Women's British Open
| File:Women's British Open logo.jpg | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location |  United Kingdom |
| Established | 1976, 48 years ago |
| Course(s) | varies Woburn Golf and Country Club (in 2019) Little Brickhill, England |
| Par | 72 (in 2019) |
| Length | 6,744 yards (6,167 m) (in 2019) |
| Organized by | The R&A |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour (1984, 1994–) LET (1979–) |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | $3,250,000 €2,775,905 £2,497,889 |
| Month played | August |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 269 Karrie Webb (1997) 269 Karen Stupples (2004) |
| To par | −19 Karrie Webb (1997) −19 Karen Stupples (2004) |
| Current champion | |
 Georgia Hall | |
 2018 Women's British Open | |
The Women's British Open 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. The reigning champion is Georgia Hall, who won by two shots at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2018 to earn her first major title.
Usually played in late July, the 2012 edition was scheduled for mid-September, due to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The 2013, 2017 and 2018 events were played in early August and the 2014 event in mid-July, the week prior to the Open Championship.
Since 2007, it has been called the Ricoh Women's British Open, for sponsorship reasons. The previous twenty editions (1987–2006) were sponsored by Weetabix, a breakfast cereal.[1]
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 (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). 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.
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, and is now $3.25 million.
Tied for most victories in the Women's British Open with three each are Karrie Webb of Australia and Sherri Steinhauer of the United States. Both won the tournament twice before it became an LPGA major and once after. Yani Tseng of Taiwan and Jiyai Shin of South Korea are the multiple winners as a major championship. The other multiple winner is Debbie Massey of the U.S., with consecutive wins (1980 & 1981) well before it was an LPGA co-sanctioned event.
Winners
LPGA major championship
Winners of the championship as an LPGA major (2001–present):[2]
| Year | Dates | Champion | Country | Venue | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Purse ($) |
Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Aug 2–5 | Georgia Hall | England |
Royal Lytham & St Annes | 271 | −17 | 2 strokes |  Pornanong Phatlum |
3,250,000 | 504,821 |
| 2017 | Aug 3–6 | In-Kyung Kim |  South Korea |
Kingsbarns | 270 | −18 | 2 strokes | Jodi Ewart Shadoff |
3,250,000 | 504,821 |
| 2016 | Jul 28–31 | Ariya Jutanugarn | Thailand |
Woburn, Marquess Course | 272 | −16 | 3 strokes | Mirim Lee Mo Martin |
3,000,000 | 412,047 |
| 2015 | Jul 30 – Aug 2 | Inbee Park | South Korea |
Trump Turnberry - Ailsa | 276 | −12 | 3 strokes | Ko Jin-young |
3,000,000 | 464,817 |
| 2014 | Jul 10–13 | Mo Martin |  United States |
Royal Birkdale | 287 | −1 | 1 stroke |  Shanshan Feng Suzann Pettersen |
3,000,000 | 474,575 |
| 2013 | Aug 1–4 | Stacy Lewis | United States |
St Andrews | 280 | −8 | 2 strokes | Na Yeon Choi Hee Young Park |
2,750,000 | 402,583 |
| 2012 | Sep 13–16 | Jiyai Shin | South Korea |
Royal Liverpool | 279 | −9 | 9 strokes | Inbee Park |
2,750,000 | 428,650 |
| 2011 | Jul 28–31 | Yani Tseng |  Taiwan |
Carnoustie | 272 | −16 | 4 strokes | Brittany Lang |
2,500,000 | 392,133 |
| 2010 | Jul 29 – Aug 1 | Yani Tseng | Taiwan |
Royal Birkdale | 277 | −11 | 1 stroke |  Katherine Hull |
2,500,000 | 408,714 |
| 2009 | Jul 30 – Aug 2 | Catriona Matthew |  Scotland |
Royal Lytham & St Annes | 285 | −3 | 3 strokes | Karrie Webb |
2,200,000 | 335,000 |
| 2008 | Jul 31 – Aug 3 | Jiyai Shin | South Korea |
Sunningdale | 270 | −18 | 3 strokes | Yani Tseng |
2,100,000 | 314,464 |
| 2007 | Aug 2–5 | Lorena Ochoa |  Mexico |
St Andrews | 287 | −5 | 4 strokes |  Maria Hjorth Jee Young Lee |
2,000,000 | 320,512 |
| 2006 | Aug 3–6 | Sherri Steinhauer | United States |
Royal Lytham & St Annes | 281 | −7 | 3 strokes | Sophie Gustafson Cristie Kerr |
1,800,000 | 305,440 |
| 2005 | July 28–31 | Jeong Jang | South Korea |
Royal Birkdale | 272 | −16 | 4 strokes | Sophie Gustafson |
1,800,000 | 280,208 |
| 2004 | July 29 – Aug 1 | Karen Stupples | England |
