Georgia Hall's Welsh odyssey

Georgia Hall has every right to relish this year’s historic staging of the AIG Women’s Open – in a country which helped shape her illustrious career.

Taking place at the picturesque Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, this is the first time the Championship will be contested in Wales.

Georgia won the title in 2018, with two victories in her amateur career laying the foundations for this major breakthrough; and both of those successes arrived in Wales.

The Dorset native won the Girls’ Amateur Championship in Tenby, Pembrokeshire in 2012 before going on to collect the Women’s Amateur Championship at Machynys Golf Club in Carmarthenshire 12 months later.

“I obviously have some very fond memories of playing in Wales,” she said, “even though the weather was terrible!

“I’m very proud to have won what I did as an amateur.

“There are some great golf courses in Wales and Porthcawl is up there with the very best of them.”

Royal Porthcawl has staged many prestigious championships over the years, including the Curtis Cup in 1964, and it is set to provide a stern test for 144 of the world’s top golfers this summer.

And while some high-quality action is taking place on the luscious links, the backdrop is also to be enjoyed by enthralled spectators, with the sea visible from every hole.

“It’s such an underrated golf course,” said Georgia.

“It’s absolutely beautiful, but from what I’ve seen I think it’s actually going to play pretty hard. But that’s what a major should be, especially this one.

“It will be interesting to see how it’s set up, but I won’t be surprised if there are some interesting pin positions.”

She continued: “The barriers that we’re breaking are incredible.

“I think Porthcawl will be extra special. It’s so important that we get to play all the big courses in Britain so it’s great that The R&A and AIG are working together to make that happen – and there’s no reason why things like this can’t happen again in the future.”

A home favourite and a former Champion, the ever-popular Georgia is guaranteed to attract swathes of support in Wales.

Golf fans of all ages are set to come out in force at Porthcawl, but Georgia said there is plenty of space for newcomers to enjoy the world-class action as well as the carnival atmosphere that will be generated off the course.

“Fingers crossed we see some big support,” said the 29-year-old.

“We have our fans who come to events all year round, and that’s great, but we also see young, enthusiastic amateur golfers coming to watch the AIG Women's Open and I hope that’s the case again. And hopefully loads of younger girls and boys too. It would be great to encourage more young people to try golf.

“If any new fans follow a group of players even just for a few holes, they’ll quickly see how intense it is, how competitive it is, how serious we all take it and how much support we receive, not just from the fans, but from businesses, partners, TV and so on.

“It really is a great day out for families.”