Georgia's major breakthrough

Golf can create the most magical storylines – and among the most heartwarming of recent times was Georgia Hall’s victory in the AIG Women’s Open in 2018.

Not only was it Georgia’s first major title, not only was it her first success in her maiden year on the LPGA Tour, but she achieved it in her homeland with her dad as her caddie. 

Royal Lytham & St Annes was the venue for Georgia’s coronation, and the world-famous Lancashire course could be the scene of yet another inspirational tale as it is set to stage the 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open, in 2026.

“It has definitely changed my life,” said Georgia, “and I hope to have that experience again.”

The Bournemouth native, then just 22, was in the groove right from the off, birdieing the very first hole on her way to an impressive five-under opening round, just two strokes behind Australian Minjee Lee.

Another English player, Florentyna Parker, had the home crowd in raptures on day one when she landed the first hole-in-one of the Championship on the 9th.

Brooke Henderson, Women’s PGA Champion in 2016, followed suit on the same hole the very next day.

Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum – who played with a distinctive pink ball [below] – seized control on day two following a second successive 67, but she could not shake Georgia, who didn’t drop a shot for the first 48 holes of the Championship.

A host of major winners were also in contention including So Yeon Ryu and Ariya Jutanugarn, who won the AIG Women’s Open in 2016.

Pornanong was the one they all had to catch as the weekend got under way, opening the third round with three birdies in the first eight holes. The Thai player also picked up a shot at the par-5 11th to move her two clear of Japan’s Mamiko Higa.

A third-round 69 ultimately afforded her a one-stroke lead over Georgia – who birdied the 18th on Saturday – heading into the final round.

“I was up there the whole week,” explained Georgia, “but I wasn’t leading going into the final day which I thought was quite good really because it took a bit of pressure off me.”

Although it was her rookie year, Georgia did know what it was like to be near the top of the leaderboard at the AIG Women’s Open having finished in a tie for third place at Kingsbarns in Scotland 12 months earlier.

And this experience came to the fore immediately on Sunday as she sank a 12ft birdie putt at the 1st to tie the lead. Pornanong responded straightaway courtesy of a monster, left-to-right birdie putt of her own at the next.

It was set up to be quite the final day.

Meanwhile, a 15-year-old Jeeno Thitikul [above] put the golfing world on red alert as she won the first of two successive Smyth Salvers, awarded to the best-placed amateur in the field provided they make the cut.

Jeeno has since won six times on the LPGA Tour and risen to number one in the world rankings.

The Smyth Salver has a habit of unearthing future stars.

Georgia and Pornanong continued to slog it out at the top of the tree with the latter registering three successive birdies on 4, 5 and 6 to move two ahead. Georgia stayed on her coat tails as the duo pulled five shots clear of the field.

It was now a two-horse race.

The first cracks in Pornanong’s armour appeared at the 8th when she found thick rough off the tee, leading to just her second dropped shot of the week.

Georgia, who had putted beautifully all week, pounced with a 10ft birdie on 13. It was now neck-and-neck moving down the stretch.

Patience is a virtue, as the saying goes. It was certainly the main trait that had to be practised by Georgia as she hunted her first major crown – and eventually it paid off.

Her playing partner found a greenside bunker on the 16th, and even though she got up-and-down to save par, another fine birdie from the home favourite put her in front for the very first time with just two holes to play.

Georgia showed a composure that belied her years to close out a landmark victory and become the first English winner of the AIG Women’s Open since Karen Stupples in 2004.

“It was incredible,” said Georgia.

“Winning a major is so hard these days, the standard of golf is just incredible, so to win that week was extra special. I still look back now and it gives me goosebumps.”

And to have her dad as her caddie for the week?

“He only did two or three [tournaments] a year at that point. It was just great to have him there next to me. It was an awesome experience.

“What I have to remind myself, even to this day,” she added, “is that I won the hardest major when I was in my rookie year with my dad on the bag, who wasn’t a [professional] caddie, and I managed to beat everyone.”