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AIG Women's Open Predictions - Top contenders for victory at Walton Heath

brad-newcomb
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Last updated: 08 Aug 2023
Brad Newcomb 08 Aug 2023
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  • The AIG Women's Open takes place between 10-13 August at Walton Heath Old Course, Surrey, England
  • Ashleigh Buhai is the defending champion
  • Our 4 selections who can win the title
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rose zhang
Rose Zhang (Getty Images)

Walton Heath will host the AIG Women's Open for the first time in its history, where a field of the world's elite women's golfers will be vying for victory at the last Major tournament of the season. Who will lift the trophy come Sunday?

South African Ashleigh Buhai returns to defend her title after a playoff victory over Chun In-gee in 2022.

Nine past Women's Open champions are in the field for Thursday's tee-off,  including Anna Nordqvist, Hinako Shibuno, Georgia Hall, Ashleigh Buhai, In-Kyung Kim, Ariya Jutanugarn, Stacy Lewis, Jiyai Shin and Laura Davies.

These are our selections that could win the title this weekend. 

Rose Zhang


Rose Zhang made an immediate impact when turning professional in June this year, winning a tournament and achieving excellent results in the Majors.

Zhang came out on top at the Mizuho Americas Open, defeating Jennifer Kupcho in a playoff, becoming the first player to win on their LPGA Tour debut since 1951.

Zhang continued to impress, placing T8 at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and T9 at the US Women's Open before missing the cut at the Dana Open; however, she shrugged off that disappointing result by finishing T9 at the Amundi Evian Championship.

The 20-year-old American has contested the Women's Open twice as an amateur, missing the cut in 2021 before finishing T28 in 2022.

Zhang has been impressive in her fledgling career thus far and will fancy her chances to win her first Major title at Walton Heath this weekend. 

Xiyu Lin


Xiyu Lin had a consistent start to 2023, finishing T24 at the Saudi Ladies International, T15 at the Honda LPGA Thailand, T39 at the HSBC Women's World Championship, T34 at the DIO Implant LA Open, T14 at the Chevron Championship and T2 at the JM Eagle LA Championship.

The Chinese golfer's following two tournaments were poor, missing the cut at the Cognizant Founders Cup and finishing T53 at the Bank of Hope LPGA Mathcplay.

However, Lin has been in tremendous touch since those two indifferent performances on the golf course, placing T3 at the Meijer LPGA Classic, T3 at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, T13 at the US Women's Open, T4 at the Dana Open, MC at the Amundi Evian Championship and T16 at the recent Scottish Open.

The 27-year-old has competed eight times at the Women's Open, finishing T17 in 2013, T62 in 2014, T61 in 2015, MC in 2016, MC in 2018, T51 in 2019, MC in 2020 and T28 in 2022.

Lin comes into the final Major of the year in excellent form and will fancy her chances to emerge as the winner come Sunday. 

Yuka Saso


Yuka Saso was in solid touch at the start of the year, placing T6 at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, T58 at the Saudi Ladies International (LET), T20 at the Honda LPGA Thailand, 6th at the HSBC Women's World Championship, 2nd at the T-Point x ENEOS Golf Tournament (JLPGA) and T23 at the LPGA Drive On Championship.

Saso lost her way in her subsequent four events, missing the cut at the DIO Implant LA Open, Chevron Championship, JM Eagle LA Championship, and the Cognizant Founders Cup before bouncing back to form by placing T7 at the Mizuho Americas Open, 2nd at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, T20 at the US Women's Open and T3 at the Amundi Evian Championship.

The 22-year-old Japanese golfer has made two appearances at the Women's Open, finishing T39 in 2021 and missing the cut in 2022.

Saso has gone close to winning her second career Major title lately and has a chance to lift the trophy at Walton Heath if she can reproduce her recent displays. 

Ayaka Furue 


Ayaka Furue has had an impressive 2023 on the LPGA, going close on multiple occasions to winning a tournament.

Furue Hilton had an average start to her year, finishing T18 at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and T49 at the Honda LPGA Thailand before placing T3 at the HSBC Women's World Championship, T3 at the Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Yokohama Tire Golf Tournament and 3rd at the LPGA Drive On Championship.

Furue's form dipped after those excellent performances, with results of MC at the DIO Implant LA Open, T23 at the LOTTE Championship, and T52 at the Chevron Championship; however, she regained her touch by placing T4 at the JM Eagle LA Championship, 2nd at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play and T4 at the Mizuho Americas Open.

She then finished 14th at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, T13 at the Meijer LPGA Classic, T8 at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, T6 at the US Women's Open, T36 and the Amundi Evian Championship and T47 at the Scottish Open.

The 23-year-old has featured twice at the Women's Open, placing T20 in 2021 before missing the cut in 2022.

Furue has had six top-four places this year and offers excellent value in England this weekend. 

Verdict

Rose Zhang has looked the part since joining the LPGA and has claims for the Women's Open title this weekend.

Xiyu Lin has been thereabouts in recent months and can challenge for the title in Surrey.
 
Yuka Saso has gone close in recent Major tournaments and will look to go one better in England this weekend.
 
Ayaka Furue has done nothing wrong and offers an excellent each-way bet at Walton Heath.

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10 Aug 2023

AIG Women's Open