Tag: 2024 AIG Women’s British Open

How did this LPGA major get nearly a 10/10 player survey response? By going the ‘extra mile’

“We scored 9.8 on the player survey,” said Zoe Ridgway, the championship director.

You get well looked after at golf events these days. Just have a read, for instance, at this list of facilities, fixtures, fittings, perks, provisions and privileges on offer at this season’s AIG Women’s Open.

There was a concierge for lifestyle and travel requirements, a restaurant, a beautician, a purpose-built gym with complimentary training kit, a relaxation area with calming sounds and scents, a mobile cold plunge unit and a courtesy car service for the entire week of the championship.

All of this, of course was, just for the golf writers. After a hard day clattering away at the keys of the laptop, we do enjoy a revitalizing facial and manicure while braving an ice bath.

The players, on the other hand, are even more pampered. The aforementioned were part of a significant upgrade in competitor comforts for the final major of the women’s campaign at the Old Course in August which ended up winning the LPGA Tour’s Gold Driver award for the best player experience during 2024.

“We scored 9.8 on the player survey,” said Zoe Ridgway, the championship director of the AIG Women’s Open.

Presumably, it would’ve scored a perfect 10 out of 10 but someone must have spotted this correspondent leaping out of that bloomin’ cold plunge thingamabob like Archimedes shrieking ‘Eureka.’ It wasn’t ‘Eureka’ that was being gasped either.

More: Who could be the LPGA’s next commissioner? Here are six speculative names (and a wildcard)

Anyway, the upping of the ante on player resources is all part of the general evolution of the championship into one of the biggest in the women’s game.

It’s a queer old difference from its inaugural staging back in 1976 when a couple of professionals put in their own money to allow them to play in what was an extension of the Ladies British Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship.

These days, the AIG Women’s Open boasts a whopping purse of $9 million with the winner waltzing off with a cheque for £1.35 million. As for all those off-course furnishings?

2024 AIG Women's British Open
Day Two of the AIG Women’s Open at St. Andrew’s Old Course on August 23, 2024, in St. Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Morgan Harlow/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

“We have tried to go that extra mile with the Women’s Open regarding player facilities,” added Ridgway. “Most of the feedback on that is what sets us apart.”

From nutritional and dietary requirements, to darkened rooms where players can unwind or indeed weep, just about everything is catered for in this bespoke temporary structure of convenience that can be easily replicated at all the venues on the rota.

More: Newly minted Hall of Famer Lydia Ko wins 2024 AIG Women’s Open at St. Andrews

“We have access to some very good professionals in different areas,” said Ridgway. “We work closely with Dr Andrew Murray (a leader in sports and exercise medicine) and he has his eyes on cutting-edge technology across the men’s and women’s games.

“We do skin screening and work with mental health, and he understands what players require on that front.

“We work with nutritional experts on menus for all nationalities while we provide the base foods for players to build their own menus, whether that’s from lean chicken, fish, vegetables and fruit.

“Pasta and egg stations were always popular at golf events but there’s now so much more consideration to what players eat as part of their overall performance.

“Golfers are very individual. They have their own ideas on travel, schedules, and their arrangements at events. We can’t always cater for every request but if there’s something we can do to benefit a player, then we’ll try it.

“Even little things, like a well-stocked bowl of sweets in the recording area is appreciated.”

2024 AIG Women's British Open
Day Two of the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrew’s Old Course on August 23, 2024, in St. Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Morgan Harlow/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Nothing, after all, eases the anguish of. signing for a damaging five-over 77 quite like a soothing sook on a Soor Ploom.

Ridgway cut her event management teeth with the ISM group and worked on stagings of the British Masters as well as tournaments on the Challenge Tour and Seniors Tour.

She had something of a baptism of fire when she joined the R&A for the AIG Women’s Opens in the covid years of 2020 and 2021.

“In 2020, it was a great unknown and we just had to adapt as the advice evolved,” she reflected. “But 2020 was simpler than 2021 because we were behind closed doors, and we were all tested and in the bubble.

“When we started to reintroduce spectators in 2021, we were working with all sorts of different bubbles. It was very complex.”

The AIG Women’s Open breaks new ground next year when it heads to Wales for the first time and the redoubtable links of Royal Porthcawl.

The ice bath and all those other accoutrements will be going too. So, does the championship director test drive the cold plunge?

“I go for a dip in the North Sea most weekends so that’s icy enough for me,” chuckled Ridgway.

