AIG Women’s Open – key storylines to follow: Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, Solheim Cup watch and hopes of British major win | Golf News
Storylines to follow ahead of the 50th anniversary of the AIG Women’s Open, live on Sky Sports, where Nelly Korda and Charley Hull are among those eyeing major victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes…
Can Korda and Ryu make further major history?
The women’s major season has been dominated by two players, with Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu both now having the opportunity to equal the most major wins in a calendar year.
Korda claimed the Chevron Championship and US Women’s Open before Ryu won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and Evian Championship, marking the first time ever two players have registered multiple majors in the same season.
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Highlights from the final round of the Chevron Championship, where Nelly Korda impressed
Only six players in history – across the men’s and women’s games – have won three majors in one year, with Korda and Ryu looking to enjoy an exclusive club with AIG Women’s Open victory.
Ben Hogan (1953) and Tiger Woods (2000) are the only men to have managed it, while Inbee Park won the first three majors in 2013 to match the years of Babe Zaharias (195), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986).
Korda and Ryu are the only two in the running for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, handed to the LPGA Tour player with the best major record in a season. It may take another major victory to decide who also lifts that title.
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Watch the final holes of Haeran Ryu and Brooke Henderson that forced a play-off at the Amundi Evian Championship
Will Korda close out Grand Slam glory?
Arguably the biggest surprise of the Evian Championship was Korda’s missed cut, given the pre-tournament favourite was already a four-time winner this season and expected to challenge for major victory.
Korda’s early exit in France snapped a 34-tournament run of cuts made and extended her pursuit of the career Grand Slam, having claimed her third different major title with the US Women’s Open earlier in the season.
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Nelly Korda made a bogey at the par-four 17th on her way to missing the cut by a shot at the Evian Championship
Players who have won four of the five women’s majors are recognised as having completed a career Grand Slam due to how the tournaments holding major status has changed over time, giving Korda a fresh opportunity this week.
Korda finished tied-second behind Lydia Ko at St Andrews in 2024 but will look to go one better in Lancashire, where victory will see her become the first since Park in the women’s game to join the Grand Slam club.
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Highlights of the US Women’s Open, where Nelly Korda claimed a thrilling victory
She finished tied-16th at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open but remains the player to catch this week, where a 20th LPGA Tour title and fifth major win would also secure her the two points required to confirm her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Can Yamashita go back-to-back at the Women’s Open?
It’s 15 years since Yani Tseng became the last player to go back-to-back in a women’s major, following her 2010 win at Royal Birkdale with a four-stroke victory at Carnoustie a year later, but Miyu Yamashita has a great opportunity to end that streak.
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Miyu Yamashita claimed her first major victory after shooting a composed two-under 70 in the final round of the AIG Women’s Open
Yamashita was a 13-time winner on the LPGA of Japan Tour but somewhat of an unknown quantity to a British audience ahead of last year’s major breakthrough, when she held off Charley Hull to earn a two-shot win at Royal Porthcawl.
The Japanese player’s game has gone from strength to strength since, with her adding LPGA Tour success at the Maybank Championship later that year before defeating Lottie Woad in a play-off to win the Meijer LPGA Classic in June.
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England’s Lottie Woad missed out on her second LPGA Tour victory of the season as Miyu Yamashita snatched a dramatic play-off victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic
That victory is one of four top-five finishes in her last six worldwide starts, including a share of fourth at the Evian Championship and a share of fifth place in Scotland last week. Solid form to take into a major title defence!
Will Brits enjoy major three-peat in Lytham?
It’s 30 years since Dame Laura Davies claimed the last of her four major titles, with half of the British women to enjoy major glory since managing it at this week’s venue.
Alison Nicholas won the US Women’s Open in 1997 and Karen Stupples won the AIG Women’s Open in 2004, while the last two editions of this event held here at Royal Lytham and St Annes have produced British champions.
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Highlights from the final round of the 2018 Ricoh Women’s British Open, where Georgia Hall completed an impressive home win
Catriona Matthew became Scotland’s first female major champion with her win here in 2009, just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter, then Georgia Hall claimed a two-shot victory in her 2018 edition.
Hull leads home hopes this year as she chases her breakthrough major title, having been a five-time runner-up in majors – including twice in three years at this tournament, while Woad is hoping to build on top-10 finishes in her previous two AIG Women’s Open appearances.
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The Sky Sports Golf podcast discussed earlier in the year how important 2026 will be for Charley Hull’s career
Over 50,000 fans are expected across tournament week, with the vast majority hoping to see another British champion.
Who can make a late Solheim Cup push for Team Europe?
The qualification race to feature in Team Europe’s Solheim Cup side reaches a climax this week, giving players one last chance to try and force their way into Anna Nordqvist’s plans.
Nordqvist has confirmed she will not be a playing captain, despite her impressive form in recent starts on the LPGA Tour, with the Swede seeing her eight automatic qualifiers confirmed this weekend ahead of naming her four picks next week.
Chiara Tamburlini narrowly sits second in the LET points list ahead of Helen Briem, Agathe Laisne and Cara Gainer, with one of that rookie quartet likely to join Charley Hull in qualifying via that method.
Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit currently occupy the six spots on offer via the world rankings, while Leona Maguire impressed in Scotland last week as she chases a Team Europe return.
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Highlights from the final day of the 2024 Solheim Cup, where Team USA claimed an impressive 15.5-12.5 victory over Team Europe
Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Dutchwoman Dewi Weber and England’s Mimi Rhodes are among the other European players in the world’s top 100 – could a big major week put them in Solheim Cup consideration?
There will likely be a different look to Nordqvist’s side from the one beaten on American soil in 2024. Nordqvist has previously said there were ‘hard phone calls ahead’ and several players this week will want to make those decisions even tougher.
When is the AIG Women’s Open on Sky Sports?
Sky Sports remains the exclusive home of the AIG Women’s Open in the UK and Ireland, with Featured Groups coverage available for the first time and six hours more of live action on Sky Sports than ever before.
Featured Groups coverage begins at 9am on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of full coverage getting under way at 1pm, with live coverage of rounds three and four then beginning at midday over the weekend.
Who will win the AIG Women’s Open? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf and more with no contract.
