Charley Hull might not have won the AIG Women’s Open, but alongside the winner, Miyu Yamashita, she delivered one of the most inspiring performances of the week.

Heading into Saturday’s round, Hull was 11 shots behind Yamashita. By the end of the day, she’d charged up the leaderboard to sit just 3 shots back going into Sunday. That kind of leap takes serious golf but what inspired me the most wasn’t just her game, it was her mindset.

In her post-round interview, Hull shared that she never once looked at the leaderboard. She focused entirely on one shot at a time, enjoying every moment rather than rushing through the bad ones. Even after a bogey, she stayed positive because she was happy with the shots and putts she’d hit, even if the result didn’t go her way.

It reminded me that the biggest breakthroughs don’t only come from how we swing but how we think and respond when we’re on the course too.

Here are 4 things I’m going to be taking into my game after watching Charley Hull.

One Shot At A Time

When I’ve focused on one shot at a time, I’ve shot some of my best scores but it’s easy to fall out of this habit and start to dwell on that wonky shot or think ahead to the final score.

That’s why it was inspiring to hear Hull talk about enjoying every shot, focusing fully on the shot at hand, not dwelling on the one that had been or forcing the outcome of the one to come.

Hull was locked in on her process, knowing that if she picked the right club and the right target, the rest would take care of itself. It never looked like it was about forcing a shot or a score but instead, creating chances, one shot at a time.

Take The Positive, No Matter The Outcome

When Hull was asked about the closing bogeys in her post-round interview, she didn’t dwell, she drew out the positive. She focused on the fact that she hit good shots and hit good putts, they just didn’t have the outcome she might have hoped for.

That perspective was refreshing to hear. How often do we finish a round and fixate on the shots or holes that went wrong, rather than the ones that went right?

And don’t get me wrong, I’m a big believer in identifying the leaky parts of our game, so that we can focus our practice there to improve. But it’s not about dwelling on that data, it’s about using it as the fuel for what’s next.

A phrase from Hull's post-round interview captures this perfectly. She talked about building from here. Not taking time to pick apart her performance or think about what might have been after another second place finish in a major. Building from here. Taking the positives and moving forward.

Enjoyment Over Expectation

As your handicap comes down, the expectation goes up. There’s a pressure, even if it’s self-imposed, to perform to it.

And as someone who cut my handicap quickly, going from 34 to 9 in a year, I’ve fallen into this trap. Piling on the pressure to shoot low scores, to not make mistakes, to never 3 putt again…I wish.

That’s why, Hull's perspective of having fun and enjoying the hunt really resonated with me. What if we focused on enjoyment over expectation when it comes to our golf? On adrenaline over anxiety when it comes to competition? On stepping into the situations that make us nervous rather than shying away from them?

That’s what I’m going to do more of – enjoy the challenge and let go of expectation.

Trust Your Game Under Pressure

This was something that stood out to me from both Charley Hull and Miyu Yamashita, whether it was Hull on the chase or Yamashita staying composed, they both trusted their game.

Of course, as world-class players, I’m not sure there’s many shots that would throw them off, whether that’s a must-make par putt or a tricky shot from a pot bunker. And the skill on show was inspiring, but what I found more so was how they played their game. You didn’t see Hull playing it safe or Yamashita trying to force birdies to lengthen her lead.

That’s where trusting our game, especially under pressure is critical. Maybe it’s not driver off the tee, if you know you can reach those fairway bunkers. Or maybe it’s playing away from the pin out of that tricky, short-sided bunker because you would rather make a bogey at worst than anything bigger.

Trust your game under pressure, playing to your strengths and working on your leaks in your practice.

Follow Jess on Instagram, where she shares how she’s working on her game. And if you want to start identifying the leaks in your game, get Jess’ Shots Lost Scorecard – a simple tool that helps you track where you’ve lost shots, so you can bring a sense of focus to your practice.

Ahead of the final round of the AIG Women’s Open, Charley Hull was well in contention for her maiden Major title.

The English star trailed leader Miyu Yamashita by just three with 18 holes to play at Royal Porthcawl, a remarkable position given she was 11 behind her coming into the weekend.

For a spell on Sunday, she appeared to be building up the necessary head of steam to put serious pressure on the Japanese star, who was also seeking her first win at a Major.

Unfortunately for Hull, her first bogey in 20 holes came at the 16^th and it would have been worse but for a brilliantly judged putt to limit the damage.

Realistically, that left her needing successive birdies to stand a chance, only for another bogey at the 17^th to all but end her dream.

After finishing with a par for a 69, Hull was left to rely on Yamashita further back to wobble as she closed in on the title.

Instead, a bogey on the 17^th aside, she held her nerve to get home by two. That left Hull runner-up at a Major for the fourth time, on this occasion alongside Minami Katsu.

Despite the disappointment, afterwards, she was determined to take the positives from another near miss.

She began by reflecting on her round, saying: “Yeah, towards the end I didn't even hit a bad shot on 16. I hit a perfect tee shot, and just the wind didn't even move it like an inch, like I hit it so pure.

“It was a bit unfortunate on then 17 missing that putt. I hit a good putt round the line. And then shame about 18 because I had a pretty high chip over the bunker, and I'd done pretty well just to get it there.

“Yeah, it was a bit unfortunate, but I felt like I was very much in control of my game today. I don't feel like I mis-hit any shots out there. I hit it pretty pure today.”

What was even more impressive about Hull’s performance was that it came just weeks after a health scare saw her end her participation in the Amundi Evian Championship early.

Because of that, ahead of the AIG Women’s Open, she was convinced she wouldn’t be competitive.

“Listen, coming into this week I didn't think I was going to make the cut,” she said. “That's the truthful of it. I wasn't hitting it very well. I couldn't prepare as well as I wanted to because I was poorly.”

“I was obviously collapsed three times in the round in Evian, and then still wasn't feeling well until Sunday last week. So I think I done pretty well, and considering my mindset coming into it, I'm pretty proud of myself.”

Even then, she couldn’t deny her narrow defeat would hurt, adding: “A hundred percent, definitely. But at the end of the day, it's just a game. That's what I think about, and I enjoyed it out there, and I just love that adrenaline feeling. It's so good. It's like a massive hit.”

Hull’s ability to bounce back from her health issue was undeniably impressive, but almost as remarkable was that she revealed she doesn’t like links courses.

“I don't. It doesn't suit me,” she said. “I generally find it so hard to visualize shots. So for me to actually be, like swung it as an ease as I did today, I was actually really proud of myself.”

Next for Hull is an appearance at the PIF London Championship, which begins on Friday, where she intends to build on a strong performance this week.

She said: “Yeah, I am looking forward to playing the Aramco in London. It's at home. Just looking forward building on that from here.”

After a lengthy run as World No.1, Nelly Korda is set to be replaced at the top of the rankings by 22-year-old Jeeno Thitikul.

The Thai player, who was previously World No.1 back in 2022, becoming the second-youngest golfer to reach this milestone in the process, will overtake Korda after another strong showing at the AIG Women's Open.

Carding a one-over championship total, Thitikul finished two shots clear of two-time Major winner, Korda, who had to finish ahead of Thitikul at Royal Porthcawl to remain at the top of the rankings.

Producing rounds of 70, 72, 74 and 75 to finish T36, it means that Korda's reign as the World No.1 player comes to an end after 72 consecutive weeks, the fifth longest streak in the history of the women's game.

Korda first topped the rankings in June 2021, holding that position for 17 weeks. She then regained the World No.1 spot in November of that year, lasting 12 weeks before she was overtaken in January 2022.

Two and four week stretches at the top of the rankings came in November 2022 and April 2023, before a win at the LPGA Drive On Championship in March 2024 led to her 72 week run, ending at the 2025 AIG Women's Open in August. Back on the 6th June, she celebrated 100 weeks as World No.1.

Now though, Thitikul will find herself top of the rankings, with the Thai player previously holding the World No.1 spot for just two weeks.

Carding rounds of 70, 73, 72 and 74 in Wales, the 22-year-old managed to finish T30 at the AIG Women's Open, continuing her strong form in the season.

So far, in 2025, Thitikul tops the Race to CME Globe Rankings, registering 10 top 15 finishes, including a win at the Mizuho Americas Open.

On top of that finish, there has been a runner-up result in a thrilling Amundi Evian Championship, as well as at the HSBC Women's World Championship.

Thitikul also won the Saudi Ladies International on the Ladies European Tour in December 2024, along with the LPGA Tour's season finale last year, the CME Group Tour Championship.

An indication of how quickly the women’s game is growing can be found in the prize money offered in some of its biggest events.

The five Majors have all seen significant increases in the size of the purses in recent years, with two of this year’s events, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the US Women’s Open, each reaching $12m.

The last of the year’s Majors, the AIG Women’s Open, didn't offer quite that amount, but there was still a record payout for the tournament of $9.75m.

For context, that’s over double the $4.5m that players competed for a share of just five years ago.

Back then, Sophia Popov claimed $675,000 for her surprise win at Royal Troon, but this year, the player who lifted the trophy, Miyu Yamashita, pocketed a record $1.425m.

Not all of that money will find its way into the Japanese star's bank account, though, with her caddie, John Bennett, being paid a sizeable chunk of the sum.

Winning caddies typically receive 10% of the prize money so, last year, that meant Lydia Ko's caddie Paul Cormack would have won $135,000 for his work in helping the New Zealander claim her first AIG Women's Open title. At Royal Porthcawl, Bennett will bank over $10,000 more at $145,250.

The caddies of the two players finishing runner-up, Charley Hull and Minami Katsu, will also be well paid for their efforts.

That’s thanks to the 7% of prize money typically awarded to caddies of players finishing in the top 10, with 5% going to the rest.

Hull and Katsu will each claim $829,741 in prize money, with the caddies taking home around $55,000 apiece.

While that’s less than half the money handed to the winning caddie, it’s still likely a decent enough sum to at least partially offset the disappointment of not quite doing enough to help their player win the trophy.

Japan's Miyu Yamashita won the 2025 AIG Women's Open by two strokes after holding off the challenge of England's Charley Hull in Sunday's final round.

Yamashita was almost perfect as she navigated her way towards the finish line, staying bogey-free until the 17th hole, but still signed for a one-under 70 to claim her maiden Major championship and the $1.462 million winner's check.

The 24-year-old was subjected to severe pressure from Hull throughout Sunday's action, with the Solheim Cup closing to within one stroke midway down the back nine, but a couple of late mistakes from Hull - combined with several examples of clutch putting from the leader - meant there would be no late drama.

In the end, Hull finished T2nd alongside Minami Katsu on nine-under while Yamashita parred the last to reign supreme on 11-under-par.

Speaking immediately after her crowning moment, the player who turned 24 on Saturday said: "To win such a historic tournament in front of all these amazing fans is such an incredible feeling, and to have my family around me to have so much support from everyone here is just amazing. To be part of such a moment in history is something very, very special.

"The course is set up very difficult but also set up in brilliant conditions. The amount of people that were supporting, the amount of fans that I had around me today just really pushed me towards the victory, and this is for them as well."

Yamashita was imperious at Royal Porthcawl for much of the week, but particularly on Sunday after a third-round 74 (+2) undid much of her good work from the first two days (68 and 65).

A wonderful chip from the first cut at the first helped create a successful up-and-down which steadied her nerves and allowed the 14-time pro winner to continue on her path to victory.

The Japanese star's first birdie of the day arrived at the par-4 fourth, with two further gains prior to the turn suggesting it would be something of a stroll to the trophy.

However, Hull had other ideas and began picking up shots of her own on the front side, restricting Yamashita's lead thanks to three birdies in four holes around the same time.

Backed by an increasingly-vociferous home crowd and apparently in the mood to end her streak of near misses at Majors, Hull once again pulled to within a single stroke midway through the back nine via a couple of outside birdie looks.

Yamashita remained steadfast, though, and made a series of clutch pars to hold Hull at bay. Knowing time was running out, Hull eventually stumbled in the closing stages while Yamashita failed to blink, leading to the English star's fourth runner-up finish at a Major.

Behind Hull and Minami Katsu were South Korea's A Lim Kim, who endured a tough final round via a one-over 73, and Japan's Rio Takeda on seven-under (71).

USA's Megan Khang and Chinese Taipei's Wei Ling Tsu shared sixth on six-under while Australia's Steph Kyriacou, England's Lottie Woad and Spain's Paula Martin Sampedro completed the top-10 in a tie for eighth on four-under.

For Sampedro, there was a double celebration as not only has she earned the right to return next year courtesy of her finishing position, but she also claimed the Smyth Salver as the championship's low amateur - following on from Woad.

AIG WOMEN'S OPEN QUICK LINKS

• AIG Women's Open Prize Money
• Perks Of Winning AIG Women's Open
• How Much The Winning Caddie Makes At The AIG Women's Open

AIG Women's Open Leaderboard

• -11 Miyu Yamashita (70)
• -9 Charley Hull (69)
• -9 Minami Katsu (69)
• -7 Rio Takeda (71)
• -7 A Lim Kim (73)
• -6 Wei Ling Tsu (70)
• -6 Megan Khang (72)
• -4 Paula Martin Sampedro (a) (68)
• -4 Lottie Woad (71)
• -4 Stephanie Kyriacou (71)
• -3 Andrea Lee (76)
• -3 Mao Saigo (72)

Updates from...

WELCOME

Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of the AIG Women's Open final round at Royal Porthcawl.

Japan's Miyu Yamashita has extended her one-stroke lead to two since today's action began and is currently on 10-under, with her closest challenger no longer playing partner, A Lim Kim but England's Charley Hull on eight-under.

Away from the leaders, we've also had an ace from Mimi Rhodes and amateur star, Paula Martin Sampedro is making her presence known inside the top-10.

Thank you for joining me. I'll bring you all of the key updates as they happen until a champion is crowned in blustery conditions later on today!

HULL TO WITHIN ONE

The gap from Hull to Yamashita is now just one stroke as the English chaser begins the ninth. Hull has just birdied the par-3 eighth - adding to a gain at the par-3 fifth - to make it three birdies in four holes.

BRILLIANT

Further down the par-5 ninth than Hull, Rio Takeda faces an awkward bunker shot into the wind. However, she produces a brilliant strike to fly it all the way and spin her ball back past the hole. That should be a comfortable birdie for the Japanese pro.

BAD TIME FOR A BOGEY

There does often seem to be one player in the final group or groups who suffers something of a disaster in the fourth round, and that appears as though it will be A Lim Kim. The Korean three putts the seventh to fall back to six-under - that's four strokes off the leader, Yamashita.

ANOTHER HOLE CLOSER

Yamashita knocks her par putt in at the seventh to remain at 10-under as Rio Takeda misses her close birdie putt at the ninth. Given the wind out there today, the shorter putts are certainly not a given.

THROWING DARTS

Yamashita could be about to move two strokes clear as she fires an absolute dart just to the left of the hole at the par-3 eighth. A Lim Kim is also in tight, with the Korean in desperate need of a switch in momentum.

Not far ahead, Hull slings a hybrid around from right to left at the ninth and will have a 50-yard pitch shot for her third at the par-5 hole. A birdie might be required if Yamashita holes out, as she is expected to, in order to maintain that one-stroke gap.

BIG BIRDIE

A Lim Kim bounces back immediately with a tidy eight-foot birdie putt at the par-3 eighth. She is up to seven-under.

Also grabbing the second birdie of her final round is Miyu Yamashita, who confidently rolls home from five feet at most. The Japanese player is up to 11-under while Hull - who misses her birdie putt from 15 feet - stays at nine-under.

KATSU MOVES UP

Minami Katsu took a while to line up her birdie putt at the ninth, but it was worth the wait as she rattled her ball into the centre of the cup from 15 feet or so. Katsu is up to seven-under and four back as she makes the turn.

Her playing partner, Andrea Lee thumps her own 10-foot birdie putt but watches it lip out. That was struck too firmly, you have to feel.

HULL IN CLOSE

At the 10th, Charley Hull hammers a great drive down the middle of the fairway and is able to generate a fantastic look at birdie as a result, landing her ball just past the flag and spinning it back to inside eight feet.

SMYTH SALVER WINNER

Congratulations to this year's Smyth Salver winner, Paula Martin Sampedro. The Spanish amateur signed for a 67 to end on four-under, which - as it stands - will be enough for a top-10 and a return visit to the AIG Women's Open in 2026.

MISSED CHANCE

Hull can't quite find the target and she will have to make do with a par at the 10th. Her putt was only just OK for pace, but it wiggled a touch right in terms of line.

Someone who did not struggle for accuracy is Rio Takeda. The Japanese player is up into a share of fifth after another birdie at the 11th. She seems to be dialled in with putter in hand today.

A LIM KIM GAINING

The South Korean plays the par-5 ninth in textbook style, eventually sinking her 10-foot birdie putt to move up to eight-under and in solo third.

YAMASHITA TAKES CONTROL

The AIG Women's Open leader found the front edge of the green at the ninth in two, which is surprising given she is one of the shorter hitters in the field. Nevertheless, Yamashita takes advantage of the situation by two-putting her way into the hole and reaching 12-under. She is now three strokes clear with nine holes to play...

STRONG PAR SAVE

Hull found the centre of the fairway at the 11th but missed the green from well inside 100 yards - it was a really poor shot. But from off the left side of the green, Hull gave herself a look at par and made it to stay within three strokes as Yamashita pars the 10th.

NOT GIVING UP

Charley Hull hasn't made as many birdie putts as she'd like so far today, but she'll have another chance at the 12th after drawing a lovely 9-iron in towards the flag at the par-3.

Not long before, A Lim Kim passed up her chance to make three birdies in a row when she marginally pulled her close-range putt at the 10th.

HISTORY TO REPEAT?

Yamashita has birdied the 11th two out of three times so far this week, and it's not out of the realms of possibility that she makes it three from four after a good drive down the 350-yard hole. However, it will be tough given her drive ended in the first cut on the left side with ball just below her feet.

HULL FINDS ANOTHER

Hull is doing all she can to reel Yamashita back in. The English star produces a brilliant birdie putt at the 12th to reach four-under for the day. Bogey-free, might I add. Over to you, Miyu...

NO BIRDIE FOR YAMASHITA

Yamashita couldn't do anything more than find the centre of the putting surface at the 11th, but her birdie try was quite tame up the slope and into the wind. The Japanese player will have a tap-in, more or less, for par.

Meanwhole, playing partner, A Lim Kim sends her ball on a full 360-degree tour of the hole to save par from 12 feet or so. The Korean celebrates by rolling her neck towards her caddie, just like the ball did around the edge of the hole.

BUNKER TROUBLE

Following a superb drive down the left side of the par-5 13th, Hull fails to cut her approach sufficiently and sends her ball into the front-left bunker. Because it's located at such an awkward distance and given the speed her ball went in, Hull might not be able to reach the putting surface from there...

CHANCE GONE

Yamashita can't quite snatch a birdie at the 11th, but no harm is done after tapping in for par.

Ahead, Hull swipes her ball out of the bunker and on to the green, but she's looking at a two-putt par. Not what she needs when two back down the back nine on Sunday.

OFF TARGET

Yamashita stands on the tee at the par-5 13th knowing a gain here could be crucial towards her chances of victory. She rifles one down the fairway, but it bounds along before rolling into a fairway bunker down the left. Lie dependent, but this could be the twist the home fans were looking for.

WOAD FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH

The woman of the hour, Lottie Woad finds a brilliant birdie on the par-5 18th to sneak into the top-10. It hasn't been the week she might have wanted, but Woad can be really proud of a second consecutive top-10 at the AIG Women's Open if the cards fall in her favor down the stretch.

POWERS OF RECOVERY

Hull fires a 6-iron out of the wispy rough down the right of the 14th and finds the dancefloor to potentially escape with a par. She does have a birdie look as well.

Just before Hull struck that, there was a really interesting conversation between her and caddie, Adam Woodward. They were deciding between a 7-iron and a 6-iron. Luckily, they decided to run out a six. Good decision.

A hole behind, Yamashita could only clip her ball out of the bunker and is left with 262 yards on the 560-yard par 5. From there, the Japanese player drew a hammered 3-wood down into a little valley to the left of the green. It's a tough position to be in with the ball below her feet, but Yamashita could still escape with a par.

TURNING POINT

Is this the moment? Charlie Hull drives a perfect putt from 25-30 feet right against the flag stick and it drops into the hole. The crowd roars with delight and Hull allows herself a beaming smile. She's in her element.

Meanwhile, Yamashita is in a mild spot of trouble at the 13th...

RISK DOESN'T PAY OFF

Yamashita opts to take out her most-lofted wedge and go upstairs with her fourth shot. It doesn't pay off and she's left with 15 feet or more for par. This is the sort of par save that champions make. If she can do it, it would be a dagger to Hull's chances.

Meanwhile, A Lim Kim is millimetres away with an eagle putt. She taps in for birdie to reach nine-under and remain part of the conversation.

WHAT CHAMPIONS DO

Wow, what a response from Yamashita! A potential disaster is avoided after the leader confidently pours in the par save from mid-range. That didn't dribble in, by the way, it sailed in. A great putt sees Yamashita stay one shot in front with five to play.

OFF-TARGET

In the past few minutes, A Lim Kim and Charley Hull have just wobbled slightly. Hull finds a fairway bunker at the 16th while A Lim Kim did the same at the 14th. However, Kim tried to be too aggressive out of the sand and is now playing out of the thick rough from just inside 200 yards. Meanwhile, Yamashita is on the front edge of the 14th green in two.

BIG TROUBLE

As quickly as Hull had hauled herself back into this, it might all be falling apart moments later. Her bunker shot sailed out to the right in the rough and that made it really tough to control down wind. Hull's approach rolls out through the back from 115 yards and leaves her with an up-and-down for bogey.

CLUTCH PUTTING

Whenever Yamashita puts herself in a tight spot, that white-hot putter digs her out of it. A heavy-handed putt at the 14th left Yamashita with around six feet for par. But, unperturbed, the leader sinks it successfully.

HOPE SPRINGS

What a bogey for Charley Hull! These two champions are going head to head down the back nine - it is an enthralling watch.

Facing a downhill chip, Hull's fourth shot was tentative. Left with 15 feet or so, maybe more, the English player judged her putt to perfection and saw the ball drop in the left side. Hull is back to 10-under, two shots back with two holes to play.

LAST-CHANCE SALOON

Hull needs two birdies at the very least to concern Yamashita (if that's even possible), but she hasn't made the best start. The Solheim Cup star draws an iron off the tee with a helping wind out of the right and watches her tee shot roll into the rough. Finding the green from there will be tough, although not impossible.

RUNNING OUT OF STEAM

Hull had a decent lie in the rough with the grass going with her, but the English star can't hold the green from just inside 200 yards and will find her ball in the first cut when she arrives up there. It's not impossible to make birdie from there, but it is unlikely. Hull is probably going to need Yamashita to make mistakes coming in, and they just haven't looked at all likely today.

VICTORY PARADE

As A Lim Kim bogeys the 15th to fall behind Minami Katsu at eight-under, Yamashita just fails with a birdie putt at the par-3 15th. It's no matter, as the Japanese star can tap in and tick off another hole.

On the 16th hole that Hull's challenge may have passed away on, Yamashita thumps her drive right down Broadway. That's in the ideal spot.

GAME OVER

Hull opts to putt from the fringe instead of chipping, but it doesn't pay off as she is left with a tricky 6-8 foot par putt. Hull then pulls her fourth stroke wide of the hole and will drop back to nine-under for the championship via a second bogey in a row. Before the 16th, Hull hadn't made one today.

NEAR HOLE OUT

It hasn't gone A Lim Kim's way today, but the South Korean almost holes out from off the 16th fairway via a delicate little chip towards the flag. As it is, the ball came to rest a few feet away and that should be a comfortable par.

PERFECT FRONT-RUNNING

Yamashita finds the centre of the fairway off the tee at 16 and then floats her approach into the back-left quarter of the green. She's doing the right thing here - fairways and greens. The Japanese champion-elect almost adds a little icing to her cake via a long-range bomb, but it somehow misses the cup. Nevermind - a par it is and she stays three ahead with two holes to play.

PERFECT YAMASHITA

Yamashita has not made a bogey all day today - a seriously impressive feat given the breeze out there. Should she stay without a blemish on the card, Yamashita would become the first winner to card a bogey-free final round since Jiyai Shin in 2008.

Credit to Justin Ray for the stat.

