On the eve of the 2023 AIG Women’s Open getting under way at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, the R&A has announced that the 2026 renewal will be played at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lancashire.
It will be the sixth time that Royal Lytham has hosted the championship, with some of the biggest names in women’s golf having won their titles across the famed layout, including Georgia Hall (2018), Catriona Matthew (2009), Annika Sorenstam (2003) and Sherri Steinhauer, whose 2006 win was the last of her three titles.
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “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. 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.”
In a joint statement, the Captain of Royal Lytham and St Annes, Dr Mike Wilson, and the Lady Captain, Michele Hall, said: “We are delighted that this prestigious and exciting championship is again returning to our historic links. The remarkable win by Georgia Hall in 2018 is still fresh in our minds and we look forward to hosting another outstanding championship in 2026.”
Headline sponsor AIG has also announced that it is to continue its support of the championship until 2030.