Women's Open Golf Tournament Venue Changes: Royal St George's to Host First Match in 2027
AIG Women's Open Announces Future Venues
The AIG Women's Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the women's game and the final Major of the season, has confirmed its future venues after 2025.
The 50th edition of the tournament will take place at Royal Lytham and St Annes in Lancashire, England, in 2026. This venue has previously hosted the AIG Women's Open in 1998, when Sherri Steinhauer clinched the title. However, Royal Lytham and St Annes has not been specified as a venue for the AIG Women's Open after 2026.
Royal Lytham and St Annes is a well-known golf course, having previously hosted The Open 11 times, most recently in 2012, when Ernie Els emerged victorious. In 2018, Georgia Hall won her first Major at this iconic course.
In 2027, the AIG Women's Open will move to Royal St George's, located on the south coast of England. This course is considered one of the UK's best golf courses and has hosted the men's Open on 15 occasions. The AIG Women's Open in 2027 will mark the first time this venue hosts the women's event.
Past Open champions at Royal St George's include Darren Clarke, Greg Norman, Sandy Lyle, and many other golfing greats. Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, stated that Royal St George's will provide a fantastic test for the players in the AIG Women's Open.
Beyond these years, specific venues are less formally announced, but potential future sites include St. Andrews (Old Course), which is expected to host again around 2029 or 2030, Royal Birkdale possibly in 2028, and Sunningdale, which has been a frequent host and is suitable for the event.
The AIG Women's Open rotation strategy often mirrors the men's British Open rota, with the R&A planning similar rotations but including options near London for the women's event. Future venue announcements for the AIG Women's Open tend to be made closer to the event (usually a year at a time), in contrast to the British Open venues, which are announced several years in advance.
This year's event takes place at Royal Porthcawl for the first time. The AIG Women's Open Major takes place on some of the same world-renowned links courses as the men's Open rota and other prestigious inland venues like Sunningdale, Walton Heath, and Woburn.
The AIG Women's Open was first played in Fulford, York, in 1976. Since then, it has grown in prestige and significance, becoming one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the women's golf calendar.
[1] BBC Sport, "AIG Women's Open: Future venues announced for major tournament", 24 February 2021, www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/56331776
[2] The R&A, "AIG Women's Open", www.randa.org/our-championships/womens-open-championship
Sports enthusiasts can look forward to the AIG Women's Open taking place at Royal St George's, a renowned golf course known for hosting the men's Open on 15 occasions and considered one of the UK's best. The tournament will also include tennis as a side attraction, given St. Andrews (Old Course), another potential future venue, is home to both golf and tennis facilities.