COMMENTATOR'S CURSE

I don't think I'm fully guilty of cursing Yamashita, I merely passed on the message from Justin Ray. But the front-runner is in a little bit of trouble at the 17th.

She hit a horrible tee shot and left herself over 230 yards to the pin at the par-4. The next shot was pulled into the left rough once more and Yamashita is short-sided, needing an up-and-down to remain bogey-free. Up ahead, Hull has a birdie chance at the 18th to reach 10-under.

A TESTER TO COME

Yamashita digs a decent chip onto the green, but it's an awkward length still for par. Maybe 10 feet.

HULL SIGNS FOR A TWO-UNDER 69

Hull's birdie putt is left from the get-go and she will knock in for par to add a fourth runner-up finish at a Major. This wasn't a case of Hull losing it, however, she did really well to stay aggressive for as long as she did. It was just that Yamashita was better.

FIRST BOGEY

Yamashita makes her first bogey of the day at the 17th hole to reduce her lead from three strokes to two. However, The 18th is a par 5 which is playing under par, so the chances of another mistake seems very slim at this point. Although, as we have seen several times over the years, the 72nd hole of a Major does funny things to world-class golfers...

SAFE PLAY

Miyu Yamashita is a little under 500 yards from victory, and she is erring on the side of caution off the tee - understandably - aiming down the left and ending in the rough.

KATSU CATCHES HULL

Minami Katsu has not been mentioned an awful lot today. Mainly because she was just outside of having a realistic chance of catching Yamashita for most of her final round. But a birdie at the last - helping her up to nine-under - has catapulted her into a share of second and represents a brilliant display at the AIG Women's Open.

DICING WITH DANGER

From 226 yards and with an excellent lie in the rough, Yamashita draws the ball off the two bunkers short of the green and leaves it in the rough once more - some 50 yards away. That did seem a strange play with the possibility of a nightmare lie in the sand, but she's earned her luck today has Yamashita.

NEARLY AN EAGLE

Oh! Almost a stunner to end from A Lim Kim, and she would thoroughly deserve it. The Korean flighted a pitch shot towards the flag and watched it zip immediately to the right, almost dropping in. As it is, she'll knock that in for a birdie and a happy end to a largely frustrating day.

PUTT TO WIN

Yamashita knocks a tidy wedge shot down to the right level of the green from 45 yards or so and she will have multiple putts to win it from 15 feet. The way she's putted today, though, she will likely only need one...

MIYU YAMASHITA WINS 2025 AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

Yamashita just pushes her birdie putt to the right before knocking in for par and being mobbed by half a dozen of her compatriots and a bucketload of champagne. Yamashita is hit by the emotion of her achievement as she walks off the green, bowing to all sides on the way off. A class act and a worthy champion, for sure.

THE WINNING MOMENT

STRIKE A POSE

Here is AIG Women's Open champion, Miyu Yamashita with her trophy.

And as an aside, I'd like to give a shout out to one hell of a sweater. I'm a huge fan.

TROPHY LIFT

Ahead of the year's final Major championship, the R&A announced there would be a record total prize purse and winner's check for the 2025 AIG Women's Open.

That follows on from 2024 when the same was also true. Lydia Ko captured her third Major title just a few weeks before landing Olympic gold as well.

When the New Zealander triumphed at St Andrews' Old Course, though, she banked just over $1.4 million from a $9.5 million purse overall. That was $100,000 more than American Lilia Vu took home at Walton Heath 12 months prior.

However, this year, not only have all those at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club been fighting for the right to lift the 49-year-old trophy, but they have also been competing for the top financial reward which stands at just under $1.5 million.

Heading into the final round, Japan's Miyu Yamashita stands in the best position to claim the money thanks to her nine-under total through 54 holes. Yet, it is far from a done deal with South Korea's A Lim Kim a stroke behind and six others within three of Yamashita.

The overall prize purse is $9.75 million and continues the almost-annual increase since AIG joined the championship as its headline partner in 2019. Back then, just six years ago, the overall figure stood at $4.5 million.

The runner-up in 2025 will scoop just less than $1 million while everyone inside the top-24 is in line for a six-figure pay day. Every professional who finishes within the top-10 is looking at a prize of over $200,000.

Anyone who makes the cut should secure at least $11,300 while even those who miss out on the weekend will collect $4,250 as a consolation for reaching the championship in the first place.

Below is the complete prize money breakdown for the 2025 AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in South Wales.

AIG Women's Open Prize Money Breakdown 2025

AIG WOMEN'S OPEN PRIZE MONEY HISTORY

There’s no doubt that Charley Hull is one of the most gifted players in professional golf, who, when she is firing on all cylinders, is capable of making the game look easy.

However, one of the criticisms leveled at the English star is that we don’t see that side of her often enough. Because of that, some feel she arguably should have had more than her two LPGA Tour wins and even a Major victory to her name.

There’s no doubt that she is doing everything in her power to address that at this week’s AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.

Following a hugely impressive third round, Hull was very much in contention for the title after finishing with a 66 to head to the clubhouse four back of leader Miyu Yamashita in T3.

Hull’s round included seven birdies, but it wasn’t all plain sailing, as Minjee Lee almost felt to her cost.

Hull hit an uncharacteristically wayward tee shot at the fourth that didn’t just miss the fairway, it sailed straight over to the 17^th tee box, where Lee was preparing her own tee shot.

A cry of “Oops” could immediately be heard after Hull made contact with the ball, and, seconds later, it was easy to see why, with the ball landing right in front of the Australian as she was about to take her shot.

The alarming moment didn’t seem to put Lee off her stride. She went on to make par at the hole on her way to a four-under 68 that left her on two under for the tournament, keeping her own slim chance of claiming the title alive.

Rio Takeda has not wasted any time making a big impression on the LPGA Tour.

The star, who had been competing on the LPGA of Japan Tour, earned her card in November 2024 after winning the Toto Japan Classic in her homeland.

Her rookie season on the circuit soon brought a second win, on that occasion at the Blue Bay LPGA in China, where her caddie was Dean Herden.

However, that proved to be the pair’s last event working together, with Herden linking up with Jin Young Ko and Takeda turning to Ken Herring.

He is vastly experienced and has enjoyed his fair share of success on the bag for some big stars, too, so it’s little wonder Takeda has continued to shine with him alongside her.

Herring’s caddying career goes back decades, including a spell alongside Peter Lonard in the early part of the century.

In more recent years, he has worked alongside players including Thomas Bjorn in several spells and Thorbjorn Olesen, while he was the long-time caddie of Scottish DP World Tour pro Marc Warren.

There was a particularly successful spell during that period, when he helped Warren win the 2014 Made In Denmark.

A week later, he temporarily stepped in for Jamie Donaldson while Warren was on holiday, and he worked his magic again, with the Welshman winning the D+D Real Czech Masters.

Two years later, he took up another temporary position, this time alongside Lee Westwood at the DP World Tour Championship when Westwood's regular caddie, Billy Foster, was sidelined with a knee injury.

On the way to guiding the Englishman to a T13 finish, Westwood said of Herring: “Billy normally thinks for me, which is probably a good thing.

“A different caddie doesn’t know my game. He’s only had one round on the bag in the pro-am on Tuesday and I wasn’t particularly sharp then. He’s sort of making it up as he goes along but I have full confidence in him.”

By 2022, Herring was working with Jenny Shin, while he also linked up with Bronte Law for a spell before answering the call from Takeda.

Since then, her performances have continued to impress, notably with a runner-up finish at the US Women’s Open.

She was proving her ability to compete in a Major again at the AIG Women’s Open, where she was T4 with a round to play as she threatened to take her career to the next level – and all with the help of her caddie.

The AIG Women’s Open has reached the halfway point, and a host of big names have booked their places in the third round after making the 36-hole cut.

Among them are leader Miyu Yamashita, World No.1 Nelly Korda and LPGA Tour rookie Lottie Woad, who all benefited from an early start on Friday to take advantage of benign conditions.

Several more high-profile stars are safely into the weekend too, including Jeeno Thitikul, Charley Hull and Minjee Lee.

However, for many other big-name players, the Royal Porthcawl test proved a step too far as they failed to scramble above the cut line of two-over to continue their participation. Here are some of the notable players to miss out.

Ruoning Yin (+7)

Yin placed in the top five of two of this year’s Majors, but she couldn’t get anywhere close to that at the AIG Women’s Open.

She was two over after the first round following an inconsistent day, and it was a similar story on Friday, where she made three birdies as well as seven bogeys to finish on seven over for the tournament, five away from the cut line.

Lilia Vu (+7)

Vu’s two Major titles in 2023, including the AIG Women’s Open, must seem a long time ago for her after her opening round of 74 was followed by a five-over 77 to leave her five short of the cut line.

Even more alarming for the American is that it is her fourth missed cut in succession in Majors, with only 78^th at the Chevron Championship to show for her efforts this season.

Jin Young Ko (+7)

The two-time Major winner’s challenge was looking all but doomed after her opening round, where five bogeys and a double left her six over.

Ko improved in the second round with a one-over 73, but by then the damage had been done, and the South Korean leaves Royal Porthcawl having missed the cut by five.

Yuka Saso (+13)

After a three-over 75 on Thursday, two-time US Women’s Open champion Saso knew she had some work to do to play any part in the weekend.

However, she couldn’t have made a worse start in the second round with a bogey at the first followed by a quadruple at the second to leave her chances as good as over.

So it proved, with the Japanese star carding an 82 to finish on 13-over for her two rounds.

Hannah Green (+12)

It was a brilliant 2024 for the Australian, who won three times.

However, Green is still looking for her first title in 2025, and it won’t come at a Major after her opening round of 79 was followed by a 77 in the second round to leave her on 12 over, 10 short of the cut line.

Brooke Henderson (+3)

A one-under 71 for the Canadian appeared to set her up for a strong performance, and she was still looking good after an even-par front nine of her second round.

However, things unravelled for Henderson at the worst possible time, with a three-over back nine to finish just one away from the cut line and out of the tournament.

Allisen Corpuz (+3)

The 2023 US Women’s Open champion was two under after 10 holes of the first round, but that was as good as it got for the American.

Corpuz finished the opening round on one over and never really got going in the second round as she carded a two-over 74 to agonizingly miss out by one.

Maja Stark (+8)

The Swede held off Nelly Korda to claim her maiden Major title at the US Women’s Open, but she couldn’t repeat that success at the AIG Women’s Open.

A first round of 74 left her with work to do to make the cut, but three bogeys in the opening four holes of her second round set her back further, and she never really recovered, carding a six-over 78 to miss the cut by six.

Rose Zhang (+4)

Rose Zhang claimed LPGA Tour titles in her opening two seasons on the circuit, cementing her reputation as a potential superstar.

However, the most recent of those wins was almost 15 months ago as she battles through her first real slump in the professional game.

After her even-par first round, she said: “I feel like I'm very satisfied with where my game is trending. I do think there is little things that need to be worked on, but that's all.”

That work will no doubt continue, but it won’t be at Royal Porthcawl after she fell short by two following her second round of 76.

Chanettee Wannasaen (+4)

The two-time LGPA Tour winner was a runner-up at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, but while that proved she has what it takes to compete in Majors, she didn’t have her best week in Wales.

The 21-year-old wouldn’t have been too concerned after a one-over 73 on Thursday, but a three-over 75 in the second round, including a quadruple bogey eight on the 14^th, means she will play no further part in the tournament.

Jennifer Kupcho (+6)

The 2022 Chevron Champion won the LPGA Shoprite Classic less than two months ago, but she couldn’t take that form into the AIG Women’s Open.

At Royal Porthcawl, she carded a 75 in the first round to leave work to do.

Despite going two under on the front nine on Friday to give herself a chance, it turned sour after the turn, including a triple-bogey at the 15^th, to leave her on six over for the tournament.

Carlota Ciganda (+12)

It was a mixed bag for the Spaniard on Thursday, with five birdies offset by three bogeys, a triple and a quadruple to leave her on five over.

It started even worse for the three-time LGPA Tour winner on Friday, where she was seven over after her opening nine on the way to a 79 as she missed the cut by 10.

Sophia Popov (+20)

Popov won the Major in 2020, but there was no sign of that form this year, as the German endured a nightmare two days at Royal Porthcawl.

She carded two 10-over rounds of 82 to leave her at the foot of the leaderboard, a huge 18 shots from making the cut.

Jiyai Shin (+3)

Shin has won the Major twice, in 2008 and 2012, and she came close to making that three a year ago when she finished T2 behind Lydia Ko at the Old Course, St Andrews.

It was a different story at Royal Porthcawl, though, where rounds of 72 and 75 saw her miss the weekend by one.

Hinako Shibuno (+3)

The Japanese player caused a sensation in 2019, when she won the AIG Women’s Open in her first event outside her homeland.

Earlier this year, she proved she still has what it takes to compete in Majors with a T7 at the US Women’s Open.

However, a 75 in her opening round left her up against it, and despite an improvement in her second round with a 72, it wasn’t quite enough as she missed the cut by one.

Ingrid Lindblad (+5)

Former World Amateur No.1 Ingrid Lindblad only turned pro a year ago, and she already has an LPGA Tour title after winning the JM Eagle LA Championship in April.

There will be no maiden Major title in 2025, though, despite a two-under-par opening round of 70.

Friday was a different matter, where the Swede finished seven over to miss the cut by three.

Japanese star Miyu Yamashita is enjoying a rapid rise in the women’s game.

She turned pro in 2020 and, by the end of 2024, she had racked up a staggering 13 wins of the LPGA of Japan Tour.

Soon after the most recent of those victories, the Daio Paper Elleair Ladies Open, she took her career to a new level, earning her LPGA Tour card via Q-Series.

At that point, she opted to enlist the services of John Bennett as her caddie, but who is he?

Bennett is a New Zealander with vast caddying experience, having turned it into a career after initially being asked to step into the role by long-standing friend David Smail soon after the turn of the century.

Bennett, who had been Smail’s best man, stayed in the job for eight years, and the pair enjoyed plenty of success along the way, with all seven of Smail’s career titles coming alongside him, including victory at the 2001 New Zealand Open.

However, in 2008, Smail took some breaks from his Japan Golf Tour schedule, giving Bennett the chance to work alongside Sakura Yokomine, who, at the time, was a rising star of the LPGA of Japan Tour.

In early 2009, Bennett chose to make that a permanent switch, with Smail telling NZPA Today: "It was mostly his decision. I'd have been keen to keep him on.

"It's been a tough decision for him. We've had eight years together and we've done pretty well as a team. But things change and I hope he goes well."

That hope was fulfilled, as Bennett worked with Yokomine for six more years, helping her win several LPGA of Japan Tour titles.

In 2015, Yokomine made the switch to the LPGA Tour, but Bennett remained on the Japan circuit, this time linking up with Ayaka Matsumori. Once again, success followed, including victory at the 2016 Fujitsu Ladies.

Considering his vast experience, it’s perhaps no surprise that Yamashita has turned to Bennett as she navigates her rookie LPGA Tour season, and it's a move that looks like a masterstroke.

Yamashita achieved several top-10 finishes in the opening months of her maiden season, and she was in pole position to go even better at the final Major of the year, the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.

After her second round, she headed back to the clubhouse with a three-shot lead, achieved with Bennett alongside her.

Following that seven-under 65, she said: "I’m also managing my caddie well, so I often rely on him rather than playing alone, and I feel reassured that I can take on the challenge with a relationship of trust."

After a hugely impressive amateur career, Mimi Rhodes turned pro in 2024, and it didn’t take her long to demonstrate that she was far from out of her depth with a string of early victories.

Here are 10 things to know about the budding star.

Mimi Rhodes Facts

1. Mimi Rhodes was born in Bath, England, in 2001.

2. She was raised in Sotogrande, Spain and as a result, she is fluent in Spanish.

3. Mimi’s younger sister is Arizona State player Patience Rhodes.

4. Mimi had a promising start to her amateur career, including finishing runner-up at the 2018 French International Ladies Amateur Championship and representing the Europeans in the 2019 Junior Solheim Cup.

5. Rhodes attended Wake Forest between 2020 and 2024, and helped the women's golf team win the 2023 NCAA Division I Championship.

6. Mimi played alongside Patience at the 2024 European Ladies’ Team Championship and again in that year’s Curtis Cup, where the pair helped Great Britain & Ireland win the title at Sunningdale.

7. She turned professional after that win and joined the LET Access Series.

8. In just her third start since leaving the amateur game behind, she won the Lavaux Ladies Open, beating Billie-Jo Smith in a playoff.

9. She played at the Aramco Team Series Riyadh later in 2024, where she won the team event alongside Chiara Tamburlini and Anne-Charlotte Mora.

10. She later made her way to the LET through Q-School and won in just her fourth start as a member at the Women's NSW Open in March 2025. By the end of May, she had claimed two more victories on the circuit.

The AIG Women’s Open marks the end of another year of women’s Majors, with some of the best players in the world, previous champions and amateurs competing at Royal Porthcawl in Wales for the first time.

The tournament began with a field of 144, although far fewer than that number will get to play all 72 holes. But what is the cut rule?

Like most LPGA Tour events, including the other four Majors, there will be a cut after the first two days when 36 holes have been completed.

At that point, only the top 65 and ties will progress to the weekend and the chance to lift the trophy on Sunday evening – a rule that has been in place since 2005.

A year ago, the cut line was set at four-over as players tackled blustery conditions at the Old Course, St Andrews.

As a result, more than half the field was eliminated on Friday evening, among them some big names including Allisen Corpuz, Minjee Lee and Megan Khang.

While wind was a factor in the first round this year, generally conditions were relatively settled, and that's expected to continue into the second round, suggesting players may need to go lower to make the cut.

Of course, it being a links layout, anything can happen, and some high-profile players are sure to have their challenges ended after 36 holes, regardless of where the cut line eventually falls on Friday evening.

One player who will surely expect to be in the mix for the weekend is Nelly Korda. The American, who is top of the world rankings, hasn’t missed a cut for 13 months.

She will be eager to add the AIG Women’s Open to her other two Major wins, the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and last year’s Chevron Championship, particularly as she is yet to win this season.

Other players fancied to compete over all 72 holes include defending champion Lydia Ko, the in-form Jeeno Thitikul and LPGA Tour Lottie Woad, who won last week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open in her first appearance as a professional.

The cut rule for the AIG Women’s Open differs from The Open, which is more generous, with the top 70 players and ties in the famous men's Major progressing to the weekend.

It is also slightly different from one of the four women’s Majors, the US Women’s Open, which sees the top 60 and ties make the cut at the halfway stage.

However, the cut rule for the AIG Women’s Open is the same as the Chevron Championship, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and Amundi Evian Championship, where players lower than the top 65 and ties also head home after two rounds.

Watch the AIG Women's Open as the world's best players compete in women's golf's final Major of 2025, with all the details on TV coverage and live streaming in this guide.

Miyu Yamashita holds a one-shot lead over A Lim Kim entering the final round. World number 15 Yamashita had at one stage during her third round held a five-shot lead, but she stumbled round in 74.

Englishwoman Charley Hull, who has yet to win a Major, charged up the field with a 66, and is tied in fourth, three shots off the lead.

Her compatriot, former Women's Open champion Georgia Hall, who is now ranked 117th in the world, also hauled herself up the leaderboard with a 68 and lies T8, five shots off the lead.

No-one ranked in the top 10 in the world is in the top 10 on the leaderboard going into the final round. The average world ranking of the top 10 on this leaderboard is 56.

The final day promises some testing conditions with rain and wind forecast. It could be gripping viewing.

It rained and the wind blew hard when the men’s Senior Open was held here in 2023 and no-one in the top 10 broke 75 in the final round.

History is being made this week at the 49th Women’s Open as Wales hosts its first Major championship in either the men’s or women’s game.

Read on for Golf Monthly's guide on how to watch the Women’s Open 2025 online, on TV, from anywhere in the world.

Can I watch The Women's Open for free?

Live streaming is available on the R&A TV for those in the UK and selected countries.

Another way you could technically watch the US Women's Open for free is with a broadcaster free trial. Kayo Sports in Australia is currently offering one week free of charge for new customers.

AIG Women’s Open 2025: How to watch from outside your country

There are plenty of ways to watch golf in 2025 including in the US, UK and almost anywhere else but you won't be able to tune into your regular streaming service if you're away from home because of geo-blocking.

Fortunately, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) will allow you to tune in from abroad and let you watch the same legal, high-quality golf live stream you would at home, all while boosting your internet security.

NordVPN is the No.1 VPN on the market, according to our expert colleagues at Tom's Guide. Extensive unblocking capabilities, fast speeds, wide-ranging compatibility and top-notch security make it the best in class.

See also: Nine perks of winning the AIG Women's Open

Watch AIG Women’s Open 2025 in the US

NBC is the exclusive US rights-holder for the AIG Women’s Open, spreading the event across its channels and platforms.

The first two days will be shown on the USA Network, as will the early live action on Saturday and Sunday. The main action from the final two days will air on the flagship NBC channel. It can also be live streamed on the online platform, Peacock, which costs $7.99 per month.

If you need a cord-cutting service, try Sling or Fubo.

Watch AIG Women’s Open 2025 in the UK

In the UK, Sky Sports is your port of call as Sky Sports will exclusively televise action from the AIG Women’s Open 2025 .

Locking down pretty much all golf coverage in the UK, Sky Sports is a great investment for golf fans. You can get Sky Sports channels in a traditional TV package, either with Sky or a third-party TV provider. For a streaming option with more flexibility, NowTV gives you all Sky Sports channels on a daily or monthly basis, priced at £34.99 a month or £14.99 for a day pass.

Watch AIG Women’s Open 2025 in Australia

In Australia, you can watch the AIG Women’s Open 2025 on Fox Sports 505 or on Kayo Sports, the streaming platform of Fox Sports.

Kayo plans start from $30 per month, with a seven-day free trial available.

Watch AIG Women’s Open 2025 in Canada

In Canada, live action from the final two days of the AIG Women’s Open is being broadcast on TSN.

Leaders' Tee Times: Round 4

Tee times in BST (ET). Score to par after 54 holes in brackets.

• 12.55pm (7.55am): Minjee Lee (-2), Lottie Woad (-3)
• 1.05pm (8.05am): Mimi Rhodes (-3), Steph Kyriacou (-3)
• 1.15pm (8.15am): Hyo Joo Kim (-3), Ariya Jutanugarn (-3)
• 1.30pm (8.30am): Mao Saigo (-3), Jenny Shin (-3)
• 1.40pm (8.40pm): Chiara Tamburlini (-4), Wei Ling Hsu (-4)
• 1.50pm (8.50pm): Georgia Hall (-4), Rio Takeda (-6)
• 2pm (9am): Charley Hull (-6), Megan Khang (-6)
• 2.10pm (9.10am): Minami Katsu (-6), Andrea Lee (-7)
• 2.20pm (9.20am): A Lim Kim (-8), Miyu Yamashita (-9)

AIG Women’s Open 2025: TV Schedule

Sunday, 3rd July – Round 4

• US (ET): 7am-12pm (USA Network); 12pm-2pm (NBC)

• UK (BST): 12pm-7pm (Sky Sports Golf)

• Canada (ET): 7am-2pm (TSN 1)

• Australia (AEST): 9pm-4am (Fox Sports 505)

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

As Charley Hull hunts her maiden Major championship at the 2025 AIG Women's Open, the English star admits her preparation has not been ideal following several minor health problems in the build up.

Hull collapsed twice during round one of the Evian Championship earlier this month - later detailing exactly how the "scary" incident unfolded from her point of view - and has since been left frustrated by a couple of consequential issues and a separate injury.

Speaking at Royal Porthcawl on Wednesday, the 29-year-old shared how she has lost four kilograms since the Evian Championship and dropped around 8mph in swing speed which has had a knock-on affect regarding her distance.

Regardless, the 2014 LET Player of the Year has managed to gain four days of competitive reps last week, finishing T21st at the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open.

And while she has been itching to spend more time in the gym and return to her love of jogging, Hull admitted it has not been possible due to a variety of reasons.

The seven-time pro winner said: "On Sunday, I pretty much felt back to normal. It took like two, three weeks -- well, three weeks actually. It's been quite frustrating because I've not been able to get out into the gym yesterday.

"I did a run yesterday actually, but the week before I was sick I hurt my back lifting a box out of my car, and then my back's been really playing up and I've not been hitting it as well because I've not been able to go to the gym and do my rehab exercises.

