Nelly Korda has openly expressed that a triumph by England’s Charley Hull at the AIG Women’s Open would be "great for golf," while she herself is focused on adding another major title to her résumé at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Korda enters the tournament as the clear favorite, eyeing a historic third major of the season after already capturing the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open in a campaign that has drawn widespread admiration. Korda’s win at the U.S.
Women’s Open was a dramatic one‑shot victory over Gaby Lopez, and it also added another runner‑up finish for Hull, who now holds five major second‑place finishes – two of them coming at the AIG Women’s Open in the past three years – but still lacks that elusive first‑place breakthrough. Ahead of what will be the final major of the year, Hull admitted that the string of near‑misses has been painful.
She noted that the last English woman to win a major was Georgia Hall in 2018, and that the repeated close calls can be a mental burden. Korda, however, praised Hull’s consistency, saying that simply being in contention so often is a sign that Hull is doing many things right. "Sometimes it’s about putting yourself in that position to contend," Korda told reporters at the pre‑tournament press conference.
"You can’t control what other players do, but she’s consistently there, staying relevant and always in the hunt." Korda drew a parallel with the men’s game, mentioning Sam Burns, who has frequently been in the mix at majors without yet sealing a victory. "Eventually he’ll get it," she said. "You can’t let those close calls discourage you – they should actually be encouraging." When asked about Hull’s personality, Korda was effusive.
"She’s such a great character. It would be fantastic for her to win on home soil. She’s an amazing player with a wonderful sense of humor – I love playing with her any time. I think it would be great for the game of golf." Hull, in turn, described Korda’s remarkable season – which includes four worldwide victories – as "unbelievable" for the sport.
She acknowledged the extra pressure that comes with being world No. 1 and dominating a discipline, but emphasized that she is now at a point in her career where she can simply be herself.
"If people don’t like it, that’s fine. If it inspires the next generation, that’s even better," Hull said.
"No one can force me down a particular path; I’ll follow the direction that feels authentic to me. Trying to be someone else just drains my battery." She added that she has learned to make choices that feel true to her, noting, "When I say yes to something, it’s because I genuinely want to. If that helps grow the game and gets more eyes on me, wonderful.
But I’ve had to learn that balance." Korda’s consistency has been astounding: she logged ten straight top‑eight finishes worldwide until a surprising missed cut at the Amundi Evian Championship earlier this month, which ended a 34‑event streak of making the cut that stretched back nearly two years. "Evian is just a funky golf course," Korda commented.
"Honestly, I didn’t play badly. Golf isn’t about being invincible; you can’t expect to make every cut or finish in the top ten every week.
Some weeks you just don’t have it, and that’s the reality. After missing enough cuts, you learn how to bounce back." Korda’s recent form also includes a runner‑up finish to Lydia Ko at last year’s AIG Women’s Open, and a victory this week would not only cement her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame but also complete the career Grand Slam – a feat achieved by only a handful of women.
"Whenever I’m in contention at a major and I can smell the title, I get a little emotional," Korda admitted about her narrow miss in 2024. "That’s why we get up early, work on our game mentally and physically, and keep grinding." She reflected on her performance at St Andrews, saying, "Sniffing the title there hurt a bit. I hadn’t had the best results at the Women’s Open before, but being in contention on a links course in that weather was motivating.
It showed me I could compete." In the UK and Ireland, Sky Sports retains exclusive rights to the AIG Women’s Open, introducing a new "Featured Groups" segment that will start at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage kicking off at 1 p.m.
The weekend will feature live broadcasts of the third and fourth rounds beginning at midday. Fans can tune in throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the action without a contract via the Sky Sports app.
The question on everyone’s mind remains: will Charley Hull finally break through on home turf, or will Nelly Korda add another major to her burgeoning collection? The drama will unfold over the coming days, offering golf enthusiasts a compelling blend of talent, perseverance, and the ever‑present possibility of history being made.