St Andrews, Scotland: Following an historic week in St Andrews, the AIG Women’s Open will head to Royal Porthcawl in 2025 where it will be the largest women’s sporting event to be played in Wales.

The Championship, which delivers an exceptional off-course experience to match the dramatic on-course action, will be played from July 30-August 3.

A bumper crowd of 52,887 fans watched Lydia Ko carve her name into the history books by winning the 2024 AIG Women’s Open by two shots at the Old Course in St Andrews in August.

Reflecting on her win, which followed a fortnight after she claimed an Olympic Gold Medal in Paris, Ko said: “It’s been a crazy past few weeks. Something that was too good to be true happened. I honestly didn’t think it could be any better and here I am as the AIG Women’s Open champion. Being here at the Old Course at St Andrews makes it so much more special.”

While the world’s best women’s golfers put on an incredible display of golf at the home of golf, entertainment off the course also delighted fans in the Festival Village as BRIT and Ivor Novello-nominated singer-songwriter Tom Grennan headlined a spectacular concert.

Spectators attending the Championship also watched a screening of Happy Gilmore, in an open air cinema, as well as enjoying a variety of attractions such as golf lessons, lawn games, mini golf, shopping, bars, food trucks and live Q&A features with some of the biggest names in golf on the Sessions Stage.

Royal Porthcawl, a links which borders the Bristol Channel, will be a fitting test with the changeable wind directions a constant challenge. It has previously hosted The Amateur Championship on six occasions, the Walker Cup, featuring a young Tiger Woods, the Curtis Cup and, on three occasions, the Senior Open presented by Rolex.

Ko said: “I’ve never been to Wales. It’s exciting to go to these new venues. It’s pretty crazy to say that I’m going to be the defending champion in Wales.”

Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said: “The AIG Women’s Open is a world-class championship which attracts the best players in the world. We have enjoyed an incredibly successful week in St Andrews and we now turn our focus to Wales where we will play the Championship at Royal Porthcawl for the first time.

“The famous Welsh links has a cherished history of hosting prestigious championships and the players will enjoy the challenge of competing for the AIG Women’s Open at another outstanding venue.

“It will be the largest women’s sporting event to be played in Wales and we hope to attract many Welsh sports fans, and those from further afield, to come and enjoy a true celebration of golf.”

Ken Skates, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, said: “We’ll look forward to providing an unforgettable welcome to players and spectators when the AIG Women’s Open comes to Wales in 2025.

“Porthcawl is sure to provide a warm Welsh Croeso to this prestigious golfing Major and offers a course that will provide a true test to the best players in the world.”