As the 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open approaches, fans can tune in to Sky Sports to watch a field that includes Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, both eager to add another major title to their résumés at the historic links of Royal Lytham & St Annes. The tournament arrives amid a season in which two players have dominated the women’s major circuit, each poised to match the record for the most major wins in a single calendar year.
Nelly Korda entered the year by capturing the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, while South Korean star Ha‑Rin Ryu responded with victories at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship.
Their dual success marks the first occasion that two competitors have each secured multiple majors during the same season, underscoring the depth of talent currently on display in the LPGA Tour. Only a handful of golfers—six across both the men’s and women’s games—have ever won three major championships in a single year. The exclusive club includes legends such as Ben Hogan (1953) and Tiger Woods (2000) on the men’s side, and Inbee Park, who swept the first three majors in 2013, joining the ranks of Babe Zaharias (1950), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986) on the women’s side.
Both Korda and Ryu now have a realistic chance to join that elite group should they prevail at the AIG Women’s Open. The Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, presented to the player with the best major‑season record, is also up for grabs. With each major win earning valuable points toward the award, a victory at Royal Lytham could tip the balance in favor of either Korda or Ryu, adding another layer of intrigue to the competition. Korda’s recent performance at the Evian Championship was a surprise to many, as she missed the cut despite having already secured three major titles that season.
The early exit ended a remarkable run of 34 consecutive tournaments in which she made the cut, and it also extended her pursuit of the career Grand Slam. By winning the U.S.
Women’s Open earlier in the year, Korda already claimed three different majors, leaving only the AIG Women’s Open to complete the set. In women’s golf, a player who has won four of the five current majors is recognized as having achieved a career Grand Slam, even though the roster of major championships has evolved over time. This nuance gives Korda a fresh opportunity to cement her legacy at this week’s event.
She finished tied for second behind Lydia Ko at the 2024 Open at St Andrews and will be looking to improve on that performance on the Lancashire coast. A win at Royal Lytham would not only give Korda her fifth major title but also secure her 20th LPGA Tour victory, fulfilling the two‑point requirement for automatic induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame. The stakes are therefore exceptionally high for the American star. The last player to win back‑to‑back women’s majors was Yani Tseng, who captured the 2010 Royal Birkdale title and followed it with a four‑stroke victory at Carnoustie in 2011.
That 15‑year gap leaves the door open for another golfer to break the drought, and Japanese talent Miyu Yamashita is positioned as a strong contender. Yamashita, a 13‑time winner on the LPGA of Japan Tour, burst onto the international scene last year when she edged Charley Hull by two strokes at Royal Porthcawl. Since then, she has added a Maybank Championship win on the LPGA Tour and triumphed in a dramatic playoff against Lottie Woad at the Meijer LPGA Classic in June. Her recent form includes a shared fourth‑place finish at the Evian Championship and a joint fifth place at the Scottish Open, underscoring her readiness to contend for a major title.
British golf history also looms large over the tournament. It has been three decades since Dame Laura Davies claimed her final major at this venue, and several home‑grown champions have emerged from Royal Lytham in recent years.
Alison Nicholas won the U.S. Women’s Open in 1997, Karen Stupples captured the AIG Women’s Open in 2004, and Catriona Matthew became Scotland’s first female major winner here in 2009, just weeks after giving birth to her second child. More recently, Georgia Hall secured a two‑stroke victory in 2018.
Charley Hull, a five‑time runner‑up in major championships—including two close calls at this very tournament—will be seeking her breakthrough win. Lottie Woad, who has posted top‑10 finishes in her previous AIG Women’s Open appearances, will also be looking to improve her standing.
The event is expected to draw over 50,000 spectators throughout the week, many of whom hope to witness another British champion. At the same time, the tournament serves as a final qualifying opportunity for players hoping to earn a spot on Team Europe’s Solheim Cup roster. Anna Nordqvist, who will serve as a non‑playing captain, is finalising her team, with eight automatic qualifiers already confirmed and four captain’s picks to be announced.
Among the European hopefuls are Chiara Tamburlini, who sits second on the LET points list behind Helen Briem, and a quartet of rookies—Agathe Laisne, Cara Gainer, and others—who could secure a Solheim Cup berth through strong performances. World‑ranking spots are currently occupied by Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit, while Leona Maguire’s recent showing in Scotland keeps her in contention for a return to Team Europe. Other European players in the top 100, such as Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Dewi Weber and England’s Mimi Rhodes, will also be watching the major closely, as a strong finish could boost their Solheim Cup prospects.
Sky Sports remains the exclusive broadcaster of the AIG Women’s Open in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This year’s coverage includes a new "Featured Groups" segment that begins at 9 a.m.
on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage from 1 p.m. The weekend rounds—third and fourth—will be shown live from midday onward, providing viewers with up to six additional hours of live action compared with previous years. Whether you are a fan of Korda’s powerful swing, Hull’s relentless pursuit of a first major, or Yamashita’s rising star, the AIG Women’s Open promises a week of high‑stakes golf, historic milestones and the potential for a new name to join the exclusive list of players who have won three majors in a single season. Catch every moment live on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the coverage without a contract to stay up‑to‑date on the drama unfolding at Royal Lytham & St Annes.