World No. 1 Nelly Korda has been placed into a glittering early‑day grouping for the opening rounds of the AIG Women's Open at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes.
She will share the tee with back‑to‑back major champion Haeran Ryu, creating a marquee three‑ball that promises high‑octane golf right from the start. Korda entered the tournament after a stellar season that already includes victories at the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women's Open.
Ryu, meanwhile, has added the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship to her résumé, making her the first player in history to claim two majors in a single season alongside another multiple‑major winner. The pairing of these two titans means that one of them could become the first golfer since Inbee Park in 2013 to capture three majors in a calendar year, a feat that would cement their place among the all‑time greats. Ryu, who is chasing a third consecutive major, tees off at 8:42 a.m.
alongside Korda and 2024 champion Lydia Ko. Their early start gives viewers a chance to watch three of the game's biggest names battle the famous dunes and tricky coastal winds that define Lytham & St Annes.
The broadcast will feature these "Featured Groups" on Sky Sports Golf beginning at 9:00 a.m., offering extended live coverage that is longer than any previous edition of the tournament. Also teeing off early is England's Lottie Woad, who hopes to become the first Englishwoman to win a major since Georgia Hall's triumph in 2018, which also took place at this venue. Ranked world No.
5, Woad will be paired with Japan's Aki Iwai and American Andrea Lee, forming another high‑profile three‑ball that will be highlighted in the Featured Group slots. On the opposite side of the draw, defending champion Miyu Yamashita is set to start at 1:15 p.m. with world No.
2 Jeongeun "Jeeno" Thitikul and American Lauren Coughlin. Yamashita is chasing a historic back‑to‑back major win, a feat not achieved since Yani Tseng's consecutive victories. Her later tee time places her in the afternoon session that will also be covered live by Sky Sports.
Charley Hull, another English contender, will also be part of the late‑early half of the field. Hull has finished runner‑up twice in the last three editions of the Open and will be paired with Australian Hannah Green and Canadian Brooke Henderson, both of whom have multiple tour wins and are eager to add a major to their collections. The tournament field consists of 144 players, each beginning on a staggered tee‑time schedule that starts as early as 6:30 a.m.
with England's Alice Hewson. The early start format ensures a smooth flow of play across the challenging links layout, where wind, firm fairways and deep bunkers test every aspect of a golfer's skill set.
Beyond the individual storylines, the AIG Women's Open also serves as the final qualifying event for European players hoping to earn a spot on the Solheim Cup team. Team Europe will be composed of the top two players from the European Solheim Cup points list, plus the next six highest‑ranked players in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings who are not already qualified. Captain Anna Nordqvist will then select four additional players live on Sky Sports News, rounding out a squad that could feature a blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars. The announced Solheim Cup candidates include: - Anna Nordqvist (Sweden), Cassie Porter (Australia), Sayaka Takahashi (Japan) - Sei Young Kim (South Korea), Rio Takeda (Japan), Yuna Araki (Japan) - Hyojoo Kim (South Korea), Minjee Lee (Australia), Mao Saigo (Japan) - Lottie Woad (England), Aki Iwai (Japan), Andrea Lee (USA) - Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Nelly Korda (USA), Haeran Ryu (South Korea) - Miyu Yamashita (Japan), Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand), Lauren Coughlin (USA) - Charley Hull (England), Hannah Green (Australia), Brooke Henderson (Canada) - Maja Stark (Sweden), Jinhee Im (South Korea), Allisen Corpuz (Philippines) Sky Sports retains exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the UK and Ireland, offering an unprecedented amount of live coverage.
Featured Group segments will kick off at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, followed by full coverage from 1:00 p.m. The final two rounds will be broadcast live from midday over the weekend, ensuring fans can follow every swing, putt and dramatic moment.
For viewers who prefer streaming, the event can be accessed without a long‑term contract, allowing fans to watch the action on various devices. Golf enthusiasts are also encouraged to explore the broader Sky Sports offering, which includes a range of other sports and entertainment content.
Outside of the tournament itself, golf fans can take advantage of special offers to book a round at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. Whether you're looking to play a historic links course or a modern parkland layout, the booking platform provides easy access to tee times and competitive pricing.
In summary, the AIG Women's Open promises a week of compelling narratives: from Korda and Ryu's quest for a third major, to Yamashita's bid for consecutive titles, to Hull's determination to finally break her runner‑up streak. With extensive live coverage, early tee times, and the added drama of Solheim Cup qualification, the tournament is set to deliver memorable golf and perhaps a new chapter in women's major championship history.