When the AIG Women’s Open was first staged half a century ago, it was a modest affair. The roster was dominated by amateurs, and the total prize pool for the whole tournament was a mere £500.
Fast‑forward fifty years, and the event is almost unrecognisable compared with the competition Jenny Lee Smith captured at Fulford Golf Club in 1976. It has grown into a marquee fixture on the global golf calendar, boasting world‑class facilities, a star‑studded field and a prize fund that now exceeds £7.5 million, with the champion taking home roughly £1.25 million.
In those early days, even the professionals who entered had to chip in their own money to bolster the purse. Names such as Vivien Saunders and Gwen Brandom are remembered not only for their play but also for their financial contributions to keep the tournament afloat.
Over the ensuing decades the tournament has steadily built its infrastructure, attracted high‑profile sponsors and seen its prize money swell dramatically. Today, the 50th anniversary edition returns to the historic links of Royal Lytham & St Annes, with live coverage beginning Thursday on Sky Sports. The world’s elite women golfers will vie for a record winner’s share of $1.5 million (about £1.25 million) out of a total $10 million ($7.5 million) purse. "I don’t recognise it from when I used to play it," remarked Dame Laura Davies, who holds the record for 43 consecutive appearances at the Open.
"It’s not an add‑on any more; it’s a stand‑alone major championship and a superb event." Her comment underscores how far the tournament has come. Organisers anticipate more than 50,000 spectators over the week, a figure that would have seemed impossible during the event’s fledgling years. Attendance records have been broken in each of the three previous editions, and AIG, the title sponsor, has more than tripled the prize money since first signing on.
The tournament’s early history was anything but smooth. It ran without a sponsor until 1979 and struggled to secure venues.
In 1983 the event was cancelled outright because of insufficient funding, casting doubt on its future. The LPGA added the Open to its schedule in 1984, but it vanished from the tour for another ten years. During its brief early stint, sponsors such as Burberry (1985) and Weetabix (1987‑1993) helped keep the event alive, but it still took time for the Open to earn the prestige it now enjoys.
Davies recalled the stark contrast between those early tournaments and today’s spectacle. "My very first Open was in 1980 at Wentworth on the East Course, then we went up to Newcastle in 1981 and there was nobody there. Then we moved to Woburn for a long spell and the galleries were really good. I won my Women’s Open at Royal Birkdale in 1986 and there were only a couple of hundred people walking around on the final round.
You just can’t compare to how it is now – it has grown massively." The tournament was officially elevated to major‑championship status in 2001, taking the place of what is now known as the Canadian Women’s Open. It wasn’t until 2017 that the R&A assumed direct responsibility for its organization, replacing the Ladies’ Golf Union.
Since then, the Open has been staged on some of the most revered links courses in the world, including the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Royal Troon. Expanded television coverage and award‑winning player facilities have further cemented its reputation.
Davies highlighted three key drivers behind the event’s meteoric rise: premier venues, ever‑increasing prize money and top‑tier facilities. "When you get there and see the infrastructure, the player lounge and the services for the players, it just makes you feel comfortable and special.
Everyone’s looked after as a player and they do a great job." She also noted the impact of television exposure on women’s sport. "Women’s sport being more on TV now helps, because people want to come and see the characters they see on TV, and you’ve seen that gallery‑wise and how much they’ve grown.
I can’t say anything bad about this event!" This year’s edition promises extra excitement with a three‑hour Featured Group segment covering the first two rounds, giving fans additional action as Nelly Korda pursues a career Grand Slam and Ha‑Ran Ryu chases a third consecutive major title. The previous two champions at Royal Lytham were both British – Georgia Hall in 2018 and Catriona Matthew in 2009 – and home‑grown talents such as Charley Hull and Lottie Woad will be eager to extend that legacy.
Davies shared insights from caddies who have played both The Open and the Women’s Open at Royal Lytham. "They say the bunkers are a nightmare – they’re harsher than those at Royal Birkdale.
Hull never really got into contention at the Evian Championship, but she has the game to win a major; she’s too good not to. Lottie is very solid, not flashy, with a great temperament. If you have that temperament, it’s a huge thing." As the tournament unfolds, viewers can follow the action live on Sky Sports throughout the week.
The opening round coverage begins Thursday with Featured Groups from 9 am, followed by full broadcast from 1 pm on Sky Sports Golf. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer, the 50th anniversary of the AIG Women’s Open offers a compelling showcase of how a modest £500 competition transformed into a world‑class major with a £1.25 million winner’s share, reflecting the broader growth and professionalisation of women’s golf.