The last major championship tournament of the professional golf season is just around the corner, in the form of the AIG Women’s (British) Open. Golf fans can expect a special highlight, as the tournament returns to the hallowed grounds of St. Andrews and the Old Course for only the third time in the tournament’s history and for the first time since 2007.

Here are 4 storylines to keep an eye on throughout the week.

Scottish weather will be a factor

The weather along Scotland’s coast is notoriously… well, unpredictable. The forecast calls for temperatures between 13 and 18 degrees and steady winds of 24 to 32 km/h. There is also a chance of showers on any given day, with showers meaning anything from light drizzle to torrential downpours. That’s one of the reasons links golf in the UK is so exciting, at least for fans. Players may see the situation a little differently.

As players head back toward the clubhouse and town of St. Andrews on Sunday afternoon with the championship on the line, a thrilling and often treacherous finale awaits. The 16th hole, a seemingly innocuous par 4, offers difficulties on both the left and right – the former being the collection of bunkers known as the Principal’s Nose that protects the left side, and the latter being an out-of-bogey that protects the right side. Depending on the weather and wind direction, anything from birdie to double bogey is possible.

The 17th hole, affectionately known as the Road Hole, features a blind tee shot across the Old Course Hotel to a narrow fairway with difficulty to the right and tall, thin fescue grass to the left. Even if you find the fairway, difficulty still lurks around this difficult green, which has a fearsome pot bunker to the left and an old stone wall and road to the right. This hole can be so difficult to play that saving a bogey is a win.

The 18th hole is one of the most famous in all of golf and arguably the best walk in the sport. With the clubhouse of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews as a stunning backdrop, players must decide how to play the hole depending on the wind. A supportive wind means players may be able to reach the green, but trouble awaits just before the green in the form of the Valley of Sin, a large depression that can swallow up mishits and test even the best short players in the world.

The last chance to automatically qualify for the 2024 Solheim Cup

With the Solheim Cup starting in less than a month, the AIG Women’s Open offers the last opportunity for automatic qualification for players looking to finish in the top seven in points and automatically make the team. Andrea Lee currently holds a narrow lead over Rose Zhang in the battle for the final automatic spot for the Americans. However, Zhang and Alison Lee would qualify automatically via the Rolex World Rankings. This means players like Jennifer Kupcho, Angel Yin and Andrea Lee will be hoping for a big week to secure the final automatic spots and not have to rely on Stacy Lewis being chosen as captain.

Which amateur will take home the Smyth Salver Award?

The amateur with the lowest score at the end of the championship receives the Smyth Salver Award for Low-Am. Previous winners of the award include Rose Zhang, Atthaya Thitikul, Georgia Hall and Anna Nordqvist. Olympic gold medalist Lydia Ko – whose victory at Le Golf National secured her a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame – also won the Low-Amateur title the last time the championship was held at the Home of Golf in 2013.

One of the top contenders for the Smyth Salver Award this year is England’s Lottie Woad. Woad, the world’s leading amateur, won the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April and was runner-up at the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Championship this spring.

The 2024 AIG Women’s Open will be held on the links of the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, Thursday, August 22 through Sunday, August 25. Coverage can be found on Golf Channel and Peacock. Check your local TV guides for match times.