AIG Women’s Open 2025 Betting Tips: Six to stop Lottie Woad

It's time for our final major of the season and red-hot Lottie Woad will join a stellar field – including world No.1 Nelly Korda and defending champion Lydia Ko – in Wales for the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.

Our LPGA golf expert Jamie Worsley is on-hand with a comprehensive preview for the tournament. Check out his AIG Women's Open 2025 Betting Tips below...

You can bet on the tournament and check out the latest AIG Women's Open Odds over on betfred.com

Lottie Woad has rapidly emerged as one of golf’s brightest young stars. A dominant six-shot win at the Women’s Irish Open and a 3^rd-place finish in the Evian Championship had already hinted at her potential – but her victory last week at the Women’s Scottish Open left no doubt that she’s ready to make an immediate impact in the professional ranks.

Opening with rounds of 67 and 65, Woad led at the halfway point and held her advantage with a third-round 67. Though she faced early pressure on Sunday, she responded with five birdies en route to a composed final-round 68, sealing a three-shot win in her first start as a pro.

It was a performance that reinforced her star credentials, and as she turns her attention to the final major of the year, it will be fascinating to see how far she can take her game.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The Women’s Open began as an amateur event that was also open to professionals in 1976, before becoming a full-time pro tournament on the Ladies European Tour in 1979. It was co-sanctioned with the LPGA in 1994, resulting in ever-stronger fields and a growing reputation, and it was handed major championship status in 2001.

Korean Se Ri Pak won the first major edition of the Women’s Open at Sunningdale in 2001. Meanwhile, her compatriot Jiyai Shin is one of just two players to win this title multiple times in the major era, with her 2008 and 2012 victories equalling the feat achieved by Taiwan’s Yani Tseng, who recorded back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2011.

The home players have fared reasonably well in the event since 2001, producing three winners: Karen Stupples (2004), Catriona Matthew (2009), and Georgia Hall (2018).

Last five winners:

• 2024 (Old Course at St Andrews)

Winner: Lydia Ko (-7)

Runner-up: Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Jiyai Shin, Ruoning Yin (-5)

• 2023 (Walton Heath)

Winner: Lilia Vu (-14)

Runner-up: Charley Hull (-8)

• 2022 (Muirfield)

Winner: Ashleigh Buhai (-10, playoff)

Runner-up: Ingee Chun (-10)

• 2021 (Carnoustie)

Winner: Anna Nordqvist (-12)

Runners-up: Georgia Hall, Madelene Sagstrom, Lizette Salas (-11)

• 2020 (Royal Troon)

Winner: Sophia Popov (-7)

Runner-up: Jasmine Suwannapura (-5)

Last year’s edition was a memorable one for Hall of Famer Lydia Ko. The New Zealander followed her success in the Olympics in Paris just two weeks earlier to claim a first Women’s Open title and long-awaited third major championship, eight years on from her victory in the 2016 Chevron Championship. She returns to defend this week.

THE COURSE

This week represents the first time that either the Women’s Open or Open Championship has been held in Wales. Royal Porthcawl gets the honour – a fantastic and historied links course on the south coast of Wales, which possesses beautiful sea views throughout.

It has previously hosted seven Amateur Championships, three Senior Open Championships, and a British Masters. However, perhaps most famously it was the stage of the 1995 Walker Cup, where GB & Ireland beat their US counterparts 14 – 10 – with the away side including a certain 19-year-old Tiger Woods.

The golf club was founded in 1891, when an original nine-hole course was created. However, in 1895 a completely new 18-hole course, designed by Ramsay Hunter, was commissioned, and it is that layout that stands today.

It has been renovated by multiple people in the following years, including Harry Colt, Fred G. Hawtree, and more extensively, Tom Simpson in 1932. In addition, Martin Ebert has performed further changes in the last decade, with particular attention paid to bunkers, greens and tees.

The course will play as a par 72 and measures 6748yds. It possesses 4x par 3s (122-212yds), 10x par 4s (353-433yds), and 4x par 5s (474-556yds).

Royal Porthcawl’s opening holes are played adjacent the coastline it shares with the Bristol Channel, before it moves inland into slightly hillier terrain, where thick gorse bush reigns as the chief threat. There are frequent, subtle elevation changes – more so than your average links course – and interesting routing that requires players to hit shots into ever-changing wind directions. This can make things challenging for a completely exposed course that lacks protection from the elements.