"That was the first run... I went for one run last week and I didn't feel too good after it, so I learnt my lesson. Last week I fancied going through it because my back is pretty sore and my physio said I need to be walking and moving around. He didn't mean go for a run, but I had to go for a run.

"Thinking back now, I used to do quite a lot of exercising. I think in three weeks I've lost four kgs, which is quite a lot of weight."

A particularly important aspect in Hull's game is her distance off the tee, with the seven-time Solheim Cup player averaging just under 272 yards in 2025 - 28th best on the LPGA Tour.

However, due to a lack of time spent in the gym throughout July, Hull says she might not be firing on all cylinders with driver in hand at Royal Porthcawl.

"I'm not hitting it the best coming into this week, which is very frustrating because it's an event I've been looking forward to playing all year," said Hull.

"I've just got to go out there with what I've got. I feel like I've lost a bit of distance where I've been poorly lately and not really been to the gym, so my swing speed is down probably about eight miles an hour.

"At the end it's just a game of golf and you've got to go out there and have fun. I'm not going to let it beat me up too much. Yeah, apart from that, I feel pretty good."

Given the truncated preparation window, Hull suggested her expectations for the AIG Women's Open might not be as high as usual, but she is still determined to going out and giving 100% from the start.

Hull said: "It annoys me because it's such an important part this time of the season, and it's something I look forward to all year. And it's just like, damn it. At the end of the day, just get me making a few birdies to start with and I think I'll get my confidence back straightaway.

"But I understand what you mean, 'beware of the injured golfer' and stuff, but I'm feeling good now. Hopefully all the practice I've done the last two days is going to make a difference."

The World No.20's overall record at the AIG Women's Open could be one of the key reasons she lags behind the likes of Lottie Woad and Nelly Korda in terms of picks to win at Royal Porthcawl this week, with a runner-up in 2023 but five missed cuts in 12 Open appearances otherwise.

Hull's second-place finish arrived at Walton Heath behind Lilia Vu, and the Englishwoman admitted she does find it tougher visually on links courses as opposed to the Heathland options on the rota.

She said: "I'd love to win a major title. To be honest, I don't think the British Open on links suits me the most. That's why I always find that I play well at the US Open, but I think I've got to get that out of my head.

"When we play in Walton Heath or Woburn, I always find those kind of courses suit my game a lot more. It's more visually off the tee. I find links quite intimidating.

"We played Sahalee, which is one of the tightest golf courses in the world at KPMG, and everyone was saying how tight it is, but I looked at it and thought it was the worst golf course in the world because of the tree lines, you know what I mean? I think it's a visual thing with me."

Hull begins her AIG Women's Open campaign at 8:31am BST on Thursday alongside Jeeno Thitikul - who has a chance to reach World No.1 this week - and Australia's Minjee Lee, a three-time Major winner.

Major championships aren't just set-up for the best players, but also the best course conditions, as ground staff work night-and-day to ensure competitors can show off their skills.

It's a thankless task looking after and maintaining a golf course in Major conditions and, at the 2025 AIG Women's Open, we are set to see more than just humans being used at Royal Porthcawl.

For the first time ever, robotics will be used to help prepare the Welsh layout, with it marking the first time a UK Major golf event will be prepared autonomously for an R&A championship.

In total, 15 robotic mowers developed by Husqvarna will be used, The models in question are Husqvarna’s CEORA and Automower models.

Certainly, their work will start slightly earlier than the ground staff's on-site at Porthcawl. Beginning their day at 1.30am, they will help prepare the golf course alongside the greenkeeping team, with the robots finishing at 5am.

The aim of introducing the robotic mowers means the remaining green staff can focus on the greens and wider course management aspects.

Speaking about the move, Assistant Director of Sustainable Agronomy at The R&A, Richard Windows, stated: "The R&A’s agronomy team across the globe is focused on delivering high performance surfaces in a sustainable way.

"At the AIG Women’s Open, the Husqvarna portfolio is helping us deliver this goal through improved resource management, regular lightweight mowing and reduced carbon usage."

Certainly, it's not just a gimmick, either, as Royal Porthcawl's Course Manager, Ian Kinley, has championed the use of robotic technology at the course since first working with Husqvarna in January.

"With the AIG Women’s Open set to be the largest-ever women’s sporting event in Wales, we know there’s tremendous pressure to produce playing surfaces that are worthy of such a high-profile event," he stated.

"Autonomous machinery aligns closely with our commitment to more sustainable practices at Royal Porthcawl.

"We’re invested in using robots on our course long term and we’re incredibly proud to be one of the first venues in the world to use this technology during the hosting of one of golf’s Major championships."

It's not the first time we've seen robotics used at big golf events. At the US Open in June, the Korechi Pik’r-Alpha was spotted picking up golf balls from the range and practice facilities.

Priced at $54,000, it has the capacity to store up to 2400 balls and 4000 balls per round and is, officially, the first-ever commercial range picking robot.

Miyu Yamashita claimed the title in Royal Porthcawl and, speaking after the championship, The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association CEO, Jim Croxton, stated: “BIGGA would like to congratulate Ian Kinley, the Royal Porthcawl course manager, his team and all the volunteer greenkeepers who supported them for the week on producing an outstanding golf course for the Championship.

"The links provided a perfect test for the world’s best women golfers and was a brilliant advert for top-class links greenkeeping.

"The greenkeeping industry is extremely innovative and always quick to adopt new technologies. Throughout its history, methods of mowing grass have continuously evolved. From the invention of the cylinder mower through motorisation and ride on machines to the development of autonomous mowers, our industry continues to adapt and improve. The deployment of robotic mowers at the AIG Women’s Open is a seal of approval for this new technology at the highest level.

"Autonomous machinery saves valuable time for greenkeeping teams providing the opportunity for greater attention to detail on the elements that really enhance golfer experience.

"Additionally, they can be positive both financially and environmentally; the battery powered devices have the potential to cut the cost of mowing by as much as 50 per cent, while also reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions significantly.

"A recent life cycle study discovered that robotic mowers emit as much as 83 per cent less carbon dioxide than diesel versions, making them an attractive option for clubs dedicated to sustainability.

"From a few early adopters taking advantage of autonomy some years ago, to now, incorporation across the UK is increasing exponentially. BIGGA works with the leading manufacturers of autonomous greenkeeping technologies, who report an increase in facilities utilizing robotic machinery of more than 34% in 2025 alone."

The AIG Women's Open marks the final chance for the best female players in the game to put their hands on a Major championship trophy before the year is out.

Royal Porthcawl in South Wales is hosting for the first time ever, and an incredibly strong field is lining up to write their name into the history books right alongside the links layout.

England's rookie professional, Lottie Woad begins the championship as the outright betting favorite and many people's pick to continue what has been an incredible past several weeks by winning once more.

However, World No.1, Nelly Korda can never be discounted in her pursuit of the game's biggest titles - even with the pressure of knowing that her place at the top of the rankings could be lost if circumstances do not go her way.

Jeeno Thitikul stands to benefit if Korda cannot manage a top-25 and the Thai star produces another memorable week. Although, she is yet to win a Major herself but still sits among the leading chances according to bookmakers.

Away from that immensely-talented trio, there are many more powerhouses who could easily claim to have an excellent chance of triumphing this week, such as Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee, Angel Yin and Hye-jin Choi.

But if you're looking for a little more value at Royal Porthcawl, some of the Golf Monthly team have picked out a couple of names who can be found inside the 'Sleeper' category at the 2025 AIG Women's Open.

AIG WOMEN'S OPEN SLEEPER PICKS 2025

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Outright winner odds from BetMGM (odds correct at time of publishing)

Pick One: Lauren Coughlin +5000 At BetMGM

The 32-year-old American really hit her stride in 2024, winning the LPGA CPKC Women’s Open and then, just two weeks later, clinching the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald.

While Coughlin hasn't quite replicated that impressive run of wins this year, she's still been solid, making 11 cuts and securing four top-10 finishes out of 15 starts. That includes a T10th last week at Dundonald, where she was the defending champion.

It's clear she's comfortable playing links golf, and she'll be heading to Royal Porthcawl knowing her game is in very good shape.

Pick Two: Carlota Ciganda +8000 At BetMGM

I’m opting for another player who, like Coughlin, could be classed as a tour veteran. I would love to see 35-year-old Carlota Ciganda win a Major. Last month, the Spaniard won the Meijer LPGA Classic, shooting all four rounds in the 60s, yet surprisingly this was only her third title in a career that has spanned almost 15 years on the LPGA Tour.

This season has been one of her most consistent, making 11 cuts, which includes five top-10s. She was absent from last week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, no doubt wanting to focus her efforts on the final women’s Major of the year.

Pick One: Nanna Koerstz Madsen +5000 At BetMGM

Madsen is priced at +5000 for Porthcawl and looks appealing after a strong week at the Women’s Scottish Open, where she finished sixth despite a poor final round. The Dane was T5th at the 2021 AIG Women’s Open, where she was right in contention until a double bogey on the 72nd hole. She was also T10th last year so looks in good shape to have another strong week.

Pick Two: Sei Young Kim +6600 At BetMGM

The Korean is high-priced this week in Wales and definitely worth a look considering the calibre of player she is and how she fared at the Women’s Scottish Open. Kim is a Major winner with 12 LPGA Tour victories coming into form courtesy of a T3rd finish in Scotland last week.

Her best AIG Women’s Open result is a T4th in 2018. She hasn’t had a top-10 in a Major in three years, hence the high price, but that could well change in Porthcawl.

Pick One: Julia Lopez Ramirez +10000 At BetMGM

Ramirez seems to have found some form over the past few weeks, registering a T28th at the Amundi Evian Championship and a T3rd at last week's Women's Scottish Open.

It's that T3rd result which is making me opt for her this week, with the Spaniard performing well over the layout of Dundonald Links. What's more, she finished T29th last year at the AIG Women's Open and, with a good fortnight of results behind her, I feel the 22-year-old is rather generous odds going into the final women's Major of 2025.

Pick Two: Chiara Tamburlini +16000 at BetMGM

Claiming the Ladies European Tour's Rookie of the Year and Order of Merit titles in 2024, Tamburlini has been registering consistent results on both the LET and LPGA Tour circuits, the highlight of which was a runner-up finish in Korea and a T14th at the US Women's Open.

Although she has missed the cut in three of four Majors this season, a T14th at the US Women's Open shows the Major form is there and, being back in Europe, I personally feel this week could be the one where she cracks a top-10. She isn't afraid to win, so that should put the 25-year-old on the radar.

Pick One: Akie Iwai +5000 At BetMGM

Iwai has endured a fairly middling year at the Majors, but she is coming to the UK where she is able to boast two top-11 finishes in two starts at the AIG Women's Open.

The 23-year-old is also coming off the back of a T16th at the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open, too, at which she fired a closing 67 to prove her love for links golf. For a player who is going from strength to strength in her career, moving into contenting at a Major is the next logical step.

Pick Two: Leona Maguire +5000 At BetMGM

After a slow start to the year at the Majors, Maguire has come back nicely with a T19th at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and a T7th at the Evian Championship. But, crucially, her form recently has been pretty encouraging too.

The Irishwoman is on a run of four top-20s in a row with a T16th result at the Women's Scottish Open in her back pocket. Combine that with a best of T4th at the AIG Women's Open a few years ago, and there is every chance she could be timing her run to perfection in conditions which cold suit her more than most.

Two weeks after the men’s Major season concluded with Scottie Scheffler’s win at The Open, the fifth and final women’s Major of the year, the AIG Women’s Open, comes from Royal Porthcawl in Wales, the first time it has ever hosted the tournament.

As usual, some of the world’s biggest names will be involved, including defending champion Lydia Ko, World No.1 Nelly Korda and the players who won the previous four women’s Majors this season; Mao Saigo, Minjee Lee, Maja Stark and Grace Kim.

New World No.24 Lottie Woad is the favorite in the AIG Women's Open betting odds after winning the Irish and Scottish Opens this month, sandwiching her T3 at the Evian Championship.

A host of former AIG Women’s Open champions will also appear, including Lilia Vu, who won in 2023, 2022 winner Ashleigh Buhai and Anna Nordqvist, who lifted the trophy four years ago.

While there will be no shortage of the game’s superstars teeing it up in the tournament, some notable names will not be taking their place in the field.

Here are some of the big names and notables missing this week's championship:

Lexi Thompson

Despite announcing her retirement from full-time professional golf over a year ago, Thompson has played in her fair share of tournaments in 2025, including three of the previous four Majors.

The one she didn’t play in was the Amundi Evian Championship, which she skipped for the fifth year running. Despite being eligible for the AIG Women's Open courtesy of her world ranking, she won’t be heading to Wales either.

After losing in a playoff at the Dow Championship in June, Thompson as good has confirmed she wouldn’t be appearing.

She said: “I'm not playing for about five weeks. I will be taking personal time off at home and kind of playing once we get back to the states, kind of taking it tournament by tournament.”

That means it will be the first time in seven years Thompson will not tee it up at the Major.

Alison Lee

Lee, who has two LET wins and has represented the US twice in the Solheim Cup, has appeared in the AIG Women’s Open for the last five years. She has made her last three consecutive cuts in the Major with a best result of T11 in 2023.

That run ends this year after she gave birth to her first child in April and means she has missed all five Majors in 2025.

Danielle Kang

Another USA Solheim Cup star to miss out this week is Danielle Kang, who finished three back of the qualification spots at Final Qualifying this week.

The 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Championship winner has only made one Major appearance this year after struggling with injury and form.

Kang has dropped outside of the world's top 500 and is without a top-10 on tour in more than two years.

Xiyu Lin

Last year's Olympic bronze medallist Xiyu Lin will miss her first AIG Women’s Open since 2021.

At the start of the year, she was ranked 22nd in the world, and only needed to be in the world’s top 50 in the week commencing Monday June 30th to guarantee her place.

However, she hasn’t played since May’s LPGA Black Desert Championship, and slipped out of the top 50 in early June, meaning she won’t be in the field this year.

Nicole Broch Estrup

The LET winner, who has appeared in the AIG Women’s Open nine times, had qualified for this year’s tournament as a top 15 LET player in the 2024 Order of Merit Points List.

Despite that, she won’t be appearing at Royal Porthcawl after giving birth to her son in June.

Ally Ewing

Only two years ago, at the Walton Heath tournament, Ally Ewing produced one of the best Major performances of her career, finishing T6.

That was the catalyst for a brilliant run in the big events in 2024, when she placed in the top five of the US Women’s Open and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, before a T10 result at the Amundi Evian Championship.

Despite finding some of the best form of her career, though, she decided enough was enough at the end of the 2024 when she retired from the game.

Emily Pedersen

The Dane has played for Team Europe four times in the Solheim Cup and has five LET titles.

However, one accolade missing from her resume is a Major title, and she won’t be claiming one this year with her absence from the AIG Women’s Open due to her world ranking being too low. Pedersen attempted to qualify at Pyle and Kenfig but failed to return a score.

The 29-year-old achieved her joint best Major finish at the 2020 event, where she finished T11.

Ryann O’Toole

LPGA Tour winner O’Toole has appeared in the AIG Women’s Open 10 times, but she will miss out for just the fourth time since 2012.

She is enduring a challenging season, and is yet to place in the top 10, meaning her world ranking isn’t high enough to qualify.

As a result, for another year at least, her T21 at Walton Heath in 2023 will remain her best placing at the tournament.

Youmin Hwang

LPGA of Korea Tour pro Hwang played in three of the year’s four Majors, including an impressive T19 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

However, she’s not in the field for the AIG Women’s Open despite being in the world’s top 50 at the June 30th cut-off.

Ranked 44th in the world, she is one of the best players not in the field this week.

Anne van Dam

The five-time LET winner placed T17 at the 2017 tournament at the Old Course, St Andrews, her best performance in a Major.

However, she finished 49 places below the threshold needed to qualify via the 2024 LET Order of Merit Points List and is over 100 places beneath the world ranking she’d need to book her place. Like Emily Pedersen, she missed out at final qualifying earlier this week.

That means she will end her season without a Major appearance this year.

Ye Won Lee

At the age of 22, Lee has already racked up an incredible nine LPGA of Korea Tour wins. As a result, she’s comfortably inside the top 50 needed to qualify for this week's championship at Royal Porthcawl - ranking 34th.

However, she’s not in the field for the event, meaning she won’t be adding to her one previous Major appearance, the 2024 Amundi Evian Championship.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff

The English star has played in the last nine editions of the AIG Women’s Open, including finishing runner-up in 2017, but she won’t make that 10 appearances in a row after failing to make it through qualifying.

The LPGA winner and European Solheim Cupper carded a 75 (+4) to miss out by five strokes.

The final Major of the year has arrived and 145 of the world's best will be descending on South Wales in a bid to add their name to the list of AIG Women's Open champions.

Remarkably, despite having only been a professional for a matter of days, England's Lottie Woad is the overwhelming favorite with bookmakers ahead of World No.2, Jeeno Thitikul and World No.1, Nelly Korda.

Both the established winners have played solid golf in 2025 but cannot claim to be in the same rich vein of form that the English star currently finds herself. Woad won the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open last week, came T3rd at the Evian Championship in the start before and won the KPMG Women's Irish Open earlier in July.

As a result, even renowned names such as Minjee Lee, Charley Hull and defending champion, Lydia Ko are all expected to chase the former Florida State talent.

Below, we've included all the information you might be looking for as well as our outright betting picks for the 2025 AIG Women's Open.

WHERE IS THE AIG WOMEN'S OPEN BEING PLAYED?

The 2025 AIG Women's Open is being held at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in South Wales. It is the first time ever that a Welsh course will host this Championship.

Since being founded in 1891, Royal Porthcawl has staged The Amateur Championship on seven occasions, the Senior Open three times and both the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup once.

Typically a 7,137-yard par 72, the course's lack of length should not be taken as a sign it is easy. Far from it, with the winning score at the 2023 Senior Open being five-over-par following a playoff between Alex Cjeka and Padraig Harrington.

Both beautiful and beastly, it is possible to glance over at the Bristol channel from every hole on the course, with winds blowing up from the Atlantic likely to play a role in how the championship shakes out.

AIG WOMEN'S OPEN PREVIOUS WINNERS

AIG WOMEN'S OPEN OUTRIGHT BETTING ODDS

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Outright winner odds from BetMGM (odds correct at time of publishing)

• Lottie Woad (+600)
• Jeeno Thitikul (+900)
• Nelly Korda (+1100)
• Minjee Lee (+1400)
• Angel Yin (+1800)
• Hye-Jin Choi (+2000)
• Hyo Joo Kim (+2200)
• Ariya Jutanugarn (+2500)
• Miyu Yamashita (+2500)
• Somi Lee (+2500)
• Charley Hull (+2800)
• Lydia Ko (+2800)
• Céline Boutier (+3300)
• Ruoning Yin (+3300)
• Mao Saigo (+3500)
• Esther Henseleit (+4000)
• Haeran Ryu (+4000)
• Jin Young Ko (+4000)
• Megan Khang (+4000)
• Ayaka Furue (+4500)
• Andrea Lee (+5000)
• Nanna Koerstz Madsen (+5000)
• Akie Iwai (+5500)
• Jin Hee Im (+5500)
• Rio Takeda (+5500)
• All other players priced at +6600 or higher

AIG WOMEN'S OPEN BETTING PICKS

Pick One: Lottie Woad +600 At BetMGM

I think it would be foolish not to bet on England’s Lottie Woad. Could she achieve the unimaginable and win yet again, who knows? She is the player of the moment, her consistency in performing at the highest level is incredible, as well as the maturity she shows with an ability to take each tournament in her stride.

Despite all the added media interest and the fact that this will be her first Major championship competing as a professional player, I’m confident this won’t faze her at all. Come Sunday, even if she doesn’t win, I believe she’ll feature high up on the leaderboard.

Pick Two: Ariya Jutanugarn +2500 At BetMGM

Keep your eye on Ariya Jutanugarn as she has performed consistently well this season, especially in three of the Majors, finishing in the top-10 - including a tied runner up spot in the Chevron Championship and more recently, T7th at the Amundi Evian Championship.

Her record at the AIG Women’s Open is also good. She won the title in 2016, finished T4th in 2018, T10th in 2021 and last year at St Andrews she claimed fourth spot. The 29-year-old from Thailand won her second Major title at the US Women’s Open in 2018, so she knows how to get the job done at this level.

Pick One: Minjee Lee +1400 At BetMGM

The Australian recently won her third Major title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and she has continued her form with a T3rd at the Evian and a T21st last week in Scotland.

Lee has a superb AIG Women’s Open record without a win yet, having recorded five top-10s, including three consecutive top-fives from 2020 to 2022. She could wrap up the player of the year honors if she manages to be the one holding the trophy on Sunday evening, which I think is a good possibility.

Pick Two: Julia Lopez Ramirez +10000 At BetMGM

It wasn’t long ago that Julia Lopez-Ramirez was challenging Lottie Woad in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, with the Mississippi State University star turning pro as one of the best college golfers in America.

The Spaniard challenged at the US Women’s Open, where she was one back heading into the final round and in the last group alongside Maja Stark. A poor final round dropped her to T19th, but she has had some solid results since and posted a brilliant T3rd at the Women’s Scottish Open last week. She finished T29th in the AIG as an amateur last year, and I’m expecting her to go much better this time around.

Pick One: Nelly Korda +1100 At BetMGM

The World No.1 may not be hitting the dazzling heights of her 2024 season, but I fancy Korda's luck to change at Royal Porthcawl, especially as her recent form and championship form stack up well.

Finishing runner-up in this tournament last year at St Andrews, an event the American could, and should, have won, she comes into the AIG Women's Open off the back of a fifth-place finish at the Women's Scottish Open.

What's more, a runner-up finish at the US Women's Open shows her Major game is still there and, with five top-15 finishes in this Major, it's clear her golf is suited to the links test.

Pick Two: Akie Iwai +5500 At BetMGM

Personally, I think Iwai's odds are rather high, especially when you take into account both of her results at the AIG Women's Open, as well as her performance at the Women's Scottish Open last week.

In 2023 and 2024, Iwai finished T11th and T7th, firing one of the rounds of the day in tough conditions on Sunday last year. Looking at last week's test at Dundonald Links, the Japanese star finished solo 16th, and that included a poor second and third round.

Admittedly, her game has been slightly hot-and-cold in 2025, missing five cuts, but if she can replicate the form that includes two runner-up finishes, I feel Iwai could well challenge in Wales.

Pick One: Angel Yin +1800 At BetMGM

Angel Yin is enjoying a fantastic year courtesy of a win and five more top-10 results from 12 LPGA Tour starts. Of those top-10s, three of them have come in Majors, highlighting the American's enjoyment of the big moment.

Add to that her recent form at the AIG Women's Open, which includes a T10th last year and a T6th in 2023 and you've potentially got all the ingredients for a Major champion come Sunday.

Pick Two: Lottie Woad +600 At BetMGM

Like Alison rightly pointed out, you can't have two picks at this championship and not include Lottie Woad as one of them. She is the form player in the world right now and shows no signs of allowing the transition from amateur to professional to slow her down.

Normally, it might be tough to argue that someone could score back-to-back wins due to the stresses and fortune of links golf, but if there is anyone who can, it's the English star who appears destined for the top of the game very soon.

HOW TO WATCH THE AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

US/ET

• Thursday, July 31 - Round One: 7:00am - 2:00pm (USA Network)
• Friday, August 1 - Round Two: 7:00am - 2:00pm (USA Network)
• Saturday, August 2 - Round Three: 7:00am - 12:00pm (USA Network), 12:00pm - 2:00pm (NBC/Peacock)
• Sunday, August 3 - Round Four: 7:00am - 12:00pm (USA Network), 12:00pm - 2:00pm (NBC/Peacock)

UK/BST

• Thursday, July 31 - Round One: 12:00pm - 7:00pm (Sky Sports Golf)
• Friday, August 1 - Round Two: 12:00pm - 7:00pm (Sky Sports Golf)
• Saturday, August 2 - Round Three: 12:00pm - 7:00pm (Sky Sports Golf)
• Sunday, August 3 - Round Four: 12:00pm - 7:00pm (Sky Sports Golf)

Golf Monthly Betting Picks: Wins In 2025

There is one round to play of the final women's Major of 2025, the AIG Women's Open, which is being held at Royal Porthcawl for the first time in the tournament's history.

After 54 holes, Miyu Yamashita holds a slender lead as she looks for her maiden Major title.