Sunningdale | 269 | −19 | 5 strokes | Rachel Hetherington |
1,600,000 | 290,880 |
| 2003 | July 31 – Aug 3 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden |
Royal Lytham & St Annes | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | Se Ri Pak |
1,600,000 | 254,880 |
| 2002 | Aug 8–11 | Karrie Webb | Australia |
Turnberry Ailsa | 273 | −15 | 2 strokes | Michelle Ellis Paula Martí |
1,500,000 | 236,383 |
| 2001 | Aug 2–5 | Se Ri Pak | South Korea |
Sunningdale | 277 | −11 | 2 strokes | Mi Hyun Kim |
1,500,000 | 221,650 |
LPGA event
Winners as a co-sanctioned LPGA tournament, but not an LPGA major (1994–2000):[2]
| Year | Date | Champion | Country | Venue | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Purse ($) |
Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Aug 17–20 | Sophie Gustafson | Sweden |
Royal Birkdale | 282 | −6 | 2 strokes | Becky Iverson Meg Mallon Liselotte Neumann Kirsty Taylor |
1,250,000 | 178,000 |
| 1999 | Aug 12–15 | Sherri Steinhauer | United States |
Woburn, Duke's Course | 283 | −5 | 1 stroke | Annika Sörenstam |
1,000,000 | 160,000 |
| 1998 | Aug 13–16 | Sherri Steinhauer | United States |
Royal Lytham & St Annes |
292 | +4 | 1 stroke | Brandie Burton Sophie Gustafson |
1,000,000 | 162,000 |
| 1997 | Aug 14–17 | Karrie Webb | Australia |
Sunningdale | 269 | −19 | 8 strokes | Rosie Jones |
900,000 | 129,938 |
| 1996 | Aug 15–18 | Emilee Klein | United States |
Woburn, Duke's Course | 277 | −11 | 7 strokes | Amy Alcott Penny Hammel |
850,000 | 124,000 |
| 1995 | Aug 17–20 | Karrie Webb | Australia |
Woburn, Duke's Course | 278 | −10 | 6 strokes | Annika Sörenstam Jill McGill |
600,000 | 92,400 |
| 1994 | Aug 11–14 | Liselotte Neumann | Sweden |
Woburn, Duke's Course | 280 | −8 | 3 strokes | Annika Sörenstam |
500,000 | 80,325 |
Earlier tournaments
Winners before the tournament became an LPGA tournament (1976–93):
| Year | Champion | Country | Venue | Score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Purse (£) |
Winner's share (£) |
Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weetabix Women's British Open | |||||||||
| 1993 | Karen Lunn | Australia |
Woburn, Duke's Course | 275 | 8 strokes | Brandie Burton |
300,000 | 50,000 | |
| 1992 | Patty Sheehan | United States |
Woburn, Duke's Course | 207 | 3 strokes | Corinne Dibnah |
300,000 | 50,000 | |
| 1991 | Penny Grice-Whittaker | England |
Woburn, Duke's Course | 284 | 3 strokes | Helen Alfredsson Diane Barnard |
150,000 | 25,000 | |
| 1990 | Helen Alfredsson | Sweden |
Woburn, Duke's Course | 288 | Playoff |  Jane Hill |
130,000 | 20,000 | |
| 1989 | Jane Geddes | United States |
Ferndown | 274 | 2 strokes |  Florence Descampe |
120,000 | 18,000 | [3] |
| 1988 | Corinne Dibnah | Australia |
Lindrick | 295 | Playoff | Sally Little |
100,000 | 15,000 | |
| 1987 | Alison Nicholas | England |
St Mellion | 296 | 1 stroke | Laura Davies Muffin Spencer-Devlin |
100,000 | 15,000 | [4] |
| Women's British Open | |||||||||
| 1986 | Laura Davies | England |
Royal Birkdale | 283 | 4 strokes | Peggy Conley Marta Figueras-Dotti |
60,000 | 9,000 | [5] |
| Burberry Women's British Open | |||||||||
| 1985 | Betsy King | United States |
Moor Park | 300 | 2 strokes | Marta Figueras-Dotti |
60,000 | 9,000 | [6] |
| Hitachi Women's British Open | |||||||||
| 1984 | Ayako Okamoto |  Japan |
Woburn, Duke's Course | 289 | 11 strokes | Betsy King Dale Reid |
160,000 | 24,000 | [7] |
| Pretty Polly Women's British Open | |||||||||
| 1983 | No tournament | ||||||||
| 1982 | Marta Figueras-Dotti (a) | Spain |
Royal Birkdale | 296 | 1 stroke | Rosie Jones Jenny Lee Smith |
23,000 | (6,000) | [8] |
| 1981 | Debbie Massey | United States |
Northumberland | 295 | 4 strokes | Belle Robertson (a) |
19,000 | 5,600 | [9] |
| 1980 | Debbie Massey | United States |
Wentworth | 294 | 1 stroke | Marta Figueras-Dotti (a) Belle Robertson (a) |
15,000 | 4,500 | [10] |
| 1979 | Alison Sheard |  South Africa |
Southport & Ainsdale | 301 | 3 strokes | Mickey Walker |
10,000 | 3,000 | [11] |
| 1978 | Janet Melville (a) | England |
Foxhills | 310 | 2 strokes | Wilma Aikten (a) |
(1,000) | [12] | |
| Women's British Open | |||||||||
| 1977 | Vivien Saunders | England |
Lindrick | 306 | Countback | Mary Everard (a) |
500 | 210 | [13] |
| 1976 | Jenny Lee Smith (a) | England |
Fulford | 299 | 2 strokes |  Mary McKenna (a) |
(210) | [14] | |
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.
