For Georgia Hall and Charley Hull, the AIG Women’s Open is circled each year on their calendars. Their season builds for this moment, the final major of the season, and the opportunity to win at the pinnacle of women’s golf. Hall achieved that particular success as a Tour rookie in 2018, winning at Royal Lytham and St Annes in front of her home crowd, forever cementing herself in major championship history.
“As a golfer, obviously having ‘Major Champion’ on your name is very special and I will have that the rest of my career. I think it changed that way. I got noticed more,” said Hall. “There's more expectation, and winning in my home country, I got more known around England.”
Hull is still waiting for her breakthrough major moment that’s similar to one of her closest friends on Tour. The 2016 CME Group Tour Championship winner is coming off a fifth-place finish at the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open, where she shot four consecutive 69s at Dumbarnie Links. This week will be Hull’s 10th appearance in this major championship and as she comes into form at Carnoustie, she’s only got one goal in mind.
“Obviously I would like to go and win,” said Hull, whose best finish at the major is a tie for 12th in 2014 in her second year as a professional. “I feel like my game is in good condition. My main goal this week is to go out and have fun. I play my best golf when I'm having fun and smiling. That's my main focus.”
Hall and Hull will also be competing for a higher purse this year, after The R&A and AIG announced a $1.3 million increase in the prize fund to $5.8 million, with the winner earning $870,000. The purse will increase further in 2022 to no less than $6.8 million, more than double the prize fund from Hall’s win before AIG’s partnership commenced. For both players, seeing a further investment in the game at the major championship level is incredibly beneficial for the whole of women’s golf.
“It's phenomenal and fantastic to hear that and that it's actually happening. Week-in, week-out, we want to play for big prize funds and it just recognizes what an amazing event this is. To me, it's the biggest event in women's golf, and it's great news for all our players,” said Hall.
“I think it's brilliant … Next year it's going to go up to $6.8 (million). I think that's brilliant, and a bit this year,” added Hull. “I think it's great. It's getting a lot more recognition which is good. I think it deserves that.”
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