Charley Hull has been quick to minimise any sense of a personal rivalry with world No. 1 Nelly Korda as she heads into the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes. The English golfer, currently ranked seventh in the world, acknowledges that Korda’s recent run of victories has been impressive, but she insists her own priority is simply to capture that elusive major championship title she has chased for years.
Hull entered the press conference with a candid smile, noting that while Korda has already amassed several major crowns, Hull’s résumé still reads zero in that department despite five runner‑up finishes on the biggest stages. "I don’t really see it as a rivalry at the minute," Hull said. "No offence, Nelly has got however many majors and I’ve got none.
I’ve got five second places. Let me get my major in first and then that’s something we can think about in the future. What Nelly is doing for the game of golf is unbelievable and so good to watch – she’s a nice girl, as well." The comments come on the back of Hull’s recent near‑misses.
In the past three years she has stood on the second‑place podium at the AIG Women’s Open twice, and she has finished runner‑up in five major tournaments overall, including a heartbreaking loss to Korda at the U.S. Women’s Open in June. Those repeated second‑place finishes have begun to feel like a weight, Hull admitted, saying, "Five second‑place finishes in majors kind of hurts. I remember walking past the trophy on the first day last year and thinking, ‘Oh, I wish that was me.’" Hull’s own record at major championships is a study in consistency without the ultimate breakthrough.
She has been a regular contender, often posting top‑10 or top‑15 finishes, yet the final step has remained just out of reach. Her most recent major performance was a runner‑up finish at the U.S. Women’s Open, which also marked her sole top‑15 result in her last seven starts on the LPGA Tour. The week before the AIG Women’s Open, Hull struggled at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, carding a tied‑44th place after a disastrous quadruple‑bogey on the ninth hole of her opening round.
When asked about that mishap, Hull described the incident in vivid detail. "It was me, but the pin shouldn’t have been there," she explained, recalling how a birdie putt rolled off the green and into a steep slope. She even texted the tournament commissioner immediately after the round, pointing out that the pin placement was about a yard from a massive downhill slope, making the putt virtually impossible.
"I’ve had a 12‑foot birdie putt and walked off with a nine. I had four chips up the slope, but I shouldn’t have putted off the green.
It just shows that I’m human and even the world No. 1 can make a nine," Hull said, adding a hint of humor about the experience.
Hull’s candidness about her mistakes underscores a broader theme in women’s golf this season: the blend of rising talent and seasoned competitors all vying for the sport’s most coveted prizes. While Hull focuses on her own quest, other British players are also eyeing the historic links course.
Lottie Woad, the highest‑ranked Englishwoman in the field, expressed her dream of winning the AIG Women’s Open, noting that the last two editions at Royal Lytham & St Annes were both captured by British players. "For any British player, this would be the dream to win," Woad said, emphasizing her love for links golf and the unique challenges it presents, such as wind, uneven bounces, and the occasional lucky break. Woad has already proven her mettle with top‑10 finishes in her previous two appearances at the tournament, and she hopes to build on that momentum in what will be the final women’s major of the calendar year. Her comments also hinted at the growing depth of British and English talent on both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour, with many of her friends on the cusp of turning professional.
The tournament itself is set to receive unprecedented coverage in the UK and Ireland. Sky Sports has secured exclusive broadcasting rights, offering a new "Featured Groups" segment that will begin at 9 a.m.
on Thursday and Friday, followed by full live coverage from 1 p.m. onward.
Weekend rounds three and four will be shown live from midday, providing fans with six additional hours of golf compared with previous years. As the AIG Women’s Open unfolds, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Hull can finally convert her string of close calls into a victory. Her determination is clear: she wants to cross the finish line first, to replace the runner‑up banner with a winner’s trophy. "I just want to get over the line and win my first major," she affirmed.
"I’ve been so close, and now I feel ready to take that final step." Meanwhile, Korda remains a formidable opponent, having already claimed the first two majors of the season and entering the tournament as the favorite to add a fifth major title to her résumé. Hull praised Korda’s game, calling it "unbelievable" and noting that watching her play is a joy for fans of the sport. In summary, the AIG Women’s Open promises high drama, with Hull seeking redemption, Korda aiming to extend her dominance, and a field of hungry British players hoping to make history on home soil.
The combination of personal narratives, challenging links conditions, and extensive television coverage ensures that this week’s competition will be a landmark event in women’s golf.