The field for the tournament was 144, and golfers gained a place in three ways. Most players earned exemptions based on good past performances on the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA and in previous major championships and top-ranked players in the
Women's World Golf Rankings. The rest of the field earned entry by successfully competing in qualifying tournaments open to any professional female golfer or amateur with a low handicap. There were 14 exemption categories for the 2011 Women's British Open. These included: • The top 15 finishers (and ties) from the 2010 Women's British Open. • The top 10
Ladies European Tour members in the Women's World Golf Rankings who did not finish in the top 15 of the 2010 Women's British Open. • The top 30
LPGA Tour members in the Women's World Golf Rankings who did not finish in the top 15 of the 2010 Women's British Open. • The top 25 on the current LET money list not already exempt from the 2010 Women's British Open or the world rankings. • The top 40 on the current LPGA Tour money list not already exempt from the 2010 Women's British Open or the world rankings. • The top five on the current
LPGA of Japan Tour money list not already exempt from the 2010 Women's British Open or through the world rankings if they are also members of the LET or LPGA. (Note that these six categories have accounted for approximately 125 entries — or 5/6ths of the players in the final field.) • Winners of any recognised LET or LPGA events in the calendar year 2011. • The champions from the last 10 editions of the Women's British Open. • The champions of the last five editions of one of the other three
LPGA majors. ==Course==