Karrie Webb, three-time champion, hopes to see another Australian winner at the AIG Women’s Open when it is played at Muirfield from 4-7 August. Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images
World number two Minjee Lee headlines a quartet of talented Australian golfers looking to emulate legendary compatriot Karrie Webb at the AIG Women’s Open and join their counterpart Cameron Smith with a second major win for Australia this summer in Scotland.
Set to contest the AIG Women’s Open from 4-7 August, the 26-year-old Lee is joined by fellow Aussies Hannah Green (world number 18), Steph Kyriacou (world number 105) and Whitney Hillier (world number 186). They will step up to Muirfield’s first tee with added confidence having seen their fellow Australian find success on the other side of the Firth of Forth at St Andrews in The 150th Open.
Lee claimed her first ever major top ten in 2015 at this Championship, and now has nine to her name including two victories. Green, 25, herself also a major champion, created a milestone in February 2022 in her homeland when she became the first female professional to win a mixed gender tournament. Hillier, 31, and Kyriacou, 21, have both notched up victories on the Ladies European Tour but seek a first major win.
The foursome will look to build on Australia’s recent success in Scotland and its history in this Championship, which has previously witnessed five Australian champions, including three-time winner Karrie Webb who is also a seven-time major champion and World and LPGA Hall of Famer.
This year’s Women’s US Open champion, Lee, said, “I am really looking forward to closing out the major season at Muirfield for the AIG Women’s Open. I love the challenges presented by links golf and I am really looking forward to playing at Muirfield. It’s been a great few weeks for Australian golf with Cam’s win at The 150th Open and Karrie’s at the Senior LPGA Championship last week, so I will, of course, be trying my best to keep the winning streak running.”
Webb forged the way for young Australians looking to find success in the professional women’s game, leaving a legacy for today’s generations to follow through the famed Karrie Webb Series Scholarship. Among the recipients of the honour include Lee, Green and Hillier, who will look to build on the tutelage and support from the scholarship, and personal inspiration of Webb, when it comes to round one of the AIG Women’s Open at the home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.
Webb’s inspiration and legacy in the game was further elevated last weekend as she revisited her infamous duals with fellow legend, Annika Sorenstam, to claim her first Senior LPGA Championship title at Salina Country Club.
Counting down to the final major of the year, Webb said, “As a former winner I am looking forward to watching the AIG Women’s Open next week. The women players are all so incredibly talented that I look forward to seeing how they take on the famed links of Muirfield.”
“Australian golf is so strong at the moment with Cam Smith having just won The 150th Open and Minjee Lee the Women’s US Open in June, I am hoping Australian golf fans will have more to cheer about at the AIG Women’s Open.”
The AIG Women’s Open will take place from 4 – 7 August 2022 at Muirfield, with tickets now on sale via aigwomensopen.com.
