“We use the word ‘inspiration’”: R&A hope AIG Women's Open will help Royal Lytham & St Annes spectators to pick up a club

The 50th staging of the competition comes to the Fylde coast for the sixth time, with the world’s top players in action from July 30-August 2.

While their focus is on winning a major title, using the tournament as a legacy to continue the growth of women’s golf is of huge importance to the sport’s bosses.

Asked how the R&A would use it to boost long-term participation in women and girls’ golf, particularly in the region, Darbon said: “We talk a lot at the R&A, as part of our new strategy, about the role that our championships play – particularly our elite professional championships – and we use the word ‘inspiration’.

“We are believers that showcasing the world’s best athletes on a global stage can inspire and excite millions of people all around the world.

“There are countless stories of young females, in the context of your question, engaging with watching our Women’s Open and then getting a club in hand and progressing through sports on the back of our championships.

“We invest in partnerships with national federations all around the world in programmes that are specific to the development of women’s and junior golf.

“We’re very proud of the growth that we’re seeing in that space, too. We will continue to invest in those programmes.

“I think the final thing I would say is the pathway is critically important, too, so the other area that we invest heavily into is elite amateur events to give emerging talent the opportunity to perform on a stage and prepare themselves for the transition into professional golf.”

This year’s event will see players competing for a $10m prize fund, as well as increased live television coverage.

That growth is something which Darbon expects to continue, particularly if those attending are given an unforgettable experience.

He added: “We’re really proud of the growth that we’ve seen in terms of both live attendance and the broadcast and digital audience over recent years, and we look at both of those things as being critical to the proposition.

“We’re expecting this summer to have comfortably more than 50,000 people here. That will create again sustained growth for this proposition.

“We’ve got a great catchment area close to the venue here, but we know that we put on a global audience more broadly, people travel to this event from all across the UK and beyond.

“To bring that to life, alongside our investment in the player experience, we continue to prioritise the spectator experience that we deliver on site.

“We want people to come here, see the world’s best golfers perform, but also wrap that experience to create a memorable day more broadly.

“I remember being at Porthcawl last year, the way we set up the village with the range and the practice facility at its heart – a chance for young people to pick up a club and engage with this game, building on the momentum and the inspiration that they see on the course itself.

“That investment will remain for us and we continue to expect audiences to grow over time.”