Muirfield will play host to the Women’s Open for the first time in its history, with Anna Nordqvist back to defend the title she won at Carnoustie in 2021.
The Women’s Open is the culmination of the major season, with Jennifer Kupcho, Minjee Lee, Chun In-gee and Brooke Henderson teeing it up in Scotland looking for their second major of the year.
Henderson is the most in form of the quartet, having won her second major at the Evian Championship a fortnight ago.
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It is notable that Muirfield is hosting the event, as until 2017 women were barred from being members.
Nordqvist arrives as the defending champion, but history is against the Swede as Yannie Tseng is the only player this century to retain the Women’s Open.
Course: Muirfield
Murfield is one of the most fabled Links courses in golf. Old Tom Morris created the original layout, but it has been expanded and tweaked by Harry Colt, Tom Simpson and most recently Martin Hawtree in 2011.
It is a unique layout, with the outward nine circling the property in a clockwise manner, with the inward nine moving anti-clockwise.
With its position close to the sea, benign conditions are rare and the players will likely have to contend with wind, and changes of direction and speed, throughout the week.
Position off the tee as opposed to length is key to playing Muirfield, and driving off line into the bunkers is a huge penalty – arguably as should be the case.
There are two par fives and two par threes on each nine, while the players will have to contend with 150 bunkers – many of which are extremely penal.
Muirfield has hosted the Open Championship on 16 occasions, but this will be the first time it has welcomed the Women’s Open.
Should the championship go down to the final hole on Sunday, it will be one the great moments in the sport as Muirfield’s 18th is one of the most iconic closing holes in golf. Bunkers are in play off the tee as the fairway narrows, and the green is guarded by four brutal bunkers.
Prize Money: $6.8m, with the winner’s share being $1.050m.
Format: 72-hole strokeplay.
Course records: 72 holes, 271, Tom Watson (1980). 18 holes, 63, Isao Aoki (1980).
TV Coverage: The Women’s Open is live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Key Quotes:
Brooke Henderson: “I think it’s maybe my favourite Links that I’ve ever played. It’s definitely going to be a great test, very challenging especially if it is as windy as it is right now. I think it’s beautiful views walking around, and it’s a beautiful golf course. Links golf is very different, and definitely a big challenge for me coming from courses that were nothing like this growing up. So it is a big change. But every year, I feel like I get a little bit more comfortable with the different shots and the different style of play that you need to use.”
Anna Nordqvist: “I’m going to embrace the opportunity teeing up on the first hole being announced as the defending champion. It’s been a huge honour having the trophy and getting to share it with my friends and family for the last year. I don’t feel like I have any pressure on me this week. I’m not trying to prove anything. I’m just trying to enjoy myself.
Catriona Matthew (who will hit the first tee shot): “To come and have a chance to play Muirfield in an AIG Women’s Open, I think all the players will have watched the men play here over the years, and I think they are delighted to have that opportunity that they are now able to come here and play their own Open here. I think you’ve got to try and make your score in those first five holes, first nine holes, and then kind of hang on on the back nine.”
Previous Winners:
- 2021: Anna Nordqvist
- 2020: Sophia Popov
- 2019: Hinaki Shubuno
- 2018: Georgia Hall
- 2017: In-Kyung Kim
- 2016: Ariya Jutanugarn
- 2015: Inbee Park
- 2014: Mo Martin
- 2013: Stacy Lewis
- 2012: Jiyai Shin
- 2011: Yani Tseng
- 2010: Yani Tseng
- 2009: Catriona Matthew
- 2008: Jiyai Shin
- 2007: Lorena Ochoa
- 2006: Sherri Steinhauer
- 2005: Jeong Jang
- 2004: Karen Stupples
- 2003: Annika Sörenstam
- 2002: Karrie Webb
- 2001: Se Ri Pak
- 2000: Sophie Gustafson
Tee Times:
- 6:30am Catriona Matthew (SCO)
- 6:30am Sophia Schubert (USA)
- 6:30am Louise Duncan (SCO)
