Hull Downplays Rivalry with Dominant Korda, Focuses on Securing Her First Major

Charley Hull has been careful to temper any talk of a rivalry with world No. 1 Nelly Korda as the AIG Women’s Open approaches, acknowledging that the string of near‑victories in major championships has been a source of frustration for her. Hull, currently ranked seventh in the world, is among the favourites at Royal Lytham & St Annes, hoping to become the first Englishwoman to capture a major title since Georgia Hall’s breakthrough win at the same venue in 2018.

Hull’s record in majors reads like a series of runner‑up finishes: two second places at the AIG Women’s Open in the past three years and a total of five runner‑up results across all major events. The most recent of those came at the U.S. Women’s Open in June, where she was edged out by Korda. Despite the close calls, Hull insists the situation is not a personal rivalry.

"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," she said at a recent press conference. "I’ve got five second places. Let me get my major first and then we can talk about anything else." Hull praised Korda’s impact on the sport, describing her play as "unbelievable" and noting how enjoyable it is to watch the American dominate.

Yet Hull’s own ambition remains crystal clear: she wants to cross the finish line first in a major. "Five second‑place finishes in majors kind of hurts," Hull admitted. She recalled walking past the trophy displays on the first day of the previous year and thinking, "I wish that was me." Those feelings have only deepened her resolve to finally break through. The upcoming AIG Women’s Open is not just a personal battle for Hull; it also represents a broader narrative for British golf.

Lottie Woad, the highest‑ranked English player in the field, has spoken about the dream of winning at Royal Lytham & St Annes, especially after the last two editions were claimed by British players. "For any British player, this would be the dream to win," said the world No. 5, expressing her love for links golf and the unique challenges the wind and undulating terrain present.

Woad’s own résumé includes top‑10 finishes in her previous two appearances at the Open, and she is eager to add another strong performance as the season’s final major draws to a close. She also highlighted the growing depth of talent among British and English golfers on both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour, noting that many of her friends are on the cusp of turning professional. Hull’s recent form has been a mixed bag. While she secured a runner‑up finish at the U.S.

Women’s Open, that result stands as her only top‑15 finish in the last seven starts. At the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last week, she posted a tied‑44th finish, hampered by a quadruple‑bogey on the ninth hole of her opening round. 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 and I texted the commissioner right after the round. The pin was about a yard from a massive slope and it was on a downslope heading toward another slope. I had a 12‑foot birdie putt and ended up with a nine.

I had four chips up the slope, but I shouldn’t have putted off the green. It just shows that even the world No.

1 can make a nine." She added, with a hint of humour, "I thought it was a pretty good nine by the end of it. I holed a ten‑foot putt – I think I even fist‑bumped!" The episode underscores the human element of the sport: even top players can be felled by a misplaced pin or an unexpected bounce.

Broadcast coverage for the tournament will be extensive. Sky Sports retains exclusive rights in the UK and Ireland, introducing Featured Groups coverage for the first time and adding six extra hours of live action compared with previous years. The new format will begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage launching at 1 p.m.

and live broadcasts of the third and fourth rounds commencing at midday over the weekend. As the week unfolds, fans can tune in to watch the drama unfold and see whether Hull can finally convert her string of close calls into a historic victory.

The question on everyone’s mind is whether she can break the pattern of second‑place finishes and become the next Englishwoman to lift the AIG Women’s Open trophy. With the added pressure of a rising British contingent and the ever‑present challenge posed by Korda’s formidable play, the tournament promises a compelling mix of talent, determination, and the unpredictable nature of links golf.