There’s plenty of room in the largely flat fairways, but the landing areas are tightened by a catalogue of strategically placed bunkers that frame most holes. This includes your stereotypically deep pot bunkers and striking, large rough-edged sand traps – both of which will prove penal this week. Native fescue rough offers further protection and there are numerous out-of-bounds areas throughout the setup.

The undulating greens are a bentgrass/fescue/poa mix and are packed with variety, from the huge opening green to the tiny putting surface on the 122yd par-3 8^th. Many of these elevated greens are narrow in shape, allowing for demanding pin positions, and are full of swales and hollows. There are steep run-offs/false-fronts throughout and it asks a multitude of questions around the greens, with the putter often the weapon of choice providing players don’t find any of those deep greenside bunkers.

It has a fantastic assortment of par 3s. They vary greatly in length and highlight an exciting mix of shape and size on the putting surfaces, which are among some of the most strongly bunkered on the course. It also has a combination of short and extremely length par 5s (two at around 550yds), but there are no gimmes on the par 4s, with most mid-long in length.

Royal Porthcawl is a fabulous, traditional layout packed with outstanding holes and I’m hoping that we get some perfect linksy conditions to see it at its best this week.

THE WEATHER

There is rain forecast across this week, but nothing too heavy that it should impact the course beforehand. Wind does look to be a real factor, blowing at a constant of around 15mph, accompanied by gusts of 25mph+.

The final round could be extremely difficult, as that rain returns vigorously and is much heavier. Alongside gusting winds of up to 35mph, we may have a chaotic major Sunday on the cards.

KEY STATS

• SG: Around-the-Greens/Scrambling/Sand Saves
• SG: Putting
• SG: Off-the-Tee and/or Driving Accuracy
• Greens-in-Regulation

Major championship golf typically requires all-round quality to overcome it and with challenging links conditions on the way, players are going to have to hit every shot and use every club in the bag. However, due to greens-in-regulation percentages likely being low and the resistant nature of the putting surfaces, I expect a sharp short game to be especially important.

Nothing pleasant awaits those driving it poorly and missing fairways around here. Therefore, strength with the driver is another key asset I’ll be looking for this week.

CORRELATING EVENTS

There’s no real substitute for links golf and with that, it makes sense to look at who has performed on links setups in previous editions of the Women’s Open. This includes almost every edition since 2009 – excluding the 2016, 2019, and 2023 renewals.

The Women’s Scottish Open should be another great guide. It’s always played on links/modern links courses and primes the players for links action the week before the big one.

Over to the U.S. now and host of the Shoprite LPGA Classic, Seaview’s Bay Course, has often suited proven links players. It’s coastal and predominantly exposed, with open-fronted greens – which encourages play along the ground – strong bunkering, and fescue rough. Ashleigh Buhai, Anna Nordqvist, In Kyung Kim, Stacy Lewis, Karrie Webb, Annika Sorenstam, and Se Ri Pak are all Women’s Open champions who have also won there.

In the same state as Seaview, Mizuho Americas Open host, Liberty National Golf Club, should be another worthwhile comp. It’s coastal and extremely exposed, protected by heavy bunkering and long fescue rough.

As with last week, I also feel the Saudi Ladies International could be helpful. Golf courses in the Middle East have lots in common with links golf. They’re usually exposed, sandy, well bunkered, and have undulating greens. In addition, wind is often a key element.

TOURNAMENT TRENDS

• First-timers don’t fare too well in the Women’s Open, with 2019 winner Hinako Shibuno the only player ever to win on debut. The other nine winners in the last 10 years had made the cut in a previous renewal, and six of those had finished inside the top 10.
• Nine of those 10 latest winners had finished inside the top 25 in a major previously; eight had a top-five; seven had a top-three.
• Only one player in the last 10 years failed to record a top-25 in their previous three starts before winning the Women’s Open; seven finished inside the top 10.
• Winning form that year isn’t a necessity, with only half of the last 10 winners arriving with a victory to their name that season.
• Six of the last 10 winners were already LPGA champions.

THE FIELD

Nelly Korda hangs on to her place at the top of the world rankings and is closely followed by world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul. There are 46 of the top 50 in attendance in total, which of course includes the star of the moment, Lottie Woad, who is already up to No. 24 after her sensational win in Scotland last week.

