2020 Women's British Open

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2020 AIG Women's Open
2020 Womens Open Golf.png
Tournament information
Dates20–23 August 2020
LocationTroon,
South Ayrshire, Scotland
55°31′55″N 4°39′00″W / 55.532°N 4.65°W / 55.532; -4.65Coordinates: 55°31′55″N 4°39′00″W / 55.532°N 4.65°W / 55.532; -4.65
Course(s)Royal Troon Golf Club
Organized byThe R&A
Tour(s)Ladies European Tour
LPGA Tour
Statistics
Par71
Length6,632 yards (6,064 m)
Field144 players, 74 after cut
Cut151 (+9)
Prize fundUS$4.5 million[1]
Winner's share$675,000
Champion
Germany Sophia Popov
277 (−7)
Location Map
Royal Troon GC is located in the United Kingdom
Royal Troon GC
Royal Troon GC
Location in the United Kingdom
← 2019
2021 →

The 2020 Women's British Open was played from 20 to 23 August in Scotland at Royal Troon Golf Club. It was the 44th Women's British Open, the 20th as a major championship on the LPGA Tour, and the first at Royal Troon Golf Club. The tournament was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[2] It was the first championship held under a renewed sponsorship agreement with AIG; the deal involved the rebranding of the championship, removing the word "British", with the event titled as the 2020 AIG Women's Open.[3]

The championship was won by world number 304 Sophia Popov, by two strokes from Thidapa Suwannapura. It was her first major tournament victory.[4] Popov, a professional since 2014 and member of the second-tier Symetra Tour since 2016, had never previously won on any of the major tours, winning her first events on a mini-tour in Arizona earlier in 2020. She qualified for the Women's Open by means of a high finish at the LPGA Tour's Marathon Classic at the start of August.[5]

Course layout[]

Main article: Royal Troon Golf Club
Hole Name Yards Par Hole Name Yards Par
1 Seal 357 4 10 Sandhills 385 4
2 Black Rock 381 4 11 The Railway 421 4
3 Gyaws 371 4 12 The Fox 427 4
4 Dunure 522 5 13 Burmah 411 4
5 Greenan 194 3 14 Alton 175 3
6 Turnberry 544 5 15 Crosbie 436 4
7 Tel-el-Kebir 381 4 16 Well 533 5
8 Postage Stamp 123 3 17 Rabbit 210 3
9 The Monk 387 4 18 Craigend 374 4
Out 3,260 36 In 3,372 35
Source:[6][7] Total 6,632 71

Field[]

The field is 144 players. Most players earn exemptions based on past performance on the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA Tour, previous major championships, or with a high ranking in the Women's World Golf Rankings, with the rest of the field normally gaining entry by successfully competing in qualifying tournaments open to any female golfer, professional or amateur, with a low handicap. In 2020 there were no such tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Qualification criteria for the 2020 Women's British Open were as follows:[8]

1. Winners of the Women's British Open, aged 60 or younger at the scheduled end of the championship, provided they are still active members of a recognised tour.

2. The top 10 finishers and ties from the 2019 Women's British Open.

3. The top 15 on the final 2019 LET Order of Merit.

4. The top 5 on the 2020 LET Order of Merit not already exempt as of 29 June.

5. The top 30 on the final 2019 LPGA Money List.

6. The top 35 on the 2020 LPGA Prioity List not already exempt under criteria 5. as of 29 June.

7. The top 5 on the 2020 LPGA Money List not already exempt as of 29 June.

8. The top 30 in the Women's World Golf Rankings as of 16 March.

9. Winners of the 2019 JLPGA Money List.

10. The top 5 on the final 2019 JLPGA Money List not already exempt.

11. Winners of the 2019 KLPGA Money List.

10. The top 5 on the 2020 KLPGA Money List not already exempt as of 29 June.

12. Winners of any recognised LET or LPGA Tour events in the 2020 calendar year.

13. Winners of the last five editions of the U.S. Women's Open

14. Winners of the last five editions of the ANA Inspiration

15. Winners of the last five editions of the Women's PGA Championship

16. Winners of the last five editions of The Evian Championship

17. The leading five (not otherwise exempt) in the 2020 Marathon Classic

18. The leading three (not otherwise exempt) in the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open

19. The 2020 Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific champion, 2020 Womens Amateur Championship champion, 2019 U.S. Women's Amateur champion, 2020 European Ladies Amateur Championship champion, the 2019 Mark H. McCormack Medal winner, and the highest ranked women in the World Amateur Golf Ranking from Great Britain and Ireland as of week 25, and provided they are still amateurs at the time of the Championship.

20. Any player who did not compete in the previous year's Women's British Open due to maternity, who subsequently received an extension of membership for the maternity from the player's home tour in the previous year, provided she was otherwise qualified to compete in the previous year's Women's British Open.