Photos: As she heads to retirement, here’s LPGA star Catriona Matthew through the years

Matthew is the winningest Scottish player to ever compete on the LPGA.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Catriona Matthew tried to quickly walk over the Swilcan Bridge one last time to avoid the spotlight. She was lured back for a proper sendoff, however, waving to fans who’d gathered on the 18th – on the ground and on the rooftops – to celebrate a long and successful career.

Matthew, the winningest Scottish player to ever compete on the LPGA, played her final round on the LPGA over the Old Course on Friday, closing with birdie to finish it off at the AIG Women’s British Open in style.

“Obviously had decided this was my last one, and to finish with a birdie,” said Matthew, “I couldn’t have scripted it any better.”

The 54-year-old shot 2-over 74 on Friday, in her 100th round at the AIG, to finish the tournament at 7 over, three shots outside the cut line. There’s no question she got the worse end of the draw.

“I think I’m just quite pleased that I actually came out and played respectably today, the last couple of days, and I don’t want to have to try and do that again next year,” she said. “So the right time.”

Matthew won four times on the LPGA and is the only Scot to ever win the AIG Women’s British Open. She did so only 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter in 2009.

In 2019 and 2021, the steady and sure Matthew led Team Europe to back-to-back Solheim Cup victories.

Next week, she’ll captain the Great Britain and Ireland team at the 43rd staging of the Curtis Cup at Sunningdale Golf Club.

Here’s a look at her storied career through the years:

LPGA rookie disqualified from 2024 AIG Women’s British Open at St. Andrews

Her caddie used a distance-measuring device on both the 10th and 18th holes.

LPGA rookie Ana Pelaez Trivino was disqualified from the AIG Women’s British Open on Friday after her caddie used a distance-measuring device on both the 10th and 18th holes.

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The use of a distance measuring device is prohibited at the championship under model local rule G5. The penalty was applied under Rule 4.3.

The 26-year-old Spaniard, who played collegiate golf at the University of South Carolina and won in her pro debut on the Ladies European Tour in the Madrid Ladies Open, shot 72-74 in the first two rounds and was in position to make the cut.

Currently ranked 190th in the world, Pelaez Trivino hadn’t made a cut in a major this season.

Watch: Rose Zhang gets stuck in pot bunker at St. Andrews, makes quadruple bogey at 2024 Women’s British Open

One of us, one of us!

One of us! One of us!

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Rose Zhang shot an even-par 72 in blustery conditions Thursday during the opening round of the 2024 AIG Women’s British Open at St. Andrews, but her second 18 got off to a rocky start after finding a greenside pot bunker on the second hole.

Hoping to get up and down for par, Zhang’s first attempt slammed into the riveted face and rolled back down into the sand. Her second try ended the same way.

With her third from the sand, she rocketed her ball out sideways back into the fairway and went on to make a quadruple-bogey eight.

Zhang birdied the next hole but double-bogeyed the par-5 fifth and was 5 over through 5 holes Friday. The projected cut sat at 4 over as of 10 a.m. ET Friday.

Photos: LPGA players allowed use of iconic R&A Clubhouse, upgraded services at Women’s British Open

Take a look behind the curtain.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Linnea Strom’s assigned locker number in the most famous clubhouse in the world is No. 124. Past champions of the AIG Women’s British Open and amateur champions have name cards on their lockers this week in the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse. World No. 1 Nelly Korda’s, for example, is situated next to Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Wu Chun-wei. The rest of the field simply has a hand-painted gold number.

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This isn’t the first time LPGA players have used the iconic clubhouse, which dates back to 1854 and is situated directly behind the first tee and 18th green at the Old Course. It is, however, the first time the best in the world have utilized the clubhouse since the membership voted to admit female members a decade ago.

Brooke M. Henderson of Canada plays her shot from the first tee during a practice round prior to the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews Old Course on August 19, 2024 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Last April, the clubhouse reopened after its most extensive renovation in 100 years, adding new women’s facilities among other upgrades. This week, LPGA players are actually utilizing the larger men’s locker room space as well as the new heritage lounge, where they can recover in comfort with compression boots and locally made protein bars and balls.

“Probably the nicest locker room we’ve had, ever,” said Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh, adding, “They smell quite nice. Usually we get old lockers that smell like old feet and stuff.”

Jenny Shin called the stately locker room area “absolutely phenomenal,” giving a small group of scribes details on the toilet stalls, down to the look of the toilet paper holder and handles.

