Charley Hull has been quick to diminish any notion of a personal rivalry with world No. 1 Nelly Korda as the AIG Women’s Open approaches, while also opening up about the emotional toll that repeated near‑wins in major championships have taken on her. Hull, currently ranked seventh in the world, is among the favorites at Royal Lytham & St Annes, hoping to become the first Englishwoman to capture a major title since Georgia Hall’s breakthrough victory at the same venue in 2018.

Hull’s résumé in majors is both impressive and frustrating. In the past three years she has finished runner‑up twice at the AIG Women’s Open and has amassed five second‑place finishes overall in major tournaments, including a recent loss to Korda at the U.S.

Women’s Open in June. Those close calls have left her with a lingering sense of what might have been. During a pre‑tournament press conference Hull was asked about the perceived rivalry with Korda, who has already secured the first two majors of the season and is widely expected to contend for a fifth this week. Hull responded with humility and a clear focus on her own objectives.

“I don’t really see it as a rivalry at the minute,” she said, adding, “No offence, Nelly has got however many majors and I’ve got none. I’ve got five second places.

Let me get my major first and then we can talk about anything else.” Hull praised Korda’s impact on the sport, describing her play as “unbelievable” and noting that Korda is a “nice girl” who is helping to raise the profile of women’s golf. The Englishwoman’s desire to break through is palpable.

“I just want to get over the line and win my first major,” Hull declared. “Five second‑place finishes in majors kind of hurts.

I remember walking past the trophy on day one last year and thinking, ‘I wish that was me.’” Her words underline the mental challenge of repeatedly coming close but not clinching the ultimate prize. Hull’s recent form has been mixed. Her runner‑up finish at the U.S.

Women’s Open remains her sole top‑15 result in the last seven starts. The 30‑year‑old also posted a tied‑44th finish at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, a tournament marred by a quadruple‑bogey on the ninth hole in the opening round. Hull explained the mishap, saying, “It was me, but the pin shouldn’t have been there.

I saw a birdie putt roll off the green and texted the commissioner right after the round. The pin was about a yard from a massive slope and it was on a downslope heading toward another slope. I had a 12‑foot birdie putt and ended up with a nine.

I had four chips up the slope, but I shouldn’t have putted off the green. It just shows that even the world No. 1 can make a nine.” She added that she still managed to sink a ten‑foot putt afterward, a small consolation in an otherwise painful hole. Other English contenders are also eyeing the title.

Lottie Woad, the highest‑ranked Englishwoman in the field, spoke of her ambition to win what she called a “dream” major, especially after the last two editions of the AIG Women’s Open were claimed by British players. “For any British player, this would be the dream to win,” said the world No.

5, noting her affection for links golf and the challenge presented by wind and unpredictable bounces. Woad highlighted the growing depth of British and English talent on both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour, expressing confidence that the future of British golf is bright.

Woad has already recorded top‑10 finishes in her previous two appearances at the AIG Women’s Open and hopes to add another strong performance in what is the final women’s major of the season, ahead of her Solheim Cup debut for Team Europe in September. She described links golf as “fun” but “tricky,” emphasizing that the limited opportunities to play such courses make each shot feel special. Broadcast coverage of the event will be provided exclusively by Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.

This year the network is offering a new “Featured Groups” segment, beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage from 1 p.m.

The weekend rounds will be shown live from midday, delivering six additional hours of live action compared with previous years. As the tournament unfolds, fans will be watching closely to see whether Hull can finally convert her string of close calls into a historic victory, or whether Korda will continue her dominant run and add another major to her impressive collection. Either way, the AIG Women’s Open promises high‑quality competition, dramatic storylines, and a showcase for the growing talent pool in women’s golf.