Further back, the likes of A Lim Kim, Andrea Lee and Charley Hull remain in the hunt in what promises to be a captivating Sunday in Wales.

The action gets underway at 8.10am local time (3.10am ET), while Yamashita is in the final group with Kim, with the pair beginning at 2.20pm local time (9.20am ET).

Check out all the tee times for Sunday's action at the 2025 AIG Women's Open.

AIG Women's Open tee times: Round 4

All times local (BST)

• 8.10am: Pauline Roussin-Bouchard
• 8.20am: Stacy Lewis, Shannon Tan
• 8.30am: Yani Tseng, Jeneath Wong (a)
• 8.40am: Patty Tavatanakit, Manon de Roey
• 8.50am: Akie Iwai, Leona Maguire
• 9.00am: Mi Hyang Lee, Dasom Ma
• 9.10am: Mary Liu, Grace Kim
• 9.20am: Angel Yin, Emma Spitz
• 9.35am: Carla Bernat (a), Perrine Delacour
• 9.45am: Arpichaya Yubol, Laura Fuenfstueck
• 9.55am: Yuri Yoshida, Casandra Alexander
• 10.05am: Amy Yang, Brooke Matthews
• 10.15am: Lindy Duncan, Madelene Sagstrom
• 10.25am: Diksha Dagar, In Gee Chun
• 10.35am: Ilhee Lee, Kristen Gillman
• 10.45am: Ashleigh Buhai, Darcey Harry
• 11.00am: Nelly Korda, Ilhee Lee
• 11.10am: Lydia Ko, Paula Martin Sampedro
• 11.20am: Alexa Pano, Pajaree Anannarukarn
• 11.30am: Nasa Hataoka, Linn Grant
• 11.40pm: Narin An, Sarah Schmelzel
• 11.50pm: Jeeno Thitikul, Haeran Ryu
• 12.00pm: Ayaka Furue, Bronte Law
• 12.15pm: Lauren Coughlin, Celine Boutier
• 12.25am: Sei Young Kim, Esther Henseleit
• 12.35pm: Yan Liu, Anna Nordqvist
• 12.45pm: Morgane Metraux, Chisato Iwai
• 12.55pm: Minjee Lee, Lottie Woad
• 1.05pm: Mimi Rhodes, Steph Kyriacou
• 1.15pm: Hyo Joo Kim, Ariya Jutanugarn
• 1.30pm: Mao Saigo, Jenny Shin
• 1.40pm: Chiara Tamburlini, Wei Ling Hsu
• 1.50pm: Georgia Hall, Rio Takeda
• 2.00pm: Charley Hull, Megan Khang
• 2.10pm: Minami Katsu, Andrea Lee
• 2.20pm: A Lim Kim, Miyu Yamashita

AIG Women's Open Sunday TV Channels And Times:

• US (ET): 7am-12pm (USA Network); 12pm-2pm (NBC)
• UK (BST): 12pm-7pm (Sky Sports Golf)
• Canada (ET): 7am-2pm (TSN 1)
• Australia (AEST): 9pm-4am (Fox Sports 505)
• Read more: How to watch the AIG Women's Open

Stepping onto the grounds of Royal Porthcawl earlier this year for the very first time felt like a journey back in time, yet this club is perfectly set up for a thoroughly modern Major. As the AIG Women's Open heads to this magnificent Welsh links this week, I can tell you, the players are in for an experience unlike many others on the calendar.

What's really exciting is that while Royal Porthcawl has a rich history of staging major amateur and professional tournaments, this will be the first time the club welcomes the AIG Women's Open, marking a significant moment for Welsh golf and women's sport.

Forget your modern, sprawling clubhouses. Here, it’s a charming, timber clubhouse that greets you, sitting near the edge of the sea. It’s one of the closest I’ve ever seen to the water, and that immediate proximity to the Bristol Channel isn't just picturesque, it’s fundamental to everything Royal Porthcawl is about.

In fact, you can see the sea from every hole, and on a clear day, your eye can stretch across to Somerset and the beautiful Gower Peninsula. Beyond the stunning views, I also received a warm Welsh welcome from the staff and members, which instantly makes you feel right at home.

The course is quite unusual for a links of its age, as there's no out-and-back routing, meaning the wind will play a different role on various holes at this final women’s Major of the year. The wind, even on a calmer day, is a constant companion and every shot requires thought, precision, and often, a healthy dose of creativity.

When I played Royal Porthcawl, like all links courses, I found the bounces can be unpredictable, the lies tight, and the greens firm and fast. Players will need to master the art of the chip-and-run, control their trajectory, and most importantly, keep their wits about them when the weather inevitably decides to add another layer to the challenge.

On many holes, there's this wonderful sense of isolation, just you, the course, and the expanse of the landscape. Though, it'll be a far less solitary experience for the best female players in the world, with plenty of fans out watching. Royal Porthcawl is, in fact, a superb spectator course with plenty of vantage points, like the area around the 15th tee, where you can also catch views of the 16th, 2nd, and 13th holes.

Key Challenges On The Links

The course is a proper, old-school links test, with a raw, rugged beauty shaped by nature, not by earthmovers. While there aren't massive towering dunes like you'd see at Royal Birkdale, there are subtle undulations and natural contours that bring their own unique challenge.

And players need to watch out for those classic links-style pot bunkers, as they're strategically placed to gobble up any errant shots. They will definitely need to be patient and sometimes just take their medicine if they find themselves in one of those deep traps.

For the AIG Women's Open, the normal 18th hole becomes the Championship 1st, and the usual 1st hole becomes the 2nd, and so forth. This means the opening holes will now flank the boardwalk and beach, leaving little room for error, especially with a prevailing westerly wind. That boardwalk, incidentally, is part of the Welsh Coast Path, which spans the entire 870-mile coastline of Wales.

As you move inland, the character subtly shifts, but the challenge remains. The 8th hole is a par-3 that, despite being the shortest hole on the course at 122 yards, is far from straightforward. Its small, tiered green surrounded by six bunkers certainly calls for a brave and precise tee shot.

The back nine, in particular, features a number of tricky holes. The 422-yard par-4 16th hole marks the beginning of Royal Porthcawl's difficult finish. It features an elevated tee shot into the prevailing wind and a treacherous approach to a raised green where anything short, long, or right will likely roll off.

Finally, the par-5 18th hole, at 504 yards, presents an exciting eagle opportunity. But players shouldn't be fooled by that chance for glory. It’s a blind tee shot and there’s not much fairway to play with, and bunkers surround the green. This hole will certainly provide plenty of drama and has the potential to make or break a championship (and a player!).

For the best female golfers in the world, this course will be a true examination of their skills, their temperament, and their ability to embrace the unpredictable joy that only a genuine links course can offer. I can't wait to see how they tackle it.

The full field for the 2025 AIG Women's Open is complete, with 145 golfers from all over the world set to descend on Royal Porthcawl in South Wales between July 30 and August 3 as they battle to lift the final Major of the year.

Each competitor has qualified via a wide variety of different methods, be it recent consistency or historical achievements - all leading to one of the very best line ups in all of golf.

World No.1, Nelly Korda will begin her latest quest to bring home another Major, while hopes are growing for England's Lottie Woad following a superb past few weeks for the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur champion.

In terms of the host course, Royal Porthcawl not only has the honor of welcoming the AIG Women's Open for the first time since opening in 1976, but it will also be the first Welsh site to do so following seven stagings of The Amateur Championship, three Senior Opens, one Walker Cup and one Curtis Cup.

Below, we've listed the full field as it stands for the 2025 AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl as well as how each player qualified, based on the highest relevant exemption criteria according to the R&A (players may have qualified via multiple categories).

1. AIG Women's Open Past Winners

• Ashleigh Buhai
• Georgia Hall
• Ariya Jutanugarn
• Lydia Ko
• Stacy Lewis
• Anna Nordqvist
• Sophia Popov
• Hinako Shibuno
• Jiyai Shin
• Yani Tseng
• Lilia Vu

2. AIG Women's Open 2024 Top-10

• Casandra Alexander
• Pajaree Anannarukarn
• Linn Grant
• Jinhee Im
• Akie Iwai
• Nelly Korda
• Nanna Koerstz Madsen
• Alexa Pano
• Mao Saigo
• Lottie Woad
• Angel Yin
• Ruoning Yin

3. Top-15 LET players in Final 2024 Order of Merit

• Manon De Roey
• Perrine Delacour
• Alexandra Forsterling
• Esther Henseleit
• Maria Hernandez
• Alice Hewson
• Charley Hull
• Bronte Law
• Pauline Roussin-Bouchard
• Kirsten Rudgeley
• Emma Spitz
• Chiara Tamburlini
• Shannon Tan
• Liz Young

4. Top-5 Non-Exempt Players In 2025 Order Of Merit (July 7)

• Helen Briem
• Diksha Dagar
• Amelia Garvey
• Nastasia Nadaud
• Lauren Walsh

5. Top-35 players in 2024 LPGA CME Points List

• Narin An
• Celine Boutier
• Hyejin Choi
• Lauren Coughlin
• Ayaka Furue
• Hannah Green
• Nataliya Guseva
• Nasa Hataoka
• Brooke Henderson
• Megan Khang
• A Lim Kim
• Sei Young Kim
• Jin Young Ko
• Jennifer Kupcho
• Lucy Li
• Gabriela Ruffels
• Haeran Ryu
• Yuka Saso
• Sarah Schmelzel
• Maja Stark
• Patty Tavatanakit
• Jeeno Thitikul
• Chanettee Wannasaen
• Amy Yang
• Rose Zhang

6. Top-25 Non-Exempt Players In 2025 LPGA Tour Race To CME (July 7)

• Saki Baba
• Jenny Bae
• Karis Davidson
• Gemma Dryburgh
• Lindy Duncan
• Kristen Gillman
• Wei-ling Hsu
• Moriya Jutanugarn
• Haeji Kang
• Minami Katsu
• Ilhee Lee
• Mi Hyang Lee
• Somi Lee
• Yan Liu
• Gaby Lopez
• Leona Maguire
• Brooke Matthews
• Cassie Porter
• Jenny Shin
• Elizabeth Szokol
• Albane Valenzuela
• Miranda Wang
• Dewi Weber
• Yuri Yoshida
• Weiwei Zhang

7. Top-50 In 2025 Rolex Rankings (June 30)

• Shinsil Bang
• Auston Kim
• Shiho Kuwaki
• Stephanie Kyriacou
• Andrea Lee
• Minjee Lee
• Da Som Ma
• Madelene Sagstrom
• Miyu Yamashita
• Hyunio Yoo
• Ina Yoon

8. Top-3 Non-Exempt Players From 2025 JLPGA Tour Mercedes Ranking

• Sora Kamiya
• Shuri Sakuma

9. Top-2 Non-Exempt Players From 2025 KLPGA Tour Money List (July 7)

• Jungmin Hong
• Dongeun Lee

10. Winners of any 2025 LET or LPGA Tour Event

• Carlota Ciganda
• Cara Gainer
• Darcey Harry
• Chisato Iwai
• Hyo Joo Kim
• Sara Kouskova
• Ingrid Lindblad
• Yealimi Noh
• Mimi Rhodes
• Rio Takeda

14. US Women's Open winners (2021-2025)

• Allisen Corpuz

15. KPMG Women's PGA Championship winners (2021-2025)

• In Gee Chun

16. Amundi Evian Championship winners (2021-2025)

• Grace Kim

17. Two leading non-exempt players at 2025 Suntory Ladies Open

• Eri Okayama
• Sayaka Takahashi

18. Three leading non-exempt players at 2025 ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open

• Mary Liu
• Julia Lopez Ramirez
• Paula Reto

20. 2025 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Champion

• Jeneath Wong (a)

21. 2025 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion

• Carla Bernat Escuder (a)

22. 2025 Women’s Amateur Champion

• Paula Martin Sampedro (a)

26. Final Qualifying - Pyle & Kenfig

• Anna Huang
• Anna Foster
• Arpichaya Yubol
• Hira Naveed
• Soo Bin Joo
• Morgane Metraux
• Alessandro Fanali
• Brianna Do
• Olivia Cowan
• Lydia Hall
• Pei-yun Chien
• Momoka Kobori
• Aline Krauter
• Laura Fuenfstueck
• Meja Ortengren (a)
• Marta Martin
• Linnea Strom

Teenage professional, Anna Huang fired the lowest round in AIG Women's Open Final Qualifying on Monday to book her place among the 144-player field at Royal Porthcawl later this week.

The 16-year-old was in scintillating form throughout the front nine at Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club, making the turn at six-under thanks to four birdies and an eagle between holes five and nine.

Three bogeys in her sprint for home threatened to deny Huang top spot, but the Canadian rookie gained another stroke at the 16th to ensure she was the highest finisher in the field of 107 on four-under-par (67).

Speaking after, Huang said: “I’m delighted with my score. On the front nine, I just stayed really patient, didn’t miss any fairways and the putts dropped.

"I don’t play links golf, so it took a couple of practice rounds to get used to it, but I think I handled it pretty well.

"I played in the US Open this year so this will be my second Major championship. I learned a lot from that week and bringing more patience into this week will be really helpful.”

Huang led 17 players in qualifying for the 2025 AIG Women's Open, with Ireland's Anna Foster and Thailand's Arpichaya Yubol just a stroke behind.

For Foster, who was in the first group of the day which teed off at 6:45am, less-than-ideal circumstances failed to prevent the Irishwoman from achieving her goal.

She said: “The 4am alarm this morning was definitely something else! But once I saw the draw I was really pleased that I was out first, with the fresh greens and the calmer conditions. I was delighted to be able to take advantage of playing early and do the simple things effectively, like playing the par-5s well.

“I was first reserve for the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open last week but didn’t get in. I drove down from there on Friday and got to play here at Pyle & Kenfig on Saturday and Sunday so that definitely helped.

"I played in the AIG Women’s Open in 2023 at Walton Heath and it was quite an overwhelming experience as an amateur, but now I feel I have more confidence in myself.”

Meanwhile, Morgane Metraux, Olivia Cowan, Momoka Kobori, Meja Ortengren and Linnea Strom were among the LET golfers to progress. Kim Metraux - sister of automatic qualifier, Morgane - was part of the three-player alternate group alongside Sarah Kemp and amateur, Emily Odwin.

However, several big names found themselves missing out on the final women's Major of the year. Danielle Kang and Jeongeun Lee5 both posted two-over for the day to finish T45th while Jodi Ewart Shadoff signed for a four-over 75 to end T64th.

But for Kang, who was trying to reach her 13th AIG Women's Open following a spell with injuries, the American insisted her result was far from a disappointment.

The 32-year-old said: "Not even a little bit [disappointed]. I met unbelievably great people here. I got to play with a bunch of members at Porthcawl, and I got to know everybody at Pyle and Kenfig. It's been great."

Several notable stars also failed to turn in a score in South Wales, with Emily Kristine Pedersen, Annabell Fuller, Anne Van Dam, Pia Banik joining Celine Herbin in posting NRs.

Now that the full field for the 2025 AIG Women's Open has been set, tee times will be released in the coming days before the action begins at Royal Porthcawl on Thursday.

AIG WOMEN'S OPEN QUALIFYING SCORES

• -4 Anna Huang
• -3 Anna Foster
• -3 Arpichaya Yubol
• -2 Hira Naveed
• -2 Soo Bin Joo
• -2 Morgane Metraux
• -2 Alessandro Fanali
• -1 Brianna Do
• -1 Olivia Cowan
• -1 Lydia Hall
• -1 Pei-yun Chien
• -1 Momoka Kobori
• -1 Aline Krauter
• -1 Laura Fuenfstueck
• -1 Meja Ortengren (a)
• -1 Marta Martin
• -1 Linnea Strom
• ALTERNATES
• E Kim Metraux
• E Sarah Kemp
• E Emily Odwin

Over the last few years TaylorMade has regularly put out special edition golf bags around both men's and women's Major Championship golf tournaments. Designed to celebrate the host course and country, the bags usually stand out and in my opinion, look fantastic. For example the two U.S. Open bags unveiled earlier this year looked great, and in particular the women's bags really get a lot of traction online, with people asking where to get them. Well the issue in the past has been that because these bags are special editions, it often meant we couldn't get our hands on them. But not anymore as clearly TaylorMade has made a concerted effort to sell the bags in 2025, with the 2025 AIG Women's Open bag being the latest to do so...

As mentioned the bag pays homage to the country of Wales, where the host venue Royal Porthcawl is situated. As such it celebrates the country's rich history and tradition, featuring a red, green, and white aesthetic after the flag of Wales. Additionally there is a regal gold featured throughout the design as well.

The bag then has a kind of scaled texture to it which references the importance of dragons in Welsh culture, and daffodils feature because they are Wales' official flower.

The small design touches continue throughout the design. For example a spoon appears on the handle where it commemorates the Welsh tradition of exchanging love spoons that dates back to the 17th century.

CYMRU is printed on the bag as well which spells Wales in the native tongue, and the staff bag’s interior pocket linings draw inspiration from Prince of Wales texture.

Finally the golf course, Royal Porthcawl, is referenced in the design. For example the year 1909 appears on the backside valuables pocket where it signifies the year the host course received Royal recognition from King Edward VII. Additionally I love the wave design on the bottom of the bag which references the sea and how every hole on the course offers a view of the Bristol Channel.

I think the design really celebrates the course and country beautifully and it is fantastic to see we can also buy this bag. Additionally you can also get wood headcovers and putter covers with the 'Dragonborn' theme at the TaylorMade website as well.

Royal Porthcawl Golf Club is no stranger to hosting high-profile events, and this year the final women's Major of the year, the AIG Women's Open, will be contested over its stunning links course.

In this video and article, we look at what you need to know about the famous Welsh club.

1. Royal Porthcawl has a long history of staging major amateur and professional tournaments, but this will be the first time the club welcomes the AIG Women’s Open.

2. Two former AIG Women’s Open Champions - Sophia Popov and Georgia Hall took part in the 2011 Vagliano Trophy at Royal Porthcawl.

3. Royal Porthcawl is a signatory of the Women in Golf Charter and is committed to increasing female membership within the club’s strategy.

4. Royal Porthcawl member Darcey Harry won the Hulencourt Women’s Open in Belgium to qualify for the final Major of the year.

5. The original course designer is Ramsay Hunter, but other contributors have included Harry Colt, Hawtree and J H Taylor, Tom Simpson and current architect Martin Ebert.

6. You can see the sea from every hole and on a clear day you can see across to Somerset and the Gower.

7. The timber clubhouse is a huge part of the Royal Porthcawl experience - it has to be one of the closest to the sea anywhere in the world.

8. The course layout is quite unusual for a links of its age, as there is no out and back routing.

9. For the AIG Women’s Open hole 18 becomes the Championship 1^st and the normal 1^st hole becomes the 2nd and so forth.

10. The boardwalk which runs along holes 2 to 4 is part of the Welsh Coast path which runs the entire coastline of Wales (870 miles).

As the final putt dropped to the bottom of the hallowed cup on the 18th green at the Old Course, StAndrews, I watched in delight as a crowd of young girls celebrated Lydia Ko’s victory. It was wonderful to see. It made me realise just how much the golfing landscape has changed for the women’s game in the decade since the tournament was last here at the Home of Golf. 

Back in 2013 a fresh-faced Stacy Lewis took the title and the winner’s cheque for $402,583. Fast forward eleven years and the total prize-pot is more than three and a half times bigger this year - a record $9.5 million, with Ko taking home a sizeable $1.425 million winner’s pay cheque. That’s more than £500,000 more than last year. Now that’s change.

Although decent prize money is a huge step in the right direction for equality in the game of golf, it’s still a small drop in the North Sea compared to when the Open Championship rolls into town. I was here two years ago when Cameron Smith collected the Claret Jug in the historic 150th playing of the Open Championship and you couldn’t buy a spectator ticket for love nor money. 

Just under 53,000 spectators came through the Old Course gates for the AIG Women’s Open this year. A thousand more than last year at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey and, for the first time ever, there were more tickets bought by women than men on Saturday.

Mind you, the rather clever inclusion of a festival village and a Saturday night concert most definitely succeeded in drawing in the crowds. As the sun set on Saturday, spectators were treated to a vocal masterclass from former X-Factor finalist-turned TV celebrity, star of Strictly Come Dancing and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Fleur East. 

Then followed the much anticipated headline act, the rather gorgeous male solo artist Tom Grennan, who belted out big tunes to the delight of the flocks of families who came to hear him perform. What a fabulous evening concert it was. The concert really does have the desired effect of bringing a younger audience in to watch the golf. 

It was a delight to see so many families out walking the fairways and afterwards taking part in the fun games in the festival village. For many, no doubt their very first introduction to the sport. What a great way to get a club and a putter into the hands of those who have never been exposed to golf before. 

Festival Village Flaw

If I had to pick fault with the tournament, it would be that the festival village at St Andrews was located outside the perimeter of the course in a rather cut-off location - an awfully long walk away from the action, so you weren’t able to really pop back and forth. It also offered very little in the way of shelter from the inclement weather, which was also very much lacking out on the course. 

Another criticism of the festival village was that everything was very spread out and there just didn’t feel like there were enough stalls to fill the huge space, so it felt a bit empty and lifeless at times. 

If you had attended the AIG at Walton Heath Golf Club last year you would have discovered that nearly all the games this year were exactly the same, even the crazy putting course was identical, a fact that my rather savvy 10-year-old son was keen to point out. It would have been nice to have had a few new attractions.

Shop Or Flop

When I attend a sporting event, I always get excited about visiting the shop to see what best women's golf clothes are on sale. When I stepped inside the shop at the AIG Women’s Open I was a little bit disappointed. 

There really wasn’t a huge amount of apparel on sale and the prices were high. My mum, who had been looking forward to a spot of retail therapy all afternoon after getting windswept on the links, was particularly surprised to find very few brands, so little choice and a distinct lack of larger sizes. We were in and out in five minutes. 

Value For Money

It always annoys me when you pay good money for your entry ticket to a tournament and then once inside you find that everything is very over-priced, especially the food and drinks. This is not a criticism exclusive to the AIG Women’s Open by any means, but wouldn’t it be lovely, just for once, to get some change from a tenner for a burger, portion of chips or a drink.

Sessions Stage

One area that I think the AIG Women’s Open could make more of is the Sessions Stage. This small tent within the festival village had some really fantastic live interviews and chats with players, such as former Solheim Cup captain and upcoming GB&I Curtis Cup captain Catriona Matthew. Yet there was very little made of it. I sat in on Catriona’s session interview and she was both insightful and entertaining, with an audience of less than fifty people listening. 

Up Close To The Action

The one thing I love about attending a women’s tournament is how close you can get to the players. At many points over the four days I actually felt as though I was walking the course alone with one group or another. It’s a very different experience from going to a men’s tour event when you are often stood 10 deep behind the ropes clambering to get a view of the action. 

There’s so much you can learn from watching women play, they are so relatable. The wonderful rhythm to their golf swing, the sweet ball striking, the pure putting. The men’s game for me has become all about power and putting. The women’s game, thankfully, is still a showcase of skill and finesse. Just one of the many reasons why I think that attending a women’s championship is under-rated.

Star In The Making

One of the highlights of the AIG Women’s Open for me was getting to watch rising star Lottie Woad play superb golf to win the Smyth Salver for the leading amateur. The young English player looked incredibly comfortable performing alongside her professional peers, putting on an almost flawless display of golf in very tough conditions with her long-time club coach Luke Bone carrying her bag. 

The 20-year-old finished one-under-par, capping off a dream year including winning the Augusta National Women’s Amateur back in April. But there’s little time for Woad to celebrate as she now heads straight back down south to compete in the Curtis Cup at Sunningdale Golf Club from 30 August-1 September. 

There’s no doubt that the AIG Women's Open is continuing to evolve and attract a more diverse audience, which is a big part of The R&A's commitment and strategy to help generate greater interest and participation in the women's game. The final women's Major of the year did a great job in showcasing the world's best female players at the world's most iconic course and I'm already looking forward to Royal Porthcawl in 2025 when the AIG Women's Open will become the largest ever women's sporting event staged in Wales.

Nelly Korda has admitted that two key moments over the weekend’s action at the AIG Women’s Open cost her the chance of a third Major title.

The World No.1 held a two-shot lead heading into the par-5 14th at the Old Course, St Andrews, but disaster struck when her fourth shot didn't make it up the bank of the green and left her with a par chip. She narrowly failed to make it, while her bogey putt drifted right of the hole to leave her with a costly double bogey. 

