AIG is "set to become the title sponsor of the Women's British Open" in '19, according to TODAY'S GOLFER. During the five-year commitment, the championship's name will be changed to the AIG Women's British Open, having been previously been titled the Ricoh Women's British Open from '07-18. Defending Women's British Open champion Georgia Hall "helped announce the new sponsorship, which is set to begin when the contest returns to Woburn" in '19. This is AIG's first title sponsorship in professional golf (TODAY'S GOLFER, 11/29). GOLFWEEK's Alistair Tait reported European women's golf "finally received some good news" by securing AIG as the Women's British Open title sponsor. AIG will "partner the R&A and IMG in promoting and staging the tournament." The insurance company was previously a major sponsor for ManU. There was "no announcement" on an increase to last year's $3.25M prize fund, which comes as "no surprise." The R&A "tends to announce total prize money for the Open Championship closer to the tournament," and there is "no reason to expect the governing body to act differently for the Women's British." The AIG news comes as the Ladies European Tour "struggles to provide playing opportunities for its members." The LET has "seen a number of events fall off its schedule in recent years" (GOLFWEEK, 11/29).
