Fifty years ago the AIG Women’s Open was a modest affair, largely populated by amateur players and backed by a prize fund that barely covered the cost of a modest holiday – a total of £500 for the whole tournament. The inaugural event, held at Fulford Golf Club in 1976, was won by Jenny Lee Smith, a pioneering figure who helped lay the groundwork for what would become one of the most prestigious stops on the women’s golfing calendar. Back then, even the professionals who entered – names like Vivien Saunders and Gwen Brandom – often had to contribute their own money to keep the prize pool afloat. Fast forward half a century, and the tournament bears little resemblance to that scrappy beginning.
Today the AIG Women’s Open is staged on world‑class links courses, draws a field packed with the sport’s biggest stars, and offers a prize purse that dwarfs its original sum. This week the competition returns to the storied fairways of Royal Lytham & St Annes for its 50th anniversary, with Sky Sports broadcasting live from Thursday. The winner will walk away with a record‑breaking $1.5 million (approximately £1.25 million), a slice of a total $10 million (about £7.5 million) prize fund that reflects the event’s elevated status. Dame Laura Davies, who holds the record for 43 consecutive appearances at the Open, summed up the change when she told Sky Sports, "I don’t recognise it from when I used to play it.
It’s not an add‑on any more; it’s a stand‑alone major championship and a superb event." Her words capture the sentiment shared by many players, officials, and fans: the tournament has moved from the periphery of women’s golf to a centerpiece that commands global attention. Attendance figures illustrate the surge in popularity.
Organisers anticipate more than 50,000 spectators over the week at Royal Lytham & St Annes, a number that eclipses the records set in each of the previous three editions. The growth is not limited to the stands; AIG, the title sponsor since 2008, has more than tripled the prize money on offer, underscoring the commercial confidence now placed in women’s golf. The early history of the Open was far from smooth.
It ran without a sponsor until 1979 and struggled to secure venues, leading to the cancellation of the 1983 edition due to insufficient funding. The LPGA Tour included the event in its 1984 schedule but dropped it for a decade, during which time a succession of sponsors – Burberry in 1985 and Weetabix from 1987 to 1993 – tried to keep the tournament afloat.
Those years were a period of gradual growth, but the Open still lagged behind its male counterpart in terms of prestige and financial backing. Davies recalled those lean days: "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 went to Woburn for a long time and the galleries were really good.
I won my Women’s Open at Royal Birkdale in 1986 and I think 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." Her anecdotes highlight the stark contrast between the early, almost intimate gatherings and today’s stadium‑like atmosphere. The tournament was officially elevated to major‑championship status in 2001, replacing the Canadian Women’s Open in the LPGA’s roster of majors. In 2017 the responsibility for running the event shifted from the Ladies’ Golf Union to the R&A, the historic governing body behind The Open Championship. This transition brought with it the R&A’s expertise in course preparation, media relations, and player services, further enhancing the Open’s reputation.
Recent editions have been hosted on some of the most revered links courses in the world – the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie, and Royal Troon have all featured on the Open’s schedule. The combination of iconic venues, extensive television coverage, and award‑winning player facilities has created a virtuous cycle: better conditions attract top talent, which in turn draws larger audiences and higher sponsorship dollars.
Davies emphasized the importance of these improvements: "The biggest thing is that we go to all these great links courses. Obviously prize money is a big thing and goes up and up every year, which the players certainly love, but it’s also the 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 makes you feel special. Everyone’s looked after as a player and they do a great job. 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!" The current field features a mix of seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers.
Nelly Korda is chasing a career Grand Slam, while Ha‑Rin Ryu aims for a third consecutive major title. British hope also runs high: Georgia Hall’s 2018 triumph followed Catriona Matthew’s 2009 win, and home‑grown talents such as Charley Hull and Lottie Woad are eager to continue the British streak on familiar soil. Davies shared insights from caddies who have played the nearby Open courses: "They say Royal Lytham is really fiery.
The bunkers are a nightmare – they’re harsher than the ones at Royal Birkdale. Hull never really got into contention at the Evian Championship, but she’s too good not to win a major.
Lottie is very solid, not flashy, with a great temperament – that’s huge." Such commentary underscores the strategic challenges the players will face on the demanding links layout, where wind, deep bunkers, and undulating fairways test every aspect of a golfer’s game. For fans, the tournament offers extensive coverage.
Sky Sports will broadcast the opening round live from Thursday, with Featured Groups starting at 9 am and full coverage from 1 pm. The network’s commitment to three hours of extra action over the first two rounds ensures that viewers can follow the drama as it unfolds, from early leaders to late‑day surges. In summary, the AIG Women’s Open has undergone a metamorphosis that mirrors the broader evolution of women’s professional golf. From a £500 prize fund and a handful of amateurs to a $10 million purse, world‑class venues, and a global television audience, the tournament now stands shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the sport’s most venerable events.
As the 50th anniversary unfolds at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the story of this once‑unrecognisable competition serves as a testament to the power of vision, investment, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in women’s sport.