Women's British Open

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Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 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 Miyū Yamashita, who won at the 2025 tournament.

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 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.[2]

History

File:Sunningdale GC clubhouse as photographed during the 2008 Ricoh Women's British Open.jpg
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.[3][4] Eventually total prize money was £500, with five professionals competing in the event.[5] An amateur, Jenny Lee Smith, won the event with Saunders the leading professional, tying for fourth place.[6] Saunders won the event in 1977 on "countback", having tied with Mary Everard but having the better final round, 76 to Everard's 79.[7] Janet Melville won in 1978, with Saunders again the leading professional and taking the first prize of £1,000.[8] Just four professionals competed.[9]

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 its owner, the current President of the United States, Donald Trump (who has hosted LIV Golf tournaments on his courses; the owner of that tour, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, organises the Ladies European Tour's Aramco Team Series tournaments).

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, both the men's and women's Opens are operated by The R&A.[10]

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 Canadian Women's Open, which lost its title sponsor because of tobacco 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.[11] 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

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Year Dates Champion Venue Score To par Margin
of victory		 Runner(s)-up Purse
($)		 Winner's
share ($)		 Ref
AIG Women's Open
2025 31 Jul – 3 Aug Template:Flagicon Miyū Yamashita Royal Porthcawl 277 –11 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Charley Hull
Template:Flagicon Minami Katsu		 9,750,000 1,462,500
2024 22–25 Aug Template:Flagicon Lydia Ko St Andrews 281 −7 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Nelly Korda
Template:Flagicon Jiyai Shin
Template:Flagicon Lilia Vu
Template:Flagicon Ruoning Yin		 9,000,000 1,350,000
2023 10–13 Aug Template:Flagicon Lilia Vu Walton Heath 274 −14 6 strokes Template:Flagicon Charley Hull 9,000,000 1,350,000
2022 4–7 Aug Template:Flagicon Ashleigh Buhai Muirfield 274 −10 PlayoffTemplate:Efn Template:Flagicon Chun In-gee 7,300,000 1,095,000
2021 19–22 Aug Template:Flagicon Anna Nordqvist Carnoustie, Championship 276 −12 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Georgia Hall
Template:Flagicon Madelene Sagström
Template:Flagicon Lizette Salas		 5,800,000 870,000
2020 20–23 Aug Template:Flagicon Sophia Popov Royal Troon, Old Course 277 −7 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Thidapa Suwannapura 4,500,000 675,000
AIG Women's British Open
2019 1–4 Aug Template:Flagicon Hinako Shibuno Woburn, Marquess Course 270 −18 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Lizette Salas 4,500,000 675,000
Ricoh Women's British Open
2018 2–5 Aug Template:Flagicon Georgia Hall Royal Lytham & St Annes 271 −17 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Pornanong Phatlum 3,250,000 490,000
2017 3–6 Aug Template:Flagicon In-Kyung Kim Kingsbarns 270 −18 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Jodi Ewart Shadoff 3,250,000 504,821
2016 28–31 Jul Template:Flagicon Ariya Jutanugarn Woburn, Marquess Course 272 −16 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Mirim Lee
Template:Flagicon Mo Martin		 3,000,000 412,047
2015 30 Jul – 2 Aug Template:Flagicon Inbee Park Turnberry 276 −12 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Ko Jin-young 3,000,000 464,817
2014 10–13 Jul Template:Flagicon Mo Martin Royal Birkdale 287 −1 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Shanshan Feng
Template:Flagicon Suzann Pettersen		 3,000,000 474,575
2013 1–4 Aug Template:Flagicon Stacy Lewis St Andrews 280 −8 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Na Yeon Choi
Template:Flagicon Hee Young Park		 2,750,000 402,583
2012 13–16 Sep Template:Flagicon Jiyai Shin Royal Liverpool 279 −9 9 strokes Template:Flagicon Inbee Park 2,750,000 428,650
2011 28–31 Jul Template:Flagicon Yani Tseng Carnoustie 272 −16 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Brittany Lang 2,500,000 392,133
Women's British Open
2010 29 Jul – 1 Aug Template:Flagicon Yani Tseng Royal Birkdale 277 −11 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Katherine Hull 2,500,000 408,714
2009 30 Jul – 2 Aug Template:Flagicon Catriona Matthew Royal Lytham & St Annes 285 −3 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Karrie Webb 2,200,000 335,000
2008 31 Jul – 3 Aug Template:Flagicon Jiyai Shin Sunningdale 270 −18 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Yani Tseng 2,100,000 314,464
2007 2–5 Aug Template:Flagicon Lorena Ochoa St Andrews 287 −5 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Maria Hjorth
Template:Flagicon Jee Young Lee		 2,000,000 320,512
2006 3–6 Aug Template:Flagicon Sherri Steinhauer Royal Lytham & St Annes 281 −7 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Sophie Gustafson
Template:Flagicon Cristie Kerr		 1,800,000 305,440
2005 28–31 July Template:Flagicon Jeong Jang Royal Birkdale 272 −16 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Sophie Gustafson 1,800,000 280,208
2004 29 July – 1 Aug Template:Flagicon Karen Stupples Sunningdale 269 −19 5 strokes Template:Flagicon Rachel Hetherington 1,600,000 290,880
