London: The AIG Women's Open, a prominent women's golf tournament, has announced an increase in prize money and an extension of broadcast time for its upcoming event. The 50th edition of the tournament will take place at Royal Lytham and St Annes in England from July 30th to August 2nd.

According to Thai News Agency, The R and A, in collaboration with AIG, has raised the total prize money for the AIG Women's Open from US$9.5 million to US$10 million, approximately 336 million baht. This marks the sixth consecutive year of increased prize money for this tournament, as confirmed by Mark Darbonn, CEO of The R and A, and Peter Saffino, President and CEO of AIG.

The AIG Women's Open has seen significant growth over the past five decades. The tournament began in 1976, when Jenny Lee Smith claimed the first title with a prize pool of just £500. In 2018, Georgia Hall won at Royal Lytham and St Annes with a prize pool of US$3.25 million. The partnership between The R and A and AIG has resulted in the prize pool more than tripling in the past eight years.

For the 2026 edition, the tournament will extend its live coverage to attract a larger audience. The first and second rounds will see an additional three hours of live broadcast each day, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (BST), focusing on key group matches. A full main broadcast will follow from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM (BST). On the final two days, Saturday and Sunday, viewers will enjoy seven hours of live coverage from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM (BST).

This year's AIG Women's Open will feature more than 140 female golfers from across the globe, all competing at Royal Lytham and St Annes with the hope of joining the prestigious ranks of former major champions. Last year, Miyu Yamashita of Japan celebrated her 24th birthday by securing the championship at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales. Among the Thai golfers, Pro Mew-Pacharee Anunarukan achieved a commendable performance, finishing tied for 13th place.