The climax of the women's major season arrives this week with the AIG Women’s Open, and Sky Sports is delivering more extensive live coverage than ever before from the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes venue. Defending champion Miyu Yamashita returns to the links after her breakthrough victory at Royal Porthcawl last year.
The Japanese star is aiming to become the first player since Yani Tseng in 2011 to win the AIG Women’s Open in consecutive years, a feat that would cement her status among the modern greats of the game. Heading into the tournament, world No. 1 Nelly Korda entered as the favorite to capture a third major title of the season. Having already secured the Chevron Championship and the U.S.
Women’s Open, a triumph at Lytham would not only add another trophy to her collection but also secure her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame and complete the elusive career Grand Slam. Recent major champion Haeran Ryu, who captured both the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship, is also in contention, seeking a third straight major win. Rising talents such as Jeongeun Lee (Thitikul) and seasoned campaigner Hyojoo Kim are among the field hoping to add their names to the winner’s circle.
Home hopes include Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, both eager to claim their first major and become the first Englishwoman to win a major since Georgia Hall’s 2018 victory. This event also serves as the final qualifying opportunity for players hoping to earn a spot on Europe’s Solheim Cup team for the September showdown.
Sky Sports has announced that this will be the most comprehensive live broadcast of the AIG Women’s Open to date. For the first time, the network will feature "Featured Groups" coverage, providing live action from all four rounds and allowing viewers to follow specific groups of players throughout the tournament. The schedule includes a live broadcast of the final round on Sunday, August 2, at 12 p.m., with additional highlights and replays available in the days that follow. Key viewing options: - **Sky Sports Golf**: Live coverage on the dedicated golf channel, with additional segments on Sky Sports Main Event throughout the week.
- **Sky Sports App**: Subscribers can stream the tournament on mobile devices. - **NOW Streaming**: Non‑Sky customers may purchase a day pass or a flexible month‑to‑month pass to watch the action without a long‑term contract. - **Live Blog**: A real‑time written commentary is available for those on the move, offering minute‑by‑minute updates.
- **Highlights**: Near‑live clips and post‑round summaries are posted on the Sky Sports app, with one‑hour highlight reels airing each evening at 11 p.m. and repeated the following morning. The full final round will be replayed in its entirety on the Monday after the tournament. Royal Lytham & St Annes is one of the most iconic courses in the R&A’s portfolio.
It has hosted The Open Championship eleven times and served as a Ryder Cup venue on two occasions. This will be the sixth edition of the AIG Women’s Open to be held at Lytham, and the layout for this year measures 6,601 yards, playing as a par‑71. The course is famed for its numerous pot bunkers—over 170 line the fairways—and it is the only Open venue that begins with a par‑three hole, adding a unique strategic element for the opening tee shots.
The venue also marks a centenary celebration: 2026 is the 100th anniversary of the first Open held at Lytham, won by the legendary Bobby Jones. Since then, a pantheon of champions—including Bobby Locke, Peter Thomson, Bob Charles, Tony Jacklin, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros (twice), David Duval, and Ernie Els—have lifted the Claret Jug on these fairways. British players have enjoyed recent success at Lytham in the women’s event. The last two champions before this edition were both from the United Kingdom: Georgia Hall in 2018 and Catriona Matthew in 2009.
Past winners such as Sherri Steinhauer (who won twice) and Annika Sörenstam have also triumphed at the links, underscoring the course’s reputation as a proving ground for both seasoned veterans and emerging talent. For viewers seeking the best experience, Sky Sports recommends using the Chrome browser, which provides a more accessible video player.
Subscribers can also take advantage of Sky iD assistance to locate or create their Sky iD credentials, ensuring a smooth login process across devices. Beyond the tournament itself, Sky Sports invites fans to follow their WhatsApp channel for up‑to‑the‑minute news, videos, features, and analysis related to the AIG Women’s Open and other sporting events.
Whether you are a dedicated golf enthusiast or a casual viewer, the extensive coverage options mean you can watch the drama unfold from the first tee to the final putt. Tune in to Sky Sports Golf on Friday from 9 a.m. for the Featured Groups preview, then join the full broadcast from 1 p.m. as the competition intensifies.
The tournament promises high‑stakes golf, historic moments, and the chance to witness a new champion emerge on one of the game’s most storied stages. For those interested in playing the sport themselves, Sky Sports also offers links to book tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, allowing fans to experience a taste of championship‑level golf on their own local greens.