(a) denotes amateur
Major champions by nationality
This table lists the total number of titles won by golfers of each nationality as an LPGA major (2001–present).
| Nationality | Number of wins |
|---|---|
| South Korea |
6 |
| United States |
3 |
| England |
2 |
| Taiwan |
2 |
| Australia |
1 |
| Mexico |
1 |
| Scotland |
1 |
| Sweden |
1 |
| Thailand |
1 |
Future sites
| Year | Edition | Course | Location | Dates | Previously hosted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 43rd | Woburn Golf and Country Club | Milton Keynes, England | TBD | 1984, 1990–1996, 1999, 2016 |
| 2020 | 44th | Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon, Scotland | TBD | Never |
Source:[15]
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.[16]
- 1979 – Sue Hedges
- 1980 – Marta Figueras-Dotti & Belle Robertson
- 1981 – Belle Robertson
- 1982 – Marta Figueras-Dotti
- 1983 – No championship
- 1984 – Mary McKenna
- 1985 – Jill Thornhill
- 1986 – Vicki Thomas
- 1987 – Joanne Furby
- 1988 – Kathryn Imrie
- 1989 – Joanne Morley
- 1990 – Sarah Bennett
- 1991 – Akiko Fukushima
- 1992 – None
- 1993 – Patricia Meunier & Joanne Morley
- 1994 – Tina Fischer
- 1995 – Lisa Dermott
- 1996 – Barbara Hackett
- 1997 – Silvia Cavalleri
- 1998 – None
- 1999 – Giulia Sergas
- 2000 – None
- 2001 – Rebecca Hudson
- 2002 – None
- 2003 – Elisa Serramia
- 2004 – Louise Stahle
- 2005 – Michelle Wie
- 2006 – Amy Yang
- 2007 – Melissa Reid
- 2008 – Anna Nordqvist
- 2009 – None
- 2010 – Caroline Hedwall
- 2011 – Danielle Kang
- 2012 – Lydia Ko
- 2013 – Georgia Hall & Lydia Ko
- 2014 – Emma Talley
- 2015 – Luna Sobrón
- 2016 – Leona Maguire
- 2017 – Sophie Lamb
- 2018 – Atthaya Thitikul
References
- ^ "Championship History". Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Ricoh Women's British Open Past Winners". LPGA. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "Descampe charges but Geddes is champion". The Glasgow Herald. 7 August 1989. p. 18.
- ^ "Nicholas breaks through at last". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1987. p. 10.
- ^ "Laura outscores foreign invaders". The Glasgow Herald. 13 October 1986. p. 10.
- ^ "Miss King begins a new reign". The Glasgow Herald. 7 October 1985. p. 8.
- ^ "Dale deserves prize for her lone battle". The Glasgow Herald. 8 October 1984. p. 17.
- ^ "Professional win for a new Spanish graduate". The Glasgow Herald. 2 August 1982. p. 15.
- ^ "Debbie pulls away from the field". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1981. p. 15.
- ^ "Belle second with a 69". The Glasgow Herald. 28 July 1980. p. 13.
- ^ "Birdie finish gives Alison British title". The Glasgow Herald. 30 July 1979. p. 15.
- ^ "Janet in youngest British champion". The Glasgow Herald. 29 July 1978. p. 15.
- ^ "Vivien's title on last 18". The Glasgow Herald. 3 September 1977. p. 16.
- ^ "Sandra's hopes dashed". The Glasgow Herald. 4 September 1976. p. 14.
- ^ "Royal Troon to host Women's British Open in 2020". ESPN. Associated Press. 3 August 2018.
- ^ https://issuu.com/lgucl/docs/lguyearbook2016 LGU 2016 Yearbook