Hall ready for ‘highlight of the year’

The AIG Women’s Open has brought the best out of Georgia Hall in recent years and so, naturally, the 2018 Champion is a big fan of this event.

That victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2018 was her first major triumph, and she has finished in the top three on two other occasions in the last five years in this competition.

"Obviously it was the best moment in my career," said Hall, reflecting on her past AIG Women’s Open success. “My aim is always to win as many of these Opens as possible, especially on big championship courses like this one. It's my highlight of the year playing this event, so I always have a lot of confidence going in, and I really enjoy the week."

Hall came close to adding to her previous success last year, finishing one shot behind winner Anna Nordqvist, and arrives at Muirfield in fine form this time round, having not missed the cut once all season.

And for Hall, who finished tied-18th at last week’s Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open, a home crowd is a luxury that she will never take for granted.

"I don't really feel much pressure in this event to be honest,” said the 26-year-old. “I just feel very happy to be playing at home, and I just try and take advantage as much as I can and really enjoy having - when I walk on the first tee tomorrow, I'm sure there will be lots of people watching.

"I'm just really happy to get that support from my home crowd and really appreciate it, because I don't get a lot of that in the US and that's where I play the majority of my golf. It's more that I really enjoy it, and therefore, I play better I think.

"Playing at home in front of home crowds, having a lot of people here that I'm close to as well, and playing this type of course suits me very well, I think. I couldn't come into a tournament with more confidence than this one."

Hall and Scot Catriona Matthew, who is set to hit the opening shot of this year’s AIG Women’s Open, are the only two British winners of the Championship since 2004.

On the back of the Lionesses' success at Euro 2022, Hall hopes for another British winner to round off a fantastic summer for women’s sport in the UK.

"It would be amazing," she beamed. "I think when I won, as well, four years ago, it really elevated golf in the UK and women playing it. Obviously the idea is for younger girls to get into the game and to make golf aware to other people watching it, and I think obviously the coverage this week is going to be very big in the UK.

"I just think the better us British golfers can do, the more it will inspire others. When I was younger, I had a couple that I looked up to, and I think that's very important for the younger generation.

"Anyone that wins their home event is really big for their home country, and we've had some really strong players, probably better than ever, as well, competing this week. Yeah, hopefully one of us will do it."