Qualification routes

Elite players from across the globe have the opportunity to earn their place at the AIG Women’s Open through an array of different qualification pathways.

The Championship’s 50th edition will take place at Royal Lytham & St Annes from 29 July to 2 August 2026, with the world’s best golfers competing for glory in the final major of the year.

Past Champions, major winners and top amateurs are just some of the players to have already sealed a spot at this summer’s AIG Women’s Open, with an array of opportunities remaining for those yet to qualify.

A full list of qualification pathways, along with players who have already gained an exemption, can be found below.

Exempt players

A - F

Casandra Alexander; Kelsey Bennett; Celine Boutier; Helen Briem; Ashleigh Buhai; Hye-Jin Choi; In Gee Chun; Carlota Ciganda; Allisen Corpuz; Lauren Coughlin; Perrine Delacour; Lindy Duncan; Ayaka Furue.

G - L

Cara Gainer; Megha Ganne (a); Amelia Garvey; Linn Grant; Hannah Green; Georgia Hall; Esme Hamilton; Darcey Harry; Nasa Hataoka; Brooke Henderson; Alice Hewson; Jungmin Hong; Wei-ling Hsu; Anna Huang; Charley Hull; Jin Hee Im; Nuria Iturrioz; Akie Iwai; Chisato Iwai; Ariya Jutanugarn; Minami Katsu; Megan Khang; A Lim Kim; Auston Kim; Grace Kim; Hyo Joo Kim; Sei Young Kim; Lydia Ko; Nelly Korda; Sara Kouskova; Jennifer Kupcho; Steph Kyriacou; Agathe Laisne; Alison Lee; Andrea Lee; Mi Hyang Lee; Minjee Lee; Somi Lee; Gaby Lopez.

M - R

Maria Jose Marin (a); Paula Martin Sampedro; Nastasia Nadaud; Yealimi Noh; Anna Nordqvist; Sophia Popov; Mimi Rhodes; Kiara Romero (a); Haeran Ryu; Mao Saigo; Shuri Sakuma; Yuka Saso; Hinako Shibuno; Jiyai Shin; Maja Stark; Rio Takeda; Chiara Tamburlini; Shannon Tan; Jeeno Thitikul; Yani Tseng; Lilia Vu; Lauren Walsh; Lottie Woad; Miyu Yamashita; Amy Yang; Yunseo Yang (a); Angel Yin; Ruoning Yin.

Exemptions pre-2026

• Past Champions aged 60 or under on Sunday 2 August 2026 (for all Champions up until 2024).

• Past Champions aged 55 or under on Sunday 2 August 2026 (for all Champions from 2025).

• Major champions from 2022 to 2025 (winners of the Chevron Championship, US Women’s Open, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Amundi Evian Championship).

• Top 10 and ties in the 2025 AIG Women’s Open.

• Any player who did not compete in the 2025 AIG Women’s Open due to maternity.

• 2025 US Women’s Amateur Champion*

• 2025 Mark H McCormack Medal winner*

• Winner of the 2025 KLPGA Money List

• 2025 Women’s Amateur Latin America Champion*

• Top 15 LET players in the 2025 Final Order of Merit.

• Winner of the 2025 JLPGA Mercedes Ranking.

• Top 35 players in the 2025 LPGA Final CME Points List.

February 2026

• Winner of Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (winner Nelly Korda already exempt).

• Winner of PIF Saudi Ladies Invitational (winner Charley Hull already exempt).

• Winner of Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific* (Yunseo Yang won to gain exemption).

• Winner of Honda LPGA Thailand (winner Jeeno Thitikul already exempt).

March 2026

• Winner of HSBC Women’s World Championship (Hannah Green won to gain exemption).

• Winner of Ford Women’s NSW Open (Agathe Laisne won to gain exemption).

• Winner of Blue Bay Invitational (Mi Hyang Lee won to gain exemption).

• Winner of Australia Women’s Classic (Kelsey Bennett won to gain exemption).

• Winner of Women’s Australian Open (winner Hannah Green already exempt).

• Winner of Fortinet Founders Cup (winner Hyojoo Kim already exempt).

• Winner of Australian WPGA Championship (winner Hannah Green already exempt).

• Winner of Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass (winner Hyojoo Kim already exempt).

April 2026

• Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion* (María José Marín won to gain exemption).

• Winner of Aramco Championship (winner Lauren Coughlin already exempt).

• Winner of JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro (winner Hannah Green already exempt).

• Winner of Joburg Ladies Open (winner Agathe Laisne already exempt).

• Chevron Championship Champion (winner Nelly Korda already exempt).

• Investec SA Women’s Open winner (Esme Hamilton won to gain exemption).

May 2026

• Winner of MCB Ladies Classic – Mauritius (Smilla Tarning Soenderby won to gain exemption).

• Winner of Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba (winner Nelly Korda already exempt).

• Winner of Mizuho Americas Open (winner Jeeno Thitikul already exempt).

• Winner of Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G (17 May).

• Winner of Amundi German Masters (17 May).

• Winner of Lalla Meryem Cup (23 May).

• Winner of Jabra Ladies Open de France (30 May).

• Winner of Shoprite LPGA powered by Wakefern (31 May).

June 2026

• US Women’s Open Champion presented by Ally (7 June).

• Leading two golfers (not already exempt) who make the cut in the 2026 Ai Miyazato Suntory Ladies Open (14 June).

• Top 3 (not already exempt) from the 2026 JLPGA Mercedes Ranking on completion of the JLPGA 2026 Ai Miyazato Suntory Ladies Open (14 June).

• The leading golfer (not already exempt) who makes the cut at the Mercedes-Benz Korea Women’s Open (14 June).

• Winner of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give (21 June).

• Winner of the Dutch Ladies Open (21 June).

• Women’s Amateur Champion* (27 June).

• Winner of Tipsport Czech Ladies Open (28 June).

• KPMG Women’s PGA Champion (28 June).

• Top 50 players on the Rolex Rankings (29 June).

July 2026

• Winner of Helencourt Women’s Open (5 July).

• Top 5 (not already exempt) from the 2026 LET Order of Merit (5 July).

• Top 25 (not already exempt) from the 2026 LPGA Race to CME Globe Season (5 July).

• Top two (not already exempt) from the 2026 KLPGA Money List (5 July).

• Amundi Evian Championship Champion (12 July).

• Pre-Qualifying – Delamere Forest (13 July). Places at Final Qualifying available.

• Winner of ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open (26 July).

• Leading three golfers (not already exempt) who make the cut in the 2026 ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open (26 July).

• European Ladies’ Amateur Champion* (26 July).

• Women’s Amateur Series Winner* (26 July).

• Final Qualifying, number of places TBC (27 July).

*The winner must maintain their amateur status to take up the exemption.