The final major of the season on the LPGA Tour has drawn upon us and all of the best female golfers on the planet have gathered at the Home of Golf, St Andrew’s for this year’s AIG Women’s Open.
Returning to this iconic setting for the first time since 2013, this will be just the third time in history that one of the most prestigious tournaments in the female game has been hosted at St Andrew’s and everything is in place for a monumental week.
Ahead of what could be a special and potentially defining week for women’s golf, here is everything you need to know.
The Course
St Andrew’s often needs no introduction, arguably the most famous golf course in the world, it was here that the game was first played, and thousands of devoted golfers travel to this tiny town in Fife to witness its splendour.
Although not the longest by modern standards, it still has its quirks. Home to some of the largest greens in the game, across the course seven greens serve two different holes.
The 17th hole is one of the most unique and challenging holes in the game. With a tee shot that is needed to be hit over the famous St Andrew’s Hotel, the tiny green lies next to a road and failure to find the putting surface with a second shot can wreck any scorecard.
With wide welcoming fairways, the 18th is where history will be made. Having to walk over the famous Swilcan Bridge, St Andrew’s is all about holding your nerve.
Players can often get lost in the course’s reputation and prestige, all of those factors will need to be firmly put to the back of a player’s mind if they are to end the week on top.
The Weather
Although there are bunkers dotted all over the course, St Andrew’s main defence is the weather. Located right next to the North Sea, when the wind is calm St Andrew’s can accommodate low scores, however when the wind is up, it’s a different proposition altogether.
The forecast over the next four days looks mixed with some sunny weather being interrupted by showers. Thankfully for the players the wind looks consistent for most of the week. Whilst it will blow, it doesn’t look like at any point it will be extreme.
The wind will still make it difficult and we could be in for a week where the winning total could be low.
Who Will Start The Tournament as The Favourite?
In what is a wide open tournament, there is plenty of value to be found wherever you look. The current favourite for victory is Ayaka Furue. The world number two, this is just Furue’s third full season on the LPGA Tour and she has already made quite the impression.
A winner of her first major at the Evian Championship, she showed that she is still in great form by finishing third at last year’s Scottish Open.
Consistency is her main strength and since the turn of the year she has been able to finish in the top ten in nine of her seventeen LPGA starts. The windy weather shouldn’t be a factor due to her play at last week’s Scottish Open and she should give anybody who backs her a real run for their money.
Closely following in the betting is world number one Nelly Korda. A history maker earlier in the year when she reeled off six LPGA wins, Korda is still yet to land a major this season and the Women’s Open represents her final chance for glory.
Since her last win at the America’s Open, Korda’s form has fallen off and she has plenty of questions to answer. Having opted to miss last week’s Scottish Open, this will be her first appearance since the Olympics and having missed the cut in three of her last four tournaments she will hope for a much better performance here.
Completing the top three in the betting is Jin Young Ko. Without a win this season, she has posted five top ten finishes and warmed up nicely for this week’s challenge with a 6th place finish at last week’s Scottish Open.
A winner of one major, Jin almost added to her major haul earlier this season when she finished second in the Women’s PGA Championship. With some solid links form behind her, she should arrive at St Andrew’s ready to make another bold showing.
One potential value option for the week is Lydia Ko, set to be the youngest inducted to Golf’s Hall of Fame thanks to her win at the Olympics, Ko will look to continue her good form this week.
A winner of two majors, Ko hasn’t tasted success at the Women’s Open with her best finish coming back in 2015 where she was able to finish in a tie for third place.
Her Olympic success was the best that Ko has played in years and it wouldn’t be a shock if she were to continue that momentum into this week.
What About The Home Challenge?
Not since Georgia Hall won this tournament back in 2018 has a British winner been able to taste success in their home Open. Although Hall will want to land a second Women’s Open title, as has recently been the case, British hopes will lie with Charley Hull and she is bound to get a lot of support around the famous links course.
Ranked tenth in the world, she almost landed the Scottish Open last week before falling away in the final few rounds, however a fifth place finish should provide her with plenty of reasons for optimism that she can contend for a first career major.
Although she hails from Ireland, Leona Maguire is bound to have some great support this week. Having grown up in Ireland, the weather and conditions shouldn’t hold any fears over this classy ball striker and although she arrives at a big price, she easily has the class to be a contender this week. If looking to back a player at a price, her 100/1 odds could look a steal if she can piece four good rounds together.
AIG Women’s Open Odds
If you are looking to place a bet ahead of the Women’s Open teeing off, here is how the top ten in the betting is currently looking.
Ayaka Furue - 12/1
Nelly Korda - 14/1
Jin Young Ko - 16/1
Miyuu Yamashita - 20/1
Atthaya Thitikul - 20/1
Lilia Vu - 22/1
Haeran Ryu - 22/1
Lydia Ko - 22/1
Lauren Coughlin - 25/1
Xiyu Lin - 25/1
Jack Hartman
A keen golfer and huge fan of the game, Jack has been covering golf for the last five years. Bringing you all the latest coverage and news from the PGA, LIV, LPGA and DP World Tours, never before has golf been so popular and Jack can’t wait to bring all the excitement to his readers.
