Some of the World’s top players are at Walton Heath for the AIG Women’s Open. R&A

The AIG Women’s Open is back this week and the cream of the game will be out in force as they hunt the final major of 2023.

A truly international field will gather at Walton Heath, with 144 of the world’s finest players coming from far and wide to tee it up at the Surrey venue, which is hosting the championship for the first time since it was established in 1976.

Australia, China, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and the USA are among the many regions that will bring a strong global flavour to the season’s final major.

In the last 10 years, the championship has produced winners from eight different countries, including South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai, who beat South Korea’s In Gee Chun in a memorable four-hole play-off at Muirfield 12 months ago.

“It’s very special to come here as the Champion,” she said. “Obviously, there is a little bit of hype coming into the week as well. It’s something I’ve got to manage but it’s all for a good reason. As defending champion, I just have to embrace it and enjoy the week. Anytime I go into any tournament now, the belief is there I can win if I’m playing well.

“The secret is staying in the moment and making sure don’t think about the outcome by getting ahead of yourself. My swing had been there for a long time but, working with my sports psychologist, it was learning to do something I can control and committing to it.”

Buhai, defending her title, will be among a number of former winners at Walton Heath, including Anna Nordqvist (Sweden), Hinako Shibuno (Japan), Georgia Hall (England), Jiyai Shin (Korea) and Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand).

However there could just as easily be a new name on the trophy. This has been a season of first-time major winners, with Lilia Vu winning The Chevron Championship, Ruoning Yin the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Allisen Corpuz the US Women’s Open and Celine Boutier the recent Amundi Evian Championship.

That range of champions reflects the strength in depth of women’s golf internationally. Nelly Korda, Jin Young Ko and Lydia Ko, all riding high in the top-three of the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, will need to be at their best if they are to mount a challenge at the Women’s Open.

Also aiming to make an impact is Rose Zhang, arguably the brightest young star in the women’s game. On her professional debut in June, the 20-year-old won the Mizuho Americas Open. She has since secured top-10 finishes in each of her first three majors as a professional.

This will be Zhang’s third appearance in the Women’s Open, having narrowly missed the cut at Carnoustie in 2021. At Muirfield last year, the young American tied for 28th and won the Smyth Salver for finishing as the Championship’s leading amateur.

Atthaya Thitikul. ASLI

Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, who also won the Smyth Salver during her amateur career in 2018 and 2019, will also be one to watch this year. The 20-year-old Thai star’s best performance in the Championship came last year where she finished tied seventh at Muirfield.

“I’m really excited to be here,” she said. “The AIG Women’s Open is the toughest major of the year because you have to play in the wind and almost every year we play on a links course, Walton Heath is a little different this year. The heather looks beautiful but I will be trying to escape it. I think it’s going to be a really challenging week.”

Sweden’s Linn Grant, who became the first woman to win on the DP World Tour and a subsequent role model for young girls, returns to the Women’s Open as an LPGA winner and is focused on more victories in her future.

“My game feels strong,” she said. “I feel like I’m playing really solid golf. I’m not 100% where I want to be in terms of my whole game, but I feel like this could be my week. I haven’t been out there yet, but I think I’m going to like the course. I love the look of it, it looks great. I hope it will suit me.”