AIG Women’s Open: How a major goes ‘invisibly’ ahead of 50th anniversary at Royal Lytham and St Annes | Golf News
When the AIG Women’s Open was first launched 50 years ago, the field was made up of mostly uneducated people and the prize money – for the entire tournament – was just £500.
Fast forward half a century and the tournament is no stranger to the one Jenny Lee Smith won at Fulford Golf Club in 1976, as it has evolved into one of the biggest events in the golfing calendar.
Although the first edition saw professionals Vivien Saunders and Gwen Brandom among those donating their money to the prize fund, the competition has gone from strength to strength thanks to improved infrastructure and increased purses.
The star-studded field returns to Royal Lytham and St Annes for the 50th edition this week, live from Thursday on Sky Sportswhere the world’s best will challenge for the ultimate honor and a $1.5m (£1.25m) winner’s share of the $10m (£7.5m) prize fund.
“I haven’t seen it since I’ve been playing it,” Dame Laura Davies, who set a record 43 consecutive AIG Women’s Open appearances, said. Sky Sports. “It’s no longer an add-on, it’s a major golf tournament in its own right and a great event.”
From early challenges to great history
More than 50,000 fans are expected at Royal Lytham and St Annes throughout the week of the tournament, breaking the respective attendance records of the previous three editions, while AIG have more than tripled their prize since becoming title sponsors.
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Watch highlights of the 2025 AIG Women’s Open title, where Miyu Yamashita scored a huge victory.
The bad start in the history of this tournament saw it not having a sponsor until 1979 and at first it was difficult to attract places to host this event, and the one in 1983 was canceled due to lack of funds and left its future in jeopardy.
The LPGA Tour had it as part of its 1984 schedule but it didn’t run again for ten years, with Burberry (1985) and Weetabix (1987-1993) among the sponsors at the time, the tournament taking time to grow in stature.
“My very first Open was in 1980 at Wentworth on the East Course, then we went up to Newcastle (1981) and there was nobody there,” added Davies. “Then we went to Woburn for a long time and the shows were really good.
Dame Laura Davies won the event in 1986, before she became a grandfather, and will make her appearance in 2023.
“I won my Women’s Open at Royal Birkdale (1986) and I think there were a couple of hundred people going in the last round, so you can’t compare it to how it is now – it’s grown a lot.”
The tournament was first recognized as a major in 2001, replacing the event now known as the Canadian Women’s Open, while it was first organized directly by the R&A – not the Ladies’ Golf Union – in 2017.
The Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Royal Troon are all listed on The Open and were the most recent venues for the AIG Women’s Open, while additional TV coverage and venues for award-winning players have helped the tournament to grow.
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Highlights from the final round of the 2024 AIG Women’s Open, where Lydia Ko impressed to win at St Andrews
“I think the biggest thing is that we go to all these great links courses,” Davies explained. “Obviously the prize money is a big thing and it goes up every year, which the players like, but it’s also the resources.
“When you get there and you see the infrastructure, the players’ lounge and the players’ facilities, it just puts you at ease and makes you feel special. Everyone is looked up to as a player and does a good job.
“Obviously having more women on TV now helps, because people want to come and see the actors they see on TV, and you’ve seen how smart the gallery is and how much they’ve grown. I can’t say anything bad about this event!”
A big week ahead at Royal Lytham…and another British winner?
The fielding of the team will provide three hours of extra work in the first two rounds of the women’s major tournament of the year, with Nelly Korda looking to complete a career Grand Slam and Haeran Ryu chasing a third straight major title.
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Highlights from the US Women’s Open, where Nelly Korda registered her second consecutive major title
The last two winners of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham have both been British, Georgia Hall’s 2018 success follows Catriona Matthew’s victory in 2009, and Charley Hull and Lottie Woad are among those looking to extend that success on home soil.
“I spoke to a few musicians who were at Royal Birkdale [for The Open] and they were there [Royal Lytham] – they said it was really tough,” said Davies. “The Bunkers are going to be a nightmare, because they are a lot tougher than Royal Birkdale.
“Hull has never been in contention for the Evian Championship and we’ll have to wait and see if his course management works here. He’s going to win big points – he’s too good not to.”
“What I hear from all the other caddies is Lottie [Woad]you are really strong. He is not flashy, he has a really good spirit and does everything his way. If you can have that kind of attitude, then it’s a big thing.”
Who will win the AIG Women’s Open? Watch all week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening round begins on Thursday with Featured Teams from 9am, before full coverage from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf.
