Largest Margin of Victory in the Women's British Open

What is the largest margin by which any champion has won the Women's British Open? The overall record is 11 strokes, but the largest margin of victory during the tournament's major championship era is nine strokes.

The Women's British Open dates to 1976, but has been counted as an LPGA major championship only since 2001. The all-time tournament record for winning margin, 11 strokes, was set by Japanese Hall of Famer Ayako Okamoto in 1984.

That 1984 Women's British Open was the only one prior to 1994 that was co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour. The tournament didn't become permanently counted as an LPGA Tour event until 1994. Okamoto had an 11-stroke lead following the third round over another future Hall of Famer, Pat Bradley. And even though Okamoto carded a 77 in the final round, she still won by that 11-stroke margin over runners-up Betsy King (another Hall of Famer) and Dale Reid.

Overall Largest Winning Margins in Women's British Open

• 11 strokes — Ayako Okamoto, 1984
• 9 strokes — Jiyai Shin, 2012
• 8 strokes — Karen Lunn, 1993
• 8 strokes — Karrie Webb, 1997
• 7 strokes — Emilee Klein, 1996
• 6 strokes — Karrie Webb, 1995
• 6 strokes — Lilia Vu, 2023

Shin and Vu are the only golfers on the above list who won the tournament after it was elevated to major championship status. Shin's 9-stroke winning margin in 2012 included a second-round 64. Her lead after the third round was just three strokes, but in the final round, played in bad, blustery weather, her 73 produced the large margin of victory. (Karrie Webb, who was second to Shin after the third round, scored 82 in the final round.)

Because only two "major-era" WBOs are included on the above list, we'll finish with the following list:

WBO Largest Winning Margins as a Major

The largest margins of victory since becoming a major in 2001:

• 9 strokes — Jiyai Shin, 2012
• 6 strokes — Lilia Vu, 2023
• 5 strokes — Karen Stupples, 2004
• 4 strokes — Jeong Jang, 2005
• 4 strokes — Lorena Ochoa, 2007
• 4 strokes — Yani Tseng, 2011