21. Remaining places filled by players not already exempt from:

a) the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open
i) in finishing order for those making the cut, with ties determined by order of Rolex Ranking prior to the start of the tournament, then card playoff.
ii) in order of Rolex Ranking prior to the start of the tournament for those not making the cut.
b) the Rolex Rankings as of 16 March.

Nationalities in the field[]

North America (43) South America (1) Europe (60) Oceania (10) Asia (27) Africa (3)
 Canada (2)  Paraguay (1)  England (13)  Australia (9)  China (3)  South Africa (3)
 Mexico (2)  Northern Ireland (2)  New Zealand (1)  India (3)
 Puerto Rico (1)  Scotland (5)  Japan (7)
 United States (38)  Wales (1)  South Korea (7)
 Ireland (1)  Malaysia (1)
 Austria (1)  Philippines (1)
 Belgium (1)  Taiwan (1)
 Czech Republic (1)  Thailand (4)
 Denmark (3)
 Finland (2)
 France (3)
 Germany (7)
 Netherlands (1)
 Norway (2)
 Slovenia (1)
 Spain (4)
 Sweden (12)

Past champions in the field[]

Made the cut[]

Player Country Year won R1 R2 R3 R4 Total To par Finish
Inbee Park  South Korea 2015 77 69 71 66 283 −1 4th
Ariya Jutanugarn  Thailand 2016 73 74 70 73 290 +6 T22
Georgia Hall  England 2018 73 76 74 71 294 +10 T45
Catriona Matthew  Scotland 2009 71 76 74 76 297 +13 T59

Missed the cut[]

Player Country Year won R1 R2 Total To par
In-Kyung Kim  South Korea 2017 78 74 152 +10
Stacy Lewis  United States 2013 76 77 153 +11
Hinako Shibuno  Japan 2019 76 78 154 +12

Round summaries[]

First round[]

Thursday, 20 August 2020

American Amy Olson held a three stroke lead at the end of the first round after recording a 4 under par round of 67. In tough scoring conditions due to strong winds, Marina Alex and Sophia Popov were the only other two other players to finish under par. Ten players returned even par rounds to lie a stroke further back, including 2009 champion Catriona Matthew and two-time LPGA major winner Anna Nordqvist.[9]

Place Player Country Score To par
1 Amy Olson  United States 67 −4
T2 Marina Alex  United States 70 −1
Sophia Popov  Germany
T4 Daniela Holmqvist  Sweden 71 E
Nuria Iturrioz  Spain
Gaby López  Mexico
Catriona Matthew  Scotland
Anna Nordqvist  Sweden
Lee-Anne Pace  South Africa
Emily Kristine Pedersen  Norway
Alena Sharp  Canada
Thidapa Suwannapura  Thailand
 United States

Second round[]

Friday, 21 August 2020

Windy conditions continued throughout the second round which made for difficult scoring again. Daniela Holmqvist took a one stroke lead at the halfway stage following a one under par round of 70; by the end of the day she was the only player in the field under par. In joint second, at even par, were Austin Ernst and Sophia Popov after rounds of 70 and 72 respectively. The best rounds of the day (69, two under par) came from Minjee Lee, who climbed into a tie for fourth at one over par, and Inbee Park, who finished in a tie for 17th place at four over par. First round leader Amy Olson was one of many who struggled, returning a ten over par round of 81 to fall back into a tie for 33rd place.

The cut came at nine over par. Among those to miss the cut were the defending champion from 2019, Hinako Shibuno; 2017 champion In-Kyung Kim; 2013 champion Stacy Lewis, who had won the Ladies Scottish Open the previous week; and Rose Ladies Series champion Charley Hull.[10]

Place Player Country Score To par
1 Daniela Holmqvist  Sweden 71-70=141 −1
T2 Austin Ernst  United States 72-70=142 E
Sophia Popov  Germany 70-72=142
T4 Lydia Ko  New Zealand 72-71=143 +1
Minjee Lee  Australia 74-69=143
Emily Kristine Pedersen  Norway 71-72=143
Thidapa Suwannapura  Thailand 71-72=143
 United States 71-72=143
T9 Nelly Korda  United States 72-72=144 +2
Haru Nomura  Japan 74-70=144

Third round[]

Saturday, 22 August 2020

Sophia Popov moved into a three stroke lead at four under par after returning the joint best score of the day, a four under par round of 67. Also with 67 was Katherine Kirk, who climbed into a tie for tenth place, seven strokes behind Popov. Tied for second at one under par were Minjee Lee and Thidapa Suwannapura, both recording two under par rounds of 69 on Saturday. Further back, three players were tied at one over par, and three more at two over par. Daniela Holmqvist, who had held the lead at the halfway stage dropped down the leaderboard into a tie for 21st place after a six over par round of 77.[11]

