Memorable venue debuts

In 2027, Royal St George's will become the latest in a list of world-class venues to have staged the AIG Women's Open.

The famous Kent links will welcome the top players in the world from 28 July to 1 August.

It follows an array of elite courses have welcomed the Championship for the first time in recent decades, from Royal Porthcawl in 2025 to Royal Liverpool in 2012 and the Old Course in St Andrews in 2007.

Here we take a look at what happened on eight memorable venue debuts.

Royal Porthcawl - 2025

Miyu Yamashita's success at Royal Porthcawl marked a moment in history with the AIG Women's Open taking place in Wales for the first time.

The 24-year-old from Osaka, who celebrated her birthday on the Saturday of the Championship, finished two shots clear at the top of the standings, having held off a determined challenge from Charley Hull.

She took the lead early in the second round and showed stunning consistency and composure to seal the biggest triumph of her career, sparking huge celebrations on the 18th green.

Yamashita became the third Japanese golfer to win the AIG Women's Open, following in the footsteps of Hinako Shibuno and Ayako Okamoto. She also became the 14th consecutive different winner of the title.

Meanwhile Paula Martín Sampedro underlined her position as one of the most exciting talents in the game by winning the first of back-to-back Smyth Salvers.

Walton Heath - 2023

Lilia Vu delivered a dominant final-round display to wrap up her second major title of the year as the AIG Women's Open was welcomed to Walton Heath for the first time.

A stunning Sunday showing saw Vu record a five-under-par round of 67 to finish on 14-under, six shots clear of home favourite Charley Hull.

The victory came just four months after her victory at the Chevron Championship and capped off a memorable year which also saw the Californian named Rolex Player of the Year.

A worthy winner to mark a special occasion at Walton Heath.

Muirfield - 2022

Muirfield provided the stage for a memorable finish as the AIG Women's Open was played there for the first time in 2022.

Ashleigh Buhai looked well in control coming down the closing stretch when a nightmarish triple-bogey on the 15th hole wiped out the advantage she had worked so hard to build.

The South African led by five shots going into the final round, but was now faced with a nail-biting finish in East Lothian.

Buhai would finish 72 holes in 10-under-par, and with In Gee Chun reaching the same tally, a play-off would have to settle things.

What followed was unforgettable. On the fourth extra hole, and with darkness falling, Buhai played a miraculous shot from a greenside bunker and tapped the ball home to claim the title.

A show of tremendous skill, ability and mental strength saw her join fellow South Africans Ernie Els and Gary Player as a major champion at Muirfield.

Royal Troon - 2020

Sophia Popov was the surprise winner as the AIG Women's Open was played at Royal Troon for the first time.

In unique circumstances, with the Championship behind closed doors due to the pandemic, Popov performed brilliantly to finish two strokes clear of closest rival Jasmine Suwannapura.

Troon’s magnificent layout proved challenging but fair throughout. Only four players finished the week under par after gale-force winds buffeted the course in rounds one and two, but the course set-up received widespread praise from players and pundits alike.

The impact of the weather was best evidenced by the scoring average on the sixth hole. The par 5 yielded an average score of 5.76 when played into the teeth of the wind in round one, but it was the easiest hole on the course come Sunday – comfortably the calmest day of the week.

Popov certainly rose to the occasion and showed what was possible over the weekend when conditions eased, carding scores of 67 and 68 to secure a memorable victory and stun the golfing world.

Royal Liverpool - 2012

Eight years before the best players in the world tackled tough conditions at Royal Troon, wild winds had an even more dramatic impact on Royal Liverpool’s first staging of the AIG Women's Open.

Severe gusts resulted in the second round being suspended early on Friday morning, with initial scores on the day declared null and void before the round was started afresh on Saturday.

Jiyai Shin took total control of proceedings when play resumed, carding a sensational eight-under 64 to open up a five-shot lead.

The 2008 champion was not finished there and ended up claiming victory by an impressive nine strokes at nine under par, despite triple-bogeying the first hole of her final round.

Shin’s performance ranks among the finest in the history of the AIG Women’s Open, with no other player able to shoot under par for the championship in gruelling conditions at Hoylake.

Carnoustie - 2011

Yani Tseng is the only player to successfully defend the AIG Women’s Open since it gained major status, having done so in thrilling fashion when Carnoustie first hosted the event in 2011.

Tseng, who edged out Katherine Hull to win at Royal Birkdale the previous year, was two behind Caroline Masson heading into the final 18 holes.

Masson struggled on the final day however, enabling Tseng to surge into a four-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard.

Back-to-back bogeys for the reigning champion on 12 and 13 halved her advantage, but Tseng finished in style, birdieing the 14th, 17th and 18th to triumph by four with a superb total of 16 under at Carnoustie.

St Andrews - 2007

One player dominated proceedings when the home of golf staged its maiden AIG Women’s Open in 2007.

A six-under-par opening round lifted Lorena Ochoa to the top of the leaderboard, and the world number one would remain at the head of affairs until the conclusion of the Championship.

Ochoa’s finest display came in round three on a day when strong winds led to a host of high scores. As many of her nearest rivals carded scores in the high 70s and low 80s, Ochoa put together a superb level-par 73 to earn a six-stroke cushion heading into the final 18 holes.

The Mexican then picked up two early birdies on Sunday and her lead never came under serious threat as she finished four clear of Maria Hjorth and Lee Jee-Young to win her first major championship.

Turnberry - 2002

When Turnberry first hosted the AIG Women's Open in 2002, Karrie Webb charged to victory with one of the greatest rounds of her illustrious career.

After beginning the final day three shots off the pace, Webb put together a bogey-free, six-under 66 to finish two clear of fellow Australian Michelle Ellis and Spain’s Paula Marti.

“I felt like all those players ahead of me were going to be very nervous and if I got off to a good start, my name going up the leaderboard might add to that, and I think that’s actually what happened that day,” Webb said. “It’s one of the best rounds that I can remember.”

Webb’s triumph saw her complete a ‘Super Slam’ of five different major wins. She had already won the AIG Women’s Open twice before, but those successes came before the Championship attained major status.