As the 50th anniversary of the AIG Women’s Open approaches, the spotlight turns to Royal Lytham & St Annes, where the tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Among the contenders are Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, both eager to claim a major title on the historic links. The current women’s major season has been dominated by two standout players: Nelly Korda and Ha Rin Ryu. Each has already secured two major championships this year, putting them in a position to match the record for the most majors won in a single calendar year.
Korda captured the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, while Ryu triumphed at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship. This marks the first occasion in LPGA history that two players have each amassed multiple majors in the same season.
Only six individuals—across both the men’s and women’s games—have ever won three majors in a single year. If either Korda or Ryu adds the AIG Women’s Open to their résumé, they will join an exclusive club that includes legends such as Ben Hogan (1953), Tiger Woods (2000), Inbee Park (2013), Babe Zaharias (195), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986). For the women, Inbee Park’s three‑major sweep in 2013 equaled the achievements of Zaharias, Wright and Bradley, underscoring how rare this feat truly is. Both Korda and Ryu are also in contention for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which honors the LPGA player with the strongest major‑championship record in a given season.
A victory at Royal Lytham could tip the scales decisively in favor of one of them, making the tournament a pivotal moment in the race for that honor. One of the biggest shocks of the season came at the Evian Championship, where Korda missed the cut despite entering as a pre‑tournament favorite. The miss broke a remarkable streak of 34 consecutive tournaments where she had made the cut and added an unexpected twist to her quest for a career Grand Slam. Korda already holds three different major titles, and a win at the AIG Women’s Open would give her a fourth, putting her one step away from completing the career Grand Slam—a milestone recognized for players who have won four of the five current majors, reflecting the evolving status of the events over time.
Korda’s recent performances illustrate both her consistency and her hunger for more. She finished tied for second behind Lydia Ko at St Andrews in 2024 and was 16th at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. A victory at Royal Lytham would not only be her 20th LPGA Tour win but also her fifth major, securing the two points she needs to lock in a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame.
The tournament also offers a chance for other rising stars to make their mark. Miyu Yamashita, a dominant force on the LPGA of Japan Tour with 13 wins, broke through on the global stage last year by edging Charley Hull at Royal Porthcawl.
Since then she has added a Maybank Championship title on the LPGA Tour and captured the Meijer LPGA Classic in a dramatic playoff against Lottie Woad. Her recent form includes four top‑five finishes in her last six worldwide starts, a shared fourth place at the Evian Championship and a shared fifth at the Scottish Open, positioning her as a legitimate contender for her first major. British players have a rich history at this venue. It has been the site of triumphs for Catriona Matthew, who became Scotland’s first female major champion in 2009 just weeks after giving birth, and Georgia Hall, who claimed a two‑shot victory in 2018.
The event has also produced winners such as Alison Nicholas (U.S. Women’s Open, 1997) and Karen Stupples (AIG Women’s Open, 2004). Charley Hull, a five‑time major runner‑up—including two close finishes at this very tournament—will be looking to finally break through, while Lottie Woad hopes to build on her recent top‑10 finishes in her first two AIG Women’s Open appearances.
The atmosphere in Lancashire is expected to be electric, with more than 50,000 spectators anticipated throughout the week, many hoping to witness another home‑grown champion. The tournament also serves as a final qualifying opportunity for players aiming to make Team Europe’s Solheim Cup roster. Captain Anna Nordqvist, who will not play but will select her team, has already confirmed eight automatic qualifiers and will announce four additional picks after the event.
Players such as Chiara Tamburlini, Helen Briem, Agathe Laisne, Cara Gainer, Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit are all in contention for those coveted spots. Other European hopefuls, including Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Dewi Weber and England’s Mimi Rhodes, sit inside the world’s top 100 and could see their Solheim Cup prospects rise dramatically with a strong showing at the major. Sky Sports retains exclusive broadcasting rights for the AIG Women’s Open in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This year, the network introduces a new “Featured Groups” segment, starting 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, offering an additional six hours of live golf compared with previous years. With so many storylines converging—Korda’s chase of a career Grand Slam and Hall of Fame entry, Ryu’s pursuit of a historic third‑major season, Yamashita’s bid for her first major, and Hull’s quest for a breakthrough win—the AIG Women’s Open promises to be one of the most compelling chapters of the 2026 women’s golf calendar. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports Golf or stream the coverage without a contract, ensuring that the drama of Royal Lytham & St Annes reaches a global audience.