Can Korda Add Another Major to Her Record at the AIG Women's Open?

As the AIG Women’s Open celebrates its 50th anniversary, golf fans are gearing up for a thrilling showdown at Royal Lytham & St Annes, broadcast live on Sky Sports. Two of the sport’s brightest stars, Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, are among the contenders hoping to capture the coveted major title, and the tournament promises a host of storylines that could reshape the history books.

The current women’s major season has been largely dominated by two players: Nelly Korda of the United States and South Korea’s Haereang Ryu. Both athletes have already secured two major victories this year, putting them in a rare position to match the record for the most majors won in a single calendar year.

Korda captured the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, while Ryu triumphed at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship. This marks the first time in LPGA history that two golfers have each claimed multiple majors within the same season. Only six players—across both the men’s and women’s games—have ever won three major championships in a single year.

Those elite company 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) who each achieved a similar feat. Korda and Ryu now stand on the brink of joining this exclusive club, with the AIG Women’s Open offering the decisive fourth major that could cement their place among the all‑time greats. Both players are also vying for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, presented each season to the LPGA Tour competitor with the strongest major‑championship record.

While the award can be decided by a single additional win, the stakes are high: a victory at Royal Lytham would not only add a third major to the winner’s résumé but also likely clinch the prestigious award. One of the season’s most surprising moments came at the Evian Championship, where Korda missed the cut despite entering as a four‑time winner that year and a clear favorite to contend for the title. The unexpected early exit broke a remarkable streak of 34 consecutive tournaments in which she had made the cut, underscoring the unpredictable nature of major‑championship golf. Korda’s missed cut in France adds an intriguing twist to her pursuit of the career Grand Slam.

She already holds three different major titles, having secured the U.S. Women’s Open earlier in the season. In women’s golf, a player who has won four of the five current majors is recognized as having completed a career Grand Slam, a distinction that reflects the evolving status of tournaments over the decades.

This week, Korda has a fresh opportunity to add the AIG Women’s Open to her collection and become the first woman since Inbee Park to achieve the Grand Slam. Her recent performances have been strong but not dominant. At the 2024 Open at St Andrews, Korda finished tied for second behind Lydia Ko, while at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open she placed tied‑16th. A win at Royal Lytham would not only be her 20th LPGA Tour title but also her fifth major, securing the two points needed for automatic entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame.

The tournament also offers a chance for another player to break a 15‑year drought of back‑to‑back women’s major winners. The last golfer to achieve consecutive major victories was Yani Tseng, who won the 2010 Royal Birkdale and then defended her title at Carnoustie in 2011. Japanese rising star Miyu Yamashita, a former 13‑time winner on the LPGA of Japan Tour, is poised to challenge that streak.

After a breakthrough win at the 2023 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl—where she edged out Charley Hull by two strokes—Yamashita has added a Maybank Championship title on the LPGA Tour and a dramatic playoff victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Her recent form includes a top‑five finish at the Evian Championship and a shared fifth place in Scotland, indicating she is in prime condition to contend for another major.

British golf history also looms large over the event. It has been three decades since Dame Laura Davies captured her fourth major at Royal Lytham, and since then several British players have triumphed at this venue.

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 champion at Royal Lytham in 2009, just weeks after giving birth to her second daughter. More recently, Georgia Hall secured a two‑stroke victory in 2018.

This week, the home crowd will be hoping for another British champion, with Charley Hull leading the charge. Hull has been a runner‑up in majors five times, including twice at this tournament within a three‑year span, and she is eager to finally break through. Lottie Woad, another promising British talent, aims to improve on her previous top‑10 finishes at the AIG Women’s Open. The tournament is expected to attract over 50,000 spectators, many of whom will be rooting for a local hero.

Beyond the individual battles, the event serves as a crucial qualifier for Team Europe’s Solheim Cup roster. Players on the cusp of selection have one final opportunity to impress captain Anna Nordqvist, who has announced she will not serve as a playing captain this year. The European qualification race is tight: Chiara Tamburlini sits second on the LET points list, while rookies Helen Briem, Agathe Laisne and Cara Gainer are also in contention.

World‑ranking spots are already occupied by Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit. Meanwhile, Leona Maguire’s recent strong showing in Scotland could revive her Solheim Cup prospects.

Other European contenders include Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Dutch player Dewi Weber and England’s Mimi Rhodes, all of whom rank within the top 100 globally. A standout performance at a major could tip the scales in their favor for future team selections. Sky Sports will provide exclusive coverage of the AIG Women’s Open across the UK and Ireland, featuring a new "Featured Groups" format that begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage from 1 p.m.

and live broadcasts of the final two rounds on the weekend. Golf enthusiasts can also stream the action without a contract, ensuring that fans worldwide can follow every swing, putt and dramatic moment.

In summary, the 2026 AIG Women’s Open promises a convergence of historic aspirations, personal milestones and national pride. Whether Nelly Korda will add a fourth major to her résumé, Charley Hull will finally capture her breakthrough title, or Miyu Yamashita will break a long‑standing back‑to‑back major drought, the tournament is set to deliver compelling narratives and unforgettable golf. The world will be watching, and the players will be ready to write the next chapter of women’s major‑championship history.