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

As the 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open approaches, the spotlight turns to Royal Lytham & St Annes where Nelly Korda and Charley Hull are among the contenders hoping to capture the coveted major title. The tournament, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, promises a host of storylines that could shape the history of women’s golf.

Two players have dominated the major circuit this season, each with the chance to equal the record for most major victories in a single calendar year. Nelly Korda has already secured wins at the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, while South Korea’s Hae-ran Ryu captured the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship. This marks the first time that two golfers have each claimed multiple majors in the same season, underscoring the extraordinary level of competition.

Only six individuals—across both the men’s and women’s games—have ever won three majors in one year. Korda and Ryu now stand on the brink of joining that exclusive club, with the AIG Women’s Open serving as the decisive hurdle. In the men’s arena, the feat has been achieved by legends Ben Hogan in 1953 and Tiger Woods in 2000.

On the women’s side, Inbee Park matched the accomplishment in 2013 by winning the first three majors of the year, joining the ranks of Babe Zaharias (1950), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986), each of whom won three majors in a single season. Both Korda and Ryu are also in contention for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which honors the LPGA player with the best major‑season record.

A third major victory would likely tip the scales in favor of one of them, making the AIG Women’s Open a pivotal event not only for the trophy but also for season‑long accolades. Korda’s recent performance at the Evian Championship was a surprise to many, as she missed the cut despite entering the tournament as the pre‑event favorite and already a four‑time winner that season. The miss ended a remarkable streak of 34 consecutive cuts made, and it also added urgency to her pursuit of a career Grand Slam. After claiming her third distinct major at the U.S.

Women’s Open, Korda now needs a fourth different major to complete the Grand Slam, a milestone that has become more complex as the roster of recognized majors has shifted over the years. A career Grand Slam in women’s golf is defined as winning four of the five current majors, reflecting the evolution of which tournaments hold major status.

This nuance gives Korda a fresh chance to cement her legacy at Royal Lytham & St Annes. She finished tied for second behind Lydia Ko at St Andrews in 2024 and will be looking to improve on that result on the Lancashire links. A victory would make her the first woman since Inbee Park to join the Grand Slam club, and it would also represent her 20th LPGA Tour win, securing the two points she needs for automatic entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame.

The last player to win back‑to‑back women’s majors was Yani Tseng, who captured the 2010 Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale and then defended her title at Carnoustie in 2011. That 15‑year gap highlights how rare consecutive major victories have become. Japanese rising star Miyu Yamashita, a 13‑time winner on the LPGA of Japan Tour, could become the next to break that drought.

Yamashita’s breakthrough came last year when she edged Charley Hull by two strokes at Royal Porthcawl, and she has continued to build momentum with a win at the Maybank Championship and a dramatic playoff triumph over Lottie Woad at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Yamashita’s recent form has been impressive: she has recorded four top‑five finishes in her last six worldwide starts, including a shared fourth place at the Evian Championship and a tied‑fifth finish at the Scottish Open. Such consistency positions her as a serious contender for the title defense.

British golf history also looms large over the event. It has been three decades since Dame Laura Davies secured her fourth major, and several British players have triumphed at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

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 with a 2009 victory here, just weeks after giving birth to her second child. More recently, Georgia Hall claimed a two‑stroke win in 2018. Charley Hull, a five‑time major runner‑up—including two close finishes at this venue in the past three years—will be eager to finally break through.

Lottie Woad, who has posted top‑10 finishes in her two previous AIG Women’s Open appearances, will also be looking to improve her record. The tournament is expected to draw over 50,000 spectators, many of whom hope to witness another British champion. At the same time, the event serves as a final opportunity for players to bolster their case for selection to Team Europe’s Solheim Cup squad.

Anna Nordqvist, who will serve as non‑playing captain, is finalising her eight automatic qualifiers and will announce four additional picks soon. Players such as Chiara Tamburini, Helen Briem, Agathe Laisne and Cara Gainer are in contention for the rookie‑spot, while Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit occupy the six slots allocated via world rankings. Other European hopefuls—Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Dewi Weber and England’s Mimi Rhodes—rank within the world’s top 100 and could see their Solheim Cup prospects rise with a strong showing at the major.

Sky Sports retains exclusive broadcasting rights in the UK and Ireland, offering an expanded schedule that includes Featured Groups coverage beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, followed by full live coverage from 1 p.m., and round‑three and round‑four action from midday over the weekend.

Golf fans can watch the drama unfold throughout the week, either via a Sky Sports subscription or a contract‑free streaming option. In summary, the 2026 AIG Women’s Open promises a convergence of historic ambition, personal milestones, and national pride.

Whether Korda can add a fourth major to her résumé, whether Ryu will secure the season’s third major, and whether a British player will triumph on home soil are all questions that will be answered on the storied links of Royal Lytham & St Annes.