Jeongeun "Jeeno" Thitikul surged into the forefront of the leaderboard after the first round of the AIG Women's Open, while England's Charley Hull experienced a roller‑coaster opening day in her quest for a long‑awaited major title. Thitikul produced a flawless, bogey‑free 64 at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes, tallying seven birdies and earning a two‑stroke cushion over two‑time major champion Haeren Ryu and Japan's Shiho Kuwaki.
The 23‑year‑old from Thailand, currently ranked second in the world, demonstrated why she is considered one of the sport's brightest prospects, combining pinpoint driving accuracy with a silky‑smooth putting stroke. Ryu, who posted a respectable five‑under‑par 66, remains in contention as she strives to become the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to capture three majors in a row. Fellow Solheim Cup participant Celine Boutier also enjoyed a clean start, carding a bogey‑free round that left her just three shots off the lead.
Lottie Woad, another English hopeful, opened with a tidy two‑under‑par 69, keeping her within striking distance of the leaders. Hull, a five‑time runner‑up in major championships but still searching for that elusive victory, produced an eventful card of six birdies offset by four bogeys, also sitting five strokes back.
Defending champion Miyu Yamashita fell eight strokes behind after a 72, while world No. 1 Nelly Korda faced the prospect of missing back‑to‑back majors after a two‑over‑par 73, underscoring the difficulty of the coastal links layout. Hull, who has finished second in the AIG Women's Open for three consecutive years, began her round on a high note with a long‑range birdie on the par‑three 1st hole. She then three‑putted the next, resulting in a bogey on the 4th, but quickly recovered by capitalising on both front‑nine par‑fives.
A missed shot on the 8th was redeemed when she holed a 12‑foot putt on the 9th, finishing the front nine with a solid 34. Later, Hull briefly closed to within three shots of the lead after a birdie on the par‑five 11th and an impressive long‑range putt from off the 15th green. A subsequent bogey on the 16th kept her paired with Woad at two under.
"I was shaking on that first tee – I could feel the nerves," Hull told Sky Sports. "Getting that early birdie helped calm me down. I missed a few putts, but overall I think I played reasonably well given how jittery I felt." Woad, 22, described her round as a mix of solid ball‑striking and missed opportunities on the greens. "I hit a lot of fairways and found many greens, but I didn't convert enough putts," she said.
"The good shots were typically 15 to 25 feet from the pin – not easy, but I managed a few solid rolls." Thitikul's 64 set a new benchmark for the lowest opening round ever recorded at Royal Lytham in the history of the AIG Women's Open. The Thai star, still hunting her first major, displayed a complete game from tee to green, showcasing a powerful swing, deft iron play, and confident putting. She overtook the early clubhouse target set by Ryu, who had previously won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship.
Ryu's round featured six birdies and only a single bogey, underscoring the high level of competition. "I love it when my golf feels good," Thitikul remarked after her round. "I knew I was hitting solid shots, even got a lucky bounce out of the pot bunker.
When the ball is in the right place, it just works. I also felt confident with my putter today." The tournament also serves as the final qualifying event for Team Europe’s Solheim Cup roster. Eight automatic qualifiers will be confirmed on Sunday, with captain Anna Nordqvist slated to announce her four captain’s picks on Monday.
On the Ladies European Tour points race, Chiara Tamburlini currently holds a slender advantage over Helen Briem for the second qualifying spot, although both players struggled with opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively. Fans can follow the AIG Women's Open live throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, with early coverage beginning Friday at 9 a.m. and full coverage from 1 p.m. onward.
For those without a contract, streaming options are available to watch the action and other golf events. Additionally, golfers looking to experience the same courses can book tee times at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland through the provided booking platform. The early stages of the championship have already produced drama, surprise, and a glimpse of what could be a historic week for several players. Whether Thitikul can maintain her lead, Hull can finally break her major runner‑up streak, or a dark horse emerges, the remaining rounds promise to deliver compelling golf and intense competition on the storied links of Royal Lytham & St Annes.