British Women's Open given go ahead at Royal Troon in August

Britain will host major golf this summer after the R&A confirmed that next month’s AIG Women’s Open will take place at Royal Troon from Aug 20-23.

The £3m event will be played behind closed doors, but that seems a small price to pay. It is fair to say relief abounds in the female game that its feature-piece did not go the same way as the Open Championship, which was supposed to be hosted next week at Royal St George’s but has been postponed until 2021.

The R&A and LPGA, who jointly run the Open, were determined to ensure the Troon tournament went ahead, despite another major in the Evian Championship being called off a few weeks ago. The French event was supposed to kickstart a three-week run in Europe, with the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open in between.

In another boost, the latter has also been confirmed - albeit, also without fans - for the Renaissance club near North Berwick on Aug 13-16, in the week immediately preceding Troon.

“We believe that playing the AIG Women’s British Open is a significant step for players whose playing opportunities have been severely impacted this year,” Martin Slumbers, the R&A chief executive, said. “As they compete to be the 2020 champion in historic circumstances, these athletes will continue to inspire golfers and sports fans around the world.”

The Renaissance will herald the first tournament on the Ladies European Tour since March and, as it is co-sanctioned, the third on the US Tour, which is due to resume after a five-month hiatus in Toledo in three weeks’ time.

Playing opportunities for Britain’s female pros have been so sparse because of the lockdown that former world No 1 Justin Rose set up and backed the Rose Ladies Series, a string of eight events due to finish with the Grand Final at Wentworth the week before the Scottish fortnight.

Georgia Hall, the 2018 Women’s British Open champion, has vowed to play in each of the remaining five Rose Series tournaments - including at Royal St George’s on Thursday - and has welcomed the news of what follows afterwards.

“The British Open is obviously my favourite event and although we’d obviously far rather [play] it in front of fans, this is a much, much better option than it not being held at all,” the Englishwoman told Telegraph Sport. “That wouldn’t bear thinking about, to be honest.”

It is understood that the organisers were simply waiting for the Government to announce that it had formally granted a sporting exemption from the 14-day rule for people arriving from countries remaining on the quarantine list, including the US. They did this on Sunday and thus the green light was given.

“Getting elite women’s sports back safely remains a top priority,” Nigel Huddleston,” the Minister for Sport, said. “We are working hard to ensure we don't lose any of the great momentum that has built up in recent years.”

The R&A stressed that the “playing of the Championship is subject to the necessary approvals being secured”, but that is regarded as a formality. A biosecure zone will be in operation, with only essential personnel allowed on site, namely players, caddies, officials, and staging staff. Their movements for the week will be limited to the famous links and the designated hotel.