In the end, she needed an eagle on the 18th for the chance of a playoff with eventual winner Lydia Ko, but she could only manage par to fall two shots short.

The error on the 14th followed a similar capitulation during Korda’s back nine in the third round, which included three bogeys and a double bogey on the 16th, and she reflected on those mistakes after finishing in a four-way tie for second.

She said: “Listen, it's golf. I'm going to mess up and unfortunately I messed up over the weekend twice in two penalising ways coming down the stretch. Theoretically that's what kind of cost me the tournament but I played well. I played solid. I even fought after that. I'm going to take that into the next coming events.”

Korda began 2024 in spectacular fashion, winning six of her first eight tournaments, including the first Major of the year, the Chevron Championship. However, she has had a trickier time of it since June’s US Women’s Open, where she missed the cut, and is hopeful her performance in Scotland is a sign that she is getting back on track.

She said: “Yeah, obviously in hindsight, I played really well this week, and hopefully that is going to be trending in the right direction again.”

Korda was particularly pleased with her form on the greens after making a putter switch before the tournament, adding: “I made some good putts. I mean, overall, I think I putted really well this week. I hit the ball really well with the conditions.”

Korda is not in the field for this week's FM Championship on the LPGA Tour, so her attention will now turn to will now turn to her fourth appearance at the Solheim Cup, which takes place between 13 and 15 September, after finishing top of the US points list.

South Korean star I K Kim has surprisingly announced her retirment after a three-over final round of 75 at the AIG Women’s Open.

The 36-year-old, who won the Major seven years ago, spoke to the media after completing her 72nd hole at the Old Course, St Andrews, where she explained that, even though there had been no hint of her retirement in the lead-up to the tournament, it had been on her mind for the last two years.

She said: “I've been waiting for this moment, when would that day would come, and it came today. I just knew when is the time that I would feel it, and I've been thinking it for the last two years, and where would be the better place to play my last 18 holes?

“And this is my 18 years, and I feel like all the holes add up to 18 and everything keep coming 18, and I was like, it must be it.”

Unlike many other players who have waved farewell to their professional careers at the Old Course, Kim didn't even hint at her retirement by stopping on the iconic Swilcan Bridge as she made her way down the 18th fairway.

“I felt a little shy,” she explained. “It's such a place where all these legends have walked, passed by. Yeah, I didn't really take a moment. I just quickly walked past.”

The 2022 AIG Women’s Open was historic as it was played at Muirfield for the first time, and Kim revealed that competing at the course had been a goal of hers before retirement, even though she continued for an extra two years.

“I realised at Muirfield, it's something,” she added. “I said to Martin Slumbers that I would not retire until I played at Muirfield. Before I always read about it from Jack Nicklaus book and many great players have talked about Muirfield, and I wanted to continue until I played Muirfield.

“And when I did I felt so satisfied, and in the same time, I wasn't sure what I want to do with my life. So I just continued until the clue.”

Instead, Kim, who turned professional in 2006, said she had been determined to complete 18 years as a professional before calling it a day.

“I have mentioned this is my 18th year, and that's always I wanted to play 18 years on the LPGA Tour, and I have accomplished that. It's just something about nine, nine, 18 and just feels right and I'm 36, actually, and I started golf when I was nine. Just something, golf number.”

Kim then became emotional as she recalled what gives her the most pride about her career, which included seven wins on the LPGA Tour.

She said: “I'm most proud of the hard work that I've put into. I wasn't most talented or most gifted but I loved the game. I was willing to travel anywhere to play golf and learn the game, and I wanted to thank all the girls here. I've learned so much from them. So it's just, I think their relationship.”

Kim's announcement comes just two weeks after another LPGA Tour player, Mariajo Uribe, called time on her professional career after representing Colombia at the Olympics.

Lydia Ko carded a final round 69 at St Andrews to win the 2024 AIG Women's Open by two strokes and secure the third Major championship of her career.

Eight years after landing the 2016 Chevron Championship - and nine years on from lifting her maiden Major at the Evian Championship - Ko added a third trophy and also became the first golfer from New Zealand to secure the AIG Women's Open.

Reacting to the success, Ko said: "It's been a crazy past few weeks. You know, something that was too good to be true happened, and I honestly didn't think it could be any better and here I am as the AIG Women's Open Champion this week.

"Obviously that being here at the Old Course at St Andrews, it makes it so much more special. I just loved being out there this week. I had a lot of family members here with me.

"I played here when I was 16 in 2013. I don't think I got to really enjoy and realise what an amazing place this is, and now that I'm a little older and hopefully a little wiser, I just got to realise what an historic and special place this golf course is, and it's honestly been such a fairy tale. Yeah, I'm on Cloud Nine, really."

Ko's latest victory - which also pocketed her a check for almost $1.5 million - arrived less than a month after she captured Olympic gold at Paris 2024 and subsequently secured her spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame, cementing her legacy as one of the greatest female golfers of all time.

The 27-year-old began three strokes back of overnight leader Jiyai Shin on Sunday and began in tidy fashion with one birdie on the front nine before doubling that count at the 10th.

A birdie at 14 was quickly cancelled out by Ko's only bogey of the day at the 15th. But as the leading pack clustered together, Ko put her foot down and raced towards the title.

Inspired golf from Ko down the final three holes, as the weather temporarily took a turn for the worse, culminated in a sublime birdie on the 18th - a result which put the New Zealander one in front.

And as Nelly Korda, Shin, and Lilia Vu all made mistakes down the stretch, it was only the World No.2 who could wake Ko up from her dream. Yet, Vu's birdie attempt in front of the galleries was weak and Ko was ultimately crowned the champion.

AIG Women's Open leaderboard

Updates from...

Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of the AIG Women's Open final round.

We are set for a thrilling conclusion to this championship, with a host of world-class players fighting it out at the top of the leaderboard. Jiyai Shin starts with a slender advantage out in front, and with plenty of winning experience behind her, no one would be surprised to see the Korean close it out.

However, the World No.1 and 2 sit directly behind her and could well power past if they find their groove early on.

Join me to find out what happens at St Andrews until a champion is crowned later on today!

LEADERS ARE UNDERWAY

Everyone is now out on the course at St Andrews, with leader Jiyai Shin the final player to start. There has never been a three-time winner of this event since it became a Major in 2001 - Shin is potentially 18 holes away from changing that and adding to her extraordinarily successful career.

Shin won the Women's Open in 2008 and 2012 - one of several facts about the must successful Korean golfer of all time.

SHIN OFF THE FLAGSTICK

Our leader almost makes a sublime start, sending her approach shot at one off the flagstick. Luckily, it had bounced first so came to a rest well within comfortable birdie range. Although, in blustery conditions like these, is any putt really that comfortable?...

WOAD EVEN FOR THE DAY

Earlier, English amateur Lottie Woad made a super start via a birdie at the first. Since then, she has dropped a shot so remains level for the day and five strokes back of the leader.

LEADING PAIR IN FOR PAR

Shin's birdie putt was from a little further out than I first thought, perhaps 10 feet, and she has to make do with a par after watching it roll by the left edge. 

Moments later, Lilia Vu gets herself out of a jam by sending a par putt in from an almost identical position after he second shot had found the rough on the back left.

WINDY AT ST ANDREWS

It has been pretty tough all week, weather-wise, and Sunday looks to be no different. Check out this video of Alison Lee popping home her third birdie of the day and just look at how much that flag is whipping around...

KORDA MAKES STEADY START

The World No.1 has opened up with a couple of pars today - much improved from yesterday when she went bogey-bogey. Korda almost drained one from range on the second but it missed by a matter of inches.

JENNY SHIN GENERATES ANOTHER BIRDIE CHANCE

Jenny Shin, already one-under for the day, defies a poor lie in the fairway - where her ball was at the back end of a divot - to shovel a lovely wedge shot into 10 feet. She could move one back very shortly...

But it's not meant to be. A seemingly tame putt misses and a frustrated Jenny Shin trudges away knowing she has missed a good opportunity...

RECORD WINNER'S CHECK

Earlier in the week, the R&A announced a record prize money payout for the 2024 AIG Women's Open. There is a total of $9.5 million on offer and almost $1.5 going to the winner. 

When Jiyai Shin last won, in 2012, the total prize fund was $2.75 million. It has grown considerably since, however.

HULL DROPS A SHOT

The first-round leader has endured a tough weekend, sliding out of contention yesterday and failing to make sufficient ground today. Hull drops a shot at the sixth after taking an unplayable off the tee and narrowly missing with both her approach shot and long-range par attempt.

IT'S ALL GO FOR KO

Lydia Ko is up to five-under after a birdie at four. It never really looked like it was going in, the birdie putt, but her strike was pure and it rolled end over end before dropping in the left edge.

SHIN BOGEYS THREE

The leader is now a co-leader after three-putting at the third. Shin was bold with her first putt and ended up missing a fairly short one for par. Shin tried to be positive but dragged it wide.

Both Jiyai Shin and Lilia Vu are at six-under, one in front of Lydia Ko, Jenny Shin, and Nelly Korda.

JENNY SHIN MAKES A SIX

Shin makes a real mess of the fourth, taking a drop and then missing her short bogey putt. It was always breaking left, but she never gave it a chance off the face. With that, the Korean is one-over for the day and three back from the top two.

CHASER HENSELEIT MAKES BOGEY

Esther Henseleit was one of the players at three-under, until a lengthy attempt at a par save drifted just off target on the fifth. 

SHIN STILL SMILING

There will be no repeat of her mistake at the third. Jiyai Shin tidies up for par on the fourth hole. Not even a little shout from afar could put the 36-year-old off her game. Well done.

CASANDRA ALEXANDER NAILS BIRDIE FROM DOWNTOWN

The South African drains a birdie putt from all of maybe 70 feet! It was miles out. Way downtown, as they say. She is back to two-under for the Championship.

Meanwhile, her playing partner, Mao Saigo, makes her third birdie in four holes and moves up to three-under. The Japanese golfer is now well and truly among the challengers.

PACE OF PLAY ALREADY DRAGGING

Lilia Vu and Jiyai Shin have faced a 20-minute wait to tee off on the par-5 fifth. Both absolutely rifle their drives down the middle, regardless.

The weather conditions out there today are making it really tough to just walk up and hit a shot.

ALEXANDER GATHERING MOMENTUM

Casandra Alexander was four-over through the first five holes back on Thursday. She has just chained together birdies on the par-3 eighth and par-4 ninth and is now in a share of fifth place - three strokes back. You never know...

WOES FOR WOAD

An unlucky tee shot on the par-3 eighth sees Woad find a pot bunker, forcing the amateur to fire out sideways. From there, she managed the best she could but ended up missing with her bogey attempt and it's a double.

While her Open dreams might be fading, Woad has to better +3 if she wants to claim the Smyth Salver. Woad is currently even par for the championship.

KORDA JOINS THE LEAD

Jenny Shin grabs one of the shots she dropped on the fourth right back at the fifth and is into solo fifth.

Meanwhile, her playing partner Korda joins the leaders after her own birdie! 

LEXI THOMPSON FINISHES AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

The American legend, unfortunately, ends her AIG Women's Open with a bogey and appears to have tears in her eyes as she hugs her playing partner and caddie.

That could be the final time we see Thompson at any Major, let alone a Women's Open, after she announced plans to retire from a full professional schedule earlier in the summer. 

Although, the 29-year-old is qualified for two Majors next year and would said she would see how she is feeling mentally in the build-up to next summer before making a decision.

WOAD BOUNCES STRAIGHT BACK

Lottie Woad proves her quality and mental fortitude by rolling in a birdie putt on the ninth and skipping back to one-under. She now has a four-stroke lead in the race for the leading amateur prize.

KORDA SLIPS

Nelly Korda's time at the top of the leaderboard was a brief one, with the American pushing at a short-ish par putt on the sixth and watching it skip on by.

PLAY HEATING UP AS TEMPERATURE DROPS

It looks bitterly cold out on the links at St Andrews this afternoon, but the competition is hotting up, big time. There are seven golfers within two shots of the lead, with our co-leaders ahead of three players by just one.

Everyone is through at least five holes, so there is still some way to go...

WHAT CHAMPIONS DO

Nelly Korda is back among the leaders after confidently striking her birdie putt in on the seventh. The American has gone birdie-bogey-birdie in her past three holes.

Korda, Vu, and Jiyai Shin out in front on six-under after Vu comes up short with her long-range birdie effort on the sixth.

FIRST BIRDIE FROM FINAL GROUP

Jiyai Shin wrestles the solo lead back courtesy of a birdie at seven. The final few holes of the front nine seem to be offering up chances to everyone, while the back nine is playing particularly difficult.

The Korean's tee shot at the par-3 eighth is excellent, too. This could quickly become a two-shot lead for Shin.

KORDA FIGHTS BACK

We have a Major tournament on our hands here! Korda seems to have found her groove with the putter after running a few close by early on and pours in her third birdie in five holes. The American is out in 34 and is at seven-under alongside Shin.

BACK-TO-BACK BIRDIES FOR NELLY

Is the writing on the wall for Korda and Shin? Korda rolls in another of those awkward-length birdie putts and takes the lead on her own. Shin is unlikely to join her again after the howling wind sends her ball a long way left on the ninth green.

SHIN TIDIES UP

Jiyai Shin avoids a potentially-costly bogey on the ninth after her initial lag putt had come up a fair way short. It was an awkward four footer for the Korean, but she exhibited all of her experience to calmly slot it into the hole.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT KO

The New Zealander is not going away and is showing the kind of form that could scare Korda down the back nine. She just missed with a giant putt from range on the 12th but has proved her quality already today with two birdies and no dropped shots.

NO PROBLEMS FOR NELLY

Magic from the leader. Reportedly left with a prime lie in the greenside bunker at number 11, Korda whipped her golf ball out of the sand and trickled it to four or five feet. Par saved. She moves on.

VU STUMBLES

Lilia Vu three-putts at the 10th and drops a shot to fall back to five-under. The American's second effort was really tough, into the wind, and it came agonisingly close to going in.

But no cigar for Lilia Vu and she is now three behind with much of the back nine still to play.

WIND MAKING PLAYERS LOOK FOOLISH

With an energy-sapping gale gusting across the links at St Andrews, Lilia Vu sends her birdie putt on the 11th a good six feet out to the right before it eventually came back well after passing the hole.

Her par putt missed, too, leaving the American with consecutive bogeys on her card. Frustrating times for the World No.2.

Meanwhile, Korda's lead at the top is now two after Jiyai Shin pushes a short putt wide. Shin is now at six-under.

FINAL PAIRING ON THE CLOCK

As the final pair are given an official 'hurry up' by a looming official who is watching the clock, much further forward, Lottie Woad almost drains a putt of over 100 feet as she chases that Smyth Salver. If you asked the Englishwoman, she would probably say her sights are still set on the title, but that seems a little far fetched at this point.

Back in the final group, Lilia Vu goes one better than Woad by sending a huge putt down on the 12th. One of the two recent bogeys is effectively wiped out and Vu goes to five-under - three back.

HERE WE GO, KO

It's another awesome putt from Lydia Ko at the 14th, and the Olympic champion is up to within one with only four holes remaining. Ko has registered three birdies and 11 pars so far today.

NERVES ARE JANGLING

As the leaders reach the final third of their rounds, it does seem like nerves are beginning to play a part. Birdie putts have stopped dropping as frequently as they had recently been doing and drives aren't always hitting the fairway.

Korda was presented with a pretty simple pitch shot into the par-5 14th green from the right rough, but she overdid it and faces a pretty tricky up and down for par.

Meanwhile, up ahead, Lydia Ko makes her first bogey of the day to temporarily open up a two-stroke lead for the World No.1.

KORDA DOUBLE BOGEY 7

Korda's fourth shot didn't make it up the bank and left her with a par chip. That was very close to going in anyway, such is the quality in Korda's hands. 

However, the bogey putt was tame and drifted right of the hole. It's a SEVEN for Korda on the par-5 14th and we now have a three-way tie at the top.

LOTTIE WOAD IS SMYTH SALVER WINNER

Rounds of 72, 70, 72, and 73 mean that English woman Lottie Woad is the Smyth Salver winner at St Andrews. Adding to her English Amateur and Augusta National Women's Amateur title, that is quite the year for the 20-year-old.

FOUR-WAY TIE AT THE TOP

Lilia Vu birdies the 14th and we now have a FOUR-WAY tie for the lead. Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, and Jiyai Shin will duke it out down the closing holes for the AIG Women's Open title.

All former (or current) World No.1s, this is set to be sensational.

WEATHER TAKEN A TURN

Not only is it windy at St Andrews, it's now pouring down in eastern Scotland. Not that it has dampened Lydia Ko's mood, though, with the New Zealander firing a stunning second shot into the 17th. 

She has a birdie chance and could move in front on her own if it drops...

SHIN CARDS COSTLY BOGEY

Oh, Jiyai Shin, what have you done?... The Korean made life really difficult for herself down 16 and ended up compounding the error by three-putting for bogey. The group of leaders is down to three as Ko tees off over the Swilcan Bridge.

KO HAS CHANCE TO HOLD SOLO LEAD

Oh, wow! Lydia Ko is taking this championship by the scruff of the neck! Her approach into the 18th green is like something out of a video game, drifting just past the flag and spinning back to maybe six feet. This is a green-light special for birdie.

Ko could move to seven-under as Korda finds the bunker short and left of the green on 17. She has escaped it but has a tough par save. 

KO HAS CLUBHOUSE LEAD

It always felt like that was going in. Lydia Ko has the clubhouse lead at seven-under after rolling in a beautiful left-to-right slider. This could be an outstanding month for someone who is already among the greats of the women's game. 

KORDA NOW TWO SHOTS OFF

No, no, no. Nelly Korda, you cannot leave putts short at this stage. That could be her Open tilt over. The World No.1 has a tricky 10-12 foot putt for par, but she never gave it enough gas. What made it worse was that the ball was right on line. That will be heart-breaking for her.

KORDA ENDS WITH A PAR

Korda had to eagle out on 18 to reach a playoff, but her approach was far too long. The birdie putt itself was actually very close to dropping, but even that just came up short.

All of that happened after Korda had chosen to walk around the Swilcan Bridge rather than wandering over it. She, understandably, looks dejected after what occurred down the back nine.

VU GIVES HERSELF A CHANCE

Jiyai Shin will almost certainly come up short today, but she still appears to be having a brilliant time out there. You have to respect her outlook. After hacking her golf ball out of the right rough down 17 to leave a tricky par putt, Shin smiles along with her caddie and pops a windbreak jacket back on ahead of her fourth shot. That misses, and it's a bogey for Shin. She's back to four-under and in solo fifth, the overnight leader.

I should also point out, the weather has turned in a much more positive direction in the last few holes. It's now bright, although the wind is still fresh. It's not as stiff, though.

Meanwhile, Vu just about sneaks her par putt in after gaining a nice read from Shin's longer effort.

The equation is now simple for Vu. Birdie or bust.

VU HAMMERS DRIVE BEFORE MUST-MAKE BIRDIE

Well, hang on. Lilia Vu has absolutely pumped her drive down 18, and it took a monstrous bounce off the road. She has what appears to be a pretty close pitch shot into the back-left pin location.

I'd say the odds of a playoff just dropped a touch.

VU PITCH

Mmm, that wasn't as close as it could have been from there, but - given the circumstances - you could forgive Vu. 

Her birdie putt is very much left to right and downhill. As far as distance, let's say 15 feet. Not easy at all.

One putt for a playoff. Otherwise, Lydia Ko is the 2024 AIG Women's Open champion.

LYDIA KO WINS 2024 AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

Vu's putt is short by a couple of feet, and that makes Lydio Ko the champion! 

The American, whose brain was a little scrambled by that miss, also fails with her par putt and finishes up with a bogey to make Ko the winner by two strokes.

Jiyai Shin is the most successful Korean golfer, male or female, of all time with over 60 professional wins and multiple Majors titles. Learn more about her life and career via these facts.

Jiyai Shin Facts

1. Shin was born in Yeonggwang-gun, South Korea on April 28, 1988.

2. She started playing golf at the age of 11.

3. In 2004, at the age of 16, Shin's mother was killed in a car accident. Her younger brother and sister were seriously injured and spent nearly a year in a hospital. Her mother's life insurance money funded the beginning of her golf career.

4. Her nickname is 'Final Round Queen' after proving her prodigious talent for closing out tournaments.

5. Shin is the most successful Korean golfer, male or female, ever as a result of 64 professional victories on six different tours worldwide.

6. Her first win arrived in 2005. While still in high school, Shin lifted the SK Enclean Invitational on the Korean LPGA Tour.

7. Shin turned professional at the end of the 2005 season.

8. In her debut campaign on the KLPGA Tour, she won three times.

9. In 2007, Shin won 10 tournaments from 19 starts on the KLPGA Tour. That year also saw Shin make her Major debut, where she finished sixth at the US Women's Open. She also finished third at the Evian to end the year as World No.8.

10. Shin attended Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. Yonsei is one of the three most prestigious universities in the country's capital.

11. As a 20-year-old in 2008, Shin won the first of her two Women's Open Championships. Her second arrived four years later in 2012 at Royal Liverpool, where she triumphed by a record nine strokes.

12. Shin belongs to an exclusive club as one of only five players to have won the AIG Women's Open more than once.

13. Following her debut year as a member of the LPGA Tour (2009) where Shin won three times, she was presented with a Talent Medal of Korea by the country's President.

14. Shin became World No.1 for the first time on May 3, 2010. In total, she was at the summit for 25 weeks of her career.

15. Shin qualified for the KLPGA Tour's Hall of Fame following her victory at the MetLife-Korea Economics KLPGA Championship - a KLPGA Tour Major - on September 19, 2010. Shin was the third golfer to enter the Hall of Fame after Ok-Hee Ku and Se Ri Pak.

16. Shin gave up her LPGA Tour membership before the start of the 2014 season to be nearer to her family in Korea. After returning to Asia, she won four times on the LPGA of Japan Tour that year.

17. In total, Shin has 11 LPGA Tour victories, 30 LPGA of Japan Tour wins, and 21 LPGA of Korea Tour triumphs.

18. Shin credits her father Jeseop Shin and her coach Hyunjee Chun (a LPGA T&CP Class A member) as the individuals who most influenced her career.

19. She has finished inside the top-five at each of the Majors, aside from the Evian Championship which she has only played twice and managed a best result of T44.

20. Her hobbies include listening to music, watching movies and reading.

Jiyai Shin Bio

Jiyai Shin LPGA Tour Wins

On a thrilling Friday, the world’s best women came to the fore at the home of golf, in tough windy conditions at the Old Course St. Andrews, but there are also a number of big names who missed the cut at the AIG Women’s Open.

It’s the final Major of the year and, after 36 holes, we have an exciting leaderboard, which is stacked full of Major winners.

Women’s World No.1 Nelly Korda leads the way after a sensational four-under par 68 that catapulted her to the top of the leaderboard on eight-under-par. Defending Champion Lilia Vu, who won two Majors in 2023, showed the importance of making a score on the greens by taking just 59 putts in her first two rounds, placing her tied for second place alongside England’s Charley Hull on five-under-par.

However, although a host of big names are in contention, a number of the world’s best didn’t make the cut going into the weekend, as the extremely high winds at St. Andrews produced a four-over-par cut-line.

Below, we take a look at the players who missed the cut in Scotland, with Major winners and Solheim Cup stars failing to make it into the weekend.

MEGAN KHANG (+5)

Megan Khang was in great form in majors in 2023, with top-10 finishes in the Evian Championship (T9), the Women's PGA Championship (T3) and the Chevron Championship (T9), so if you were hoping for a odds-on each-way bet you may be disappointed.

Just one putt separated the American from making the cut-line after she shot a second round of three-over-par 75, including costly bogeys on holes 13 and 14 that put an end to her chances of a weekend in St. Andrews.

MADELENE SAGSTROM (+5)

Like Khang, Madelene Sagstrom is another player who will be cursing one too many missed putts, heading home by the narrowest margin of one shot after finishing on five-over-par.

The Swede had formerly finished runner-up in this tournament back in 2021 to Anna Nordqvist, when a last hole bogey cost her the AIG title at Carnoustie. But her performance then was enough for her to be named as one of the captain's pick wild cards in the Solheim Cup. Sadly, her form does not indicate that she will get that same honour this time around.

