The action gets underway Thursday morning.
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Laura Davies was out taping a hit for Sky Sports on Tuesday shortly after an afternoon shower at the Old Course. She was expected to make this year’s AIG Women’s British Open the final LPGA start of her illustrious career but decided to commentate on the event instead.
Davies was surprised to hear that it’s a two-tee start at the Old Course, something she can’t recall ever happening at this event since it became a major. While the forecast this week is grim, the R&A planned to have players tee off of Nos. 1 and 10, regardless of the weather, due to less daylight. The event was pushed back later in the month due to the Paris Olympics. Playing this late in August cost the the field one hour of daylight, with 30 minutes to start the day and 30 minutes at day’s end.
The first tee at the Old Course is arguably the most iconic first-tee experience in golf, making a start off the 10th hole even more unusual.
Asked if she had any regrets at all about not playing this week, Davies said, “With this left to right to the first, not a jot. I can think of nothing worse than standing on that first tee whipping one out of bounds.”
Former British Open champion I.K. Kim. will hit the first tee shot at 7 a.m. local time off the first hole. Last week’s Scottish Open winner, Lauren Coughlin, will tee off at 7 a.m. off the 10th hole alongside Miyu Yamashita and Madelene Sagstrom. The backside is traditionally the tougher side at the Old Course with the predominate wind.
Three former British Open champions – Stacy Lewis, Karrie Webb and Catriona Matthew – will tee off at 7:33 a.m. off the back side. In 2013, Lewis became the second woman after Lorena Ochoa to win at the Old Course.
Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu and Charley Hull make up one of the marquee pairings of the afternoon wave, off at 1:10 p.m. local time.
Here’s a look at the rest of the tee times for Round 1 of the AIG Women’s Open.
Thursday tee times
How to watch
Thursday, August 22: 7 a.m.-2 p.m. (USA)
Friday, August 23: 7 a.m.-2 p.m. (USA)
Saturday, August 24: 7 a.m.-12 p.m. (USA); 12-2 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, August 25: 7 a.m.-12 p.m. (USA); 12-2 p.m. (NBC)
