AIG Women’s Open: Charley Hull and Lottie Woad chase final-round push for elusive major victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes | Golf News
Charley Hull is relishing the opportunity to make a late push for major victory after spectacular late third-round fightback at the AIG Women’s Open.
The world No 7 sat five off the halfway lead at Royal Lytham & St Annes but quickly found herself 10 behind after three bogeys in her opening six holes on Saturday afternoon, as overnight leader Haeran Ryu made a fast start to pull clear of the field.
Hull responded with back-to-back birdies from the seventh but lost momentum again with a bogey at the 10th, only to see the deficit reduce when Ryu – playing several groups behind – made five bogeys in an eight-hole stretch.
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Watch highlights of Charley Hull’s third round at the AIG Women’s Open, where she stayed in title contention
The Englishwoman ended a run of pars with successive gains from the 15th and scrambled par at the 17th, before a final-hole par closed a level-par 71 and left her within five strokes of Yealimi Noh heading into the final round.
“I’m pretty proud as the first six holes I played like a 10 handicapper, I felt,” Hull told Sky Sports. “I missed three putts I should have holed from five feet and in, which would have kept me level par instead of being three over.
“I had a bit of a bounce back and I hit a great shot into the last hole. I hit it on a great line and just left it short, but I was pretty happy with the way I finished.
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Charley Hull makes a late charge up the leaderboard with back-to-back birdies in the third round of the AIG Women’s Open
“I was looking at leaderboards – to be fair there’s not many out on the golf course, so it’s quite hard to see where you’re at. I do like to have a sneaky look.”
Hull has five runner-up finishes in majors, including two at this event over the past three years and one at the US Women’s Open in June, with the 30-year-old keen to take confident from those past experiences and claim an elusive victory.
Charley Hull is a five-time runner-up in majors
“I just want to go out there and enjoy it tomorrow, not put too much pressure on myself,” Hull added. “Go out there, have fun and trust my swing.”
Woad leads home charge at Royal Lytham
Victory for Hull would see her become the first British woman to win a major since Georgia Hall at this venue in 2018, with Catriona Matthew’s major success also coming at Royal Lytham in 2009, with Lottie Woad a shot closer to the lead as she also chases home success.
Lottie Woad sits seventh heading into the final round
Woad – with top-10s in both previous AIG Women’s Open appearances – recovered from a disappointing finish to her second round by posting a one-under 70, mixing three birdies with two bogeys to head into the final day on three under.
“It’s a good position to be in,” Woad told Sky Sports. I should be a few back by the end of today. I’ll stick to my game plan and see what happens.
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Lottie Woad made a huge 50-foot birdie putt on the second hole of her third round at Royal Lytham & St Annes
“The course definitely played tougher today. The wind was probably the strongest it’s been. The back nine was definitely a grind, but I felt a bit better on the greens today and I scrambled pretty well to get around.
“I think on this golf course you’ve got to get at the front nine, with it being downwind. I went out in level par, which wasn’t the best of starts. I knew there would be some chances on the back nine, but a lot of it is par golf.”
Who will win the AIG Women’s Open? Watch the final round live on Sunday from midday on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf and more with no contract.
