AIG Women’s Open 2024 Preview: Field, course, betting odds, tee times and how to watch

The Women's Open Championship 2024 at St Andrews

Today’s Golfer previews the 2024 Women’s Open Championship, taking place from 22nd to 25th August.

The Women’s Open, often still called the Women’s British Open outside of the United Kingdom, is the final major championship in women’s professional golf calendar. The tournament was a stop on the Ladies European Tour up until 1993, and from 1994 onwards it has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA, a move that increased the size and quality of the field, and the prestige of the event.

The tournament earned major status in 2001, and is usually held in late July or early August. The 2012 tournament was pushed to mid-September to accommodate the London Summer Olympics, and the 2014 edition was moved up to mid-July, just ahead of The Open Championship.

Where is the AIG Women’s Open played?

Unlike The Open Championship, which is traditionally played on a links golf course, the Women’s Open is played on a mixture of links, heathland and parkland courses all across the United Kingdom. Playing the Championship across a variety of courses greatly increases the number of possible venues, especially those close to large cities. 2023’s tournament took place at Walton Heath, where the heather and fast greens were dominated by champion Lilia Vu.

Legendary links courses such as Royal Troon, Royal Liverpool and Carnoustie have all hosted the Women’s Open, but names such as Foxhills, Moor Park and Woburn have featured since the inception of the Championship in 1976. The Duke’s course at Woburn has hosted the Championship an impressive nine times, more than any other venue.

Host to the 2024 AIG Women’s Open Championship, is St Andrews Old Course.

What is the format of the AIG Women’s Open?

The Women’s Open in a 72-hole strokeplay event, with a cut after 36 holes. 144 players tee off in rounds one and two, with the 70 top players and ties making the cut and advancing to rounds three and four.

Just like The Open, amateur golfers battle it out over 72 holes to claim the title of ‘low amateur’ for the Championship, with the winner being awarded the Smyth Salver.

Who is playing at the AIG Women’s Open?

156 players will be heading to St Andrews to battle it out for the final major of the year. Returning to St Andrews Old Course for the first time since 2013, Lilia Vu will be looking to defend her title after her victory at Walton Heath in 2023.

Big names from the LET and LPGA Tours such as Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, Celine Boutier, Brooke Henderson and Lydia Ko, who recently became the first golfer to hold all three colours of Olympic medals, will all be competing to raise the trophy come Sunday.

You can view the full field for the Women’s Open here.

Who will win the AIG Women’s Open Championship?

Most people’s money will likely be on USA’s Nelly Korda, as the World No.1 looks to add another major title to her name after her incredible 2024 season, and she’s currently favourite to win odds wise. Last year’s winner Lilia Vu is currently at 18/1. Georgia Hall is also one to watch, as she’s won around the Old Course before.

Selected odds, correct as of 14th August 2024.

How much will the winner of the AIG Women’s Open receive?

The purse for the 2024 AIG Women’s British Open is sticking at $9 million for the second year in a row, after getting a hefty 23% boost in 2023. It still gets overshadowed by the $17 million handed out at The Open at Royal Troon this year, but the overall purse has nearly tripled since 2018 when Georgia Hall won at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Read our full prize fund breakdown to find out what the winners share is expected to be.

Who has won the Women’s Open?

The Women’s Open is one of only two women’s majors played outside of the USA, the other being the Evian Championship, and the tournament has seen legendary names such as Annika Sörenstam, Karen Stupples, Lorena Ochoa, Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew, and Dame Laura Davies have lifted the coveted trophy at courses across the UK.

In more recent years, the likes of the USA’s Lilia Vu, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist and South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai have claimed victory. 2018 Champion Georgia Hall is hoping for bad weather for the week, as British players fare better in the poor conditions.

AIG Women’s Open Champions

AIG Women’s Open Tee Times

Tee times for the final women’s major of the year can be found here.

How to watch the AIG Women’s Open

The 2024 AIG Women’s Open will be broadcast on Sky Sports Golf. Although, the BBC will have a nightly highlights program available on the red button. Full details on how to watch can be found here.

About the author

Sarah Pyett – Deputy Digital Editor

Sarah Pyett is the Deputy Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com. She specializes in ladies’ equipment reviews, including drivers, irons, and golf balls.

After a career in a golf professional shop, and earning a qualification in golf club management, Sarah joined Bauer in 2014 as a Web Producer for Today’s Golfer. She has since worked across multiple brands in a mixture of digital marketing and paid media roles, before returning to focus on golf full-time as Deputy Digital Editor in 2024.