Nelly Korda has voiced her belief that a victory for Charley Hull at the AIG Women’s Open, especially on home soil, would be a huge boost for the sport of golf. While she admires Hull’s consistency, Korda herself is focused on adding another major to her résumé at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Going into the tournament, Korda is the clear favorite to chase a record‑tying third major title of the season. She already secured two majors this year – the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open – and has been dominant throughout an impressive swing of form.
Korda’s win at the U.S. Women’s Open was a nail‑biter, edging out Gaby Lopez by a single stroke. Hull, who has now accumulated five runner‑up finishes in major championships – two of them at the AIG Women’s Open in the past three years – remains hungry for that elusive first major win.
Ahead of what will be the final major of the calendar year, Hull admitted that the string of near‑misses is painful. She noted that the last Englishwoman to capture a major was Georgia Hall in 2018, and that the weight of expectation can be heavy. Nevertheless, Korda praised Hull’s ability to stay in contention so often. "Sometimes it’s just about putting yourself in a position to contend," Korda said during her pre‑tournament press conference.
"You can’t control what other players do, but Hull is doing something right – she’s consistently there, she’s relevant, and she’s always in the hunt." Korda drew a parallel with the men’s game, mentioning Sam Burns, who has repeatedly been close in majors without yet sealing a victory. "He’ll get there eventually. You can’t let the lack of a win discourage you – it should actually encourage you," she added. When asked about Hull’s personality, Korda was effusive.
"She’s a wonderful character, and a win on home turf would be fantastic for her. She’s an amazing player with a quirky sense of humor – I always enjoy playing with her. It would be great for the game of golf." Hull, in turn, described Korda’s remarkable season – which includes four global victories – as "unbelievable" for the sport.
She acknowledged the added pressure that comes with being world No. 1 and dominating for an extended period. "I’m at a point in my career where I’m just being myself," Hull said.
"If people don’t like it, that’s fine. If it inspires the next generation, that’s even better. No one can dictate the direction I take – I’ll stay authentic.
Trying to be something I’m not drains my energy." She continued, "I’ve learned to say yes to the things I truly want to do. If that helps grow the game and gets people watching, that’s wonderful. It’s a balance I’ve figured out over time." Korda’s consistency has been astounding: ten straight top‑eight finishes worldwide until a surprising missed cut at the Amundi Evian Championship earlier this month, which ended a 34‑event streak of making the cut that spanned nearly two years. "Evian is a quirky course," Korda explained.
"Honestly, I didn’t play badly. Golf is a game – even when you’re playing well you’re not invincible.
You won’t make every cut or finish in the top ten every week. There will be weeks when you just don’t have it, and that’s the reality.
After missing enough cuts, it becomes about bouncing back." Korda also reflected on her performance at last year’s AIG Women’s Open, where she finished runner‑up to Lydia Ko. A win this week would not only cement her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame but also complete the career Grand Slam. "Whenever I’m in contention at a major and I can smell the title, I get a little emotional," Korda admitted about the narrow miss in 2024. "That’s why we rise early, work on our game mentally and physically, to be in contention." She added, "Sniffing that title at St Andrews hurt a bit.
Historically I haven’t had the best results at the Women’s Open – I didn’t play particularly well there before. Being able to contend on a links course in tough weather was motivating because it proved I could compete." The broadcast rights for the AIG Women’s Open in the UK and Ireland belong exclusively to Sky Sports.
This year, Sky introduced a new "Featured Groups" segment, offering six additional hours of live coverage compared with previous editions. The featured groups start at 9 a.m.
on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage kicking off at 1 p.m. The weekend rounds – three and four – will be shown live from midday. Fans wondering who will lift the trophy can follow the action throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the event via Sky’s no‑contract service. The tournament promises high drama, with Korda aiming for a historic third major, Hull seeking redemption on familiar ground, and the broader narrative of how a home‑grown champion could energise the sport for a new generation of players and supporters alike.