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.

Women's British Open
Tournament information
LocationUnited Kingdom
Established1976, 44 years ago
Course(s)varies; Royal Troon Golf Club, Old Course (in 2020)
South Ayrshire, Scotland
Par71 (in 2020)
Length7,175 yards (6,561 m) (in 2020)
Organized byThe R&A
Tour(s)LPGA Tour (1984, 1994–)
LET (1979–)
FormatStroke play
Prize fund$4,500,000
Month playedAugust
Tournament record score
Aggregate269 Karrie Webb (1997)
269 Karen Stupples (2004)
To par−19 Karrie Webb (1997)
−19 Karen Stupples (2004)
Current champion
Hinako Shibuno
2020 Women's British Open

Since it became 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]

History
The practice green at Sunningdale Golf Club in 2008.

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. 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 (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 and 1981) well before it was an LPGA co-sanctioned event.

Winners
See also: List of Women's British Open champions

LPGA major championship

Winners of the championship as an LPGA major (2001–present):[2]

YearDatesChampionCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-upPurse
($)		Winner's
share ($)
2020Aug 20–23Royal Troon, Old Course4,500,000675,000
2019Aug 1–4Hinako Shibuno JapanWoburn, Marquess Course270−181 stroke Lizette Salas4,500,000675,000
2018Aug 2–5Georgia Hall EnglandRoyal Lytham & St Annes271−172 strokes Pornanong Phatlum3,250,000490,000
2017Aug 3–6In-Kyung Kim South KoreaKingsbarns270−182 strokes Jodi Ewart Shadoff3,250,000504,821
2016Jul 28–31Ariya Jutanugarn ThailandWoburn, Marquess Course272−163 strokes Mirim Lee
Mo Martin		3,000,000412,047
2015Jul 30 – Aug 2Inbee Park South KoreaTurnberry Ailsa276−123 strokes Ko Jin-young3,000,000464,817
2014Jul 10–13Mo Martin United StatesRoyal Birkdale287−11 stroke Shanshan Feng
Suzann Pettersen		3,000,000474,575
2013Aug 1–4Stacy Lewis United StatesSt Andrews280−82 strokes Na Yeon Choi
Hee Young Park		2,750,000402,583
2012Sep 13–16Jiyai Shin South KoreaRoyal Liverpool279−99 strokes Inbee Park2,750,000428,650
2011Jul 28–31Yani Tseng TaiwanCarnoustie272−164 strokes Brittany Lang2,500,000392,133
2010Jul 29 – Aug 1Yani Tseng TaiwanRoyal Birkdale277−111 stroke Katherine Hull2,500,000408,714
2009Jul 30 – Aug 2Catriona Matthew ScotlandRoyal Lytham & St Annes285−33 strokes Karrie Webb2,200,000335,000
2008Jul 31 – Aug 3Jiyai Shin South KoreaSunningdale270−183 strokes Yani Tseng2,100,000314,464
2007Aug 2–5Lorena Ochoa MexicoSt Andrews287−54 strokes Maria Hjorth
Jee Young Lee		2,000,000320,512
2006Aug 3–6Sherri Steinhauer United StatesRoyal Lytham & St Annes281−73 strokes Sophie Gustafson
Cristie Kerr		1,800,000305,440
2005July 28–31Jeong Jang South KoreaRoyal Birkdale272−164 strokes Sophie Gustafson1,800,000280,208
2004July 29 – Aug 1Karen Stupples EnglandSunningdale269−195 strokes Rachel Hetherington1,600,000290,880
2003July 31 – Aug 3Annika Sörenstam SwedenRoyal Lytham & St Annes278−101 stroke Se Ri Pak1,600,000254,880
2002Aug 8–11Karrie Webb AustraliaTurnberry Ailsa273−152 strokes Michelle Ellis
Paula Martí		1,500,000236,383
2001Aug 2–5Se Ri Pak South KoreaSunningdale277−112 strokes Mi Hyun Kim1,500,000221,650

LPGA event

Winners as a co-sanctioned LPGA tournament, but not an LPGA major (1994–2000):[2]

YearDateChampionCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-upPurse
($)		Winner's
share ($)
2000Aug 17–20Sophie Gustafson SwedenRoyal Birkdale282−62 strokes Becky Iverson
Meg Mallon
Liselotte Neumann
Kirsty Taylor		1,250,000178,000
1999Aug 12–15Sherri Steinhauer United StatesWoburn, Duke's Course283−51 stroke Annika Sörenstam1,000,000160,000
1998Aug 13–16Sherri Steinhauer United StatesRoyal Lytham &
St Annes		292+41 stroke Brandie Burton
Sophie Gustafson		1,000,000162,000
1997Aug 14–17Karrie Webb AustraliaSunningdale269−198 strokes Rosie Jones900,000129,938
1996Aug 15–18Emilee Klein United StatesWoburn, Duke's Course277−117 strokes Amy Alcott
Penny Hammel		850,000124,000
1995Aug 17–20Karrie Webb AustraliaWoburn, Duke's Course278−106 strokes Annika Sörenstam
Jill McGill		600,00092,400
1994Aug 11–14Liselotte Neumann SwedenWoburn, Duke's Course280−83 strokes Annika Sörenstam500,00080,325

