Women's British Open Preview
By: Kieran Clark | Mon 29 Jul 2019
The Women's British Open returns to Woburn's acclaimed Marquees' Course for an 11th occasion, marking a fresh new era for the championship in its 43rd year under the banner of AIG, following a successful tenure with Ricoh, concluding a hectic season of majors in golf.
It began traditionally at the ANA Inspiration, where South Korea's Jin Young Ko secured her maiden title, followed by compatriot Jeongeun Lee6's triumph in June's U.S. Women's Open, but it was Australia's Hannah Green who provided the shock result of the summer in winning the Women's PGA Championship, a brilliant and unlikely triumph for the 22-year-old. And just last week in France, Ko claimed a second major of 2019 at the Evian Championship.
12 months ago, Georgia Hall made history by shooting four rounds in the 60s at Royal Lytham to win the British Open, sensationally becoming the first home winner of the event since Catriona Matthew in 2009, coming 14 years after the last English champion, Karen Stupples in 2004.
For Hall, the 23-year-old from Bournemouth, that breakthrough success hasn't yet been replicated on the LPGA Tour, but she will arrive in Bedfordshire presented in the enviable position of defending a major championship. Having taken several weeks off this summer, the Englishwoman is hoping that a renowned focus will bring more consistent results.
"I've been working on my swing and also on my chipping, to get a bit more consistency," she recently told the BBC. "I've been playing a lot of golf and I think that's important, not just hitting balls on the range.
"My dad has been helping me clear my mind and keep things simple, not trying to complicate me, my swing or me as a golfer; just go out and be Georgia," she added.
"Most importantly, I think mentally for me, it's about keeping calm and enjoying it."
Elsewhere, Jin Young Ko will be looking for back-to-back majors, a unique feat, while Ariya Jutanugarn returns to the site of her Women's British Open victory of just three years ago, hoping to continue a renewed stretch of positive form after a comparatively lean spell, perhaps understandable following the Thai's astonishing record throughout 2018.
World number two Sung Hyun Park endured a miserable Sunday at the Evian, something that she will hope to recover from quickly, while the great Inbee Park is once again looking a threat in the biggest events, albeit four years removed from her most recent title at Turnberry. Former major winner Shanshan Feng ended her LPGA winning drought last month and finished in a tie for second on Sunday, encouraging signs for a formidable player. And Canada's Brooke Henderson is always a name to look out for.
Lexi Thompson, the Korda Sisters, Danielle Kang and new star Jennifer Kupcho will be flying the flag for the United States, with the latter being a runner-up at the Evian, just months into a professional career, following a spectacular amateur resume that notably included April's inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur.
With the Solheim Cup nearing, Carlota Ciganda, Charley Hull, Azahara Munoz, Mel Reid and Bronte Law join Hall in headlining the European challenge, as the race to qualify for the team at Gleneagles approaches its conclusion.
But firstly there is the Women's British Open to contend with, the final major of the year. Should we witness similar fireworks to last year, it will be a treat.
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