The new club storage room can handle up to 500 bags, and players drop theirs off daily this week. Players also have a chance to shop in the new Royal and Ancient Clubhouse Shop, which is normally open only to R&A members and their guests and features items with the exclusive R&A logo.

In addition to the facilities of the R&A Clubhouse, there’s also a nearby Players Clubhouse, a temporary structure designed to meet a variety of needs for players and their guests.

“In terms of the services,” said past champion Georgia Hall, “the players’ lounge, it’s the best Women’s Open we’ve had, like, facility-wise.”

Open two hours before the first tee time until 9 p.m., players can eat three meals a day in the stylish, first-class tent, which features a coffee bar (with free alcohol) a full gym and cold-plunge tubs.

While players can bring their caddie and two guests into the Players Clubhouse, there’s a players-only black-out room that offers a quiet respite. The mental health room includes Infrared light, eye masks, weighted blankets, coloring books and Ishga spa beds that heat up and pulse waves for those needing to block out the world.

In the makeshift salon, players can have their nails and makeup done or get a facial after a long day in the elements.

Doctors onsite can look after most ailments and even have an MRI machine at their disposal. There are three tournament-provided physios on hand to stretch and massage, though many players travel with their own.

The dermatologist offering free screenings for players, caddies and staff is booked solid and has detected cases of melanoma in recent years.

Players can look up information on everything from the benefits of an ice bath to what’s recommended for lunch using a QR code. The dining area includes food descriptors in English, Japanese and Korean. Forget cold cuts, chefs are on hand to make any kind of specialty dish a player might desire. There are egg stations and smoothie stations. The Sashimi salmon plates are especially popular.

Last year, players asked that instead of ready-made salad bowls, they have a build-your-own salad bar, with plain protein – grilled fish and chicken.

They also asked that everything open 30 minutes earlier so there’s not such a rush to eat breakfast and prepare for the day. Tournament officials took each request to heart, such as removing treadmills from the pop-up gym and adding heavier free weights.

Stacy Lewis was on the phone near the ping pong table on Thursday afternoon after her round, unwinding after a brutal day in the wind. The nearby concierge desk, which books free tours of the area, takes care of laundry and sorts out transportation, spent quite a bit of time this week tracking down lost luggage on behalf of players.

Lewis, who didn’t realize they could’ve helped, mentioned that daughter Chesnee’s bag had only arrived that day.

“This is the R&A effect,” said Lewis, “the resources and knowing the right people.”

While the public often measures progress on the quality of the course and the weight of the purse, and rightly so, these behind-the-scenes amenities go a long way toward making the best in the world feel like they’re being taken seriously as athletes.

Doors that were once closed to women have begun to crack open. Even the Royal and Ancient ones.

Check out photos from the iconic R&A Clubhouse as well as the Players’ Clubhouse:

Charley Hull overcomes blustery conditions and six-hour rounds to lead 2024 Women’s British Open at St. Andrews

Hull opened with a 5-under 67 at the Old Course.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Charley Hull and Nelly Korda are two of the fastest women in the game. Yet in the opening round of the AIG Women’s British Open, they played the Old Course alongside defending champion Lilia Vu in six hours and eight minutes.

On a blustery day in St. Andrews the par-3 11th, the most exposed hole on the golf course, had as many as four groups waiting to play. Andrea Lee waited 45 minutes to hit her tee shot, sitting on her bag for 15 of them.

Hull took a bathroom break on the 11th tee and then went over to have a chat with her boyfriend and good friend James Northern, the mate she famously got Paula Creamer’s autograph for after beating her in Sunday singles at the 2013 Solheim Cup.

“It took ages,” said Hull. “I had a bet with my caddie. I said, ‘I reckon it’ll take six and a half’; he said, no way, he said, five hours (and) 30 (minutes). I was right.”

Hull, who prefers parkland golf to links, opened with a 5-under 67, nearly holing her approach on the par-4 18th for eagle, to take a one-shot lead over world No. 1 Korda and Ruoning Yin, who played in tougher conditions as one of the first groups out.

Six players – including Vu and Lee – opened with a 69 to take a share of fourth. A total of 17 players broke par,  with the vast majority coming in the afternoon.

The morning wave saw winds consistently blow 30-35 mph, with gusts up to 39 mph. The winds reduced some as the day wore on, but pace of play was glacial as backing off the ball became routine.

It didn’t help that officials were forced to use a two-tee start due to the Paris Olympics moving back the championship by two weeks. That meant one less hour of daylight for the field of 156.

The last group to tee off No. 10 played the first four holes in two hours and 45 minutes.

