The AIG Women’s Open has travelled an extraordinary journey since its modest beginnings half a century ago. When the tournament first rolled out, it was essentially an amateur showcase, with a prize pool that barely covered the cost of a modest dinner – a total of just £500 for the whole event. Fast‑forward fifty years, and the competition has become a cornerstone of the global golf calendar, boasting a prize fund of $10 million (£7.5 million) and a winner’s share of $1.5 million (£1.25 million).
This dramatic evolution is evident in every aspect of the tournament, from the calibre of the field to the scale of the venues and the sophistication of the infrastructure. In its inaugural edition, the field was dominated by amateurs and a handful of professionals who even had to chip in their own money to keep the prize fund afloat. Names such as Vivien Saunders and Gwen Brandom were not only competing but also contributing personally to the purse. Those early years were marked by financial uncertainty; the tournament went without a sponsor until 1979 and even faced cancellation in 1983 when funding fell short, casting doubt on its future.
Despite those rocky beginnings, the event persisted and gradually attracted higher‑profile sponsors. The 1980s saw a succession of backers, including Burberry in 1985 and Weetabix from 1987 to 1993, each helping to raise the tournament’s profile. Yet it was not until AIG took over as title sponsor that the prize money truly exploded, more than tripling the purse and cementing the Open’s status as a premier women’s major.
The turning point came in 2001 when the AIG Women’s Open was officially recognised as a major championship, replacing the Canadian Women’s Open in the LPGA’s major roster. This elevation brought with it greater media attention, larger crowds, and a more robust organizational structure. In 2017, the governance of the event shifted from the Ladies’ Golf Union to the R&A, aligning it with the historic men’s Open and granting it access to world‑class venues such as the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Royal Troon. These links courses, with their storied histories and challenging layouts, have added a new level of prestige and difficulty to the women’s competition.
Today, the tournament returns to Royal Lytham & St Annes for its 50th anniversary, drawing a star‑studded field that includes Nelly Korda, who is chasing a career Grand Slam, and Ha‑ran Ryu, who seeks a third consecutive major title. The event is broadcast live on Sky Sports, with extensive coverage that begins on Thursday and includes special Featured Group sessions during the first two rounds.
The atmosphere is electric, with organisers expecting over 50,000 spectators throughout the week—a figure that eclipses attendance records set in the three preceding editions. Veteran champion Dame Laura Davies, who holds the record for 43 consecutive appearances, summed up the transformation perfectly: “I don’t recognise it from when I used to play it.
It’s no longer an add‑on; it’s a stand‑alone major championship and a superb event.” Her reflections highlight three key pillars of the tournament’s growth: the quality of the links venues, the ever‑increasing prize money, and the world‑class facilities provided for players. Modern locker rooms, player lounges, and dedicated services create an environment where athletes feel valued and supported, a stark contrast to the spartan conditions of the early 1970s.
The surge in television coverage has also been a catalyst for the Open’s popularity. As women’s golf receives more airtime, fans are drawn to the personalities they see on screen, swelling gallery numbers and generating a virtuous cycle of exposure and investment.
This media boost has helped British players like Georgia Hall (2018) and Catriona Matthew (2009) claim victories on home soil, inspiring the next generation of talent such as Charley Hull and Lottie Woad to aim for similar success. Looking ahead, the tournament’s future appears secure and promising. With AIG’s continued financial backing, the prize fund is expected to keep rising, further incentivising elite participation. The R&A’s stewardship ensures that the event will continue to rotate among the most challenging and historic courses, preserving its heritage while pushing the sport forward.
As the AIG Women’s Open celebrates its golden jubilee, it stands as a testament to how vision, perseverance, and strategic investment can transform a modest amateur competition into a global sporting spectacle that commands respect, attracts massive audiences, and offers life‑changing rewards for its champions.