas breaks through at last". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1987. p. 10.
  5. "Laura outscores foreign invaders". The Glasgow Herald. 13 October 1986. p. 10.
  6. "Miss King begins a new reign". The Glasgow Herald. 7 October 1985. p. 8.
  7. "Dale deserves prize for her lone battle". The Glasgow Herald. 8 October 1984. p. 17.
  8. "Hitachi pull the plug". The Guardian. 12 March 1983. p. 13. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Professional win for a new Spanish graduate". The Glasgow Herald. 2 August 1982. p. 15.
  10. "Debbie pulls away from the field". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1981. p. 15.
  11. "Belle second with a 69". The Glasgow Herald. 28 July 1980. p. 13.
  12. "Birdie finish gives Alison British title". The Glasgow Herald. 30 July 1979. p. 15.
  13. "Janet in youngest British champion". The Glasgow Herald. 29 July 1978. p. 15.
  14. "Vivien's title on last 18". The Glasgow Herald. 3 September 1977. p. 16.
  15. "Sandra's hopes dashed". The Glasgow Herald. 4 September 1976. p. 14.
  16. "Ricoh Women's British Open Past Winners". LPGA. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  17. Stafford, Ali (19 August 2020). "AIG Women's Open: Muirfield among three new venues for the major". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  18. "Royal Porthcawl set for AIG Women's British Open debut in 2021". Today's Gofler. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  19. https://issuu.com/lgucl/docs/lguyearbook2016 LGU 2016 Yearbook
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