The Women's British Open became an LPGA major in 2001, when it was elevated to replace the Canadian event that had lost major status.
The tournament was founded in 1976 and had already become an important championship on the Ladies European Tour. It became a regular LPGA Tour event in 1994, increasing its international field and profile. The decisive change came in 2001, when the LPGA designated it as one of its major championships.
That elevation followed the loss of the du Maurier Classic in Canada as an LPGA major after tobacco-sponsorship restrictions affected its title sponsorship. The 2001 Women's British Open, played at Sunningdale, was won by South Korea's Se Ri Pak, who finished two strokes ahead of Mi-Hyun Kim.
The championship is now known as the Women's Open or AIG Women's Open. It was the fourth LPGA major until 2013, when the Evian Championship became the tour's fifth major. Karrie Webb and Sherri Steinhauer share the record for most Women's British Open victories, with three each, counting wins before and after major status.