Staff WriterThe AIG Women’s Open isn’t just picking up trophies—it’s winning the one that matters most to the people inside the ropes. For the second year in a row, players have voted it the LPGA Gold Driver Award for Best Player Experience, a blunt reminder that when it comes to looking after athletes, this major is miles ahead of the field.
And the players don’t hand out compliments lightly. They spend their weeks hauling clubs through airports, dodging weather systems, and grinding out scores under pressure. If they say something works, it works.
A Clubhouse Made for Real Life on Tour
Ask any player what they want from a major, and you’ll get the same answer: somewhere to prepare properly, somewhere to decompress, and somewhere to hide if your toddler decides the scoring tent is a playground. The AIG Women’s Open Clubhouse—born in 2022—covers the lot.
A purpose-built performance hub, it’s become the one place where golfers can stretch, recover, breathe, and occasionally remember they’re human. Everything’s under one roof. No scavenger hunts. No chaos.
Zoe Ridgway, AIG Women’s Open Championship Director at The R&A, didn’t shy away from what this award means: “Retaining the Gold Driver Award is a real honour and all the more special because it is voted for by the players. Along with our partner AIG, our priority has always been to create an environment that supports these incredible athletes to perform to the best of their ability. We are proud of what the AIG Women’s Open now represents on and off the course as we continue to raise the bar for women’s golf globally.”
It’s not PR gloss. The players are really feeling it.
Where Athletes Recover Like Athletes
Take the Wellness Lounge. Picture a sanctuary where the volume stays low, the lights stay soft, and the massage beds aren’t an afterthought—they’re Ishga relaxation slabs that players would quite happily stick in the boot of their courtesy car.
Mindfulness sessions. Sensory elements. A space where post-round decompression isn’t a luxury; it’s survival.
Strength, Conditioning, and No Guesswork
The gym setup is exactly what you’d expect at a modern major—purpose-built and run by a female strength and conditioning team who actually understand how elite women train. Complimentary adidas gym kit, a sauna, and a cold-plunge pool kept bodies tuned for tournament pressure.
Add the European Tour Performance Institute Health & Performance Truck to the mix, and players had the physio support of a small army. Free skin screenings were offered too—a smart nod to a sport played under relentless UV.
Feeding the Field—Properly
Nutrition is a big deal on tour. At the AIG Women’s Open, the dining hall ran for 16 hours a day, serving athletes, caddies, and two extra guests. Food wasn’t just tasty; it was built for performance and recovery. And the multilingual menus—English, Japanese, Thai, Korean—meant nobody was guessing what they were eating.
Small Things Players Talk About
Behind the scenes, the Clubhouse nailed the details that players quietly appreciate:
- concierge help for life’s random problems
- dry cleaning that actually returns your clothes the same week
- a crèche for those travelling with young children
- a day spa with facials and nail services
- a proper locker room for male caddies
- courtesy cars that keep families moving
Ask any touring pro—they notice this stuff.
Onward to Royal Lytham & St Annes
The 2026 AIG Women’s Open rolls into Royal Lytham and St Annes from 29 July – 2 August. Tickets start at £17.50, with:
- £10 off weekend bundles
- £40 off five-day passes
- £5 Mastercard discounts
Kids under 16 go free with a paying adult, and youth tickets (16–24) are half-price. Hospitality is back too, offering premium setups and long days of world-class golf.
Players trust the AIG Women’s Open. Now fans get their turn.
Full ticket details live at aigwomensopen.com.