Earlier tournaments

Winners before the tournament became an LPGA tournament (1976–93):

YearChampionCountryVenueScoreMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-upPurse
(£)		Winner's
share (£)		Ref
Weetabix Women's British Open
1993Karen Lunn AustraliaWoburn, Duke's Course2758 strokes Brandie Burton300,00050,000
1992Patty Sheehan United StatesWoburn, Duke's Course2073 strokes Corinne Dibnah300,00050,000
1991Penny Grice-Whittaker EnglandWoburn, Duke's Course2843 strokes Helen Alfredsson
Diane Barnard		150,00025,000
1990Helen Alfredsson SwedenWoburn, Duke's Course288Playoff Jane Hill130,00020,000
1989Jane Geddes United StatesFerndown2742 strokes Florence Descampe120,00018,000[3]
1988Corinne Dibnah AustraliaLindrick295Playoff Sally Little100,00015,000
1987Alison Nicholas EnglandSt Mellion2961 stroke Laura Davies
Muffin Spencer-Devlin		100,00015,000[4]
Women's British Open
1986Laura Davies EnglandRoyal Birkdale2834 strokes Peggy Conley
Marta Figueras-Dotti		60,0009,000[5]
Burberry Women's British Open
1985Betsy King United StatesMoor Park3002 strokes Marta Figueras-Dotti60,0009,000[6]
Hitachi Women's British Open
1984Ayako Okamoto JapanWoburn, Duke's Course28911 strokes Betsy King
Dale Reid		160,00024,000[7]
Pretty Polly Women's British Open
1983No tournament
1982Marta Figueras-Dotti (a) SpainRoyal Birkdale2961 stroke Rosie Jones
Jenny Lee Smith		23,000(6,000)[8]
1981Debbie Massey United StatesNorthumberland2954 strokes Belle Robertson (a)19,0005,600[9]
1980Debbie Massey United StatesWentworth2941 stroke Marta Figueras-Dotti (a)
Belle Robertson (a)		15,0004,500[10]
1979Alison Sheard South AfricaSouthport & Ainsdale3013 strokes Mickey Walker10,0003,000[11]
1978Janet Melville (a) EnglandFoxhills3102 strokes Wilma Aikten (a)(1,000)[12]
Women's British Open
1977Vivien Saunders EnglandLindrick306Countback Mary Everard (a)500210[13]
1976Jenny Lee Smith (a) EnglandFulford2992 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).

NationalityNumber
of wins
 South Korea6
 United States3
 England2
 Taiwan2
 Australia1
 Japan1
 Mexico1
 Scotland1
 Sweden1
 Thailand1

Future sites
YearEditionCourseLocationDatesPreviously hosted
202044thRoyal Troon Golf ClubTroon, ScotlandTBDMen's: 1923, 1950, 1962, 1973, 1982, 1989, 1997, 2004, 2016
202145thRoyal Porthcawl Golf ClubPorthcawl, WalesTBD

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.[15]

References
  1. "Championship History". Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  2. "Ricoh Women's British Open Past Winners". LPGA. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  3. "Descampe charges but Geddes is champion". The Glasgow Herald. 7 August 1989. p. 18.
  4. "Nicholas breaks through at last". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1987. p. 10.
  5. "Laura outscores foreign invaders". The Glasgow Herald. 13 October 1986. p. 10.
  6. "Miss King begins a new reign". The Glasgow Herald. 7 October 1985. p. 8.
  7. "Dale deserves prize for her lone battle". The Glasgow Herald. 8 October 1984. p. 17.
  8. "Professional win for a new Spanish graduate". The Glasgow Herald. 2 August 1982. p. 15.
  9. "Debbie pulls away from the field". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1981. p. 15.
  10. "Belle second with a 69". The Glasgow Herald. 28 July 1980. p. 13.
  11. "Birdie finish gives Alison British title". The Glasgow Herald. 30 July 1979. p. 15.
  12. "Janet in youngest British champion". The Glasgow Herald. 29 July 1978. p. 15.
  13. "Vivien's title on last 18". The Glasgow Herald. 3 September 1977. p. 16.
  14. "Sandra's hopes dashed". The Glasgow Herald. 4 September 1976. p. 14.
  15. https://issuu.com/lgucl/docs/lguyearbook2016 LGU 2016 Yearbook
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