If you walk up to a casual golf fan and mention the Ricoh Women's British Open, you’ll likely get a nod of recognition. But here is the thing. That name technically hasn't existed since 2018. It is one of those brand names that stuck so hard in the public consciousness—like calling a tissue a Kleenex—that people still use it years after the sponsorship checks stopped clearing.
Today, it is the AIG Women’s Open. The "British" part was even dropped from the official title back in 2020. Yet, for a solid decade, Ricoh was synonymous with the most grueling, wind-swept, and prestigious links golf on the planet.
Golf is a game of tradition, but the Women’s British Open has always been a bit of a rebel. It didn't start as a "Major." It had to claw its way to that status.
The Identity Crisis of a Major
Honestly, the history of this tournament is kind of a mess if you try to follow the name changes. It started in 1976. Back then, it was just the Women's British Open, and it wasn't even an LPGA event. It was a local affair, mostly for the Ladies European Tour. Then came the Weetabix years—yes, the cereal—which lasted two decades.
In 2001, everything shifted. The LPGA finally recognized it as a Major Championship, replacing the du Maurier Classic. When Ricoh stepped in as the title sponsor in 2007, the tournament entered its "modern era."
That 2007 event was actually a massive turning point. Why? Because it was the first time the women were allowed to play the Old Course at St Andrews. For over a century, the "Home of Golf" was essentially a boy's club for the big events. Lorena Ochoa winning that year at St Andrews didn't just crown a champion; it validated the tournament as a global heavyweight.
Why the Ricoh Era Still Matters
People still search for the Ricoh Women's British Open because that era defined the tournament's current prestige. Under that banner, we saw some of the most dominant performances in the history of the sport.
Think about Jiyai Shin in 2012. She didn't just win at Royal Liverpool; she dismantled the field, winning by nine strokes. Nine. In a Major. Or Yani Tseng, who went back-to-back in 2010 and 2011. That kind of dominance is rare, and it happened right as the Ricoh sponsorship was peaking.
The tournament also became the ultimate test of "links" golf. Most LPGA players spend their year on perfectly manicured, soft American courses where you fly the ball to the hole. The British Open is the opposite. You've got to hit low, stinging runners. You have to navigate pot bunkers that look like literal graves.
The Curse of the "British" Tag
One thing that confuses people is why they dropped the word "British" in 2020. Basically, the R&A (the folks who run golf everywhere except the US and Mexico) wanted to align it with the men’s Open Championship.
It’s now just the AIG Women’s Open.
It sounds cleaner, sure. But to the fans who grew up watching Georgia Hall’s emotional win in 2018 at Royal Lytham & St Annes—the final year of the Ricoh era—it will always feel like the "British" Open. There is a specific atmosphere to a tournament held in the UK that you just can't replicate in Florida or California. It's the rain gear. It's the grey skies. It's the fans who will stand in a gale-force wind just to see a 10-foot par putt.
Recent Winners and the New Guard
Since the transition from Ricoh to AIG, the tournament has only gotten bigger. The prize money has skyrocketed. In 2025, Miyū Yamashita took home nearly $1.5 million at Royal Porthcawl. That is a long way from the early days when players were lucky to cover their travel costs.
Look at the last few champions:
- 2025: Miyū Yamashita (Royal Porthcawl)
- 2024: Lydia Ko (St Andrews)
- 2023: Lilia Vu (Walton Heath)
- 2022: Ashleigh Buhai (Muirfield)
Lydia Ko winning at St Andrews in 2024 was particularly poetic. It brought the tournament full circle back to the venue that Ricoh first opened up for the women in 2007. Ko had already secured her Hall of Fame spot, but winning on the Old Course is the ultimate "mic drop" in golf.
What to Expect Moving Forward
If you're planning on following the tournament in the coming years, keep an eye on the venues. The R&A is no longer messing around with "parkland" courses as much. They are sticking to the legendary links.
In 2026, the championship returns to Royal Lytham & St Annes. This is a course with over 200 bunkers. It is arguably the toughest test in the rotation. It’s where Georgia Hall won her title, and the atmosphere there is always electric.
Is the Ricoh Women's British Open dead? Technically, yes. But the DNA of that era—the move to legendary courses and the rise of international superstars—is what made the current AIG Women's Open the most prestigious stop on the summer calendar.
How to Follow the Championship Like a Pro
If you actually want to understand the nuances of this Major, stop looking at the "projected score" and start looking at the wind charts.
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- Watch the morning vs. afternoon waves: On a links course, a three-hour difference in tee time can mean the difference between a 68 and an 80.
- Check the "Smyth Salver" race: This is the trophy for the leading amateur. Many of the winners, like Lydia Ko and Georgia Hall, won the Smyth Salver before they ever won the actual trophy.
- Pay attention to the "ground game": The winner is rarely the person hitting it the highest. It’s the person who can control their ball flight when the wind is gusting 30 mph off the Irish Sea.
The name on the trophy might have changed, but the soul of the tournament is exactly the same as it was during the Ricoh years. It remains the one Major that every player wants on their resume because you can't fake your way to a win in the British wind.
To stay truly updated on the 2026 event at Royal Lytham, your best bet is to follow the official AIG Women's Open app or the R&A's direct communications, as they've moved almost all their historical archives and live tracking to their own digital platforms. Also, if you are looking for tickets, the 2026 ballot usually opens nearly a year in advance—don't wait until the summer or you'll be stuck watching from the couch.