2003 31 July – 3 Aug Template:Flagicon Annika Sörenstam Royal Lytham & St Annes 278 −10 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Se Ri Pak 1,600,000 254,880
2002 8–11 Aug Template:Flagicon Karrie Webb Turnberry 273 −15 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Michelle Ellis
Template:Flagicon Paula Martí		 1,500,000 236,383
2001 2–5 Aug Template:Flagicon Se Ri Pak Sunningdale 277 −11 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Mi Hyun Kim 1,500,000 221,650
2000 17–20 Aug Template:Flagicon Sophie Gustafson Royal Birkdale 282 −10 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Becky Iverson
Template:Flagicon Meg Mallon
Template:Flagicon Liselotte Neumann
Template:Flagicon Kirsty Taylor		 1,250,000 178,000
1999 12–15 Aug Template:Flagicon Sherri Steinhauer Woburn, Duke's Course 283 −9 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Annika Sörenstam 1,000,000 160,000
1998 13–16 Aug Template:Flagicon Sherri Steinhauer Royal Lytham & St Annes 292 +4 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Brandie Burton
Template:Flagicon Sophie Gustafson		 1,000,000 162,000
1997 14–17 Aug Template:Flagicon Karrie Webb Sunningdale 269 −19 8 strokes Template:Flagicon Rosie Jones 900,000 129,938
1996 15–18 Aug Template:Flagicon Emilee Klein Woburn, Duke's Course 277 −11 7 strokes Template:Flagicon Amy Alcott
Template:Flagicon Penny Hammel		 850,000 124,000
1995 17–20 Aug Template:Flagicon Karrie Webb Woburn, Duke's Course 278 −10 6 strokes Template:Flagicon Annika Sörenstam
Template:Flagicon Jill McGill		 600,000 92,400
1994 11–14 Aug Template:Flagicon Liselotte Neumann Woburn, Duke's Course 280 −8 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Annika Sörenstam 500,000 80,325
Weetabix Women's British Open
1993 Template:Flagicon Karen Lunn Woburn, Duke's Course 275 8 strokes Template:Flagicon Brandie Burton £300,000 £50,000
1992 Template:Flagicon Patty Sheehan Woburn, Duke's Course 207Template:Efn 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Corinne Dibnah £300,000 £50,000
1991 Template:Flagicon Penny Grice-Whittaker Woburn, Duke's Course 284 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Helen Alfredsson
Template:Flagicon Diane Barnard		 £150,000 £25,000
1990 Template:Flagicon Helen Alfredsson Woburn, Duke's Course 288 PlayoffTemplate:Efn Template:Flagicon Jane Hill £130,000 £20,000
1989 Template:Flagicon Jane Geddes Ferndown 274 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Florence Descampe £120,000 £18,000 [12]
1988 Template:Flagicon Corinne Dibnah Lindrick 295 PlayoffTemplate:Efn Template:Flagicon Sally Little £100,000 £15,000
1987 Template:Flagicon Alison Nicholas St Mellion 296 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Laura Davies
Template:Flagicon Muffin Spencer-Devlin		 £100,000 £15,000 [13]
Women's British Open
1986 Template:Flagicon Laura Davies Royal Birkdale 283 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Peggy Conley
Template:Flagicon Marta Figueras-Dotti		 £60,000 £9,000 [14]
Burberry Women's British Open
1985 Template:Flagicon Betsy King Moor Park 300 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Marta Figueras-Dotti £60,000 £9,000 [15]
Hitachi Ladies British Open
1984 Template:Flagicon Ayako Okamoto Woburn, Duke's Course 289 ｰ3 11 strokes Template:Flagicon Betsy King
Template:Flagicon Dale Reid		 £160,000Template:Efn £24,000 [16]
1983 Cancelled [17]
Pretty Polly Women's British Open
1982 Template:Flagicon Marta Figueras-Dotti (a) Royal Birkdale 296 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Rosie Jones
Template:Flagicon Jenny Lee Smith		 £23,000 (£6,000) [18]
1981 Template:Flagicon Debbie Massey Northumberland 295 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Belle Robertson (a) £19,000 £5,600 [19]
1980 Template:Flagicon Debbie Massey Wentworth 294 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Marta Figueras-Dotti (a)
Template:Flagicon Belle Robertson (a)		 £15,000 £4,500 [20]
1979 Template:Flagicon Alison Sheard Southport & Ainsdale 301 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Mickey Walker £10,000 £3,000 [21]
Women's British Open
1978 Template:Flagicon Janet Melville (a) Foxhills 310 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Wilma Aitken (a) (£1,000) [8]
1977 Template:Flagicon Vivien Saunders Lindrick Golf Club 306 CountbackTemplate:Efn Template:Flagicon Mary Everard (a) £500 £210 [7]
1976 Template:Flagicon Jenny Lee Smith (a) Fulford 299 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Mary McKenna (a) £500 (£210) [6]

(a) denotes amateur

Source for later tournaments:[22]

Template:Notelist

Host courses

The Women's Open has been played at the following courses, listed in order of number of times hosted (as of 2025):

Future venues

Year Edition Course Location Dates Previously hosted
2026[23] 50th Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England 29 July – 2 August 1998, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2018
2027[24] 51st Royal St George's Golf Club Sandwich, Kent, England 28 July – 1 August

Template:Notelist

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.[25]

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References

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  25. ↑ https://issuu.com/lgucl/docs/lguyearbook2016 LGU 2016 Yearbook

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External links

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  • Coverage on the LPGA official site
  • Coverage on the Ladies European Tour official site

Template:Women's British Open championships Script error: No such module "Navbox". Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Ladies European Tour Template:Golf

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