+ Banana
Already 600 years ago, golf was played in St Andrews, but it wasn't until 2007 that the world's perhaps most mythical course – Old Course – hosted the ladies' British Open for the first time. After a return visit in 2013, it's now time for the third time.
The men have played 30 editions of The Open here, the first time already in 1873.
+ Weather
15-16 degrees, strong winds, and a lot of rain – that's the forecast for the competition. This means difficult playing conditions on the links course, which can otherwise be experienced as quite gentle when it's not windy.
+ Swedes
A total of nine blue and yellow hopes are in the starting field of 144 players. The amount of experience varies greatly, which is perhaps best illustrated by Anna Nordqvist and Louise Rydqvist, who will play the first two rounds in the same three-ball. Nordqvist has three major titles – most recently the British Open at Carnoustie in 2021 – while promising amateur Rydqvist is making her major debut at Old Course. Olympic duo Maja Stark and Linn Grant have previously played the tournament two and three times, respectively.
+ Stars
It's no bold guess that the three-ball with Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, and Charley Hull will attract the largest crowds initially. World number one Korda is women's golf's big poster name, world number two Vu is the reigning champion after her triumph at Walton Heath, while Hull – second last year – is the biggest British hope. The trio will start their first round at 14.10 on Thursday.
+ Solheim Spur
This is the last qualifying week before the teams for the Solheim Cup, which will be decided in Virginia on September 13-15, are finalized. Maja Stark, Linn Grant, and Madelene Sagström are currently in the European team thanks to their world ranking, and it's no bold guess that there will be four Swedish players in the end. Solheim Cup veteran Anna Nordqvist is already clear as vice-captain and should have good chances of getting a wildcard, just like last year.
Then, Caroline Hedwall was also part of the team and became one of the big heroes. Now, Hedwall isn't even in the British Open, after falling at the finish line in a playoff in Monday's final qualifying.
+ Farewell
Earlier this year, star Lexi Thompson announced that this season will be her last. This means that the 29-year-old American will likely stamp out as a major player this week. Thompson played her first major as a 12-year-old and won her only major title, the Nabisco Championship (now Chevron Championship), at 19. In total, Thompson has won 15 times on the LPGA tour.
+ Comet
Lauren Coughlin's career has taken a completely different path than Lexi Thompson's. When the year began, Coughlin was still an anonymous journeywoman, ranked outside the top 100 in the world and without any wins on the LPGA tour. This year, everything has taken off for the 31-year-old. In majors, she has achieved both a third place and a fourth place, and at the end of July, Coughlin won her first LPGA tour event in Canada. Last week, she struck again, as the clear winner of the Scottish Open. The now 14th-ranked Coughlin is rapidly becoming one of the world's hottest players heading into the year's final major.
+ Tee Times
From early morning to late evening, golf will be played on Old Course when the competition begins on Thursday. Blue and yellow times to keep an eye on: 8.00: Madelene Sagström, 8.22: Linn Grant, 8.33: Linnea Ström, 9.28: Anna Nordqvist and Louise Rydqvist, 13.48: Maja Stark, 14.21: Johanna Gustavsson, 14.43: Lisa Pettersson, 15.16: Sara Kjellker.
