Previous Low Amateur Winners of the AIG Women's Open Tournament
The AIG Women's Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments in women's golf, has seen some incredible performances over the years. In 2019, Thai golfer Atthaya Thitkul made a splash with a score of 284, a performance that still stands as one of the tournament's most memorable.
Thitkul, a former Smyth Salver winner, has gone on to achieve even greater success, with 18 professional wins to her name, including 5 on the LPGA Tour. Notable Smyth Salver winners in the last two decades include Lottie Woad, who won in 2024 and scored 287, finishing as the low amateur and tying 10th overall at the 2024 AIG Women's Open at St Andrews.
In 2022, Rose Zhang scored 285, while Michelle Wie West impressed with a score of 278 in 2005. Georgia Hall and Lydia Ko tied for first place with 294 in 2013.
The Smyth Salver, awarded to the low amateur at the AIG Women's Open, has a history of launching the careers of future major champions. However, for most winners, their exact scores during their Smyth Salver wins are not detailed in the available sources.
The AIG Women's Open in 2025 will be held at Royal Porthcawl. In the meantime, the spotlight is on the four players vying for the Smyth Salver: Meja Ortengren, Paula Martin Sampedro, Carla Bernat Escuder, and Jeneath Wong.
Other notable performances include Charlotte Heath's score of 295 in 2023, Melissa Reid's 296 in 2007, Emma Talley's 294 in 2014, Caroline Hedwall's 291 in 2010, and Luna Sobron's 287 in 2015.
In a remarkable achievement, Lottie Woad made history by winning the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut on the LPGA Tour in 2024. Woad, who won the Augusta National Women's Amateur in April 2024 before turning professional, is a shining example of the potential that lies within the Smyth Salver winners.
Other former Smyth Salver winners have also made their mark on the professional scene. Leona Maguire, who won in 2016, turned professional in 2018 and has boasted 5 professional wins to date, including two on the LPGA Tour. Similarly, Michelle Wie, who won the Smyth Salver at the age of 15 in 2005, has accumulated 5 LPGA Tour victories, including her most significant win, her first and only Major at the 2014 US Women's Open.
Lydia Ko, another former Smyth Salver winner, has made a name for herself with over 30 titles worldwide, including three Major championships - the 2015 Evian Championship, the 2016 Chevron Championship, and the 2024 AIG Women's Open.
The AIG Women's Open continues to be a stage where the future stars of women's golf shine, and with the Smyth Salver serving as a launchpad for many careers, the tournament promises to deliver more exciting moments in the years to come.
Thitkul, with her impressive performance at the AIG Women's Open, has also showcased her talent in other sports, having represented her country in athletics at the SEA Games.
Golf and athletics are not the only arenas where Smyth Salver winners have excelled; Lottie Woad, for instance, also enjoys playing tennis and has reached the quarterfinals in several regional tournaments.
