English golf legend Dame Laura Davies looks forward to 50th AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes
Britain’s greatest reflects on championship’s rise and rise
The AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes is fast approaching, and the English game's most decorated female golfer is as excited as anyone about this landmark event.
The championship will be contested on the Fylde coast for the sixth time from July 30 to August 2 and Dame Laura Davies marked the 50-day countdown to the 50th AIG Women's Open with a special promotional video for organisers the R&A.
The 1986 champion is one of 42 winners from 15 countries, and among the 22 venues to have staged the championship only Woburn has hosted more than RL&SA.
Dame Laura contested 43 consecutive Women's Opens but couldn't repeat her Royal Birkdale triumph, when she was only 22, though she did win an unequalled 45 European Tour events, topping the Order of Merit seven times.
The four-time Major champion said: "When I think about the AIG Women’s Open, I think about the women who helped build it. They competed because they loved the game and believed women’s golf deserved a bigger stage. What they achieved created opportunities for every generation that followed.
"The Championship has changed beyond recognition during my career. The crowds are bigger, the coverage is bigger and the opportunities for players are greater than ever before. But what has never changed is what it means to win this Championship. I'm proud that what those women set out to achieve 50 years ago will be there for everyone to see at Royal Lytham this summer.
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“The 50th AIG Women's Open is a chance to celebrate how far the game has come, recognise the people who helped get it there and inspire the next generation to dream even bigger."
A championship which was not ranked as a Major when Dame Laura won it and began with total prizemoney of £500 – partly raised by the players themselves - has grown into a global highlight of the golfing year with a prize pot of $10m.
Under-16s can attend free with a paying adult, while tickets are available to those aged 16-24 at half-price. For full ticket, hospitality and event information visit aigwomensopen.com.