YANI TSENG (+6)

The former women’s World No.1 Yani Tseng cruised through the front nine holes today in one-under-par, helped by birdies at the first, third and ninth holes. It looked as though she would comfortably make the cut and be here for the weekend. But the Taiwanese LPGA Tour player, who holds the record for being the youngest player ever, male or female, to win five Major championships, completely fell apart on the back nine of the Old Course. 

Disastrous double-bogeys at 13 and 17, where like several players today she hit her tee shot out of bounds into the gardens of the Old Course Hotel, contributed to a six-over-par back nine. She misses the cut-line by two shots.

CATRIONA MATTHEW (+7)

The former victorious European Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew made an emotional last-ever walk up the hallowed turf of the 18th hole of the Old Course, St. Andrews this afternoon, stopping to wave goodbye to her fans on the Swilken Bridge, as she hangs up her tournament spikes for good.

Matthew, who turns 55 on Sunday, has enjoyed a stellar career, recording the most LPGA victories of any Scottish player. Playing in her 30th Open as a professional she managed to close-out her career in style by holing a crowd-pleasing birdie putt on the final green at the AIG Women’s British Open. It wasn’t quite enough for her final score to creep under the cut-line but she left the home of golf smiling.

ALLISEN CORPUZ (+7)

It was day one that did the damage for American Allisen Corpuz when she shot a six-over-par round of 78 and her Friday outing proved to produce only a catalogue of pars, with not a much-needed birdie in sight, sending Corpuz heading for an early flight home after shooting a second round of one-over-par 73.

The 25-year-old was one of the pre-tournament favourites coming into this week having won the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach back in July. She was even congratulated by former US President, and fellow Hawaiian, Barack Obama after her victory. She is normally a steady bet in Major championships based on recent form, as she also finished T-4 at the 2023 Chevron Championship.

JODI EWART-SHADOFF (+7)

Despite the Englishwoman being the first player to make it through final qualifying at Crail Golfing Society to earn her spot at this year's championship, she married an American and spends the majority of her time playing on the LPGA Tour, which probably explains why out of all of the GB&I players in the field at St. Andrews this week, she is the least used to having to grind a score out in tough weather.

Ewart-Shadoff has been part of the European Solheim Cup team on three occasions and has also finished runner-up in this championship before, back in 2017 when the AIG Women's Open was held at Kingsbarns.

MINJEE LEE (+9)

If anyone could make a come-back from a bad first round you would have put money on two-time Major champion Minjee Lee to do it. The Australian opened with a six-over-par round of 78 but that’s nothing when you consider that she came from ten strokes behind at the halfway point of the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship to take that title. It helped that she shot a sensational final round of seven-under-par 64. 

Lee's maiden Major title came just two weeks after her younger brother Min Woo won the European Tour’s Scottish Open and she followed it up a year later with her second Major victory in the 2022 US Women’s Open.

Coming into the AIG Women’s Open this week she had finished in the top five in three of the last four years of the tournament, so missing the cut at St. Andrews by five shots is an unexpected shock. 

GEMMA DRYBURGH (+10)

The home crowd Scottish favourite Gemma Dryburgh struggled in the high winds on day one shooting a seven-over-par first round of 79 around the Old Course, St. Andrews. It left her with a lot of work to do on Friday and conditions were once again not favourable to low scoring.

The 31-year-old was hoping for a show of better form as she bids for a captain’s pick to force her way into the European Solheim Cup team to take on the United States in Virginia next month. The Aberdeen native was a rookie in the European team who retained the trophy in Spain last year. But recent bad form, including a missed cut at the ISPS HANDA Scottish Open leading into this week, is making that all-important pick look a lot less likely. 

ANNA NORDQVIST (+11)

The crowds will be sad that prolific Solheim Cup player Anna Nordqvist won’t be around for this weekend’s play at St. Andrews. The 37-year-old Swede will be hoping for a captain's pick to make her ninth appearance for the European Solheim Cup team when they take on the United States in Virginia next month. But she struggled in the high winds on day one at the home of golf, shooting a first round seven-over-par 79, followed up today by a four-over-76. 

Nevertheless, Nordqvist, who will serve as an assistant captain for a second time at this year's Solheim Cup, is still one of the top choices for that captain's pick, given her excellent Solheim Cup track record. She also has three Major titles to her name, including the 2021 AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie.

STACY LEWIS (+12)

US Solheim Cup Captain Stacy Lewis produced rounds of 80 and 76 for a 12-over-par tournament total, missing the cut by eight shots this week. As the former Major champion here when she took the AIG Women’s Open title back in 2013 at St. Andrews, people might well have put money on her repeating that success this week. 

Perhaps even more so because she claimed that title in high winds similar to that which the players are experiencing this week, and came from five strokes behind at the halfway stage. In fact she ended up having to play 36 holes on the final day as the weather had caused havoc with the tournament play.

World No.1 Nelly Korda is no stranger to being at the top of a leaderboard. The 25-year-old American golfer has taken her game to new heights with a staggering run of tournament successes at the start of this season.

Victory in April's Chevron Championship not only secured her a second career major title but it also represented a record-equalling fifth LPGA Tour victory in as many starts.

Now she's back at the top of a leaderboard again going into the weekend play at the AIG Women's Open at St. Andrews, having carded an almost flawless second round of four-under-par 68 to accompany her first round on the same scoreline and place her three shots ahead of the field.

But there are other world-class women players in hot pursuit including the defending champion Lilia Vu. The five-time LGPA Tour winner got a kitten last year and named him Walton in honour of her victory in the 2023 AIG Women's Open at Walton Heath Golf Club.

Also tied for second place on five-under-par is England's Charley Hull who will be hoping to put an end to her curse of being the bridesmaid and never the bride in major championships. Hull finished second to Vu in the AIG Women's Open at Walton Heath Golf Club last year.

Hull will be teeing up alongside Ruoning Yin in the penultimate group on Saturday, teeing off on the Old Course at 14.20pm local time.

AIG Women's Open Tee Times: Round 3

* 7:25am: Kristen Gillman, Morgane Metraux

* 7:35am: Bailey Tardy, Esther Henseleit

* 7:45am: Xiyu Janet Lin, Emma Spitz

* 7:55am: Sei Young Kim, Angel Yin

* 8:05am: Grace Kim, Albane Valenzuela

* 8:15am: Rose Zhang, Ayaka Furue

* 8:25am: Linn Grant, Alexandra Forsterling

* 8:35am: Ursula Wikstrom, Carlota Ciganda

* 9:00am: Hye-jin Choi, Pajaree Anannarukarn

* 9:10am: Narin An, Nasa Hataoka

* 9:20am: Arpichaya Yubol, Hae Ran Ryu

* 9:30am: Gaby Lopez, Manon De Roey

* 9:40am: Lexi Thompson, Amy Yang

* 9:50am: Marta Martin, Anne Van Dam

* 10:00am: So Mi Lee, Gabriella Cowley

* 10:10am: Emma Grechi, Weiwei Zhang

* 10:25am: Lee-Anne Pace, Johanna Gustavsson

* 10:35am: Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Minami Katsu

* 10:45am: Nicole Broch Estrup, Paula Reto

* 10:55am: Julia Lopez Ramirez (A), I K Kim

* 11:05am: Lily May Humphreys, Momoko Osato

* 11:15am: Sarah Schmelzel, Maja Stark

* 11:30am: Celine Boutier, Wichanee Meechai

* 11:40am: Yui Kawamoto, Shuri Sakuma

* 11: 50am: Nuria Iturrioz, Haruka Kawasaki

* 12:00pm: Leona Maguire, Alexa Pano

* 12:10pm: Caroline Inglis, Shannon Tan

* 12:20pm: Linnea Strom, Ariya Jutanugarn

* 12:35pm: Alison Lee, Hyo-Joo Kim

* 12:45pm: Steph Kyriacou, Akie Iwai

* 12:55pm: Georgia Hall, Jeena Thitkul

* 13:05pm: Mi Hyong Lee, Lottie Woad (A)

* 13:15pm: Jinhee Im, Jenny Shin

* 13:25pm: Jiyai Shin, Patty Tavatanakit

* 13:40pm: Ally Ewing, Andrea Lee

* 13:50pm: Louise Rydqvist (A), Moo Saigo

* 14:00pm: Casandra Alexander, Ashleigh Buhai

* 14:10pm: Pei-yun Chien, Lydia Ko

* 14:20pm: Ruoning Yin, Charley Hull

* 14:30pm: Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda 

A switch of putter just before the AIG Women's Open looks to have done the trick for Nelly Korda as she shot a second 68 to take the second-round lead at St Andrews.

There were more strong winds whipping around the Old Course on Friday but Korda's title charge would not be blown off course as a second four-under round in a row moved her onto eight under at the halfway stage.

It was enough to take her above playing partners Charley Hull and Lilia Vu into a three-shot lead as the superstar group in the field ended the second round all in the top three.

Hull led after the first round thanks to a stunning five-under round of 67, but Korda produced a four-shot swing to turn a one-shot deficit into a three-stroke advantage.

Incredibly given the conditions, Korda went bogey-free in her second round, which included four birdies, and she's only dropped one shot in 36 holes in some seriously tough conditions at the home of golf.

Part of her success has come from a putter switch made on the eve of the AIG Women's Open, when TaylorMade flew her out a custom-built Spider Tour X to Scotland for her practice round at St Andrews.

After getting a tune out of her new flat stick it went straight into the bag for Thursday, and the result has been just that one bogey and the lead in the final women's Major of the year.

"It's behaving really well, I put it in literally on Wednesday during my Pro-Am and it just felt really nice," Korda told Sky Sports about her new putter.

"I think I just needed a change-up, something new, and it felt really nice coming off the face and it's been working, so I'm very pleased."

It's a welcome return to form for Korda, who had that monumental run of form at the start of the year when winning five tournaments in a row and six in seven.

That insane form was never going to last, and she's since missed three cuts in a row and finished T22 at the Olympics

By contrast, Hull struggled on the putting surfaces, missing three short ones to make three bogeys before managing to pick up three birdies in her last five holes to even out her card.

A level-par 72 kept Hull on five under and just three shots behind Korda as she looks to chase down her first Major victory over the weekend, while defending champion Vu carded a two-under 70 to join Hull in T2.

Charley Hull fired a superb five-under 67 to claim the solo lead at the AIG Women’s Open after the first round. 

In challenging, windy conditions at St Andrews’ Old Course, Hull made it look easy with six birdies and just one bogey to take the early advantage in the final Major of the year. 

Hull has a one-stroke lead over Ruoning Yin and world No. 1 Nelly Korda, while six players – including defending champion Lilia Vu – are a shot further back at three-under.

The 28-year-old Briton, who finished runner-up at last year’s Open, started her round with four-straight pars before sinking her first birdie of the day on the par-5 fifth. 

After dropping a shot on the eighth, she bounced back with back-to-back birdies on holes nine and ten, before adding three more to finish strong – including a three on the iconic 18th thanks to a brilliant approach to within six feet.

Speaking to Sky Sports after her round, Hull said finishing with a birdie was the “perfect” way to end what was an extremely difficult day.

“It was unbelievable,” she said. “To be fair, when I woke up this morning I saw how windy it was on the range and I thought to myself, ‘how is she [Yin] four-under par’? And I saw Georgia [Hall] shot one-under and I thought, ‘fair play, that’s a really good score’. And then for me to shoot that, it was good because it was so gusty out there.”

Hull ranked the difficulty of the round as “10 out of 10”, but managed to use her local knowledge to put on a links golf clinic.

“I don’t know how the balls weren’t moving on the greens … it was so windy.”

However, Hull will have a stacked leaderboard chasing her on day two, with Yin and Korda hot on her tail.

Korda, who played alongside Hull and Vu, rediscovered some of the shot-making that saw her win six times in seven starts earlier in the year, and finished her round with two straight birdies to sit a shot behind the lead.

“It’s nice to finish birdie-birdie after such a tough day,” Korda said after her round. “It was so fun to play alongside Charley and Lilia. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better finish.”

Hyo Joo Kim and Momoko Osato finished on two-under, while big names like Olympic gold medallist Lydia Ko and England's Georgia Hall are lurking on one-under.

The winning caddie at this year’s AIG Women’s Open is set to make more than any other caddie in the tournament’s history.

The R&A announced on Wednesday that the prize money for this week’s event at St Andrews’ Old Course will be a record $9.5 million, with the winner getting $1.425m.

The total prize money is boosted by $500,000 from last year, and almost three-and-a-half times the amount on offer the last time the event was contested at St Andrews in 2013.

This year’s winning caddie is set to take home $142,500, which is 10 percent of the prize money for first place. 

While the exact amount professional caddies make varies, with every player/caddie agreement slightly different, it is generally accepted that loopers get a 10 percent cut of the prize money when their player wins a tournament.

Lilia Vu took home $1.35m when she won her second Major title at the 2023 Women’s Open at Walton Heath Golf Club, meaning her caddie Cole Pensanti likely earned $135,000.

In her most successful year to date, Vu also won three other tournaments in 2023, including the Chevron Championship, which also made it Pensanti’s most lucrative year as a professional caddie.

Professional caddies also make a baseline salary every week, on top of the percentage of prize money, which is all agreed upon with the player – although most loopers pay their own expenses.

While a 10 percent cut of the prize money for caddies is generally assumed if their player wins an event, they are likely to receive a smaller percentage for lower finishes.

On the PGA Tour, caddies make on average $2,000 a week, according to veteran looper Brennan Little.

“I think $2,000 a week is pretty average, but everything is worked out between you and the player,” Little, a veteran caddie of 25 years, told Golf Monthly in 2022.

“After a few years you’ll get a raise. Or you’ll get bonuses at the end of the year. It just varies by the player. I think generally if you were looking for a number it would be $2,000 a week, and then 7 to 8 percent and 10 percent [of the prize money].”

The baseline salaries for caddies on the LPGA Tour is likely to be less than those on the PGA Tour, with purses being lower for the women, but the percentage of prize money is likely to be similar on both tours.

With the wind whipping across the Old Course at St Andrews, R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers says precautions have been taken to ensure the greens remain playable at the AIG Women's Open.

The world's best female golfers are tackling the home of golf this week, and are getting the full St Andrews experience due to the blustery conditions.

Consistent wind will be a problem all week, but with strong gusts of up to 45mph also cropping up, there was the prospect of golf balls being moved on the putting surfaces - which could cause a stoppage in play.

But R&A officials have been keen to avoid that, so took the decision before the opening round teed off to leave a bit of length on the greens to avoid the wind blowing golf balls.

And the plans seemed to have worked according to former champion Georgia Hall after completing her first round.

"I was a bit worried a few times but I think the R&A are very clever with letting the greens be a bit slower so the balls weren’t rolling,2 said Hall "I think if they cut them to a certain length, we would have to stop. So credit to the R&A for that."

After the greens were rolling at just 9'7 on the stimpmeter on Wednesday, Slumbers explained their plans for the tournament due to the weather.

"We have slowed the golf course down quite a bit," Slumbers said ahead of the first round. 

"We've raised the height of cut on the greens. We've put a bit of water on them to help them grow a little bit. We've got some pretty good ideas about where we can put the pins to actually protect it as much as we possibly can.

"Most importantly, we will set it up in a way that the players can play. The good news is the wind is forecast all four days to come from pretty much the same quadrant, so we know where we can put the pins to give them some room.

"I think the best players in the world want a bit of a hard challenge. I just hope it doesn't blow so hard that we can't play. I think some of you will well remember 2015. The wind was making the balls move on 13 at that point. The exposed greens are out at 11, 12, 13. It would be balls moving and therefore that we can't play.

"The rules of golf that we changed in 2019 are going to help an awful lot here because once the ball is marked on the green, that's its position. That's the big fear."

Slumbers did add, though, that they would keep an eye on the weather and if the wind subsided they would think about speeding the greens up again.

“We can speed them up quite quickly," he added. "These are great greens. We know how to speed them up.”

There's also the rare sight of split tees in operation at St Andrews, which Slumbers explained was due to the later date of the AIG Women's Open this year.

"So the reason we went to split tees was driven by the fact that this championship is two weeks later than we would ideally have had it," said Slumbers.

"Everyone has just come back from the Olympics, so we have less daylight, so we start later and we finish earlier than we would have done, and the two tees is the lowest rink way of getting round in the light that we're going to have through Sunday. 

"So it was a daylight issue, and I'm pleased we're doing it given what we're going to face."

The R&A's CEO Martin Slumbers has revealed there are plans to start using an almost identical list of courses on the Open rota for both the men's and women's Championships, with St Andrews "periodically" returning as host in the years to come.

The Home of Golf has welcomed the very best in the men's game around every five years since 1984 - hosting for the 30th time in 2022 - while the AIG Women's Open is visiting in 2024 for only the third time ever, following its debut in 2007 and second running in 2013.

As a result, over half of the world's top-50 female players had never played a competitive round at the iconic Scottish links course before this year - something the R&A's outgoing CEO admitted he was shocked to discover.

In his introductory AIG Women's Open press conference, Slumbers said: "What has really surprised me is how few of these great women players have never competed over these links. We take for granted that the men have played here since they were young boys playing in international events.

"Nelly [Korda] has never played a competitive round around here. I think I'm right in saying that 30 of the top-50 have never played a competitive round around here. I'm excited to see them. This is the Home of Golf. It is arguably the most important golf course in the world. I think we're going to enjoy watching them play."

The list of future host venues for The Open Championship and the AIG Women's Open has only been officially confirmed until 2026, with Royal Portrush and Royal Birkdale in line to take up the honor for the men while Royal Porthcawl and Royal Lytham & St Annes welcome the women.

Ahead of this week's AIG Women's Open at St Andrews, Slumbers - who will be replaced by Mark Darbon later in the year - was posed questions on which courses might well host subsequent Championships, with Portmarnock a potential candidate further down the line.

The R&A's CEO revealed that St Andrews will almost certainly host plenty more AIG Women's Opens in the years to come, while - with one exception - many of the other venues more commonly competed at by the men will also welcome their female peers.

Slumbers said: "I think we have historically gone with the men's game to St Andrews more often, and I think you'll see us come back here more often, as well, with the women's game."

He continued: "I think you're going to see us increasingly use exactly the same venues as we use for The Open, with one exception that we will probably want to have - periodically - a Championship in the London area.

"The reason for this being -- it's primarily linked to one of the byproducts of trying to [get] young people to play -- more women to play golf, and there are more women golfers down in the south of England than in Scotland, so we'll take advantage of that.

"But you're, increasingly over the years, going to see the same venues that we use for The Open Championship, and I think that is entirely appropriate."

Players at the AIG Women's Open this week are set for brutal conditions with gusts of up to 45mph predicted for the opening round at St Andrews.

R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers says that the course has been 'slowed' down but admits there is a risk that play could be delayed in round one, with the "big fear" that golf balls could be moved by winds on the Old Course's more exposed greens.

Slumbers suggested that greens will be rolling around the 9.6 mark on the stimpmeter and said that the course has received extra water to try and keep balls stationary amid the gale-force winds predicted.

"So the forecast is sort of settling down to being pretty windy tomorrow, particularly tomorrow. There is a small but a realistic chance of 40, 45 mile-an-hour winds tomorrow. But the met office who help us here have been forecasting this for a while now," Slumbers said in his address to media on Wednesday.

"We have slowed the golf course down quite a bit. We've raised the height of cut on the greens. We've put a bit of water on them to help them grow a little bit. We've got some pretty good ideas about where we can put the pins to actually protect it as much as we possibly can. 

"Most importantly, we will set it up in a way that the players can play. The good news is the wind is forecast all four days to come from pretty much the same quadrant, so we know where we can put the pins to give them some room. 

"There is a risk that we'll have delays in play tomorrow, but we'll deal with that. I think the best players in the world want a bit of a hard challenge. I just hope it doesn't blow so hard that we can't play."

While the R&A chief is worried about the possibility of winds blowing balls around on the exposed greens, he is thankful for the 2019 Rule change involving the 'stop point' of your ball once it has been marked on the green.

The new change meant that once you have marked, lifted and replaced your ball, that now acts as your 'stop' point. If the ball moves thereafter whether that be down to wind. water or any other natural force then you are entitled to put the back back on that spot - rather than playing it from the ball's new position.

"No, it's not as simple as that," Slumber said on if balls moving will be the cause of a delay to play, before continuing: "I think some of you will well remember 2015 [men's Open at St Andrews]. The wind was making the balls move on 13 at that point. The exposed greens are out at 11, 12, 13. It would be balls moving and therefore that we can't play. 

"The rules of golf that we changed in 2019 are going to help an awful lot here because once the ball is marked on the green, that's its position. That's the big fear.

"2016 Troon wasn't very pretty on Friday and Saturday. Last Saturday at Troon just a few weeks ago wasn't very pretty, either. This is pretty high winds for us. I think this is at the top end. I think we'll all be pleased to get through tomorrow. 

"We will do everything we can on the golf course to make it playable, and we'll keep the girls playing for as long as we possibly can. But there is the integrity of the whole championship between front and center in our minds."

The greens are set to be slow at under 10 on the stimpmeter, which is around 4-5ft slower than what we witnessed at Pinehurst 2 in the men's US Open in June. They could well be sped up over the weekend, though, where slightly calmer conditions are forecast.

"Numbers-wise, we're mowing the greens I think 4.75 mill, and we've put a little bit of water on the greens," Slumbers said.

"You know, the Old Course, we publish the stimp numbers every morning to the players, so we're going to be somewhere around - I think this morning they were at 9-foot-6. Yesterday they were at 9-foot-7. I doubt if you'll see them any faster than that for tomorrow, and then we'll see what the weather is going to do on Friday, Saturday, Sunday. 

"We can speed them up quite quickly. These are great greens. We know how to speed them up."

Something that will help the R&A get play done by Sunday will be the use of a split-tee system, which has been used due to the event taking place later than usual. The championship should have been slightly earlier in the calendar but is later in the season due to the Olympics.

It means that the organizers have less daylight to play with, so players will be going out on both the 1st and 10th tees, which is rarely seen in Opens.

St Andrews hosts the AIG Women's Open for the third time this week, after 2007 and 2013. It's set to be a very entertaining one as the world's best female golfers get the true links experience.

World No.2 Lilia Vu defends the title she won last year at Walton Heath.

Swedish golf star Linn Grant will tee up at St Andrews tomorrow for the first round of the AIG Women's Open, but fans will not only be looking at the quality of her golf shots, but the different outfits she will be wearing from the brand new adidas x JAY3LLE collection.

adidas is a brand that has never been afraid to push boundaries, so combining with fashion visionary Johan Lindeberg and his daughter Blue, this new range is about as fashion-forward as you can get, adding to the best women's golf clothes on the market. 

I don't fall into the category of demographic that the collection is generally targeted at, but I must admit, there are pieces in the collection that will suit women golfers whatever their age.

The products are feminine, yet dynamic in their styles in a vibrant palette of purples, reds, and pinks, contrasted with deep blacks and pure whites. Given the predicted weather forecast this week, Grant will probably be unable to wear the pleated skort, but the vest that's designed for cool-weather rounds is sure to make an appearance. Let's not forget the high-top performance golf shoe that looks more suited to a boxing ring than a fairway, but Grant is already a big fan, so it will be interesting to see how it stands up as one of the best women's golf shoes.

A fashion show featuring adidas ambassadors launched the collection in the festival village at St Andrews on Tuesday. Johan Lindeberg and his daughter Blue, who was one of the models, were in attendance, and her father praised his daughter as his inspiration behind the collaboration and collection. The collection can be viewed in the film below.

“My daughter, Blue, and I are excited to create this special collaboration with adidas,” said Johan Lindeberg. “They are a passionate and inspiring team with high creative ambition within golf. I have always been an adidas fan, so it feels very natural and organic to create this collection together. I have always sought to modernize the game of golf through fashion. This capsule speaks to the energy and inclusive community that’s steadily growing in the sport and especially amongst women, which is why focusing on womenswear for this collection was so important.”

View the limited-edition line here.

The AIG Women's Open has confirmed an increase to its prize money payout for 2024 and says this year's champion will earn a record figure as well.

In 2023, the total prize fund was $9 million, but that has been raised to $9.5 million with the Women's Open winner taking home a record $1,425,000 - the highest amount in the championship’s 48-year history and $100,000 up on what Lilia Vu took home following her success last summer.

The prize fund for the championship has more than doubled since before The R&A’s partnership with AIG began in 2019, sitting at $4.5 million as recently as 2020 before increasing to $5.8 million and $7.3 million in the subsequent years.