Nelly Korda of the United States plays her shot from the 11th tee during Day One of the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews Old Course on August 22, 2024 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

When asked if rounds of more than six hours were acceptable at a major championship, Korda said “obviously not.”

“But with circumstances of the wind and then with it kind of intersecting between two holes, it’s kind of a given,” she said “I think we all knew that kind of playing the golf course for the first time on Monday.”

England’s Hull, who has yet to win a major championship, credited her longtime coach, Matt Belsham, for getting her prepared for this week by working on three-quarter shots, ball position and patience. She also played Turnberry with her boyfriend on Monday and finished fifth at the Scottish Open last week.

For Hull, who was unofficially diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) last summer, slow play has long been an enemy. She conquered all the hurdles in fine fashion on Thursday, delighting crowds along the way as she vaped down the fairways of the venerable course, her stylish aviators on to block out the wind.

Charley Hull walks onto the 17th green while she has a vape during day one of the 2024 AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews. Picture date: Thursday August 22, 2024. (Photo by Steve Welsh/PA Images via Getty Images)

“It was loads of fun out there today,” said Hull. “Actually, before my round I was in there watching it on the TV when I saw the scores, and I thought, how is (Yin) 4-under par; that was an unbelievable score. I’d take that now because it was gusting a lot on the range, and I said to my coach, feels like they could call it at any minute because I don’t know how the balls are staying on the greens.

“To go out there, shoot 5-under, play pretty solid, it was a lot of fun.”

This marks the third time an LPGA major has ever been contested over the Old Course, with Lorena Ochoa (2007) and Stacy Lewis (2013) winning the first two.

2024 AIG Women’s British Open at St. Andrews Friday tee times, how to watch

Tee times and how to watch info for Friday.

After the first round of the 2024 AIG Women’s British Open at St. Andrews, there is plenty of star power at the top of the leaderboard. Charley Hull posted a 5-under 67 around the Old Course on Thursday, a truly impressive feat considering the wind and weather the field had to deal with on Day 1.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who hadn’t played the Old Course before Monday, shot a 4-under 68 and is one back of Hull. Ruoning Yin is tied with Korda at T-2 while there’s a large pack of players at 3-under, two back.

Here’s what you need to know for the second round of the AIG Women’s British Open at St. Andrews, including Friday tee times and how to watch information.

Women’s Open: Big Pickle podcast with Stacy Lewis | 5 things to know

Friday tee times

How to watch

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)

Sweden’s Linn Grant turns heads with high-top golf shoes at the Old Course

“They’re more comfortable than they look,” said Grant. “They’re very warm.”

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Linn Grant brought a new look to the Old Course this week with a pair of high-top golf shoes. The new Adidas x JAY3LLE is a collaboration designed by Johan Lindeberg and his daughter, Blue.

“They’re more comfortable than they look,” said Grant of the shoes that resemble something a boxer might wear. “They’re very warm.”

Linn Grant of Sweden plays a shot during Day One of the AIG Women’s Open at St. Andrews Old Course on August 22, 2024, in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Morgan Harlow/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

The futuristic high-top golf shoe, known as CodeChaos, features a buckle and tee holder. The new line is designed to encourage women to feel strong, powerful and bold on the course.

“They’re based off of a golf shoe that already exists,” said Grant, “and I’m very familiar with how they feel.”

Now a two-time winner on the men’s DP World Tour, Sweden’s Grant opened with a 5-over 77 at the AIG Women’s British Open.

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Former St. Andrews caddie manager calls weather conditions at Women’s British ‘farcical,’ helps Jenny Shin to stellar 69

“That’s as difficult of conditions that any tournament golf has been played.”

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Fraser Riddler called the opening round of the AIG Women’s British Open over the Old Course farcical. As the longtime caddie manager of St. Andrews Links, Riddler has seen his share of challenging conditions and Thursday’s, he said, was among the worst he’s seen.

“That’s as difficult of conditions that any tournament golf has been played – men, women, it doesn’t matter,” said Fraser. “That was brutal out there.”

Jenny Shin of South Korea laughs on the 18th tee during Day One of the AIG Women’s Open at St. Andrews Old Course on August 22, 2024, in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

For LPGA veteran Jenny Shin, having Riddler by her side was somewhat of a secret weapon in her opening round of 3-under 69. She trails only former No. 1 Ruoning Yin by a stroke. A total of four players broke par in the morning wave, when the winds were consistently blowing 30-35 mph with gusts up to 39 mph. Linnea Strom and Georgia Hall both shot 1 under.