World No. 3 Lydia Ko is our defending champion and one of 11 former winners teeing it up. She is joined by Lilia Vu (2023), Ashleigh Buhai (2022), Anna Nordqvist (2021), Sophia Popov (2020), Hinako Shibuno (2019), Georgia Hall (2018), Ariya Jutanugarn (2016), Stacy Lewis (2013), Jiyai Shin (2012, 2008), and Yani Tseng (2011, 2010).

Final qualifying was held at nearby Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club on Monday. Of the 17 players to earn a spot there was Welshwoman Lydia Hall, who grew up playing this course, and highly-rated Swedish amateur Meja Ortengren.

SELECTIONS

Market leaders (1/4 5 places): Lottie Woad 11/2, Nelly Korda 9/1, Jeeno Thitikul 9/1, Minjee Lee 16/1, Miyu Yamashita 22/1, Ariya Jutanugarn 22/1

Incredibly, in her first major start as a professional, Lottie Woad is the clear favourite this week. For all of her obvious talent, it’s a price that I can’t quite get my head around, and I’m happy to leave her well alone and simply watch on if she manages something astonishing.

With those unpredictable conditions on the way, there are few at the very top of the betting that appeal, and I will instead start my sextet of selections with last week’s runner-up in Scotland, Hyo Joo Kim.

1.75 pts Hyo Joo Kim each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 28/1

Kim is having a successful 2025 thus far, winning the Ford Championship on the LPGA back in March and two months later, she picked up another title on her return home to Korea, taking the Aramco Korea Championship on the Ladies European Tour. She’s also recorded a runner-up finish in the Chevron Championship and was again 2^nd last week. She looked a likely challenger to Woad early on, making four birdies in her first seven holes to tie the English youngster for the lead before she pulled away.

She ranked 1^st in approach at Dundonald Links and was T1 in greens-in-regulation alongside Lottie. However, it’s with her short game that she’s impressed most this season, ranking 3^rd in scrambling, 5^th around-the-greens, and 5^th in sand saves; as the third-straightest driver on tour and a quality putter, she has the perfect profile for this test.

Kim has made eight starts in the Women’s Open, missing just one cut and recording seven top-30 finishes. Her best result came in 2023 at Walton Heath, finishing 4^th, and she also hit the top 10 at Kingsbarns in 2017. She’s twice finished 2^nd in the Women’s Scottish Open and having won several of her LPGA titles on exposed layouts where wind has been a factor, she should relish this week’s blustery conditions.

1.75 pts Ruoning Yin each-way (1/5 - 7 places) @ 30/1

Ruoning Yin has limited but excellent experience on the links, finishing 2^nd behind Lydia Ko at St Andrews last year. She’s having another positive season on tour despite not yet landing a victory, but that’s something she looks more than capable of putting right in Wales.

Yin has only missed two cuts this year – on here first start of the season in Saudi Arabia and on her latest start in the Evian Championship. Although, in between those efforts she has contended in some of the biggest events, finishing 2^nd in the Chevron Championship and 4^th in the US Women’s Open.

The Chinese major champion ranks 8^th from tee-to-green this season but has excelled in approach, ranking 8^th. She’s long and straight off the tee and is producing encouraging short-game numbers, ranking 5^th in scrambling and 15^th in sand save percentage.

Yin scrambled brilliantly to finish 2^nd in this event at the Old Course last year, ranking 6th, and there are some similarities between these two tests around the greens, with the putter often coming in handy. Her links record is strengthened by a 3^rd-place finish in the Women’s Scottish Open in 2023 and hopefully re-energised after her mini break, she can become a two-time major winner this week.

1 pt Andrea Lee each-way (1/5 - 7 places) @ 55/1

Andrea Lee has been enjoying a great level of consistency in 2025, aided by ultra-precise ball-striking and a stellar short game. She has a strong Women’s Open record and with a couple of positive pieces of comp form to her name, she can gain rewards for her consistent displays at Royal Porthcawl.

Lee started the season with a missed cut in the Founders Cup but hasn’t missed another in her following 12 starts. She’s been particularly impressive of late, recording six top-25 finishes in her last seven events, including finishes of 3^rd in the Mizuho Americas Open and 5^th in the Evian Championship.

Her statistical profile is ideal for the demands of Royal Porthcawl and the forecast conditions. There are few players in this field hitting the ball with as much precision, ranking 1^st in driving accuracy, 13^th in greens-in-regulation and 23^rd in approach. Furthermore, she complements that with an excellent short game, ranking 6^th in scrambling, 18^th around-the-greens, and 26^th in putting.

