Can Korda Replicate More Major Triumphs at This Year’s AIG Women’s Open?

As the 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open approaches, golf fans are gearing up for a dramatic showdown at the historic links of Royal Lytham & St Annes, broadcast live on Sky Sports. Among the headline contenders are American star Nelly Korda and England’s Charley Hull, both eager to add another major title to their résumés.

The current women’s major season has been dominated by two exceptional players: Nelly Korda and South Korea’s Ha Ryun. Each has already secured two major victories this year, putting them in a rare position to match the record for most major wins in a single calendar year. Korda captured the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, while Ryun triumphed at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship.

This marks the first occasion in LPGA history that two players have each claimed multiple majors in the same season. Only a handful of golfers—six across both the men’s and women’s tours—have ever won three majors in a single year. For the women, the exclusive club includes legends such as 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 men’s side, the feat has been accomplished only by Ben Hogan in 1953 and Tiger Woods in 2000. Korda and Ryun now stand on the brink of joining that elite group, with the AIG Women’s Open serving as the potential third crown. Both players are also in contention for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which honors the LPGA player with the best major‑tournament record in a season.

A third major win would likely settle the award in favor of whichever golfer captures the Open, adding another layer of intrigue to the competition. Korda’s recent form has been a roller‑coaster. After a stunning victory at the U.S.

Women’s Open, she missed the cut at the Evian Championship—a surprise given her status as a pre‑tournament favorite and her four‑major tally for the year. The miss ended a remarkable streak of 34 consecutive cuts made, a run that began earlier in the season. Nevertheless, the setback has not diminished her pursuit of a career Grand Slam.

Winning the AIG Women’s Open would give her a third distinct major title, moving her one step closer to completing the Grand Slam—a feat recognized when a player wins four of the five current majors, reflecting the evolving definition of major championships. Korda’s recent results provide further cause for optimism.

She finished tied‑second at the 2024 Open at St Andrews, just behind Lydia Ko, and posted a solid tied‑16th at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. A victory at Royal Lytham would not only secure her fifth major but also deliver her 20th LPGA Tour win, satisfying the two‑point requirement for induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame. The tournament also offers a chance for a British champion to emerge.

It has been 15 years since Yani Tseng became the last player to win back‑to‑back women’s majors, a streak that has eluded the field since her 2010 Royal Birkdale triumph and her 2011 win at Carnoustie. Japanese rising star Miyu Yamashita, a former 13‑time winner on the LPGA of Japan Tour, could become the first non‑European to break that drought.

Yamashita announced herself on the world stage last year by edging Charley Hull at Royal Porthcawl, and she has continued to build momentum with a Maybank Championship win on the LPGA Tour and a dramatic playoff victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Yamashita’s recent form is impressive: she has recorded four top‑five finishes in her last six worldwide starts, including a shared fourth place at the Evian Championship and a shared fifth at the Scottish Open.

Such consistency positions her as a serious contender to defend her title and perhaps become the first Japanese player to claim the AIG Women’s Open. British history at Royal Lytham is rich. Dame Laura Davies secured her final major there 30 years ago, and since then several UK players have tasted success on the links.

Alison Nicholas won the U.S. Women’s Open in 1997, while Karen Stupples captured the AIG Women’s Open in 2004.

More recently, Catriona Matthew became Scotland’s first female major champion at the 2009 Open, just weeks after giving birth to her second child, and Georgia Hall delivered a two‑stroke victory in 2018. Charley Hull, a five‑time runner‑up in major championships—including twice at this venue within a three‑year span—will be looking to finally break through.

Lottie Woad, another promising British talent, hopes to improve on her previous top‑10 finishes at the Open and make a statement on home soil. The tournament is expected to draw over 50,000 spectators throughout the week, many of whom are hoping to witness another British champion.

At the same time, the event serves as a crucial qualifier for Team Europe’s Solheim Cup roster. Players on the cusp of selection will view their performance at Lytham as a final audition for captain Anna Nordqvist’s squad. Nordqvist, who will serve as non‑playing captain, has already confirmed eight automatic qualifiers and will announce her four captain’s picks after the tournament.

Among the hopefuls are LET rising star Chiara Tamburlini, who sits second on the LET points list, and veteran Europeans such as Leona Maguire, Maja Stark, Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit, who occupy the six world‑ranking spots allocated for the Open. Additional European contenders include Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Dewi Weber and England’s Mimi Rhodes, all of whom sit inside the top 100 and could leverage a strong major performance into Solheim Cup consideration.

Sky Sports will provide exclusive coverage across the UK and Ireland, featuring a new "Featured Groups" format that begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage at 1 p.m. The weekend rounds will be broadcast live from midday, offering fans up to six additional hours of live golf compared with previous years.

With so many storylines converging—Korda’s quest for a third major, Ryun’s chase for a historic three‑major season, Yamashita’s attempt to become the first Japanese champion, Hull’s bid for a breakthrough, and the Solheim Cup implications—the AIG Women’s Open promises to be a landmark event in women’s golf. Tune in throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the action without a contract, to witness who will ultimately lift the Claret Jug and etch their name into the sport’s storied history.