Charley Hull has been quick to minimise any sense of rivalry with world No. 1 Nelly Korda as the AIG Women’s Open approaches, while also opening up about the sting she feels after repeatedly finishing as the runner‑up in major championships. Hull, currently ranked seventh in the world, is among the leading English contenders at Royal Lytham & St Annes, hoping to become the first Englishwoman to capture a major title since Georgia Hall’s breakthrough victory at the same venue in 2018. Hull’s record in majors reads like a series of near‑misses.
In the past three years she has stood on the runner‑up podium twice at the AIG Women’s Open and has collected five second‑place finishes overall in major tournaments, including a recent loss to Korda at the U.S. Women’s Open in June.
Despite the impressive consistency, those close calls have left her feeling the weight of unfinished business. During a pre‑tournament press conference Hull said, “I don’t really see it as a rivalry at the minute, because no offence, Nelly has got however many majors and I’ve got none.
I’ve got five second places. Let me get my major first and then we can talk about rivalry later.” She praised Korda’s game, calling it "unbelievable" and "so good to watch," and added that Korda is a "nice girl" who is doing great things for the sport.
Hull’s primary goal, she emphasized, is simply to cross the finish line first and claim that elusive first major title. The emotional toll of finishing second so often is evident in Hull’s comments. She recalled walking past a trophy display on the first day of the previous year’s Open and thinking, "I wish that was me." Those moments, she admits, hurt more than any other disappointment in her career. Yet Hull remains determined, viewing each near‑miss as a stepping stone toward the ultimate victory.
Hull’s recent form has been a mixed bag. Her runner‑up finish at the U.S.
Women’s Open is the only top‑15 result she has recorded in her last seven starts. The 30‑year‑old also posted a tied‑44th place at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, a tournament that was marred by a costly quadruple‑bogey on the ninth hole. Hull explained the mishap, saying, "It was me, but the pin shouldn’t have been there.
I saw a birdie putt roll off the green and it was a yard from a massive slope, heading down a steep decline. I ended up with a nine after a 12‑foot birdie chance and four chips up the slope. It just shows that even the world No.
1 can make a nine." She added, with a hint of humor, "I thought it was a pretty good nine by the end of it. I holed a ten‑foot putt – I even fist‑bumped!" The incident underscores the fine margins that separate triumph from disappointment in elite golf, especially on the demanding links courses that characterize the Women’s Open. Another English hopeful, Lottie Woad, who is the highest‑ranked Englishwoman in the field, expressed her own dream of lifting the trophy. The world No.
5 said, "For any British player, this would be the dream to win. I love links golf; it’s a great test with the wind and the firm ground. It’s always been my favourite to watch, and I’d love to win it." Woad highlighted the growing depth of British talent on both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour, noting that many of her friends are on the cusp of turning professional. She believes British golf is in a strong position and expects the upcoming Solheim Cup to showcase that strength.
Woad, who has posted top‑10 finishes in her two previous AIG Women’s Open appearances, enjoys the unique challenges of links golf. "It can be tricky, you need a little luck with the bounces and the wind," she said. "You only get to play it a few times a year, so it feels special to hit those shots you wouldn’t get on a typical American course." The tournament itself will be broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, with a new "Featured Groups" format that provides additional live coverage.
The first two days will start at 9 a.m. on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage from 1 p.m., and the weekend rounds will be shown from midday. This expanded schedule gives fans more opportunity to watch the drama unfold.
As the week progresses, the question on everyone’s mind is who will finally break through and claim the AIG Women’s Open crown. With Hull aiming to turn her runner‑up record into a victory, Korda seeking a fifth major of the season, and Woad hoping to add her name to the list of British champions, the competition promises to be fierce.
Golf enthusiasts can follow the action live on Sky Sports Golf or stream the coverage without a long‑term contract, ensuring that the excitement of the final women’s major of the year reaches a wide audience. In summary, Charley Hull’s candid reflections reveal both the frustration of coming so close and the fierce determination to finally win a major. While she respects Korda’s achievements, Hull’s focus remains firmly on her own goal: to secure that first major title and, perhaps one day, revisit the idea of a rivalry from a place of equal accomplishment. The stage is set at Royal Lytham & St Annes, and the world will be watching to see which of these talented golfers can rise to the occasion and etch their name into the history books.