Nelly Korda has voiced her belief that a triumph by England's Charley Hull at the AIG Women's Open would be a huge boost for the sport, while she herself is focused on adding another major to her résumé at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Korda enters the tournament as the clear favourite, poised to equal the record for most majors in a single season after already capturing the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women's Open in a spectacular run.
Her victory at the U.S. Women's Open was secured by a single‑stroke margin over Gaby Lopez, and it also left Hull as the runner‑up for the second time in the last three years at the AIG Women's Open. Hull now carries five major runner‑up finishes without yet clinching a championship, a fact that has become a talking point throughout the women's game. Ahead of what is expected to be the final major of the year, Hull admitted that the string of near‑misses has been painful.
She noted that the last Englishwoman to win a major was Georgia Hall in 2018, and that the pressure of repeatedly being so close can be a heavy burden. Korda, however, praised Hull's consistency and mental strength.
"Sometimes it's just about putting yourself in that position to contend," Korda said at the pre‑tournament press conference. "You can't control what other players are doing, but Hull is doing something right to keep showing up, staying relevant, and being in the hunt." She drew a parallel to the men's tour, mentioning Sam Burns, who has frequently been in contention at majors but has yet to break through.
"Eventually he'll get it. You can't let those close calls discourage you – they should be encouraging," Korda added. Korda also highlighted Hull's personality as a key factor for the growth of the game.
"She has a great sense of humor and a wonderful character. A win on home soil would be fantastic for her and for golf as a whole," she said, emphasizing that a home‑country victory would inspire fans and young players alike. Hull responded by calling Korda's season, which includes four worldwide titles, "unbelievable" for the sport.
She acknowledged the added scrutiny that comes with being world number one, especially during periods of dominance. "I'm at a point in my career where I'm just going to be myself," Hull explained. "If people don't like it, that's fine.
If it inspires the next generation, that's even better. No one can force me to go a certain way – I will stay authentic. When I try to be something I'm not, it drains my energy.
I've learned to say yes only to the things that truly resonate with me, and if that helps grow the game and draws viewers, then that's a bonus." Korda's consistency has been remarkable: she logged ten straight top‑eight finishes worldwide until a surprise missed cut at the Amundi Evian Championship earlier this month, which ended a 34‑event streak of making the cut that spanned nearly two years. She reflected on the Evian result with candor.
"Evian is a quirky course," she said. "Honestly, I didn't play that badly.
Golf isn't about being invincible; you can't expect to make every cut or finish in the top ten every week. There will be weeks when you just don't have it, and that's part of the reality. I've been around long enough to miss enough cuts that I know how to bounce back." Korda also recalled her near‑miss at last year's AIG Women's Open, where she finished runner‑up to Lydia Ko.
A win this week would not only secure her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame but also complete the career Grand Slam, a feat achieved by only a handful of players. "Whenever I'm in contention at a major and I can smell the title, it gets emotional," Korda admitted about the 2024 disappointment.
"That's why we rise early, work on our game mentally and physically, and keep grinding. The memory of falling short at St Andrews still stings a bit.
Before that I hadn't had the best results at the Women's Open, but being in contention on a links course in tough weather was a huge motivator because it proved I could compete at that level." The broadcast rights for the AIG Women's Open in the UK and Ireland remain with Sky Sports, which is offering an expanded coverage package. For the first time, the tournament will feature "Featured Groups" coverage beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage at 1 p.m.
The weekend rounds will be shown live from midday, adding six extra hours of live action compared with previous years. Fans can watch the entire event live on Sky Sports Golf or stream the coverage without a contract through the network's streaming service.
The tournament promises high‑stakes drama as Korda seeks to cap her stellar season, while Hull aims to finally break her major drought on home soil, a storyline that could indeed be "great for golf" as Korda suggested.