First Women's Open Champion Jenny Lee Smith on 1976 Triumph 2026

The first Women's Open champion, Jenny Lee Smith, reflects on her historic 1976 victory and her friendship with football legend Kevin Keegan. Her journey from a groggy start at Fulford to lifting the trophy remains one of golf's most remarkable tales.

1976: A Landmark Victory

In 1976, the inaugural Women's British Open was held at Fulford Golf Club near York. Jenny Lee Smith, then an amateur, overcame a severe chest infection to win. She recalls, "It was touch and go. My mother said, 'Don't withdraw. Just go and, if you feel ill, come home.'" Despite feeling groggy, she secured a one-shot victory, but as an amateur she could not claim the £210 prize.

Bond with Kevin Keegan

Smith's golf excellence led to a sponsorship with Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, who also sponsored Newcastle United. She became friends with Kevin Keegan, who died in 2024 at age 75. Smith presented him the North East Sports Personality of the Year trophy in 1983. "He was such a lovely chap," she says. Keegan always asked about her tournaments and even sent taxis for her mother.

Comparison: 1976 Women's Open vs. Today

Key Takeaways from Smith's Story

• First champion of the Women's British Open (now Women's Open).
• Amateur status meant she couldn't cash the prize check.
• Close friendship with football icon Kevin Keegan.
• Still a Geordie at heart, living in exile from Newcastle.
• Will present the leading amateur award at Royal Lytham in 2025.

Legacy and Return to Royal Lytham

Fifty years after her triumph, Smith will be a guest of the R&A at Royal Lytham & St Anne's. She will present the medal to the leading amateur, a poetic full circle from her own amateur win. "Where has that time gone?" she muses. Her story is a testament to perseverance, talent, and the enduring spirit of golf.

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