Lee made her Women’s Open debut at Royal Troon in 2020 and finished a brilliant 7^th. She’s played each of the four renewals since, making every cut and hitting the top 30 on three occasions. Meanwhile, that 3^rd at Liberty National earlier this year is a fine pointer in regard to her ability to perform on exposed, windswept courses.

1 pt Esther Henseleit each-way (1/5 - 7 places) @ 70/1

Germany’s Esther Henseleit has plenty of positive links experience from her amateur days, and that’s something she’s been able to put to use in the Women’s Scottish Open in her pro career. It hasn’t quite translated to Women’s Open success as yet, but she’s playing the best and most complete golf of her career this year, which can help her achieve her highest finish in this event.

Henseleit has only missed one cut across 15 starts this season and has recorded eight top-25 finishes, including in three of the first four majors. Her standout results came when she was 2^nd in the Black Desert Championship and 3^rd in the JM Eagle LA Championship, whilst she arrives here after a solid 16^th-place finish in Scotland.

She hit the ball strongly and putted well there, and also ranked inside the top 10 in scrambling. Although her approach play stands out season-long, ranking 12^th, this all-round quality is something that she has displayed all year – gaining strokes in each category – and it will serve her well as she aims to finally make her mark on the Women’s Open.

The German has missed four of six cuts in this tournament, but she did produce her best result of 37^th last year. She had numerous strong performances on the links in her younger years, finishing in the top 10 at both the 2016 Women’s and Girls Amateur, and she also topped the stroke-play stage of the 2018 Women’s Amateur at Hillside.

Henseleit boasts a record of 7-41-20-2-16 in the last five editions of the Women’s Scottish Open. Having too finished runner-up in Saudi Arabia, there’s enough to suggest that she is primed and ready to feature on the leaderboard this week.

1 pt Linn Grant each-way (1/5 - 7 places) @ 90/1

It’s been a strange old year for Linn Grant, as she’s missed more than half of her cuts but contended in a major. That being said, she is a terrific links player and out to a very appealing price, I’m hoping that a return to this brand of golf will spark her into life.

Grant has made 13 starts this season and missed seven cuts, which includes on each of her last three starts. However, prior to that she’d been playing well, finishing 4^th in the Riviera Maya Open and 9^th in the US Women’s Open at Erin Hills.

She’s an excellent driver and despite the lack of reliability in her overall performances this season, it’s remained a weapon, ranking 9^th off-the-tee. The irons have also looked decent, ranking 33^rd in greens-in-regulation and 53^rd in approach. While the short game has been a concern, she should be looking forward to returning to links greens and their nuances around the greens, as she ranked 4^th in scrambling and 7^th in putting at St Andrews last season.

Grant finished 10^th there, following on from 11^th and 19^th-place finishes at Walton Heath and Muirfield in the previous two editions. Additionally, we can find strong links displays littered within her amateur record; she won the British and Scottish Stroke Play Championship in 2017 on links layouts, and in 2019 she finished 3^rd in the Women’s Amateur at Royal County Down.

1 pt Georgia Hall each-way (1/5 - 7 places) @ 125/1

If we’re searching for links lovers we need look no further than England’s Georgia Hall. The 2018 Women’s Open winner has excelled at this style of golf at every stage of her career and having equalled her best result of the year in Scotland last week, she’s well worth a shot at a three-figure price in Wales.

Hall showed promise at the start of this season, finishing 9^th in the Honda LPGA Thailand and 21^st in the Saudi Ladies International among her first three starts. She’s had as many letters as numbers in her form figures since, though she does arrive here after making four of her last five, which includes that 28^th-place finish in last week’s Women’s Scottish Open.

The putter did a lot of the heavy lifting there, ranking 7^th, and it’s indeed been this club that has engineered her better displays this year, ranking 43^rd for the season. However, she hit the ball more accurately than she has for much of the year at Dundonald, ranking 14^th in greens-in-regulation and 27^th in driving accuracy. Giving her something to work with this week.

Hall has finished inside the top three in the Women’s Open on three occasions, winning at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2018, finishing 2^nd at Carnoustie in 2021, and finishing 3^rd at Kingsbarns in 2017. Her links pedigree stretches back to her fine amateur career, as she won both the Women’s Amateur (2013) and Girls Amateur (2012). Encouragingly for this week, both of those wins came on the south coast of Wales, winning the Women’s Amateur at the links-like Machynys Peninsula Golf Club, and the Girls Amateur at Tenby Golf Club’s traditional, old links course.

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