The 18th at Royal Lytham & St Annes

With the iconic clubhouse providing a breathtaking backdrop, the 18th hole at Royal Lytham & St Annes has witnessed some of the most memorable moments in links golf.

A number of the sport’s biggest names have tasted success in this beautiful corner of north-west England, with many confirming their greatness thanks to an exhibit of genius on the 18th.

A striking setting

The clubhouse is visible from various vantage points across Royal Lytham & St Annes – but nowhere does its majesty hit you more than when standing on the last tee.

Built just 12 years after “Lytham & St Annes Golf Club” was founded, the clubhouse celebrated its centenary in the same year (1998) that Sherri Steinhauer won the first of her three AIG Women’s Open titles.

A portrait of the great Bobby Jones – who won the first of his three Claret Jugs at Royal Lytham in 1926 – takes pride of place inside the clubhouse, from where lucky spectators have been able to watch the conclusion of some thrilling championships over the years.

Once the clubhouse is in full view, players know they have the chance to finish in style, in a truly magnificent setting.

The 18th boasts the longest green on the course, and although that might make the approach shot seem slightly easier, avoiding a lengthy putt to finish is always the aim. And while Georgia Hall was only able to find the front of the 18th green in 2018, she had enough in hand to three-putt and still round off a heartwarming win …

Family fortunes

The coronation of the last Englishwoman to triumph at the AIG Women’s Open took place in front of the instantly recognisable red-bricked building.

With a fervent home crowd cheering her every shot, Georgia’s moment in the sun was made even more special by having her dad Wayne caddying for her during the biggest week of her career.

And when the final putt dropped, it led to an embrace between father and daughter that will live with both of them for the rest of their lives.

An all-time great delivers

“I teed the ball up and hit one of the best drives I’ve ever hit,” said 10-time major winner Annika Sorenstam of her tee shot on the 72nd hole at Lytham in 2003.

After watching her playing partner, and closest challenger, Se-Ri Pak find the rough off the tee, Annika knew her own tee shot could be pivotal.

“Being a European, the [AIG Women's] Open meant so much to me, so I was quite nervous on that tee shot [but] I made one of my best swings ever. [The ball] started down the right side and curved in a little bit to set me up for an easier shot into the green.

“That was a crucial shot and one of the best of my career.”

Annika subsequently found the green and two-putted for a Grand Slam-clinching victory.

Sherri’s stunning salvo

An opening-round 81 left Sherri with a mountain to climb in 1998, the first time the AIG Women’s Open was staged at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

But climb that mountain she did, to register the second-largest comeback in LPGA history (10 shots). And she signed off with aplomb.

Sherri’s drive on the 18th on the final day left her with just 156 yards and a 6-iron to the putting surface. The American landed her approach on the front of the green and watched on as the ball rolled to with seven feet of the pin, before tapping home for birdie.

‘What a corker’

In The Open in 1969, Tony Jacklin was defending a two-shot lead over Bob Charles with just the 18th to play … when he unleashed his most famous drive.

“Oh what a corker,” was how revered BBC commentator Henry Longhurst described the tee shot. “My goodness that was a fine drive. It’s gone for miles!”

Forever associated with Royal Lytham & St Annes, Jacklin remains the last Englishman to win The Open on an English course.

Player calm and composed

Like Georgia Hall some 44 years later, Gary Player had already built up a comfortable lead as he walked down the 18th fairway and was just minutes away from winning his third Claret Jug.

And, also like Georgia, Player found himself in the left-hand rough off the tee. Perhaps adrenaline was partly to blame, but the enigmatic South African overhit his second shot and the ball ran through the back of the green and pitched up right beside the clubhouse.

A right-hander, Player was forced to escape using his putter left-handed, and, after settling some excitable onlookers behind him, put the ball to within 10ft of the flag; a moment that could have led to disaster, expertly negotiated by one of the finest golfers the world has ever seen.

More Seve magic

For the first time in its 128-year history, The Open of 1988 would finish on a Monday – and it produced a final day that was well worth the wait.

Nick Faldo, Nick Price and Seve Ballesteros – all playing in the same group – went toe-to-toe, only for Faldo to eventually drift out of contention, leading to a two-way tussle for Open supremacy.

But Seve was simply magnificent, conjuring up a final-round 65, topped off with a wonderful chip to six feet at the last, to which Price simply had no answer.

What’s in store for 2026?

Major winner Amy Yang (2006) and world number one Jeeno Thitikul (2018) have each won the Smyth Salver – awarded to the best-placed amateur who completes all four rounds in the AIG Women’s Open – at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Both players will be among a stellar field in Lancashire in late July hoping to get their hands on the main prize for the first time.

Will either Amy or Jeeno – or one of the other world-class golfers on show – provide another spark of genius at one of the most famous holes in Britain?