Martin Slumbers, outgoing CEO of The R&A, said: “With the outstanding backing we have received from AIG as our title sponsor, we have been able to achieve a step change and take this Championship to new levels.

"We greatly appreciate AIG’s support and are proud that they share our goal to elevate the AIG Women’s Open still further and ensure it remains at the pinnacle of the women’s game.

"The increased prize fund and our enhancements to the staging and the spectator experience this year reflect our shared commitment to making the AIG Women’s Open a world class championship for players and fans alike.”

Even with the increase, the AIG Women's Open remains third in the list of highest payouts among the five women's Majors. The US Women's Open is top with $12 million while the KPMG Women's PGA Championship is narrowly in second place on $10.4 million.

The Evian Championship offered a $8 million total prize fund earlier this year while the Chevron Championship paid out a total of $7.9 million.

This year's AIG Women's Open is taking place between Thursday, August 22 and Sunday, August 25 at St Andrews' Old Course in Scotland.

144 players will be in the field, with the likes of Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, and Charley Hull some of the leading names in contention. On the flip side, several big names will miss the AIG Women's Open, including Danielle Kang, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Laura Davies.

How the prize money compares between the men's and women's Opens

Lexi Thompson refused to be drawn on whether the 2024 AIG Women's Open at St Andrews would definitely be the final Major of her career, months on from revealing she would retire from a "full professional golf schedule" at the end of this year.

Thompson made the surprise announcement back in May and confirmed she would no longer feature on the LPGA Tour after the CME Group Tour Championship and Grant Thornton Invitational in December.

However, as a result of her 2014 Chevron Championship victory - which books her a space there for life - plus a high finish at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship this season (T9), Thompson will have the opportunity to tee it up in at least two Majors next year, too.

That will become three should she finish inside the top-30 of the LPGA Tour's Race to CME Globe standings, allowing her a start at the US Women's Open. If Thompson make it into the top-25, she will earn a tee time at the AIG Women's Open as well. Thompson is currently 35th with 11 events to go.

Asked if she could play a Major next year or if her farewell is likely to come at the Home of Golf, the 29-year-old said: "I've thought about it. There's a few that I'm obviously in, but yeah, I haven't put too much thought into it.

"Going into next year, I'm going to take some time off and just see how I feel, see how I feel mentally and where I'm at. But I know I have a few majors if I want to be able to tee it up there and get my game ready.

"But yeah, we'll see. I haven't really thought about this being my last because there's more opportunities next year if I wanted."

Ever since Thompson confirmed her last LPGA Tournament, the message she has consistently shared is that she isn't done yet and still has a lot of golf to play before putting her clubs away.

While her LPGA Tour schedule is almost locked up, there is one event coming up which Thompson is keeping her eye on.

The six-time Solheim Cup player remains in with a shout of making Team USA for a seventh time via a captain's pick and stated that being in that squad of 12 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club is her top priority.

Posed a question about how much desire she has to make Stacy Lewis' team, Thompson replied: "Very hungry. Anytime I can represent my country, it's my No. 1 goal to be on this team. That's nothing like it.

"I feel like it brings out an energy and talent from all of us players that fans don't see every week. I think they really enjoy it. You're not only playing for yourself.

"Golf is such an individual sport. We get the opportunity to bring 12 girls together, build those friendships and relationships, play under our captain that we look up to. It's something different. It's special."

The AIG Women’s Open is the fifth and final women’s Major of the season and out of all the Major championships, this is the one the world’s best female golfers most aspire to win. This week, the 48th edition of the event holds even greater significance as it returns to the home of golf and one of the most famous courses in the world - the Old Course at St Andrews.

The Women’s Open dates back to 1976 but was only recognised as a tour event by the LPGA in 1994 and as an official LPGA Major in 2001. From 1990 to 1996, the event was held exclusively at Woburn Golf Club, but in 1998, then-sponsor Weetabix decided to rotate the championship among the UK’s best and most famous links courses, such as Turnberry, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal Birkdale and St Andrews. Mirroring the rotation of the men’s Open Championship venues, this was a smart move that considerably helped raise the profile and prestige of the Women’s Open.

It became known as the AIG Women’s British Open in 2019, an alliance between the American multinational finance and insurance corporation and The R&A, organisers of this event since 2017. The tournament was then rebranded in 2022 by removing the ‘British’ to align with The R&A’s men's championships.

The partnership between The R&A and AIG has been highly successful, with both organisations dedicated to championing the evolving landscape of the women’s game. Last year, AIG extended the initial five-year partnership through 2030. Since the partnership began, prize money has more than doubled, with this year’s winner set to take home over a million dollars from a total prize fund of 9 million dollars. 

For The R&A, the AIG Women’s Open is its showcase event, demonstrating its commitment to elevating women’s golf by shining a light on the most international lineup of the year. Of course, there is no better place to do this than St Andrews.

While the Old Course has witnessed many memorable moments - such as Seve Ballesteros's famous fist pump in 1984, Tiger Woods winning the Claret Jug to achieve a career Grand Slam in 2000, and Jack Nicklaus standing on the Swilcan Bridge giving an emotional farewell to the Old Course in 2005  - this will only be the third time this women’s Major graces these hallowed links.

The Women’s Open first came to St Andrews in 2007, when current World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa led from start to finish, winning four strokes clear of Sweden’s Maria Hjorth and South Korea's Lee Jee-young to secure her first Major title. The last visit was in 2013 when Stacy Lewis claimed her second Major title after closing with back-to-back birdies to triumph by two shots over South Korea's Choi Na-yeon and Park Hee-young.

The next champion will have many options for celebrating in the magical town, which has a village feel, but she might just follow in the footsteps of Ochoa and Lewis, who celebrated their triumphs at the Dunvegan Hotel, renowned as one of golf’s finest 19th holes.

Georgia Hall, the 2018 AIG Women’s Open winner, last competed at the 2013 championship in St Andrews as a 16-year-old amateur, sharing the title of lowest amateur with Lydia Ko and winning the coveted Smyth Salver. Hall says, "I think the atmosphere will be incredible, and it’s not just about winning the Women’s Open but winning at St Andrews."

Reflecting On 2023

Unlike the men’s Open Championship, the AIG Women’s Open is not played exclusively on links courses. Last year, the championship was held for the first time at the esteemed Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, where players faced a stern test on a composite layout featuring holes from the Old and New courses stretching across vast heathland.

With firm fairways guarded by dense heather, gorse, and fescue grass, as well as the testing nature of the greens, the course thoroughly examined the players’ skill sets, demanding pinpoint accuracy. 

Lilia Vu rose to the challenge in magnificent fashion, stealing the spotlight and claiming her second Major title of the year following her breakthrough victory at the Chevron Championship. Not only did Vu lift the unique fluted trophy crafted by Edward Asprey and claim the winner’s cheque, but she also became the first American player to achieve this feat in a single season since Juli Inkster in 1999.

Vu entered the final round tied at the top at 9-under with British favourite Charley Hull. The home crowd was willing the Englishwoman to close out her first Major victory, but Vu had other ideas and she quickly took control. Birdieing the 2nd hole while Hull bogeyed the 3rd, she surged ahead by two strokes and never looked back, despite Hull producing the shot of the championship, holing out from the bunker for an eagle on the 11th. Vu shot an impressive 5-under 67 to secure a 14-under total and a six-shot victory over Hull, who finished as runner-up for the second time in Majors and her fourth LPGA Tour runner-up finish overall in 2023.

Reflecting on her incredible victory, Vu said, "It just comes down to not thinking about winning, just playing one shot at a time. This golf course forces you to do that. It really tests you. My only goal was to drive the ball well and give myself chances for birdie."

An emotional Vu added, "This has been the best crowd I've ever played in front of in my life. I will remember this moment forever. They've been so great. Even though they were rooting for Charley, they clapped for me too."

Old Course, St Andrews

In contrast to the heathland course at Walton Heath, the Old Course on Fife’s rugged coastline is a classic links layout. 

The strength of prevailing sea winds, an abundance of bunkers (112 in total), and numerous mounds and hollows are the defining features of the Old Course that will test the players skills to the max. The wide fairways and 12 double greens will offer various angles and pin placements, so a good score will demand strategic thinking.

The force of Mother Nature, with its unpredictable weather and prevailing sea winds, is likely to play a role as well. When the Championship last visited St Andrews in 2013, high winds caused play to be suspended on day three. Consequently, a number of players, including eventual winner Stacy Lewis, were forced to play two rounds on Sunday.

Golf fans recognise the 1st and 18th as two of the most famous holes in golf, sharing a fairway and the iconic Swilcan Bridge, one of the most photographed bridges in the world. Both holes are overlooked by the historic R&A clubhouse, and the AIG Women’s Open will mark its first major event since an £11 million renovation.

The Contenders

An international field of 144 players will compete for the title including 12 players that made it through final qualifying at Fife's Crail Golfing Society.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda aims for her second Major title this year, adding to the Chevron Championship she won while triumphing six times in seven starts. “To do it at St Andrews, the home of golf, with all that history, would be so, so special,” says the 25-year-old American. Korda stayed in St Andrews during her rookie year when the championship was played at Kingsbarns in 2017, but she has yet to play the Old Course.

Earlier this year, defending champion Lilia Vu was uncertain if she would be able to compete again at the highest level following a back injury. However, after a two-month hiatus from the LPGA Tour, Vu returned to the winner’s circle in her first start and now has her sights set on a history-making back-to-back Major victory.

Until last week's ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open, Ally Ewing had not missed a cut this season until last week's ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open, and her results include four top-five finishes, including a tie for 3rd at the US Women’s Open and 5th at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Notably, the 31-year-old American took a five-shot lead into the weekend at the 2023 AIG Women’s Open, the joint-biggest lead after 36 holes at the championship since 1995.

A host of Korean players will be gunning for glory, including the country’s highest world-ranked player, Jin Young Ko, former Major winner Hyo-joo Kim, and the 2024 US Women’s Open winner, Amy Yang. 

The crowd would be thrilled to see a home player, such as England’s Charley Hull go one better this year or for Georgia Hall to emulate her scintillating 2018 victory. Hall began the final round trailing the leader by three strokes, but a back nine surge secured the title to become the first British player to win the championship since Catriona Matthew in 2019. 

Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh and 2023 Solheim Cup player was still an amateur when the championship was last played at St Andrews in 2013. Not knowing when the opportunity will come around again, she cannot wait to fulfil her childhood dream of competing at the historic venue.

Other top contenders include in-form American Lauren Coughlin, former Major winners such as Australian Minjee Lee, France’s Celine Boutier, China’s Ruoning Yin, Japan’s Yuka Saso, while Ireland’s Leona Maguire and Australian Hannah Green have the ability to make a strong impact on the leaderboard.

Picking a likely winner from such a vast group of talented athletes is challenging, as history shows that this prestigious Major is often full of surprises. In 2019, Hinako Shibuno burst onto the scene at Woburn, sinking a birdie putt on the 18th to claim the title by one shot over Lizette Salas, despite never having ventured beyond Japan's borders or competed in a Major before.

The following year, Germany’s Sophia Popov, ranked 304th in the world at the time and having only qualified the week before, produced the best golfing week of her life at Royal Troon to edge out Thailand’s Jasmine Suwannapura by two strokes. Then, in 2022, an epic four-hole playoff ensued in fading light at Muirfield, before South Africa’s Asheigh Buhai claimed her first Major title.

Fan Experience

Last year at Walton Heath, The R&A executed its plan to shift from a traditional spectator village to a modern festival-style experience, combining sport and entertainment to attract new audiences. The plan paid off, creating an inclusive atmosphere that appeals to those less familiar with the sport, and this approach will be recreated at St Andrews.

A highlight of Walton Heath was a music concert by global superstar Ellie Goulding, which likely contributed to the impressive attendance of 51,000 fans, up from 33,303 the previous year - a 53% increase. At St Andrews, the Saturday evening headline act will be BRIT and Ivor Novello-nominated singer-songwriter Tom Grennan, a passionate golfer who admits to spending too much time on the golf course.

At the heart of the festival village, fans and family will be able to enjoy lawn games, mini golf, shopping and there will be a Sessions Stage with a variety of prominent figures from women’s sport, business and entertainment discussing all the latest hot topics. In keeping with the festival atmosphere, there will be food trucks and bars, and naturally there’s no better place than St Andrews to try your hand at golf. Whether you’re a regular player or picking up a golf club for the very first time, a team of up to 12 PGA professionals will be on hand for a free 15-minute lesson.

To encourage children and young people to attend, The R&A will continue the successful ‘Kids go Free’ programme on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, which provides children under 16 free entry to the championship when accompanied by a paying adult. A number of ticket offers are available including a £5 discount for Mastercard holders.

Played on the world’s most famous course with thrilling golf guaranteed and an off-course fun and inclusive atmosphere, this year’s AIG Women’s Open has all the ingredients to showcase and elevate women’s golf.

Catriona Matthew has confirmed that this week's AIG Women's Open at St Andrews will be her final appearance in the Major.

The Scot famously won the championship at Royal Lytham in 2009 just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter, Sophie, to become the first Scottish woman to win a Major championship.

She has since gone on to captain two winning European Solheim Cup sides, and will also captain GB&I at next week's Curtis Cup.

Matthew, who turns 55 on Sunday, will hope to celebrate her birthday with a final round tee time, where she may well stop on the Swilcan Bridge for the last time like many great champions in the past.

"I think this will be the last time I play in this event. I think just you want to be - not like I have no illusion, I'm not going to be winning the event but I think a goal for me this week would be to try and make the cut," she said.

"You don't want to come and keep playing in the event when you're not competitive. It just felt being in St Andrews, in Scotland, the Home of Golf, what better place to play my last one.

"I think probably in a way a little bit of a mixture of relief, knowing myself that this will be the last one I'm going to play in. 

"Yeah, obviously you'll be a little sad that you're not in the event. It's so big now and it's such a buzz when you come to these events to play in them. But I've realised, you've just got to, at 55, you're not going to be competitive enough as I want to be. Everything comes to an end."

USA Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis, who won at St Andrews in 2013, is paired with Matthew this week in the AIG Women's Open tee times and paid tribute to the Scot.

"Catriona, she's meant a tremendous amount to women's golf, especially here in Scotland where, you know, we don't have a ton of tour players coming out of here, and you can see, because the weather," she said.

"She's been such a tremendous competitor and to go up against her in Solheim Cup and watch her be a leader there, and she's really become a leader in women's golf I feel like off the golf course and has helped us continue to grow. It's just a huge honour for me to get to play with her, and then also Karrie, someone that I've admired so much growing up. So I'm really, really excited for Thursday and Friday."

Once the AIG Women's Open ends, Matthew will head down South to Sunningdale Golf Club to try and steer GB&I to their first Curtis Cup victory since 2016. She admits her team will be the underdogs.

"Looking forward to that down at Sunningdale next week. I've been watching a lot of amateur golf: The ANWA, NCAA, the British Am. They are a great bunch, and we have a great team," she said.

"We had a weekend down there a couple weeks ago. We'll be big underdogs for that with the Americans but looking forward to it."

Matthew will have the World No.1 amateur, Lottie Woad, at her disposal next week - and she played a practice round with the Augusta National Women's Amateur champion on Tuesday.

"I've watched them a lot but they have never seen me play. So it was a little bit of pressure on me yesterday," she said.

"I thought, 'God, I'd at least let her see that I can still hit the ball'. Yeah, it's good. 

"When you're on the golf course, you can chat away to them, and it's important getting to know all the players. So I think that's been good in that respect."

Matthew's last win came at the 2013 Women's Scottish Open. She has won four times on the LPGA and six times on the LET.

Lexi Thompson is another Major winner who may well be making their final appearance in the AIG Women's Open this week, with the American announcing earlier this year that she would be retiring from a full playing schedule at the end of 2024.

For many pro golfers, the popular phrase 'aim small, miss small' is one they have worked into their subconscious over a sustained period of time. The idea that picking a very specific target will help you play a more accurate shot and ensure that if it is missed, the ball will still be in a strong position.

For Charley Hull, however, the World No.10 says that theory is particularly difficult for her to execute at St Andrews' Old Course - site of this year's AIG Women's Open.

The Englishwoman is hoping to go one better than she managed at Walton Heath in 2023, where she finished six shots behind champion Lilia Vu in second. Hull tees off alongside Vu and World No.1 Nelly Korda at 1:10pm BST in round one on Thursday.

If she is to do so, Hull admits will have to rely on help form her caddie, Adam Woodward in picking out starting points in the distance.

Asked what she has learned about navigating links courses more successfully as her career has progressed, the 28-year-old said: "Well, a couple of weeks ago, my coach got me working on doing a lot of three-quarter swings because my golf swing got a little bit too long.

"But now I kind of understand why he's got me working on the three-quarter swings because he's just kind of introduced me to a low ball flight for these couple of weeks coming up for the links. So I think you've just got to be patient out there."

Hardly ever a host course for a pro women's event, Hull shared she has only played the Old Course a handful of times in her life so far.

But going on to explain why she finds St Andrews tougher than most links courses, Hull said: "I do find St Andrews, actually, a harder links for me. Not necessarily because it's super tough but because there's not -- you can't really [pick out] the lines in the fairways, like, it just looks very open. So it's quite hard to pick, like, a point in the distance.

"Usually, I like really tight fairways like Sahalee [Country Club - 2024 Women's PGA Championship host] because you kind of see the ball shape and, like, where to hit it. So, out here, you've got to be very focussed on your point and your target. So that was my caddie, Adam's, job."

The AIG Women's Open will only be Hull's fourth competitive start since pulling out of the Aramco Series London event through injury back in July.

Six-time pro winner Hull later admitted the injury was caused by a fall out of the shower and she had suffered over the next couple of weeks as a result - including at the Evian Championship.

Having taken some time away to recover, Hull returned at the Olympics and overcame a tough first round - where she shot 81 and sat third from last - to finish 27th.

And with a fifth-place finish at the Women's Scottish Open behind her last week, Hull is adamant she is back to 100% and ready to go again in the fifth and final Major of 2024.

Asked if she was back to full health, Hull said: "Definitely. I think the first round of the Olympics was more just because of nerves. Like, putting in a lot of work, but coming back after that five weeks off, I just got a little bit nervous.

"I have all my little check points. And, at home, I was playing some great golf. But it was just, like, the first round of the Olympics, I don't know why.

"And then, the last three rounds, I was under par and then I was back to myself, and I carried it on last week.

"My shoulder just got a little bit tight so I had acupuncture, like, every other day. I've actually got it after this. Because when it's cold, it can play up a bit.

"I've got -- is it degenerate arthritis, in it, as well. So when it does get cold, it gets a bit stiff. So just try to keep it warm. Apart from that, I'm healthy and ready to go."

The fifth and final women's Major of the year takes place at the Old Course, St Andrews as a field of 144 players compete. 

Among them is defending champion Lilia Vu, who swept to a six-shot victory over Charley Hull at Walton Heath last year. The pair will play alongside each other and World No.1 Nelly Korda in the opening two rounds in one of several world-class groupings.

The three begin at 8.10am EDT (1.10pm BST) in the opening round, with a tee time of 2.55am EDT (7.55am BST) in the second round.

Lexi Thompson could be ending her Major career at the event, and she's grouped with two-time Major winner Minjee Lee and local star Gemma Dryburgh. They begin their challenges at 2.44am EDT (7.44am BST) on Thursday with a tee time of 7.59am EDT (12.59pm BST) on Friday.

Lydia Ko is another who is sure to have plenty of attention with the event coming less than two weeks after she claimed the gold medal at the Olympics - a feat that saw her also take her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame.

Despite her glorious career, the AIG Women's Open is one of three Majors she is yet to win - can she do it here? She'll be hoping for a good start in a group with Celine Boutier and Ally Ewing. The three begin at 7.26am EDT (12.26pm BST) in the first round, with a start time of 2.11am EDT (7.11am BST) in the second round.

Elsewhere, Georgia Hall, who won the Major in 2018, is grouped with Amundi Evian Championship winner Ayaka Furue and Rose Zhang, with the three beginning at 2.55am EDT (7.55am BST) in the first round and 8.10am EDT (1.10pm BST) in the second round.

Below are the full tee times and groupings for the Thursday and Friday's action in the AIG Women's Open.

AIG Women's Open Tee Times - Notable Groups 

EDT (BST)

Round One

• 2.44am (7.44am): Minjee Lee, Lexi Thompson, Gemma Dryburgh
• 2.55am (7.55am): Georgia Hall, Ayaka Furue, Rose Zhang
• 7.26am (12.26pm): Celine Boutier, Lydia Ko, Ally Ewing
• 8.10am (1.10pm): Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda, Charley Hull

Round Two

• 2.11am (7.11am): Celine Boutier, Lydia Ko, Ally Ewing
• 2.55am (7.55am): Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda, Charley Hull
• 7.59am (12.59pm): Minjee Lee, Lexi Thompson, Gemma Dryburgh
• 8.10am (1.10pm): Georgia Hall, Ayaka Furue, Rose Zhang

AIG Women's Open Tee Times - Round One

EDT (BST)

1ST TEE/10TH TEE

• 2.00am (7.00am): In Kyung Kim, Alexandra Forsterling, Moriya Jutanugarn/Lauren Coughlin, Miyu Yamashita, Madelene Sagstrom
• 2.11am (7.11am): Jenny Shin, Bronte Law, Olivia Cowan/Amy Yang, Hannah Green, Brooke M. Henderson
• 2.22am (7.22am): Sophia Popov, Ai Suzuki, Jodi Ewart Shadoff/Hinako Shibuno, Ruoning Yin, Linn Grant
• 2.33am (7.33am): Ariya Jutanugarn, Linnea Strom, Julia Lopez Ramirez/Stacy Lewis, Karrie Webb, Catriona Matthew
• 2.44am (7.44am): Rio Takeda, Jin Hee Im, Chun-Wei Wu/Minjee Lee, Lexi Thompson, Gemma Dryburgh
• 2.55am (7.55am): Albane Valenzuela, Jasmine Suwannapura, Manon De Roey/Georgia Hall, Ayaka Furue, Rose Zhang
• 3.06am (8.06am): Grace Kim, Kokona Sakurai, Shannon Tan/Jennifer Kupcho, Emily Kristine Pedersen, Lottie Woad
• 3.17am (8.17am): Chanettee Wannasaen, Sei Young Kim, Emma Spitz/Angel Yin, Gaby Lopez, Marina Alex
• 3.28am (8.28am): Lucy Li, Paula Reto, Trichat Cheenglab/Anna Nordqvist, Haeran Ryu, Louise Rydqvist
• 3.39am (8.39am): Wichanee Meechai, Bailey Tardy, Nicole Broch Estrup/Xiyu Lin, Esther Henseleit, Gabriela Ruffels
• 3.50am (8.50am): Alexa Pano, Morgane Metraux, Yealimi Noh/Minami Katsu, Lauren Hartlage, Caroline Inglis
• 4.01am (9.01am): Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Hira Naveed, Amy Taylor/Kristen Gillman, Patricia Isabel Schmidt, Haeji Kang
• 7.15am (12.15pm): Akie Iwai, Andrea Lee, Stephanie Kyriacou/Mi Hyang Lee, Arpichaya Yubol, Alice Hewson
• 7.26am (12.26pm): Celine Boutier, Lydia Ko, Ally Ewing/A Lim Kim, Aditi Ashok, Cheyenne Knight
• 7.37am (12.37pm): Ashleigh Buhai, Jin Young Ko, Leona Maguire/Peiyun Chien, Yuna Nishimura, Stephanie Meadow
• 7.48am (12.48pm): Hyo Joo Kim, Jeeno Thitikul, Maja Stark/Hikaru Yoshimoto, Diksha Dagar, Casandra Alexander
• 7.59am (12.59pm): Patty Tavatanakit, Allisen Corpuz, Nasa Hataoka/Sarah Schmelzel, Haruka Kawasaki, Nuria Iturrioz
• 8.10am (1.10pm): Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda, Charley Hull/Narin An, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Shuri Sakuma
• 8.21am (1.21pm): Yuka Saso, Megan Khang, Alison Lee/Hye-Jin Choi, Yui Kawamoto, Johanna Gustavsson
• 8.32am (1.32pm): Jiyai Shin, Carlota Ciganda, Mao Saigo/Lee-Anne Pace, Weiwei Zhang, Emma Grechi
• 8.43am (1.43pm): Yani Tseng, Sakura Koiwai, Ela Anacona/Gabriella Cowley, Lisa Pettersson, Ursula Wikstrom
• 8.54am (1.54pm): Chisato Iwai, Ryann O'Toole, So Mi Lee/Maria Hernandez, Ana Pelaez Trivino, Annabell Fuller
• 9.05am (2.05pm): Perrine Delacour, Anne van Dam, Chiara Tamburlini/Auston Kim, Klara Davidson Spilkova, Momoko Osato
• 9.16am (2.16pm): Sara Kjellker, Noora Komulainen, Lily May Humphreys/Marta Martin, Lauren Walsh, Jana Melichova

