Can Korda Replicate Her Major Success at This Year's AIG Women's Open?

As the 50th anniversary of the AIG Women’s Open approaches, excitement builds for a tournament that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Two of the sport’s brightest stars, Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, are among the contenders aiming to capture the coveted major title at the historic links of Royal Lytham & St Annes. The current women’s major season has been largely defined by the dominance of two players.

Nelly Korda, fresh off victories at the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, now shares the spotlight with South Korea’s Ha‑Ran Ryu, who has already secured the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship. This marks an unprecedented moment in LPGA history: for the first time ever, two golfers have each claimed multiple majors within the same calendar year.

Historically, only six individuals—across both the men’s and women’s games—have managed to win three major championships in a single season. The elite 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, matching the achievements of Babe Zaharias (1950), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986) on the women’s side.

Korda and Ryu are now poised to join that exclusive group, with the AIG Women’s Open representing the final piece of the puzzle. Both players are also in contention for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which honors the LPGA Tour competitor who posts the best major‑tournament record over a season. A third major win would likely settle the debate and hand the award to whichever golfer adds the AIG Women’s Open to her résumé. One of the season’s biggest surprises came at the Evian Championship, where Korda missed the cut despite entering the event as a four‑time winner that year and a clear favorite to contend.

The early exit was a stark contrast to her otherwise flawless run of 34 consecutive tournaments where she made the cut, and it added a new layer of intrigue to her pursuit of a career Grand Slam. While she already holds three different major titles—including the U.S. Women’s Open—she still needs a fourth distinct major to complete the career Grand Slam, a feat recognized for players who have won four of the five current majors. Korda’s recent performances underline the stakes.

She finished tied for second behind Lydia Ko at the 2024 Open at St Andrews, and she was 16th at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. A victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes would not only give her a fifth major but also secure her 20th LPGA Tour win, pushing her over the two‑point threshold required for induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame.

The tournament also offers a chance for a new name to break a 15‑year drought of back‑to‑back major winners. The last player to achieve consecutive women’s majors was Yani Tseng, who won at Royal Birkdale in 2010 and then defended her title at Carnoustie in 2011. Japanese rising star Miyu Yamashita, a dominant force on the LPGA of Japan Tour with 13 victories, could be that player. After a breakthrough win at the 2023 AIG Women’s Open—where she out‑dueled Charley Hull at Royal Porthcawl—Yamashita has continued to improve, adding a Maybank Championship title on the LPGA Tour and a dramatic playoff victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic in June.

Her recent form includes a top‑five finish at the Evian Championship and another strong showing in Scotland, positioning her as a serious contender for a repeat triumph. British golf history also looms large over the event.

It has been three decades since Dame Laura Davies captured her fourth major, and since then several British players have tasted success at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Alison Nicholas won the U.S. Women’s Open in 1997, Karen Stupples claimed the AIG Women’s Open in 2004, and Catriona Matthew became Scotland’s first female major champion at this venue in 2009, just weeks after giving birth to her second child. More recently, Georgia Hall secured a two‑stroke victory in 2018.

This week, Charley Hull hopes to add her name to that list; she has been runner‑up in majors five times, including twice at this very tournament within a three‑year span. Fellow Englishman Lottie Woad is also looking to improve on her previous top‑10 finishes at the Open. Beyond individual storylines, the tournament will feature a massive fan presence—over 50,000 spectators are expected throughout the week, many hoping to witness another home‑grown champion. The event also serves as a final qualifying opportunity for players vying for spots on Team Europe’s Solheim Cup roster.

Veteran Anna Nordqvist, who will serve as non‑playing captain, is finalising her team, with eight automatic qualifiers already secured and four captain’s picks to be announced. Emerging talents such as Chiara Tamburlini, Helen Briem, Agathe Laisne and Cara Gainer are in contention for those captain’s picks, while established European players like Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit are positioned to earn places through world rankings. Additional European hopefuls—including Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Dewi Weber and Mimi Rhodes—could also see their Solheim Cup prospects rise with a strong major performance.

Sky Sports will be the exclusive broadcaster for the AIG Women’s Open across the UK and Ireland. This year, the network introduces "Featured Groups" coverage, starting at 9 a.m.

on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full‑field coverage from 1 p.m. The weekend rounds will be shown live from midday, offering viewers up to six extra hours of golf compared with previous editions. With so many narratives converging—Korda’s quest for a Grand Slam and Hall of Fame entry, Ryu’s chase of a historic third major, Yamashita’s bid to become the first back‑to‑back major winner in 15 years, and Hull’s determination to finally break her major‑winner drought—the AIG Women’s Open promises a week of compelling drama. Fans can follow every swing, putt and pivotal moment live on Sky Sports Golf or stream the coverage without a contract, ensuring that anyone interested can witness what could become a landmark chapter in women’s golf history.