As the 50th anniversary of the AIG Women’s Open approaches, anticipation builds for a tournament that promises to deliver drama, history, and perhaps a new chapter in the careers of several leading players. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and among the names most frequently mentioned are Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, both eager to claim the coveted major title at the historic links of Royal Lytham & St Annes. The current season of women’s majors has been dominated by two extraordinary competitors: Nelly Korda of the United States and South Korea’s Haeran Ryu. Each of them already holds two major victories this year, putting them in a rare position to match the record for the most major wins in a single calendar year.
Korda secured the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, while Ryu triumphed at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship. This marks the first time in LPGA history that two players have each collected multiple majors in the same season, underscoring the high‑level rivalry that will likely intensify at Lytham.
Only six golfers—across both the men’s and women’s tours—have ever captured three majors in one season. For the women, Inbee Park achieved this feat in 2013, joining a distinguished lineage that includes legends such as Babe Zaharias (1950), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986). On the men’s side, the exclusive club contains Ben Hogan (1953) and Tiger Woods (2000). Both Korda and Ryu now stand on the brink of joining that elite group, with the AIG Women’s Open representing the decisive third trophy that could cement their place in history.
The race for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award—a prize given to the LPGA player with the strongest major record in a season—adds another layer of intrigue. At present, Korda and Ryu are the only serious contenders, and a victory at Royal Lytham could tip the scales in favor of one of them, while also delivering a third major to the eventual winner’s résumé.
Korda’s recent performance at the Evian Championship was a surprising setback: she missed the cut, ending a remarkable streak of 34 consecutive cuts made. The miss was all the more shocking because she entered the tournament as the pre‑event favorite, having already claimed three different majors that season. Nevertheless, the setback may serve as motivation as she pursues the career Grand Slam.
By winning the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this year, Korda already added a third distinct major to her collection. A triumph at the AIG Women’s Open would represent her fourth different major, completing the modern career Grand Slam—a feat recognized for women who have won four of the five current majors, reflecting the evolving status of major championships over time. Korda’s recent form has been solid, though not without its ups and downs.
She finished tied‑second to Lydia Ko at St Andrews in 2024 and posted a respectable tied‑16th at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open this season. A win at Lytham would not only give her a fifth major but also secure her 20th LPGA Tour victory, bringing her within two points of the threshold required for induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame. The tournament also offers a chance for other compelling storylines to unfold. Miyu Yamashita, a dominant force on the LPGA of Japan Tour with 13 victories, has been steadily building a reputation on the global stage.
After a breakthrough win at the 2023 AIG Women’s Open—where she edged Charley Hull by two strokes at Royal Porthcawl—Yamashita continued her ascent with a Maybank Championship title and a dramatic playoff victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic in June. Her recent top‑five finishes, including a shared fourth place at the Evian Championship and a shared fifth at the Scottish Open, suggest she could be a serious contender for another major, potentially ending the 15‑year gap since Yani Tseng’s back‑to‑back major victories (2010 at Royal Birkdale and 2011 at Carnoustie). British golf history also looms large over the event.
It has been three decades since Dame Laura Davies captured her final major, and since then a number of UK players have triumphed at Royal Lytham. Alison Nicholas won the U.S.
Women’s Open in 1997, while Karen Stupples claimed the AIG Women’s Open in 2004. More recently, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew became the first Scottish woman to win a major when she captured the title at Lytham in 2009, just weeks after giving birth to her second daughter. In 2018, England’s Georgia Hall secured a two‑stroke victory at the same venue.
This lineage fuels hopes that a home‑grown champion will emerge once again. Charley Hull, a five‑time runner‑up in majors and twice a runner‑up at Lytham within the past three years, is still searching for that breakthrough win. Her consistent presence at the top of leaderboards makes her a favorite among the British crowd. Meanwhile, Lottie Woad, who has posted multiple top‑10 finishes at the AIG Women’s Open, hopes to build on that momentum and perhaps secure her first major.
Beyond the individual battles, the tournament serves as a critical juncture for the upcoming Solheim Cup. European players are making a final push to earn spots on Team Europe, with captain Anna Nordqvist finalising her roster.
Nordqvist, who will serve as a non‑playing captain this year, has already confirmed eight automatic qualifiers and will soon announce four captain’s picks. The competition for those spots is fierce, with LET points leader Chiara Tamburlini, rookie Helen Briem, Agathe Laisne and Cara Gainer all in contention.
World‑ranking positions are also at stake, with Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit occupying the six available slots. Players such as Leona Maguire, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Dewi Weber and Mimi Rhodes are watching closely, hoping a strong performance at Lytham could catapult them into Solheim Cup consideration.
Spectators are expected to swell to over 50,000 throughout the week, many of them hoping to witness a new British champion. The event will be covered extensively by Sky Sports, which holds exclusive broadcasting rights in the UK and Ireland. For the first time, Sky Sports Golf will offer a “Featured Groups” broadcast starting at 9 a.m.
on Thursday and Friday, followed by full coverage from 1 p.m., and live rounds three and four beginning at midday over the weekend. Fans can also stream the action without a contract via Sky’s streaming platform.
In summary, the 2026 AIG Women’s Open promises a confluence of historic ambition, personal redemption, and national pride. Whether Nelly Korda will add another major to her résumé, Charley Hull will finally break through, or a rising star like Miyu Yamashita will seize the moment, the tournament is set to deliver compelling golf and perhaps a new chapter in the sport’s storied legacy.