Jeongeun "Jeeno" Thitikul surged into the top spot after the opening round of the AIG Women's Open, while Charley Hull experienced a roller‑coaster start in her quest for a long‑awaited major championship. Thitikul delivered an immaculate, bogey‑free 64 at the storied Royal Lytham & St Annes, tallying seven birdies and establishing a two‑stroke lead over two‑time major champion Haeran Ryu and Japan's Shiho Kuwaki. Ryu, who posted a five‑under 66, is eyeing a historic three‑peat, a feat not achieved since Inbee Park’s three‑consecutive majors in 2013.
Meanwhile, Solheim Cup stalwart Celine Boutier also enjoyed a flawless start, positioning herself three shots behind the leader. Lottie Woad opened with a clean two‑under 69, keeping her within striking distance of the leaders.
Hull, a five‑time runner‑up in major tournaments yet to claim a victory, produced a volatile round that combined six birdies with four bogeys, leaving her five strokes off the pace. Defending champion Miyu Yamashita fell back eight strokes after a 72, and world No.
1 Nelly Korda faced the prospect of missing back‑to‑back majors after a two‑over 73. Hull, who has finished second in the AIG Women’s Open three times in the past four years, began her round with a dramatic long‑range birdie on the par‑three first hole. Though she three‑putted the next hole and made a bogey on the fourth, she quickly recovered by capitalising on both front‑nine par‑fives. A missed shot on the eighth was redeemed when she holed a 12‑foot putt on the ninth, posting a solid 34 for the front nine.
Later in the round Hull briefly narrowed the gap to three strokes after birdieing the 11th par‑five and sinking a massive putt from off the 15th green, only to drop a bogey on the following hole and settle back at two under alongside Woad. "I was so nervous on that first tee – I was shaking!" Hull told Sky Sports. "It felt great to open with a birdie.
I missed a few putts today, but I think I played decently considering how jittery I was." Woad’s round was marked by a dramatic lip‑out on the sixth par‑five, which forced her to settle for a birdie rather than a potential eagle. She also produced a long‑range birdie on the 12th par‑three and created numerous opportunities to close the gap on Thitikul’s lead. "I hit a lot of fairways and found a lot of greens – I just didn’t convert enough putts," Woad said.
"Good shots here are usually 15 to 25 feet from the flag, which is tough. I rolled some great putts, but I didn’t make enough of them." Thitikul’s 64 was the lowest opening round ever recorded at Royal Lytham in the history of the AIG Women’s Open.
The 22‑year‑old from Thailand, still searching for her first major, displayed a flawless performance from tee to green, out‑scoring the early clubhouse target set by Ryu. Ryu’s impressive 66 featured six birdies and a single bogey, reflecting her recent victories at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship. "I love it when my golf is good," Thitikul remarked. "It was great to know I was hitting solid shots.
I even got a lucky bounce out of the pot bunker, and when things go your way, they really go your way. I also felt confident with my putting today." The tournament also serves as the final qualifying event for Team Europe’s Solheim Cup squad. Eight automatic qualifiers will be confirmed on Sunday, after which Anna Nordqvist will announce her four captain’s picks on Monday. Currently, Chiara Tamburlini holds a narrow advantage over Helen Briem for the second spot via the Ladies European Tour rankings, though both struggled with opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively.
Fans can follow the ongoing battle for the AIG Women’s Open title throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, with early coverage beginning Friday at 9 a.m. and full live action from 1 p.m. onward.
Those interested in playing the courses can explore booking options at over 1,700 venues across the UK and Ireland. Overall, the first day at Royal Lytham set the stage for an exciting contest, highlighting Thitikul’s breakout performance, Hull’s resilient but uneven start, and Woad’s steady climb. As the field tightens and the Solheim Cup qualification race intensifies, the remaining rounds promise high drama, strategic play, and the potential for a new major champion to emerge.