As the 47th Women’s British Open and the 23rd major championship on the LPGA Tour, this tournament is expected to be a thrilling showdown among some of the world’s top female golfers.
Boasting a field of 144 players, including 14 of the 15 2023 LPGA Tour winners, 10 past champions, and all of the top 10 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, the competition is sure to be fierce.
The Open Championship is a four-round, 72-hole stroke-play competition, with a cut after 36 holes. In the event of a tie, a four-hole aggregate playoff will be used, and if necessary, sudden death will be played until a winner is determined.
The first round of the AIG Women’s Open begins at 6:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, August 10.
Notably, Rolex Rankings No. 1 Nelly Korda is set to make her seventh appearance in the AIG Women’s Open this week at Walton Heath.
With eight career wins and a solid track record of three top-15 finishes in her previous six starts in this major championship, Korda is a strong contender for the title.
Lydia Ko, a 19-time winner, has struggled this season but has earned five top-20 finishes in her 11 previous appearances in the event.
Charley Hull, a native of Woburn, England, is hoping to rekindle her past success in the tournament and become the first English winner of the AIG Women’s Open since Karen Stupples in 2004 at Sunningdale.
Meanwhile, rising star Lilia Vu, a two-time LPGA Tour winner this season, is set to improve upon her T41 finish in 2022 at Muirfield.
Lexi Thompson may not have had the strongest start to her LPGA Tour season, missing the cut in five of her seven starts.
However, with ten previous appearances in the AIG Women’s Open, Thompson has proven herself as a top competitor, finishing in the top 20 six times and tying for eighth in 2016.
Joining her this week is Sweden’s Linn Grant, a Rolex First-Time Winner who claimed victory at the Dana Open with a commanding three-shot lead.
Defending champion Ashleigh Buhai is also looking to make history by becoming the first player since 2015 to successfully defend her major title.
Meanwhile, Brooke Henderson is gaining momentum after her strong performance at The Amundi Evian Championship, where she finished solo second.
With her sights set on her third career major title, Henderson could be a force to be reckoned with at Walton Heath.
Finally, Rose Zhang has proven herself as a top contender with impressive finishes in her first slate of major championships as a professional, including a T8 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and T9s at the U.S. Women’s Open and The Amundi Evian Championship.
With a week to rest and recharge, the 20-year-old is sure to shine once again at Walton Heath Golf Club. Overall, the 2023 AIG Women’s Open promises to be an exciting and competitive event, showcasing the skill and talent of some of the best female golfers in the world.