Place Player Country Score To par
1 Sophia Popov  Germany 70-72-67=209 −4
T2 Minjee Lee  Australia 74-69-69=212 −1
Thidapa Suwannapura  Thailand 71-72-69=212
T4 Austin Ernst  United States 72-70-72=214 +1
Caroline Masson  Germany 72-74-68=214
 United States 71-72-71=214
T7 Kristen Gillman  United States 75-72-68=215 +2
Lydia Ko  New Zealand 72-71-72=215
Emily Kristine Pedersen  Norway 71-72-72=215
T10 Cydney Clanton  United States 74-73-69=216 +3
Katherine Kirk  Australia 72-77-67=216
Jennifer Song  United States 74-74-68=216

Final round[]

Sunday, 23 August 2020

After a bogey on the opening hole, overnight leader Sophia Popov bounced back with three birdies in the next five holes to retain the lead going into the final nine holes. Her nearest challenger was Thidapa Suwannapura, who birdied four holes in a row from the fourth to get within one stroke, with Minjee Lee a further two strokes behind. Bogeys by Suwannapura on the 11th and 13th holes extended Popov's lead to three strokes, and when Popov birdied both the 15th and 16th holes she led by four with just two holes to play. Popov bogeyed the last to finish two strokes ahead of Suwannapura and four clear of Lee.[5]

2015 champion Inbee Park returned the joint lowest round of the day, and the championship, with a five under par round of 66 to climb up to fourth place at one under par. Also with a round of 66 was Ally McDonald, who finished tied for 22nd place at six over par. , who had been in a tie for fourth place after each of the opening three rounds and had chosen to play without a caddie as a result of COVID-19 related restrictions,[12] fell away on Sunday with a four over par round of 75 to finish tied for 19th place.

Place Player Country Score To par Prize money (US$)
1 Sophia Popov  Germany 70-72-67-68=277 −7 675,000
2 Thidapa Suwannapura  Thailand 71-72-69-67=279 −5 407,926
3 Minjee Lee  Australia 74-69-69-69=281 −3 295,468
4 Inbee Park  South Korea 77-69-71-66=283 −1 228,194
5 Austin Ernst  United States 72-70-72-70=284 E 183,349
6 Momoko Ueda  Japan 75-75-68-67=285 +1 149,712
T7 Chun In-gee  South Korea 72-75-70-69=286 +2 105,426
 United States 74-73-70-69=286
Caroline Masson  Germany 72-74-68-72=286
Jennifer Song  United States 74-74-68-70=286

Scorecard[]

Final round

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 4 4 5 3 5 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 5 3 4
Germany Popov −3 −4 −5 −5 −5 −6 −6 −6 −6 −6 −6 −6 −6 −6 −7 −8 −8 −7
Thailand Suwannapura −1 −1 −1 −2 −3 −4 −5 −5 −5 −5 −4 −4 −3 −3 −3 −4 −5 −5
Australia Lee −1 −1 −1 −1 −2 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −4 −4 −3
South Korea Park +3 +4 +4 +4 +3 +2 +1 E E E E +1 E E E E −1 −1
United States Ernst +1 +1 +2 +1 +1 E E E E −1 E E E +1 +1 +1 E E
Japan Ueda +5 +4 +3 +2 +2 +2 +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1
South Korea Chun +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +3 +3 +2
United States Lee +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +4 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +4 +3 +3 +2 +2 +2
Germany Masson +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 E −1 E E E E +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2
United States Song +3 +3 +3 +2 +1 +1 +2 +1 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2

Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par

Eagle Birdie Bogey Double bogey

Source:[13]

References[]

  1. ^ "Women's Open raises prize fund to $4.5 million". ESPN. 8 July 2019.
  2. ^ McLaughlin, Chris (7 July 2020). "Women's British Open & Scottish Open to go ahead in August without fans". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Women's Open drops 'British' from title in sponsorship rebrand". BBC Sport. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. ^ Church, Ben (23 August 2020). "304th-ranked Sophia Popov clinches British Open to win her first major". CNN. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b Scrivener, Peter (23 August 2020). "Women's Open: Sophia Popov wins at Royal Troon by two shots". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  6. ^ "AIG Women's Open: Course info". Ladies European Tour. 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  7. ^ "AIG Women's Open: Course Guide". R&A Championships Limited. 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Entry conditions" (PDF). The R&A. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  9. ^ "AIG Women's Open: Catriona Matthew four shots off lead at Royal Troon". BBC Sport. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  10. ^ "AIG Women's Open: Daniela Holmqvist only player under par at halfway stage". BBC Sport. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  11. ^ "AIG Women's Open: Sophia Popov leads by three at Royal Troon". BBC Sport. 22 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  12. ^ Levins, Keely (22 August 2020). "LPGA Tour pro opts for pushcart instead of caddie at AIG Women's British Open, is in contention". Golf Digest. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Leaderboard". AIG Women's Open. Retrieved 24 August 2020.

External links[]

Preceded by Major Championships Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""