Can Korda Replicate More Major Triumphs at the AIG Women's Open?

As the AIG Women’s Open celebrates its 50th anniversary, the tournament promises a thrilling showdown on the historic links of Royal Lytham & St Annes, with Sky Sports providing live coverage. Two of the sport’s brightest stars, Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, are among the leading contenders hoping to add another major title to their résumés.

The current women’s major season has been largely defined by the duelling performances of Nelly Korda and South Korea’s Ha‑Rin Ryu. Both players have already secured two major championships this year, putting them within reach of matching the record for the most major wins 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 an unprecedented moment in LPGA history, as it is the first occasion that two players have each collected multiple majors in the same season. Only a select handful of golfers—six across the men’s and women’s games—have ever won three majors in a single year.

Those elite company includes legends such as Ben Hogan (1953) and Tiger Woods (2000) on the men’s side, and Inbee Park, who swept the first three majors in 2013, joining the ranks of Babe Zaharias (1950), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986) on the women’s side. Korda and Ryu now stand on the cusp of joining this exclusive club should they capture the AIG Women’s Open title. Both athletes are also in contention for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which honors the LPGA player with the most impressive major record over a season. While the award typically goes to the player with the best overall major performance, a decisive third major victory could tip the scales in favor of one over the other.

Korda’s recent form has been a blend of high peaks and surprising setbacks. After a dominant display at the Evian Championship earlier in the year, she missed the cut—a shocking result given her status as the pre‑tournament favorite and a four‑time major winner that season. The miss ended a remarkable streak of 34 consecutive cuts made and underscored the unpredictable nature of major championship golf.

Despite that stumble, Korda remains in pursuit of a career Grand Slam. She already holds three different major titles, having added the U.S. Women’s Open to her résumé earlier in the season.

In the women’s game, players who have won four of the five current majors are recognized as having completed a career Grand Slam, a distinction that reflects the evolving landscape of major championships over the decades. The AIG Women’s Open therefore presents Korda with a fresh opportunity to secure the final piece of that puzzle. Korda’s recent tournament finishes provide further context. She tied for second place behind Lydia Ko at the 2024 Open at St Andrews, and she posted a tied‑16th finish at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.

A victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes would not only give her a fifth major win—bringing her within two points of automatic LPGA Hall of Fame induction—but also deliver her 20th LPGA Tour title overall. The tournament also offers a chance for a new name to break a 15‑year streak without back‑to‑back major winners. The last player to achieve consecutive women’s majors was Yani Tseng, who won the 2010 Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale and followed it with a four‑stroke victory at the 2011 Women’s Open at Carnoustie.

Japanese rising star Miyu Yamashita, a former dominant force on the LPGA of Japan Tour with 13 victories, could become the first to end that drought. Yamashita burst onto the global stage last year, holding off Charley Hull to claim a two‑shot win 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, indicating she is in prime condition to contend for the title.

British golf history also looms large over the event. It has been three decades since Dame Laura Davies secured her fourth major at this venue, and several home‑grown players have enjoyed major success here. Alison Nicholas won the U.S. Women’s Open in 1997, Karen Stupples lifted the AIG Women’s Open in 2004, and Catriona Matthew became Scotland’s first female major champion with a 2009 victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter.

More recently, Georgia Hall claimed a two‑shot win in 2018. Charley Hull, a five‑time major runner‑up—including two near‑misses at this tournament in the past three years—will be eager to finally break through. Lottie Woad, who has posted top‑10 finishes in her previous two appearances, will also be looking to improve her record.

The tournament is expected to draw over 50,000 spectators throughout the week, many of whom hope to witness another British champion. At the same time, the event serves as a final qualifying opportunity for players hoping to earn a spot on Team Europe’s Solheim Cup roster.

Anna Nordqvist, who will serve as non‑playing captain, has already secured eight automatic qualifiers and will announce her four captain’s picks soon. The competition for those remaining spots is fierce, with LET points leader Chiara Tamburlini, rookie Helen Briem, Agathe Laisne, and Cara Gainer all vying for selection. World‑ranking spots are currently occupied by Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit, while Leona Maguire’s recent strong performance in Scotland could see her back in the European camp.

Other European players in the top 100—including Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen, the Netherlands’ Dewi Weber and England’s Mimi Rhodes—will also be watching the major closely, hoping a strong showing could boost their Solheim Cup prospects. Sky Sports retains exclusive broadcasting rights for the AIG Women’s Open in the UK and Ireland. This year’s coverage introduces a new "Featured Groups" format, with early morning broadcasts 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 fans a total of six additional hours of live golf compared with previous editions. Whether you’re rooting for Korda to complete a career Grand Slam, hoping for a breakthrough from Hull or Yamashita, or simply eager to see which British player will add their name to the storied history of Royal Lytham & St Annes, the AIG Women’s Open promises a week of high‑stakes drama, historic moments, and world‑class golf.

Tune in to Sky Sports Golf for live action throughout the tournament and experience the excitement of one of the sport’s most prestigious events.