Magic moments

Family connections, the feelgood factor, and a place in golfing folklore – Royal Lytham & St Annes has been the venue for some of the most heartwarming moments in AIG Women’s Open history.

The famous Lancashire links will host the Championship for the sixth time – only Woburn (nine) has done so more often – when the greatest golfers in the world descend on the Fylde coast in late July.

Some of the most celebrated and successful golfers of all time have won the AIG Women’s Open on this fabled track, with each Champion earning their own unique time in the spotlight.

Daddy the Caddie

The last Englishwoman to win the trophy, Georgia Hall’s breakthrough victory in 2018 was extra special as her dad Wayne caddied for her throughout that momentous week.

Georgia, then an LPGA rookie, collected her first professional title after compiling four rounds in the 60s to win by two strokes from Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum.

Such was her brilliance that week, the Bournemouth native dropped just three shots across the four days, showing a consistency and focus that belied her short time on tour.

Georgia began the final day one stroke behind Phatlum but drained a host of long putts to gradually gain control – and sank the final putt on the 18th green before joyfully embracing her dad.

“It was just an incredible week, a great golf course and a day I definitely won’t forget,” said Georgia.

Annika’s sublime swing

Annika Sorenstam is, for many, the greatest female golfer of all time.

A haul of 10 major titles – only Louise Suggs (11), Mickey Wright (13) and Patty Berg (15) have more – as well as 87 other professional victories certainly supports this theory.

“She is our Tiger Woods,” is how Lauren Coughlin described her.

And, just like Tiger, Annika completed the Career Grand Slam in the UK, at the AIG Women’s Open in 2003.

In a final-day duel with Se-Ri Pak – the AIG Women’s Open Champion in 2001 – Annika stood on the 18th tee knowing she had to take full advantage of a loose drive by her rival.

What followed was a shot of a lifetime, which brought with it a place in history.

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

Sherri lost for words

No player has won this Championship more times than Sherri Steinhauer.

The great American has lifted the title three times – tied with hall of famer Karrie Webb – and two of her three victories arrived at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The first came in 1998, when Royal Lytham was celebrating the centenary of its famous clubhouse. When she followed up at Woburn 12 months later, Sherri became the first golfer to successfully defend the trophy since Debbie Massey in 1981.

However, both of these wins came before the AIG Women’s Open was awarded major status, which occurred in 2001. So when the Championship returned to Lytham in 2006, it presented an opportunity for Sherri to rekindle those celebratory feels.

A nine-over-par 81 was far from the ideal opening round – but Sherri dusted herself down and staged a monumental comeback, ultimately defeating Sophie Gustafson and Cristie Kerr by three strokes.

And at the age of 43 years, 7 months and 10 days Sherri subsequently became the oldest winner of the AIG Women’s Open and the second oldest winner of a major.

“I am speechless,” she said. “This is incredible to me. It just means so much for me to win it as a major.”

Catriona’s superhuman feat

The magnitude of Catriona Matthew’s victory at Lytham in 2009 cannot be overstated.

Not only did she become the first Scottish female to win a major trophy, she did so just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second child, Sophie.

Initially aiming to simply make the cut, when Catriona visited the practice range just five weeks after Sophie’s arrival, she realised she was hitting the ball better than ever.

She was quickly into her groove and found herself three strokes ahead at the start of play on Sunday. ‘Supermum’ as she was dubbed that week, began with two bogeys in the opening three holes.

But, buoyed by the playful antics and commentary from playing partner Christina Kim, Catriona put those blemishes behind her and, amazingly, sank her third Championship hole-in-one on the 12th hole before finding three straight birdies from the 13th.

She had a three-shot cushion on the 18th tee, affording her a quiet moment to take it all in.

“There was a tear in my eye at that point,” she said. “I knew after my tee shot on 18 that I had won.”

Royal Lytham & St Annes – Roll of Honour

1998: Sherri Steinhauer
2003: Annika Sorenstam
2006: Sherri Steinhauer
2009: Catriona Matthew
2018: Georgia Hall