MINJEE LEE

Age: 27

World Ranking: 9

AIG Women’s Open Championships Played: Nine

Best finish at the Women’s Open: Third (2020)

Best Major result: Win (2021 Evian, 2022 U.S Women’s Open)

Why she can win: Minjee has proven time and time again that she has what it takes at the Women’s Open without getting over the line. The West Australian has had a hat-trick of top-five finishes in the last three years and will look to go better than that this week to save herself from going without a major title for the first time since 2020. Minjee needs to find some form on the greens and cut out the one bad round that has held her back from contending more this season. One of the favourites heading into the week, a world-class ball striker who has been in the mix regularly despite not having her best stuff, if it all comes together for Minjee, she is a massive chance of major number three.

Odds: $18

HANNAH GREEN

Age: 26

World Ranking: 23

AIG Women’s Open Championships Played: Five

Best finish at the Women’s Open: T16 (2019)

Best Major result: Win (2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship)

Why she can win: Green is a great iron player, vital to success at a golf course like Walton Heath. The well-placed bunkers, doglegs and the highly likely overhead conditions will require skill, precision and imagination, along with the ability to be able to call on different shot shapes and flights with every club in the bag, which is a good recipe for Green to shine. The West Australian doesn’t have an excellent record at the event, especially by her lofty standards. But this is a different style of layout compared to most traditional Women’s Opens; perhaps that can play into Hannah’s hands, and we can see her lifting some silverwear on Sunday.

Odds: $91

GRACE KIM

Age: 22

World Ranking: 59

AIG Women’s Open Championships Played: Debut

Best finish at the Women’s Open: N/A

Best Major result: T13 (2023 U.S Women’s Open)

Why she can win: Kim is going from strength to strength in her maiden season as an LPGA Tour member. Already a winner on Tour and with two finishes inside the top-15 at the majors this year, there is no reason why the Sydneysider can't contend at an event which, on paper, suits her down to the ground. No glaring weaknesses in her game, Kim will thrive if the wind gets up and it becomes about par rather than a birdie fest. But it doesn't mean she can't go low either … the 22-year-old will make birdies, and if she keeps herself out of trouble early in the tournament, we could be in for an impressive weekend run from one of the best young guns on the circuit.

Odds: $71

STEPH KYRIACOU

Age: 22

World Ranking: 98

AIG Women’s Open Championships Played: Three

Best finish at the Women’s Open: T7 (2022)

Best Major result: T7 (2022 AIG Women’s Open)

Why she can win: Although only 22, Kyriacou is forging a handy Women’s Open résumé. T13 in 2021 and T7 in 2022, it is no secret Kyriacou loves to play in the UK and Europe. Another player who can make birdies at will and doesn’t mind chasing, it will be entertaining if she can find herself in the mix. Coming off a solid week at the Women’s Scottish Open (T13), hopefully, the Sydneysider can carry the form she displayed at Dundonald Links into the year's final major.

Odds: $71

SARAH KEMP

Age: 37

World Ranking: 140

AIG Women’s Open Championships Played: 11

Best finish at the Women’s Open: T58 (2014)

Best Major result: T19 (2021 Amundi Evian Championship)

Why she can win: Kemp doesn’t boast the best record at the Women’s Open, but a T9 finish at last week’s FREED GROUP Women’s Scottish Open to secure a tee time at the year’s final major will give her plenty of confidence. Two top-10s in her last four starts proves her game is in good enough shape to contend. A super accurate player with a delicate touch around the greens, two elements of the game certainly do not hinder her chances this week. An experienced campaigner who seems to be timing her run perfectly, maybe Kemp is a chance of shaking things up on the weekend and making her first LPGA win a big one.

Odds: $226

KELSEY BENNETT

Age: 23

World Ranking: 586

AIG Women’s Open Championships Played: Debut

Best finish at the Women’s Open: N/A

Best Major result: Debut

Why she can win: It will be the first time Bennett tees it up at a major championship, and it will easily be the biggest test of her career to date. The 24-year-old qualified through a 13-way play-off at the final qualifying event at Hankley Common, proving she can perform under the gun. With a well-rounded game and a string of decent finishes on the LET Access Series, Bennett looks primed to take the next step in her career. We have seen outsiders win this event in the past, if she gets off to a good start and finds herself with a weekend tee time, anything can happen. And Bennett has previous form in the UK while an amateur, with her ball striking the major strength she will look to capitalise on.

Odds: To Come