- 6:41am Aditi Ashok (IND)
- 6:41am Angela Stanford (USA)
- 6:41am Whitney Hillier (AUS)
- 6:52am Lilia Vu (USA)
- 6:52am Maja Stark (SWE
- 6:52am Chella Choi (KOR)
- 7:03am Xi Yu Lin (CHN)
- 7:03am Miyuu Yamashita (JPN)
- 7:03am Mizuki Hashimoto (JPN)
- 7:14am Madelene Sagstrom (SWE)
- 7:14am Megan Khang (USA)
- 7:14am A Lim Kim (KOR)
- 7:25am Sophia Popov (GER)
- 7:25am Nanna Koerstz Madsen (DEN)
- 7:25am Savannah De Bock (BEL)
- 7:36am Inbee Park (KOR)
- 7:36am Hinako Shibuno (JPN)
- 7:36am Jennifer Kupcho (USA)
- 7:47am Atthaya Thitikul (THA)
- 7:47am Brooke M Henderson (CAN)
- 7:47am Lexi Thompson (USA)
- 7:58am Georgia Hall (ENG)
- 7:58am In Gee Chun (KOR)
- 7:58am Jessica Korda (USA)
- 8:09am Hannah Green (AUS)
- 8:09am Ayaka Furue (JPN)
- 8:09am Jeongeun Lee6 (KOR)
- 8:20am Ariya Jutanugarn (THA)
- 8:20am Hyo-Joo Kim (KOR)
- 8:20am Rose Zhang (USA)
- 8:31am Eun-Hee Ji (KOR)
- 8:31am Ryann O’Toole (USA)
- 8:31am Pajaree Anannarukarn (THA)
- 8:47am So Yeon Ryu (KOR)
- 8:47am Brittany Altomare (USA)
- 8:47am Caroline Masson (GER)
- 8:58am Sayaka Takahashi (JPN)
- 8:58am Ashleigh Buhai (RSA)
- 8:58am Cheyenne Knight (USA)
- 9:09am Andrea Lee (USA)
- 9:09am Angel Yin (USA)
- 9:09am Sung Hyun Park (KOR)
- 9:20am Jenny Shin (KOR)
- 9:20am Saiki Fujita (JPN)
- 9:20am Johanna Gustavsson (SWE)
- 9:31am Stephanie Kyriacou (AUS)
- 9:31am Albane Valenzuela (SUI)
- 9:31am Emma Talley (USA)
- 9:42am Yealimi Noh (USA)
- 9:42am Emily Kristine Pedersen (DEN)
- 9:42am Jasmine Suwannapura (THA)
- 9:53am Amy Olson (USA)
- 9:53am Leonie Harm (GER
- 9:53am Alice Hewson (ENG)
- 10:04am Wichanee Meechai (THA)
- 10:04am Manon De Roey (BEL)
- 10:04am Jennifer Chang (USA)
- 10:15am Su Oh (AUS)
- 10:15am Jeongeun Lee 5 (KOR)
- 10:15am Olivia Cowan (GER)
- 10:26am Lydia Hall (WAL)
- 10:26am Morgane Metraux (SUI)
- 10:26am Chanettee Wannasaen (THA)
- 10:37am Lee-Anne Pace (RSA)
- 10:37am Ana Pelaez Trivino (ESP)
- 10:37am Meghan MacLaren (ENG)
- 10:48am Nicole Broch Estrup (DEN)
- 10:48am Janie Jackson (USA)
- 10:48am Casandra Alexander (RSA)
- 11:10am Becky Brewerton (WAL)
- 11:10am Lindsey Weaver-Wright (USA)
- 11:10am Gemma Dryburgh (SCO)
- 11:21am Gaby Lopez (MEX)
- 11:21am Bronte Law (ENG)
- 11:21am Valery Plata (COL)
- 11:32am Moriya Jutanugarn (THA)
- 11:32am Mel Reid (ENG)
- 11:32am Ingrid Lindblad (SWE)
- 11:43am Laura Davies (ENG)
- 11:43am Linn Grant (SWE)
- 11:43am Jess Baker (ENG)
- 11:54am Hye-Jin Choi (KOR)
- 11:54am Carlota Ciganda (ESP)
- 11:54am Lizette Salas (USA)
- 12:05pm Celine Boutier (FRA)
- 12:05pm Mina Harigae (USA)
- 12:05pm Yuna Nishimura (JPN)
- 12:16pm Mao Saigo (JPN)
- 12:16pm Charley Hull (ENG)
- 12:16pm Marina Alex (USA)
- 12:27pm Lydia Ko (NZL)
- 12:27pm Nasa Hataoka (JPN)
- 12:27pm Leona Maguire (IRL)
- 12:38pm Jin Young Ko (KOR)
- 12:38pm Minjee Lee (AUS)
- 12:38pm Nelly Korda (USA)
- 12:49pm Anna Nordqvist (SWE)
- 12:49pm Patty Tavatanakit (THA)
- 12:49pm Yuka Saso (JPN)
- 1:00pm Stacy Lewis (USA)
- 1:00pm Sei Young Kim (KOR)
- 1:00pm Anna Davis (USA)
- 1:11pm Ally Ewing (USA)
- 1:11pm Pia Babnik (SLO)
- 1:11pm Narin An (KOR)
- 1:27pm In-Kyung Kim (KOR)
- 1:27pm Matilda Castren (FIN)
- 1:27pm Caley Mcginty (ENG)
- 1:38pm Amy Yang (KOR)
- 1:38pm Alison Lee (USA)
- 1:38pm Minami Katsu (JPN)
- 1:49pm Mo Martin (USA)
- 1:49pm Sarah Schmelzel (USA)
- 1:49pm Stephanie Meadow (NIR)
- 2:00pm Kotone Hori (JPN)
- 2:00pm Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG)
- 2:00pm Annie Park (USA)
- 2:11pm Jung Min Hong (KOR)
- 2:11pm Lauren Stephenson (USA)
- 2:11pm Maude-Aimee Leblanc (CAN)
- 2:22pm Wei Ling Hsu (TPE)
- 2:22pm Esther Henseleit (GER)
- 2:22pm Allisen Corpuz (USA)
- 2:33pm Perrine Delacour (FRA)
- 2:33pm Kelly Tan (MAS)
- 2:33pm Sanna Nuutinen (FIN)
- 2:44pm Paula Reto (RSA)
- 2:44pm Magdalena Simmermacher (ARG)
- 2:44pm Liz Young (ENG)
- 2:55pm Lauren Coughlin (USA)
- 2:55pm Peiyun Chien (TPE)
- 2:55pm Diksha Dagar (IND)
- 3:06pm Marianne Skarpnord (NOR)
- 3:06pm Celine Herbin (FRA)
- 3:06pm Michele Thomson (SCO
- 3:17pm Tiia Koivisto (FIN)
- 3:17pm Jana Melichova (CZE)
- 3:17pmHayley Davis (ENG)
- 3:28pm Carmen Alonso (ESP)
- 3:28pm Ursula Wikstrom (FIN)
- 3:28pm Mariajo Uribe (COL)
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Source: Euro Sports