“Some of our shots, if it had any side spin on it, would go straight 30 yards right and look like a legitimate shank,” said Shin, who had such a stunner on the par-3 11th from the tee with a 5-iron. On any other day, what would’ve been an embarrassing shot was just part of the experience.

Shin changed her entire setup on the greens for two weeks of links golf, trying to position herself lower to the ground.

“If anybody remembers, Michelle Wie tabletop, that’s basically what it feels like to me, “ she said, “and it has helped.”

AIG Women’s Open: Big Pickle podcast with Stacy Lewis | 5 things to know

The first time a 20-year-old Shin played the Old Course in 2013, she remembers thinking she’d rather be anywhere but here. She doesn’t even remember finishing tied for 17th that week, but she does recall being unable to sleep at night with the sun going down so late.

This time, a more mature Shin returns to the Home of Golf with a much greater appreciation. Part of that is age and experience, and part of it is the history lessons that come with having a local caddie like Riddler.

“Jenny executed everything just fantastic,” said Riddler. “I just had the best seat in the house to watch it, simple as that.”

Photos: 2024 AIG Women’s British Open at St. Andrews

Sixteen years ago, Riddler drew the name of an American player named Stacy Lewis for the 2008 Curtis Cup. Lewis leaned on the Old Course caddie like her game depended on it and went 5-0 in the U.S. victory. Things went so well that Riddler offered to quit his job in St. Andrews to come caddie full-time for Lewis on the LPGA. Only Lewis didn’t have any status on tour at that point and was reluctant to let Riddler move his family – including an infant son – with so much uncertainty.

When the LPGA returned to the Old Course in 2013, Riddler came back to walk a practice round with Lewis, who went on to become only the second LPGA player to win a major over the Old Course, joining Lorena Ochoa.

USA’s Stacy Lewis and caddie Fraser Riddler (right) discuss the best way to tackle the 2nd hole at St. Andrews (Photo by Bill Murray/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Riddler eventually made it out to the LPGA, quitting his job at St. Andrews to work for Shin beginning last April. His family is still based in Arbroath, about a 35-minute drive from St. Andrews. His youngest son, Sonny, who was pushed around in a carriage in 2008, is now 17 years old and caddying full-time close to home at Carnoustie.

On Monday, Riddler had a nice dinner with Lewis and her family, and they reminisced on their early success together. Lewis even brought her yardage book from 2008 with her this week.

The weather in 2013 was so tricky, in fact, that play was canceled on Saturday due to wind. Riddler noted that the R&A’s sensible hole locations on Thursday gave them something to work with, though he wondered several times if play should’ve been stopped.

“I think there were a couple of times that it was definitely borderline,” said Riddler, “the girls were really struggling to stand up. I think when it gets to that scenario, that’s unfair.”

LPGA players come back to the Old Course for the first time in 11 years. How long until they return again?

An 11-year gap between stagings means many players will only get one crack at the iconic venue, if that.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – This week marks only the third time the best female players in the world will compete over the Old Course for a major championship title, with Lorena Ochoa winning the first in 2007 and Stacy Lewis the second in 2013.

Before a competitive shot has even been struck at the 2024 AIG Women’s British Open, the question of when the women will return to the iconic venue is top of mind.

In all, 32 of the top 50 players in the Rolex Rankings have never played a competition at the Old Course. That list includes 2023 AIG champion Lilia Vu, Jin Young Ko, Rose Zhang, Hannah Green, Ruoning Yin, Minjee Lee, Yuka Saso, Brooke Henderson and a host of other top players.

An 11-year gap between stagings means many players will only get one crack at the iconic venue, if that.

A general view of the first hole during a Pro-Am ahead of the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews Old Course on August 21, 2024 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

So far, only Royal Porthcawl has been announced as a future venue in 2025. The men’s Open Championship goes to St. Andrews once every five years. R&A chief Slumbers met with the media on Wednesday and stopped short of putting a number on how often the women would come here but said “more often.”

“I think you’re going to increasingly see us use exactly the same venues as we use for The Open,” said Slumbers, “with one exception that we will probably want to have, periodically, a championship in the London area, for reasons – it’s primarily linked to one of the byproducts of this is trying to grow young people to play – more women to play golf, and there are more women golfers down in the south of England than in Scotland, so we’ll take advantage of that to lean into.

“But you’re increasingly, over the years, going to see the same venues that we use for The Open Championship, and I think that is entirely appropriate.”