AIG Women's Open Tee Times - Round Two

EDT (BST)

10TH TEE/1ST TEE

• 2.00am (7.00am): Akie Iwai, Andrea Lee, Stephanie Kyriacou/Mi Hyang Lee, Arpichaya Yubol, Alice Hewson
• 2.11am (7.11am): Celine Boutier, Lydia Ko, Ally Ewing/A Lim Kim, Aditi Ashok, Cheyenne Knight
• 2.22am (7.22am): Ashleigh Buhai, Jin Young Ko, Leona Maguire/Peiyun Chien, Yuna Nishimura, Stephanie Meadow
• 2.33am (7.33am): Hyo Joo Kim, Jeeno Thitikul, Maja Stark/Hikaru Yoshimoto, Diksha Dagar, Casandra Alexander
• 2.44am (7.44am): Patty Tavatanakit, Allisen Corpuz, Nasa Hataoka/Sarah Schmelzel, Haruka Kawasaki, Nuria Iturrioz
• 2.55am (7.55am): Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda, Charley Hull/Narin An, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Shuri Sakuma
• 3.06am (8.06am): Yuka Saso, Megan Khang, Alison Lee/Hye-Jin Choi, Yui Kawamoto, Johanna Gustavsson
• 3.17am (8.17am): Jiyai Shin, Carlota Ciganda, Mao Saigo/Lee-Anne Pace, Weiwei Zhang, Emma Grechi
• 3.28am (8.28am): Yani Tseng, Sakura Koiwai, Ela Anacona/Gabriella Cowley, Lisa Pettersson, Ursula Wikstrom
• 3.39am (8.39am): Chisato Iwai, Ryann O'Toole, So Mi Lee/Maria Hernandez, Ana Pelaez Trivino, Annabell Fuller
• 3.50am (8.50am): Perrine Delacour, Anne van Dam, Chiara Tamburlini/Auston Kim, Klara Davidson Spilkova, Momoko Osato
• 4.01am (9.01am): Sara Kjellker, Noora Komulainen, Lily May Humphreys/Marta Martin, Lauren Walsh, Jana Melichova
• 7.15am (12.15pm): In Kyung Kim, Alexandra Forsterling, Moriya Jutanugarn/Lauren Coughlin, Miyu Yamashita, Madelene Sagstrom
• 7.26am (12.26pm): Jenny Shin, Bronte Law, Olivia Cowan/Amy Yang, Hannah Green, Brooke M. Henderson
• 7.37am (12.37pm): Sophia Popov, Ai Suzuki, Jodi Ewart Shadoff/Hinako Shibuno, Ruoning Yin, Linn Grant
• 7.48am (12.48pm): Ariya Jutanugarn, Linnea Strom, Julia Lopez Ramirez/Stacy Lewis, Karrie Webb, Catriona Matthew
• 7.59am (12.59pm): Rio Takeda, Jin Hee Im, Chun-Wei Wu/Minjee Lee, Lexi Thompson, Gemma Dryburgh
• 8.10am (1.10pm): Albane Valenzuela, Jasmine Suwannapura, Manon De Roey/Georgia Hall, Ayaka Furue, Rose Zhang
• 8.21am (1.21pm): Grace Kim, Kokona Sakurai, Shannon Tan/Jennifer Kupcho, Emily Kristine Pedersen, Lottie Woad
• 8.32am (1.32pm): Chanettee Wannasaen, Sei Young Kim, Emma Spitz/Angel Yin, Gaby Lopez, Marina Alex
• 8.43am (1.43pm): Lucy Li, Paula Reto, Trichat Cheenglab/Anna Nordqvist, Haeran Ryu, Louise Rydqvist
• 8.54am (1.54pm): Wichanee Meechai, Bailey Tardy, Nicole Broch Estrup/Xiyu Lin, Esther Henseleit, Gabriela Ruffels
• 9.05am (2.05pm): Alexa Pano, Morgane Metraux, Yealimi Noh/Minami Katsu, Lauren Hartlage, Caroline Inglis
• 9.16am (2.16pm): Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Hira Naveed, Amy Taylor/Kristen Gillman, Patricia Isabel Schmidt, Haeji Kang

How To Watch The AIG Women's Open In The US

All times EST

• Thursday 22 August: 7.00am-2.00pm (USA Network)
• Friday 23 August: 7.00am-2.00pm (USA Network)
• Saturday 24 August: 7.00am-12.00pm (USA Network), 12.00pm-2.00pm (NBC/Peacock)
• Sunday 25 August: 7.00am-12.00pm (USA Network), 12.00pm-2.00pm (NBC/Peacock)

How To Watch The AIG Women's Open In The UK

All times BST

• Thursday 22 August: 12.00pm-7.00pm (Sky Sports Golf)
• Friday 23 August: 12.00pm-7.00pm (Sky Sports Golf)
• Saturday 24 August: 12.00pm-7.00pm (Sky Sports Golf)
• Sunday 25 August:12.00pm-7.00pm (Sky Sports Golf)

Gemma Dryburgh believes there will "eventually" be a women's professional event at Augusta National, but predicted that it won't happen during her playing career.

The Scot tees it up at the AIG Women's Open this week at the world famous Old Course at St Andrews, where Lorena Ochoa in 2007 and Stacy Lewis in 2013 won the previous two stagings.

Much has been spoken about on the potential for the world's best female golfers to one day play a 'women's' Masters, with the Augusta course being on par with the Old Course and Pebble Beach, venue for the 2023 US Women's Open, as some of golf's most famous layouts.

"I always think that we will get there eventually," Dryburgh said of a potential women's Masters.

"I don't think it will be when I'm still playing; that's my prediction. But it would be great to have a women's professional event there. 

"It's obviously a nice step in the right direction that we've got an amateur event there now but yeah would I love to see a professional event there."

The Augusta National Women's Amateur was founded in 2019 and has an impressive list of winners already in just five stagings. Major winner Jennifer Kupcho triumphed in the inaugural tournament, with Rose Zhang winning in 2023 before sealing the NCAA Division 1 title and then emerging victorious in her pro debut on the LPGA Tour.

England's Lottie Woad, the current World No.1-ranked amateur, prevailed in 2024 after birdieing three of the final four holes.

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley this year suggested that there are currently no plans to introduce a Women's Masters, however.

"There are some fundamental difficulties in that," he explained.

"We happily were able to find a way to have a competition for juniors and a competition for women amateurs sort of wrapped around the Masters tournament, and it just seems to fit really well.

"To have another tournament of any kind would be very difficult based on our season, based on the fact that this is essentially a winter and spring golf course. It's not open in the summer. It doesn't play the way we want it to play in the fall for a major tournament. We did have one, one time, and Dustin Johnson did very well [2020 Masters, delayed until November due to Covid-19]."

'Lorena was a hero of mine growing up'

Dryburgh is proud to be following in her hero's footsteps this week, with the World No.81 describing Lorena Ochoa's 2007 win at St Andrews as an inspiration for her pro career.

"I would say when Lorena won, that's probably like one of the most inspirational moments from my childhood watching women's golf, apart from Catriona winning, as well, The Open," she said.

"But Lorena was a hero of mine growing up. I just loved way she played and her attitude and obviously when she won at St Andrews, it doesn't get more iconic than that, and obviously watching Stacy win as well. 

"Yeah, I was in the Dunvegan two weeks ago and I saw Stacy's photo right in front of the bar. It's just so cool to have those moments in women's golf, and I think women's golf going to more venues like St Andrews and Pebble Beach last year, just iconic places where people know all these shots and all these moments, and it's just great that we can make our own history."

Gemma Dryburgh won her maiden LPGA Tour title at the 2022 TOTO Japan Classic. She plays in her fifth AIG Women's Open this week.

Lexi Thompson - one of the most iconic names of all time in women's golf - is set for what could be her final appearance at a Major championship this week when the AIG Women's Open takes place at St Andrews' Old Course.

Thompson announced her plan to retire from a "full professional golf schedule" back in late May, 17 years on from her first appearance as a 12-year-old at the US Women's Open.

Announcing her decision, the 29-year-old said: "While it is never easy to say goodbye, it is indeed time. At the end of 2024, I will be stepping away from a full professional golf schedule.

"I’m excited to enjoy the remainder of the year as there are still goals I want to accomplish. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life. Time with family, friends, and my trusted companion, Leo."

At the US Women's Open, just days after Thompson's revelation, she missed the cut to make it five from seven tournaments where the American had failed to play the weekend this season.

Yet, since then, the 2014 Chevron Championship winner has chiseled out an excellent sequence of results - with her best of the season arriving at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give in the form of a T2nd.

Two further top-10s followed, one of which arrived at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship where Thompson was leading at the end of Thursday's opening round.

The woman from Coral Springs, Florida confirmed that she was "very content" with her decision to retire still - despite her career benefitting from something of an Indian Summer, in terms of results.

Speaking at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, she said: "I'm just taking it one day at a time. I made my announcement. I'm very content with it. Golf is a crazy game, so I'm not going to look too far ahead. Just taking it one day at a time and see where it takes me."

Thompson went on to state that she does not feel her improved form in 2024 is down to her retirement announcement.

She said: "I don't think that has to do with announcing what I did. It's just a matter of being comfortable out there, playing free-swing Lexi I guess. Just enjoying being out there every step of the way."

And now, Thompson has the chance to not only improve on her best finish of eighth at a Women's Open but also claim the ultimate retirement gift in the form of a second Major.

She will tee it up alongside the likes of Lilia Vu, Ashleigh Buhai, and Nelly Korda at St Andrews and could end up walking over the equally-iconic Swilcan Bridge for the final time as a pro come Sunday afternoon.

Lexi Thompson AIG Women's Open Results

Lexi Thompson managed a best-ever finish of T8 at the Women's Open, and that came in 2016 at Woburn. Otherwise, she has missed the cut four out of 11 appearances but ended between 11th and 20th five times.

Thompson withdrew from the 2018 championship after admitting she had "not truly felt like myself" for some time, but has featured in every single other Women's Open since making her debut in 2012.

Lexi Thompson's Best Major Results

Thompson has played in 66 total Major championships throughout her career and has an outstanding overall record, despite only managing to win one - the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship (now the Chevron Championship).

The 29-year-old has finished in positions 1-7, except from sixth, at the Chevron Championship - ending fourth twice - while recording five top-10s at the US Women's Open, four top-10s at the Women's PGA Championship, and three top-10s at the Evian Championship.

She would likely have added to her tally at the 2017 ANA Inspiration (Chevron) but was penalized four strokes - two for incorrectly replacing her ball on the 17th and two for signing an incorrect scorecard - during the third round. 

The error was picked up by a fan on TV and only enforced after the round. Regardless, she ended up in a playoff with So-yeon Ryu but missed out on the title.

Thompson has been runner-up at three of the four Majors she has not managed to win, ending solo second at the 2015 Evian Championship and finishing T2 at the 2019 US Women's Open and 2022 KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

Thompson also endured another nightmare moment during the 2021 US Women's Open when she led by five strokes heading into the back nine. However, she carded a five-over par 41 on the back nine to miss out on a playoff by one shot.

Final Qualifying for the AIG Women's Open took place at Crail Golfing Society on Monday, with 12 players out of 92 entrants making it through to tee it up at St Andrews on Thursday as the last Major of the year takes place.

Five-time China LPGA Tour winner Weiwei Zhang topped the leaderboard on five-under to land a maiden Major appearance, while big names such as Lauren Hartlage and Jodi Ewart Shadoff also did enough after 18 holes.

Shadoff was one of the three golfers to make it into the AIG Women's Open field via a playoff against 11 others, with Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow and Finland's Ursula Wikstrom joining her.

Otherwise, a handful of star faces have either been left waiting to discover their fate on the reserve list or confirmed as missing out on St Andrews. A handful of others may well have succumbed to untimely injuries.

Below are seven big names who missed out on a place at the 2024 AIG Women's Open.

Caroline Hedwall (-1) Reserve

The Swede is a seven-time LET winner and featured for Team Europe in the 2023 Solheim Cup - as well as four others before that - but she will have a nervous wait to find out if there will be a tee time at St Andrews with her name next to it this week.

Hedwall is the first reserve after falling short in the playoff so may well feel hopeful of a start, regardless.

Pia Babnik (E)

Babnik competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and finished 22nd, continuing her rise towards the top of the game, but the 20-year-old won't feature at the AIG Women's Open.

The Slovenian golfer carded an even-par round of 72 in Final Qualifying and will return to focus on the Ladies European Tour season, where she is a two-time winner.

Caroline Masson (+3)

Masson is a four-time Solheim Cup player with a victory apiece on both the LPGA Tour and LET, but she missed out on qualifying for the AIG Women's Open after shooting three-over at Crail Golfing Society on Monday.

The German - who turned pro in 2009 - is now ranked World No.338 and missed the cut in three of the four Majors this season.

Bianca Pagdanganan (+5)

Pagdanganan is another Paris Olympian who fell short in her quest to play in the latest big-time championship. She has a best result of T9 at a Major (the 2020 KPMG Women's PGA Championship) but is yet to play an AIG Women's Open.

The Filipino endured a tough afternoon in Scotland on Monday and shot 77 to comfortably miss out on the chance of featuring at St Andrews.

Danielle Kang (+6)

Kang proved that no matter your name or what you have achieved in the past, all that matters is what happens on the day. Kang failed to make it through Final Qualifying on Monday after carding a disappointing 78.

The 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Championship winner and six-time LPGA Tour champion has played at the four most-recent Solheim Cups for Team USA, but her form has been on the slide over the past 12 months and she now sits as World No.140.

In Gee Chun

Chun is a three-time Major champion, having lifted the 2015 US Women's Open, the 2016 Evian Championship, and the 2022 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. 

As a recent Major winner, she is exempt into the 2024 AIG Women's Open, but Chun has not played since the US Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club and likely remains injured so is unable to take her place at St Andrews.

Azahara Munoz

Munoz is another player who could well have been ruled out through injury as she did not attempt qualifying. The Spanish golfer did play at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, finishing T13, but missed the cut at her three previous events beforehand.

She has top-20 finishes in all five women's Majors throughout a pro career which began in 2009.

Laura Davies Not Playing 2024 AIG Women's Open

In total, nine former champions who are still exempt won't be playing at St Andrews this year, with Laura Davies explaining why she made the "really tough decision" not to compete in 2024.

As the winner in 1986, this year was the final Championship where Davies was exempt, but her absence means she will not be in the field for the first time since 1979 - ending a run of 43 consecutive starts.

Otherwise, Inbee Park, Lorena Ochoa, and Annika Sorenstam make up just a few of the other past champions who could have played at St Andrews this year but opted not to.

Which Eligible Past Champions Are Not In 2024 AIG Women's Open Field?

• Laura Davies (1986)
• Sherri Steinhauer (1998, 1999, 2006)
• Se Ri Pak (2001)
• Annika Sorenstam (2003)
• Karen Stupples (2004)
• Jeong Jang (2005)
• Lorena Ochoa (2007)
• Mo Martin (2014)
• Inbee Park (2015)

The fifth women’s Major of the year, the AIG Women’s Open, begins later this week at the Old Course, St Andrews, and the last chance to earn a place in the field came in final qualifying, which was held at Crail Golfing Society in Fife on Monday.

In total, 12 spots were up for grabs at the 18-hole event, as the 92 players in the field tackled windy conditions to try and earn their spots.

In the end, five-time China LPGA Tour winner Weiwei Zhang finished on top of the leaderboard after a five-under 67 to book her first appearance at the Major.

Afterwards, she said: “I played great today and holed some important putts. It was very windy and so it was hard out there. The pin positions were tough to reach. However, the practice I had helped me and I got to know the course beforehand.”

Another player safely through is French pro Emma Grechi. She reached the 2023 edition at Walton Heath via final qualifying, and she did it again this year following a four-under at Crail Golfing Society.

English LET pro Annabell Fuller was another who completed a round of four-under to confirm her appearance, where she will look for an improvement on her T61 at the 2021 edition, while another finishing on the same score was American Kristen Gillman, whose best performance at the Major was a T11 in 2020.

Fuller said: “I’m so excited to be playing at St Andrews. I grew up playing ‘wee wonders’ here at the junior golf course so it’s nice to be going back. I played St Rule Trophy years ago but it’s been a while since I last was on the Old Course. It’s great to be back there.”

Another player to finish T2 in Fife was South African Casandra Alexander, who has five wins on the Sunshine Tour, and who missed the cut at the 2022 AIG Women’s Open in her only appearance to date.

Four players completed rounds of 70 to finish two-under for the day, which also proved enough to qualify.

One was American Lauren Hartlage, whose best performance in a Major so far came with a T5 at this year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The LPGA Tour pro will be making her maiden appearance at the AIG Women’s Open when it gets underway on Thursday.

Noora Komulainen of Finland booked her place in the tournament for the fourth time with her two-under, meaning she can now prepare for an attempt to make the cut for the first time at the tournament.

German Patricia Schmidt, who won the 2023 Belgian Ladies Open on the LET, also qualified, meaning she will make only her second Major appearance after she missed the cut at Walton Heath last year.

South African veteran Lee-Anne Pace, who has 23 professional career wins, also completed a round of 70 to confirm her appearance.

That left 12 players who finished on one-under to head into a playoff to determine the final three places, including Stephanie Meadow, who has three top-10 finishes in Majors, 2023 Team Europe Solheim Cup star Caroline Hedwall and Jodi Ewart Shadoff, who finished runner-up in the 2017 tournament.

Ewart Shadoff was the first to make it through to give her the chance to go one better than seven years ago as she looks for her maiden Major title.

Eventually, just Meadow, Hedwall, Ursula Wikstrom and Laura Fuenfstueck were left competing for the final two places, and it was Meadow and Wikstrom who prevailed.

Northern Ireland's Meadow's best finish at the tournament came in 2020 when she finished T39, while for Finn Wikstrom the occasion gives her the chance to improve on her best finish of T46, which came at the 2009 event.

AIG Women's Open Final Qualifying: Who Made It Through

• Weiwei Zhang 
• Emma Grechi 
• Annabell Fuller 
• Kristen Gillman 
• Casandra Alexander 
• Lauren Hartlage 
• Noora Komulainen 
• Patricia Schmidt 
• Lee-Anne Pace 
• Jodi Ewart Shadoff
• Stephanie Meadow 
• Ursula Wikstrom 

Thanks to her victory at the 1986 AIG Women’s Open, Dame Laura Davies has been assured of her place in the tournament for decades.

Now aged 60, the 2024 edition at the Old Course, St Andrews marks the final year of her exemption, although she has opted not to take her place in the field for Major.

Davies explained to Sky Sports why she has decided against a final appearance at the event, beginning by offering an honest assessment of the state of her game at present.

"I'm just not playing enough golf now to warrant a spot in the field," she said. “As it gets closer, I'm getting sadder and sadder with the fact I'm not going to be playing there.”

Davies then admitted that the decision to concentrate on her broadcasting duties for Sky Sports rather than compete had not been an easy one. She said: "It has been a week that I've always looked forward to. It was a really tough decision, but I think it's the right decision. I wouldn't be looking forward to it because my game is not good enough."

Davies revealed that her increasing involvement in the studio had impacted her ability to remain competitive. "Since I've been commentating, I've played less and less golf," she explained. "I'll still play some seniors golf, but when I turn up to play against younger players, the game is just not good enough.

"Initially, when I was just doing five or six events commentating a year, it was fine because I was playing enough golf. I had a spell where I didn't play for eight months and by the time I came back and tried to play, the game was just gone and the mindset was gone."

Even the prospect of finishing her Major career by crossing the iconic Swilcan Bridge at the Home of Golf was not enough to persuade her to make one final appearance this week.

She said: "If you're just turning up because you just want to cross the bridge at 18, it's for the wrong reason. I like to be the centre of attention for playing great golf, not just for the sake of being there.”

Davies’ decision to call time on her AIG Women’s Open career is not entirely surprising after she hinted at last year’s Walton Heath event that it could be her final appearance.

Before the tournament, she said: "This week might be my last one," and then only completed six holes before a wrist injury forced her withdrawal.

Following that disappointment, she admitted to Sky Sports she was still hopeful of an appearance this year, saying: “If I feel my game is good enough, I will have a go at St Andrews. It's my favorite golf course in the world so couldn't be better, but I'm not going to go there if I'm playing really horrible golf.”

Given her form, she has been true to her word, meaning that for the first time since the 1979 edition, the tournament will not have Davies in the field.

The AIG Women's Open draws the curtain on a fascinating Major season, and what better place to do it than the iconic Old Course at St. Andrews. After picking two winners in his last two Major betting previews, Golf Monthly's betting expert Barry Plummer returns in scintillating form as he searches for a hat-trick of Champion picks.

The recent Olympic event at Le Golf National provides some interesting additional form lines at this late stage of the season, but the Home of Golf provides a unique test and it will take more than a quick scan to find the potential winner of this one.

With plenty of juicy prices on offer, I have whittled down an extensive list of intriguing prospects and settled on four great value betting picks to win the AIG Women's Open this week...

AIG Women's Open 2024: The Course

The Old Course at St. Andrews is one of the most iconic venues in world golf, and a fitting stage for the final Major of the 2024 season. The majestic Swilcan Bridge and the perilous Hell Bunker are revered around the globe, and has deservedly earned its reputation as the Home of Golf.

The strategically placed bunkers are one of the track's main forms of defence, while the elements are always sure to be a factor. The par-72 course played at just over 6,600 yards on the previous two occasions that St. Andrews hosted the Women's Open, most recently in 2013 when Stacy Lewis emerged victorious.

The Previous Winners

2023: Lilia Vu (-14)

2022: Ashleigh Buhai (-10)

2021: Anna Nordqvist (-15)

2020: Sophia Popov (-7)

2019: Hinako Shibuno (-18)

Who Will Win The AIG Women's Open 2024?

Minjee Lee (35/1) is a ten-time LPGA Tour winner and two-time Major Champion, so I am surprised to see her priced so generously for this one. Lee has three top-5 finishes in her past five Women's Open appearances, and already has a top-10 finish at the US Women's Open this year.

The Australian also has six top-10 finishes in her last eight visits to the Women's Scottish Open, and was in contention at the event again last week. I'm very interested at this price, as she has the ability to win and has plenty of form to suggest an each-way place is on the cards at the very least.

Hyo-Joo Kim (28/1) is also of interest for a similar reason to Minjee Lee. The price is to big in my opinion, and I am very keen to take advantage of that. Kim has amassed an impressive 23 career wins so far, including one Major back in 2014 at the Evian Championship.

Three top-16 finishes in four Major appearances this year suggests she is capable of contending again, while five consecutive top-25 finishes at the Women's Open are also encouraging. Kim was 4th in her last appearance in this event, and also has impressive form at the Women's Scottish Open – with a second and tied-third finish in three starts since 2022.

Celine Boutier (40/1) stormed into action at the Olympic Games, grabbing the first round lead in convincing fashion at Le Golf National. Things sort of fell away over the final three rounds, but I am willing to forgive that and put it down to the pressure of being the home-favourite at such a massive event.

Two top-7 finishes in her last five Women's Open appearances demonstrates an ability to face this type of test, and her 2023 Women's Scottish Open win adds further weight to her claim. I thought the floodgates might open for this phenomenal talent, following her first Major win at the Evian Championship last year, and this could be the next step in an already impressive career.

Esther Henseleit (50/1) finished spectacularly at the Women's Olympic golf event recently, posting a third-round-69 and a final-round-66 to secure a silver medal in impressive fashion. She also went extremely close in Scotland last week, finishing runner-up for the second successive tournament.

Her 2024 Major results also make for interesting reading, with three top-15 finishes in her four appearances. After finishing in seventh place in both the Chevron and the Evian Championship, it's not out of the realms of possibility that she takes another step forwards and at this price she represents excellent each-way value.