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 Hinako Shibuno, who won by one stroke at Woburn Golf and Country Club in 2019.
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 were sponsored by Weetabix, a breakfast cereal. 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.

History

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 and Royal Lytham & St Annes hosted the tournament, in addition to Royal Birkdale. 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 and Royal Liverpool. The tournament has yet to be played at four Open Championship courses: Muirfield and Royal Troon 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 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, and is now $3.25 million.
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 well before it was an LPGA co-sanctioned event.

Winners

LPGA major championship

Winners of the championship as an LPGA major :
YearDatesChampionCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin
of victory		Runner-upPurse
Winner's
share
2020Aug 20–23Royal Troon, Old Course4,500,000675,000
2019Aug 1–4Hinako ShibunoWoburn, Marquess Course270−181 stroke Lizette Salas4,500,000675,000
2018Aug 2–5Georgia HallRoyal Lytham & St Annes271−172 strokes Pornanong Phatlum3,250,000490,000
2017Aug 3–6In-Kyung KimKingsbarns270−182 strokes Jodi Ewart Shadoff3,250,000504,821
2016Jul 28–31Ariya JutanugarnWoburn, Marquess Course272−163 strokes Mirim Lee
Mo Martin		3,000,000412,047
2015Jul 30 – Aug 2Inbee ParkTurnberry Ailsa276−123 strokes Ko Jin-young3,000,000464,817
2014Jul 10–13Mo MartinRoyal Birkdale287−11 stroke Shanshan Feng
Suzann Pettersen		3,000,000474,575
2013Aug 1–4Stacy LewisSt Andrews280−82 strokes Na Yeon Choi
Hee Young Park		2,750,000402,583
2012Sep 13–16Jiyai ShinRoyal Liverpool279−99 strokes Inbee Park2,750,000428,650
2011Jul 28–31Yani TsengCarnoustie272−164 strokes Brittany Lang2,500,000392,133
2010Jul 29 – Aug 1Yani TsengRoyal Birkdale277−111 stroke Katherine Hull2,500,000408,714
2009Jul 30 – Aug 2Catriona MatthewRoyal Lytham & St Annes285−33 strokes Karrie Webb2,200,000335,000
2008Jul 31 – Aug 3Jiyai ShinSunningdale270−183 strokes Yani Tseng2,100,000314,464
2007Aug 2–5Lorena OchoaSt Andrews287−54 strokes Maria Hjorth
Jee Young Lee		2,000,000320,512
2006Aug 3–6Sherri SteinhauerRoyal Lytham & St Annes281−73 strokes Sophie Gustafson
Cristie Kerr		1,800,000305,440
2005July 28–31Jeong JangRoyal Birkdale272−164 strokes Sophie Gustafson1,800,000280,208
2004July 29 – Aug 1Karen StupplesSunningdale269−195 strokes Rachel Hetherington1,600,000290,880
2003July 31 – Aug 3Annika SörenstamRoyal Lytham & St Annes278−101 stroke Se Ri Pak1,600,000254,880
2002Aug 8–11Karrie WebbTurnberry Ailsa273−152 strokes Michelle Ellis
Paula Martí		1,500,000236,383
2001Aug 2–5Se Ri PakSunningdale277−112 strokes Mi Hyun Kim1,500,000221,650

LPGA event

Winners as a co-sanctioned LPGA tournament, but not an LPGA major :
YearDateChampionCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin
of victory		Runner-upPurse
Winner's
share
2000Aug 17–20Sophie GustafsonRoyal Birkdale282−62 strokes Becky Iverson
Meg Mallon
Liselotte Neumann
Kirsty Taylor		1,250,000178,000
1999Aug 12–15Sherri SteinhauerWoburn, Duke's Course283−51 stroke Annika Sörenstam1,000,000160,000
1998Aug 13–16Sherri SteinhauerRoyal Lytham &
St Annes		292+41 stroke Brandie Burton
Sophie Gustafson		1,000,000162,000
1997Aug 14–17Karrie WebbSunningdale269−198 strokes Rosie Jones900,000129,938
1996Aug 15–18Emilee KleinWoburn, Duke's Course277−117 strokes Amy Alcott
Penny Hammel		850,000124,000
1995Aug 17–20Karrie WebbWoburn, Duke's Course278−106 strokes Annika Sörenstam
Jill McGill		600,00092,400
1994Aug 11–14Liselotte NeumannWoburn, Duke's Course280−83 strokes Annika Sörenstam500,00080,325

Earlier tournaments

Winners before the tournament became an LPGA tournament :
In 1992 the second day was washed-out and the event reduced to 54 holes. In 1990 Alfredsson won with a par at the fourth extra hole. In 1988 Dibnah won with a birdie at the second extra hole. The 1984 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. The 1977 event was decided on "countback". Saunders won the title because she had a better last round; 76 to Everard's 79.
denotes amateur

Champions by nationality

This table lists the total number of titles won by golfers of each nationality since the Women's Open has been recognised as an LPGA major.
NationalityNumber
of wins
6
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1

Host courses

The Women's Open has been played at the following courses, listed in order of the most times they have hosted :
Note: As 2017 is the first year of The R&A organising the tournament, the tournament, like the Women's PGA Championship, is often conducted on the same venues as its male counterpart.

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.