AIG Women's Open Battleground Muirfield "Opening Doors for Female Golfers"

First Female Member Joins in 275 Years, Links Course's Unique 'Port Bunker, Sea Breeze, Tough Rough' Variables, Final Showdown at 18th Hole

Muirfield, the battleground for the AIG Women's Open, is a classic links course characterized by sea breezes and long, tough roughs that pose significant challenges.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘The golf course forbidden to women’.

On the 5th (Korean time), the first round of the last major of this year’s LPGA Tour, the AIG Women’s Open (total prize money $7.3 million), ended at Muirfield in East Lothian, Scotland. Although the Curtis Cup, a women’s amateur tournament, was held in 1952 and 1984, this is the first time a women’s professional tournament has been held here. Muirfield opened in 1744. It boasts a long history of 278 years. Along with the ‘golf sanctuary’ St Andrews Old Course, it is one of the oldest courses in the world.

Muirfield originally accepted only male members for over 270 years, opening its doors to female members only in 2017. It was excluded from the rota of The Open Championship courses in 2013 due to discrimination against women but was later reinstated. Muirfield even installed signs saying ‘No women or dogs allowed,’ provoking female golfers. In 2016, a member vote was held on whether to allow female members, but it was rejected as less than two-thirds of the members approved. In a re-vote in 2017, more than two-thirds approved opening the doors to women, and female members actually joined in 2019.

Muirfield increased the difficulty by placing the distinctive port bunkers characteristic of Scottish links courses.

It is a links course located on the coast. The current course was completed in 1891. Since hosting The Open for the first time in 1892, it has held the tournament 16 times, most recently in 2013. It is a par 71 course with a total length of 6,680 yards. The front nine holes are par 36, and the back nine holes are par 35, with only one par 5 hole at the 17th. Around the greens, as well as throughout the course, the distinctive pot bunkers typical of Scottish links courses are placed to increase difficulty. Players can be completely hidden when trapped in a pot bunker.

The key to winning is precise play. Even in the sea breeze that changes direction moment by moment, players must keep to the fairways to reach the greens. There is long and tough rough on both sides of the fairways, making escape difficult. High-edged pot bunkers lurk everywhere on the fairways and around the greens. ‘Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods (USA) said about this course, "The fairways are hard, so tee shot accuracy is most important," adding, "You can never let your guard down." Woods has a nightmare memory of shooting 81 in the third round in 2002.

All three par 5 holes exceed 500 yards. The 9th hole is 556 yards, and the 17th hole is 544 yards. The decisive hole is the final 18th hole (par 4, 428 yards). It is not easy to make par here. The fairway where the tee shot lands is narrow. Also, two bunkers are located on the left, allowing no room for small mistakes. If you avoid the bunkers and aim right, the distance for the second shot is considerable. The green has severe undulation, making putting difficult.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.