Former Women's British Open champion Hall hopes home winner can inspire next generation

Hall said her victory in the 2018 edition had "elevated" golf in Britain and that another home winner could do the same, pointing to the impact of England's win at the Women's European Championship.

"The idea is for younger girls to get into the game and to make golf aware to other people watching it, and I think obviously the coverage this week is going to be very big in the UK," Hall told reporters on Wednesday.

"Any time England do well in any type of sport, especially women, it's fantastic to see, and obviously (the women's football team) got loads of coverage.

"I just think the better us British golfers can do, the more it will inspire others. When I was younger, I had a couple that I look up to, and I think that's very important for the younger generation."

This year's event is the first to be played at Muirfield, five years after it voted to admit women members, and will have a record purse of $7.3 million.

"I think it's so important that the women are here this week," Hall said. "It makes such a mark on women's golf...

"I think the women's game is definitely in the best position it's ever has been, and I'm very happy to be in the middle of my career doing that."

Hall, now ranked 26 in the world, will have stiff competiton from golfers all over the world. You can follow the latest from Muirfield with Flashscore.