Harry Ewing: Inside the Ropes at the AIG Women's Open
04 August 2025
The AIG Women's Open is a highlight on the golf calendar, and this year's tournament at Royal Porthcawl promises to be a spectacular affair. For professional caddie Harry Ewing, who has been on the bag for players on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tour (LET), it's an event that represents the very best of the sport. In a candid interview, Ewing reflects on his journey, the incredible progress of the women's game, and his top picks for the winner's circle.
A Caddie's Journey: From Evian Success to Royal Porthcawl
Ewing’s recent success with Cara Gainer at the Evian Championship, where they finished tied for 14th after a stunning third-round 64, highlights his skill and experience. He explains that becoming a caddie is largely about "word of mouth" and building relationships, noting the difference in atmosphere between the LPGA and LET. The latter, with less prize money, fosters a "closer-knit community" where everyone looks out for each other.
Ewing's partnership with Gainer was built on prior experience, having caddied for her at a three-day tournament at Evian six weeks earlier, where they finished in third place. This provided a crucial advantage. "We had a pretty good handle on how we wanted to play that golf course," he explains. He likens the caddie's role to a "part-time psychologist, part-time best friend," where the ability to manage a player's emotions and navigate the "roller coaster" of a round is just as important as the technical aspects of the job.
The Rise of the AIG Women's Open: A New Benchmark for Golf
Ewing is full of praise for the AIG Women's Open, describing it as an event that has been "elevated... to be something very special." He notes that the tournament consistently chooses to host at "the most iconic golf courses," from last year's venue at St Andrews, to this year's Royal Porthcawl.
The prize fund has been a major factor in the tournament's growth, having tripled in the last five or six years. This significant increase in prize money provides women professionals with the opportunity to compete for life-changing sums and reflects the growing profile of the ladies' game. Ewing points out that the tournament's organisers leave "no stone left unturned" in their care for everyone involved, from building a purpose-built clubhouse to providing childcare and massage therapists for players, and even ping pong tables for the caddies.
He also offers a compelling reason for his love of the women's game, arguing that it is "more aligned to how most amateur golfers play." While the men's game has moved "so far ahead with the distance that they hit the ball," the women's game remains more relatable. Watching a player hit a seven-iron 150 yards "inspires you as well," making it a more accessible and engaging spectacle for the average fan.
Players to Watch: From Home Favourites to Formidable Talents
When it comes to picking a winner, Ewing highlights several key players. He’s excited about the prospects of local favourite Darcey Harry, a young player from Royal Porthcawl who won on the LET a few weeks ago. He also points to the impressive form of Lottie Woad, an amateur-turned-pro who recently won the Irish Open and had a top-10 finish at the Open last year. Her "confidence in bucketloads" makes her a very dangerous player to watch.
However, Ewing notes a key trend in the championship: experience matters. He points out that it took Lydia Ko 12 attempts to win the Women's Open, and that six of the last ten winners had a victory under their belts in the year before their major win. This trend makes players like Leona Maguire, who has recently found form, and two others stand out:
Julia Lopez Ramirez: A Spanish player who "bombs the ball" and finished 29th last year, already having the necessary experience on a links course.
Andrea Lee: An American who has finished ninth and inside the top 20 in the last two Opens, showing consistent performance at this level.
Asian Dominance and the Happy Gilmore Classic
Ewing also reflects on the dominance of Asian players on the tour. He notes that countries like Korea have produced an incredible amount of talent, with six AIG Women's Open wins, second only to the US. He speculates that their early entry into the professional game, often turning pro at 17 or 18 without going through collegiate golf, is a major factor. This intense focus at a young age often leads to a career that lasts around ten years before they "retire very early, partly because they're nearly burnt out from playing."
Finally, on a lighter note, Ewing names his favourite golf movie of all time: the classic Happy Gilmore. With Scottie Scheffler recently attending the premiere of a new sequel, Ewing is excited to revisit a film that left "a mark I made all those years ago."
For Harry Ewing's full, exclusive insights on the Evian Championship, his predictions for the AIG Women's Open, and his best golf movie of all time, make sure to listen to This Sporting Planet's podcast and watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.
