Nelly Korda expressed that a triumph by Charley Hull at the AIG Women’s Open on English soil would be "great for golf," while she herself is focused on securing another major title at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Korda enters the tournament as the clear favorite to capture a record‑tying third major of the season, having already lifted the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open in a dominant run.
Her win at the U.S. Women’s Open came by a single stroke over Gaby Lopez and Hull, leaving Hull with five runner‑up finishes in majors – two of them at the AIG Women’s Open in the past three years – but still without the elusive first major victory.
Hull admitted before the final major of the year that the string of near‑misses "hurts," noting that Georgia Hall remains the last Englishwoman to win a major back in 2018. Nevertheless, Korda praised Hull’s consistency in staying in contention. "Sometimes it’s about putting yourself in that position to contend," Korda said at the pre‑tournament press conference.
"You can’t control what other players do, but Hull is doing something right to be there week after week, to stay relevant and be in the hunt." She drew a parallel with the men’s game, referencing Sam Burns, who has frequently been in the mix at majors but has not yet broken through. "He’ll get there eventually. You can’t get discouraged – it has to be encouraging," Korda added, emphasizing that Hull’s perseverance should inspire rather than dishearten. Korda also highlighted Hull’s personality, describing her as a "great personality" with a "funny" character that makes her a pleasure to play with.
"If she wins on home soil it would be wonderful for the sport. She’s an amazing player and a wonderful person," Korda said, adding that such a victory would be a boost for the game overall. Hull returned the compliment, calling Korda’s season – which includes four worldwide victories – "unbelievable" for golf. She noted the extra pressure that comes with being world No.
1 and the expectations that accompany a dominant stretch. "I’m at a stage in my career where I just want to be myself," Hull explained. "If people don’t like it, that’s fine. If it inspires the next generation, that’s great." Hull stressed her commitment to authenticity, saying she will not be forced into any direction that doesn’t feel right.
"When I’m authentic, I don’t drain my battery. I’ve learned to say yes only to the things I truly want, and if that helps grow the game and attracts viewers, then I’m happy," she said.
Korda’s remarkable run of ten consecutive top‑eight finishes worldwide was snapped by an unexpected missed cut at the Amundi Evian Championship earlier this month, ending a 34‑event streak of making the cut that had lasted nearly two years. She described Evian as a "funky" course and admitted she didn’t play badly, but reminded everyone that even the best players can miss cuts. "Golf isn’t invincible.
You can’t expect to make every cut or finish in the top ten every week," Korda said. "There will be weeks when you just don’t have it, and that’s the reality. After missing enough cuts, it’s all about the bounce‑back." Last year’s AIG Women’s Open saw Korda finish runner‑up to Lydia Ko, and a win this week would not only secure her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame but also complete the career Grand Slam.
"Whenever I’m in contention at a major and I can smell the title, I get a little emotional," she confessed about the narrow miss in 2024. "That’s why we get up early, work on our game mentally and physically, to be in contention." She reflected on her previous struggles at the Women’s Open, noting that the links conditions at St Andrews had been challenging.
"Playing in that weather and still being in contention on a links course was motivating because it proved I could compete," Korda said. The tournament will be broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, with a new "Featured Groups" format offering six additional hours of live coverage.
The featured groups will start at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage from 1 p.m., and live rounds three and four will begin at midday over the weekend. Fans can follow the action throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the coverage without a contract.
The question on everyone’s mind remains: will Charley Hull finally break her major drought on home turf, or will Nelly Korda add another trophy to her already impressive résumé?