Charley Hull has been careful to downplay any sense of a personal rivalry with world No. 1 Nelly Korda as she prepares for the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The English golfer, currently ranked seventh in the world, acknowledges that Korda’s recent dominance – she has already claimed the first two majors of the season – is impressive, but Hull insists her own priority is to finally break through and capture a major championship of her own. In 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 in first and then that’s something we can think about in the future." She added that Korda’s game is "unbelievable" and a joy to watch, describing the American as "a nice girl" and praising her contributions to the sport. Hull’s frustration is understandable. Over the past three years she has finished runner‑up twice at the AIG Women’s Open and has accumulated five second‑place finishes in major tournaments overall.

The most recent of those near‑misses came at the U.S. Women’s Open in June, where she was bested by Korda. The string of close calls has left Hull feeling the sting of what she described as "it hurts" – a sentiment many golfers who hover just outside the winner’s circle can relate to.

The English hope is hoping to become the first home‑grown champion at Royal Lytham & St Annes since Georgia Hall’s breakthrough victory in 2018, which also came on the same historic links course. Hull, now 30, knows the pressure of representing her country on such a storied stage and is determined to turn the tide. Her recent form, however, has been a mixed bag.

While she posted a tied‑44th finish at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last week, that result was marred by a 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, texted the commissioner after the round, and realized the pin was placed a yard from a massive slope on a downslope. I had a 12‑foot putt for birdie and walked off with a nine.

It just shows I’m human – even the world No. 1 can make a nine." Despite the disappointment, Hull remains optimistic. She recalled the moment she walked onto the first‑day gallery last year and saw the trophy on display, thinking, "I wish that was me." That image fuels her ambition to finally stand on the top step of the podium.

Another English contender, Lottie Woad, who is currently the highest‑ranked Englishwoman in the field, also voiced her dream of winning the AIG Women’s Open. 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 bounce.

It’s special because you only get to play it a few times a year, so those shots feel unique compared to the United States." Woad has already recorded top‑10 finishes in her two previous appearances at the Open and hopes to improve on those results as the season draws to a close. The tournament itself is set to receive unprecedented coverage in the UK and Ireland.

Sky Sports holds exclusive rights, introducing a new "Featured Groups" segment that will begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, followed by full live coverage from 1 p.m.

The weekend rounds will be broadcast from midday, offering fans a total of six additional hours of live golf compared with previous years. As the final women’s major of the calendar year approaches, the stakes are high not only for Hull and Korda but also for the broader British contingent. The upcoming Solheim Cup in September will see Team Europe, featuring several of the players at Lytham, battle the United States, adding another layer of national pride to the proceedings.

In summary, Charley Hull’s narrative heading into the AIG Women’s Open is one of perseverance and focus. While she respects Nelly Korda’s extraordinary talent and acknowledges the excitement Korda brings to the game, Hull’s personal mission remains clear: secure that elusive first major title. Whether she can convert one of her numerous runner‑up finishes into a victory will be the story to watch as the wind‑swept links of Royal Lytham & St Annes test the skill, patience, and mental toughness of the world’s best women golfers.