History of Royal Birkdale and Women's British Open
The Royal Birkdale golf course is the perfect place to hold a major championship, especially such a prestigious competition as the Women’s British Open. The tournament was established in 1976 but only became a major championship for the LPGA in 2001. The course stands out from others because of its own special and unique quality: no two holes face in the same direction, something that can be very problematic on windy days.
The course is among Britain’s finest and the best in the world. The links course is located on the North West coast of England and shares the same stretch of land as Royal Lytham and St Annes, and Royal Liverpool courses. Royal Birkdale has hosted some of the most prestigious and legendary players including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, Lee Trevino, Mark O’Meara and the 2008 Open Champion Padraig Harrington.
The course design is the work of Frederick G Hawtree and champion golfer J.H. Taylor. The Royal Birkdale has been the object of three generations worth of Hawtree architects who have molded and remolded the links to their likings throughout the ages.
Founded in 1889 the club didn’t earn its “Royal” status until 1951. The first big event held at the club was the Amateur Championship in 1946 and has since played host to an array of events and championships including the Ryder cup, Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, and both women and men’s Open championships.
The Royal Birkdale hosted the Women’s Open tournament four times in the past. The first woman to win the tournament was Marta Figueras-Dotti in 1982, followed by Laura Davies in 1986. In 2000 before the event became a major championship, Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson took the title. It was her second title of the season and she earned it with a 10-stroke win. Gustafson will be returning this year to test her luck again.
The fourth and most recent time the Women’s Open was held at Royal Birkdale in 2005, Jeong Jang was victorious. Jang became the eighth first time winner of the year. She won by four shots over Gustafson and earned her first career win at a majors championship. She is also returning to the course this year.
The Women’s British Open is the youngest of the four majors on the LPGA schedule but is one of the most prestigious titles in the sport. The fact that the tournament is returning to this equally prestigious course is one that has everyone excited and looking forward to Thursday’s tee off times.
“The fact that we are at Birkdale is very healthy for us, because it is without a doubt one of the best courses we will ever play,” said Davies.
Like most links courses, the difficulty rating of the course can change in a second as the winds coming of the sea increase or decrease. That being said, adjusting and gauging for different wind strengths during practice rounds is a very important part of preparing to play the Royal Birkdale.
Weather issues aside, the opening hole does not look to be an easy one, and requires a tee shot on a fairway that bends to the left. The aim is to get the ball as close to the left side fairway bunker as possible to get a better angle of attack and view of the green. The 450-yard par four hole has two pot bunkers on either side of the green as well.
One of the front nine signature holes is the 499-yard par four sixth hole. The tee must be very accurate as there are pot bunkers on either side of the fairway, one at 275-yards and the other at 300-yards. The green is elevated and contoured, not to mention it is surrounded by dunes.
The course is home to one of the most famous par three holes in the British Open rotation, the short 184-yard par three 12th hole. Don't be fooled by the length, the green is protected by deep dunes and four bunkers.
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