Picture this: the wind whipping across the rugged Welsh coast, a crowd roaring as golf’s finest battle it out on one of the most challenging links courses around.
Yes, folks, the AIG Women’s Open is heading to Royal Porthcawl in 2025, and it’s shaping up to be the biggest women’s sporting event Wales has ever seen.
Now, if you thought St Andrews was a tough gig, where Lydia Ko delivered a masterclass to clinch the title by two shots, wait until you see what Royal Porthcawl has in store.
Ko, fresh off a string of triumphs, including an Olympic Gold Medal in Paris, has been on an absolute tear.
Reflecting on her victory at the Old Course, she said, “It’s been a crazy past few weeks. Something that was too good to be true happened.
I honestly didn’t think it could be any better, and here I am as the AIG Women’s Open Champion this week.
Obviously, being here at the Old Course at St Andrews makes it so much more special.”
And it wasn’t just the golf that had the fans buzzing at St Andrews. Off the course, the Festival Village was the place to be, with BRIT and Ivor Novello-nominated singer-songwriter Tom Grennan belting out tunes that got the crowd dancing.
Add in an open-air screening of ‘Happy Gilmore’ (because why not?), golf lessons, mini golf, shopping sprees, and live Q&A sessions with some of the biggest names in the game, and you had a party that matched the on-course action.
But let’s get back to Royal Porthcawl, shall we? This isn’t your average course; it’s a beast that borders the Bristol Channel, with winds that seem to come from every direction just to mess with the players’ minds.
It’s hosted everything from The Amateur Championship to the Walker Cup (yep, even Tiger Woods took a swing here), and now it’s ready to test the mettle of the world’s best women golfers.
Lydia Ko, for one, is up for the challenge. “I’ve never been to Wales. So it’s exciting to go to these new venues. It’s pretty crazy to say that I’m going to be the defending champion there in Wales,” she quipped.
The bigwigs at The R&A are pretty excited too. Martin Slumbers, the CEO, couldn’t be more thrilled: “The AIG Women’s Open is a world-class championship which attracts the best players in the world. We have enjoyed an incredibly successful week in St Andrews, and we now turn our focus to Wales where we will play the Championship at Royal Porthcawl for the first time.
The famous Welsh links has a cherished history of hosting prestigious championships, and the players will enjoy the challenge of competing for the AIG Women’s Open at another outstanding venue.”
And let’s not forget the local flavour. Ken Skates, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, is rolling out the red carpet: “We’ll look forward to providing an unforgettable welcome to players, fans, and spectators when the AIG Women’s Open comes to Wales in 2025.
Porthcawl is sure to provide a warm Welsh Croeso to this prestigious golfing major and offers a course that will provide a true test to the very best players in the world.”
So, if you fancy seeing history in the making, now’s the time to grab your tickets. Prices start at a mere £20, and if you’re lucky enough to be under 16, you get in for free.
Those aged 16-24 can snag youth tickets at a 50% discount. For those eager to get a closer look at the action, volunteering opportunities are up for grabs too.
Head over to aigwomensopen.com for all the details and to secure your spot at what promises to be a monumental event.
