AIG Women's Open Championship

History

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 recognized by both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour as a major. (1)

The 2021 AIG Women's Open, held at Carnoustie and won by Anna Nordqvist, marked the 21st playing of the event as a major on the women's circuit, and the 45th playing overall. (2)

However, those statistics do not tell the whole story of one of the most cherished events in the world of golf. (2)

First played at Fulford in York in 1976, after morphing from the Ladies Amateur Stroke Play Championship to include professional players, the event has quickly grown to become the most international major in women's golf and one of the most prestigious. (2)

The champions list of the AIG Women's Open is a who's who of great golfers in modern times, with their victories collected on an array of well-known courses that are much loved around the world. (2)

The tournament is played over all types of British golf courses, from parkland and heathland layouts to traditional links venues. (2)

Since 1979, the Smyth Salver has been awarded to the lowest scoring amateur player returning a score for 72 holes, with Louise Duncan winning in 2021 with her wonderful performance. Like the list of champions, the Smyth Salver has a high profile list of winners, including Michelle Wie, Anna Nordqvist, Lydia Ko, Danielle Kang and the 2018 AIG Women's Open champion Georgia Hall. (2)

Players Quotes:

“The AIG Women's Open was always a special event, and just to play in it was special” -KARRIE WEBB

“As a British person, the AIG Women's Open is without a doubt the one you want to win” -CATRIONA MATTHEW

“I would love to win more AIG Women's Opens, it's still my favourite major by far” -GEORGIA HALL

Winners

History of AIG Women's Open Champions *Brackets () indicate number of times won or hosted

Year	Champion	Nationality	Venue	Score
2021	Anna Nordqvist	Sweden	Carnoustie (2)	276
2020	Sophia Popov	Germany	Royal Troon	277
2019	Hinako Shibuno	Japan	Woburn, Marquess Course (2)	270
2018	Georgia Hall	England	Royal Lytham & St Annes (5)	271
2017	In-Kyung Kim	South Korea	Kingsbarns	270
2016	Ariya Jutanugarn	Thailand	Woburn, Marquess Course	272
2015	Inbee Park	South Korea	Turnberry Ailsa (2)	276
2014	Mo Martin	United States	Royal Birkdale (6)	287
2013	Stacy Lewis	United States	St Andrews (2)	280
2012	Jiyai Shin (2)	South Korea	Royal Liverpool	279
2011	Yani Tseng (2)	Chinese	Taipei Carnoustie	279
2010	Yani Tseng	Chinese	Taipei Royal Birkdale (5)	277
2009	Catriona Matthew	Scotland	Royal Lytham & St Annes (4)	285
2008	Jiyai Shin	South Korea	Sunningdale (4)	270
2007	Lorena Ochoa	Mexico	St Andrews	287
2006	Sherri Steinhauer (3)	United States	Royal Lytham & St Annes (3)	​281
2005	Jeong Jang	South Korea	Royal Birkdale (4)	272
2004	Karen Stupples	England	Sunningdale (3)	269
2003	Annika Sörenstam	Sweden	Royal Lytham & St Annes (2)	278

2002	Karrie Webb (3)	Australia	Turnberry Ailsa	273
2001	Se Ri Pak	South Korea	Sunningdale (2)	277
2000	Sophie Gustafson	Sweden	Royal Birkdale (3)	282
1999	Sherri Steinhauer (2)	United States	Woburn, Duke's Course (9)	283
1998	Sherri Steinhauer	United States	Royal Lytham & St Annes	​292
1997	Karrie Webb (2)	Australia	Sunningdale	269
1996	Emilee Klein	United States	Woburn, Duke's Course (8)	277
1995	Karrie Webb	Australia	Woburn, Duke's Course (7)	278
1994	Liselotte Neumann	Sweden	Woburn, Duke's Course (6)	280
1993	Karen Lunn	Australia	Woburn, Duke's Course (5)	275
1992	Patty Sheehan	United States	Woburn, Duke's Course (4)	207
1991	Penny Grice-Whittaker	England	Woburn, Duke's Course (3)	284
1990	Helen Alfredsson	Sweden	Woburn, Duke's Course (2)	288
1989	Jane Geddes	United States	Ferndown	274
1988	Corinne Dibnah	Australia	Lindrick (2)	295
1987	Alison Nicholas	England	St Mellion	296
1986	Laura Davies	England	Royal Birkdale (2)	283
1985	Betsy King	United States	Moor Park	300
1984	Ayako Okamoto	Japan	Woburn, Duke's Course	289
1983	No Championship	N/A	N/A	N/A

1982	Marta Figueras-Dotti (a)	Spain	Royal Birkdale	296
1981	Debbie Massey (2)	United States	Northumberland	295
1980	Debbie Massey	United States	Wentworth	294
1979	Alison Sheard	South Africa	Southport & Ainsdale	301
1978	Janet Melville (a)	England	Foxhills	310
1977	Vivien Saunders	England	Lindrick	306
1976	Jenny Lee Smith (a)	England	Fulford	299

Cited Sources:

(1) Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, August 1). Women's British open. Wikipedia. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_British_Open

(2) About: AIG Womens Open. Women's Open. (2020, March 16). Retrieved July 25, 2022, from https://www.aigwomensopen.com/about

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