AIG Women’s Open set to thrill on return to the home of golf
The R&A
19 Aug 24
3 mins
The world’s leading women golfers are to set to showcase their talents over the famed Old Course in St Andrews this week, with the AIG Women’s Open one to savour on and off the course.
In terms of prestige, investment and exposure, the Championship is now one of the most lucrative and eagerly anticipated showpieces on the women’s calendar.The return of the AIG Women’s Open – the final major of the year – to the cradle of the game in St Andrews from 21 – 25 August has simply burnished that stature.
Elevation of the Championship
“Part of the elevation of the AIG Women's Open is to stage it on the best courses that present the greatest challenge,” says The R&A’s CEO, Martin Slumbers, as the famous Fife links hosts the Championship for only the third time.The alliance with title sponsors AIG, meanwhile, has helped accelerate that growth. The partnership began in 2019 and has been extended through to 2030. “When I look at what we have achieved in the last five years, I personally am incredibly proud,” added Slumbers. “But even more so, I'm inspired by what we can still do.”
Favourites to watch
A quality field, featuring home hopes like Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and Gemma Dryburgh, will lock horns with defending champion Lilia Vu, world number one Nelly Korda and a galaxy of stars from across the world.The first Championship, in 1976 at Fulford, had a first prize of £210. Last year at Walton Heath, Vu walked away with a winning cheque for $1.35 million from an overall purse of $9 million – a prize fund that has doubled with the support of AIG and The R&A since 2019. The players in St Andrews can also access the AIG Women’s Open Clubhouse, launched in 2022, a bespoke facility built to accommodate the field and allow them to prepare for a major championship.
Tom Grennan concert
The elevation of the spectator experience continues at the home of golf, allowing different demographics to enjoy a new-look Festival Village introduced last year in Surrey. Fans can sample the Golf It! Zone, take a free golf lessons, play the new Just Swing Roblox game (launched by The R&A in June) or savour a variety of food and drinks. St Andrews will also echo to the sounds of one of the leading singer-songwriters in the world as BRIT and Ivor Novello-nominated Tom Grennan takes to the stage as the headline act on Saturday night (24 August), supported by Fleur East. The AIG Women’s Open is the showpiece of The R&A’s commitment to growing women’s golf. That support spans initiatives like the Women in Golf Charter, the Women in Golf Leadership Programme and women in golf summit events that continue to attract women into the sport, either on the fairways or in employment.For more information and to purchase tickets for the AIG Women’s Open this week, please visit https://www.aigwomensopen.com
