Royal Lytham makes return to golf’s major calendar

The R&A has announced that the AIG Women’s Open will return to Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2026.

The famous Lancashire links will host the women’s major for the sixth time, eight years after Englishwoman Georgia Hall lifted the title back in 2018.

Royal Lytham has not held The Open since 2012 and was snubbed in favour of Royal Birkdale for the men’s championship in 2026.

• AIG Women’s Open preview

• AIG Women’s Open R1 tee times

The R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers is thrilled that the final women’s major in the calendar will return to the historic venue in three years’ time.

“Royal Lytham and St Annes has a long and proud history of hosting the biggest golf championships in the world and we are delighted to be taking the AIG Women’s Open there in 2026,” Slumbers said ahead of this year’s tournament.
 
“It is one of the finest links courses in the United Kingdom and has produced many memorable champions, including Georgia Hall’s 2018 victory to the rapturous applause of a home crowd.
 
“We look forward to making more memories at Royal Lytham and adding to the history of the AIG Women’s Open on this world-class links.”

Meanwhile, this year’s Women’s Open, unusually taking place on a heathland layout in Walton Heath, will have the biggest prize fund in the competition’s history.

• Boutier: Evian win was mind-blowing

• Pro DQ’d over slow play fiasco at Evian

The $9 million purse in Surrey is a significant 23% increase on last year’s tournament at Muirfield. Sunday’s champion will take a winner’s share of $1.35million.

In another boost, the title sponsors AIG have extended their partnership with the R&A to back the event right through until 2030.

Slumbers added: “We have a clear vision for the AIG Women’s Open; we want to see the best women golfers compete on the best golf courses in front of large crowds and show us how good they are.

“When I look around at the 2023 AIG Women’s Open and what we have achieved in five years, I am incredibly proud; but even more so, I am inspired by what we can still do.

“The future of women’s golf is bright and it is up to us, with the support of the wider industry, to take bold steps, in a way that is financially sustainable, to ensure our aspirations become reality.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.