Hall eyes more success in Wales at Women's Open

AIG Women's Open

Venue: Royal Porthcawl, Wales Date: 31 July - 3 August

BBC coverage: Live radio and text commentary across all four days of the championship

Former champion Georgia Hall is hoping Wales will prove to be a happy hunting ground once more as she prepares for the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl.

England's Hall is the most recent British winner of the Women's Open having triumphed at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2018.

The tournament comes to Wales for the first time this year as Royal Porthcawl plays host to the final golf major of 2025 starting on Thursday.

And for Hall, that means a return to the scene of past successes.

The 29-year-old won the Girls' Amateur Championship in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, in 2012 before going on to collect the Women's Amateur Championship at Machynys Golf Club in Carmarthenshire 12 months later.

"Really I'm a big fan [of Wales]," Hall said.

"I haven't played golf in Wales since those wins, so I think it will be a great test in Porthcawl."

The Women's Open is the biggest female sporting event ever staged in Wales, but Royal Porthcawl is no stranger to prestigious competitions.

The south Wales links has staged the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup and, on three occasions, the men's Senior Open.

"I've played a couple of holes out here and it's a very tough course, I think it's definitely underrated," said Bournemouth-born Hall, who has won seven professional titles and is a five-time Solheim Cup player.

"It's learning to know where to hit it. Especially on this golf course there are a lot of blind tee shots, so that will be key."

Currently ranked 119th in the world, she is hoping the Women's Open will inspire the next generation of golfers.

"It would be great to see the young girls supporting and seeing what the world's best women have to offer," she said.

"I'm a massive fan of what golf can provide for the kids and people socialising and [helping] to make friends. It's great that people are learning to grow the game as well.

"Hopefully in 10 years' time it will be bigger than it is now."