Jeongeun "Jeeno" Thitikul surged to the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the AIG Women's Open, while Charley Hull experienced a roller‑coaster start in her quest for a long‑awaited major title. Thitikul posted an immaculate, bogey‑free 64 at Royal Lytham & St Annes, tallying seven birdies and establishing a two‑stroke cushion over two‑time major champion Hae‑Ran Ryu and Japan's Shiho Kuwaki. Ryu, who carded a five‑under 66, continues her push to become the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to capture three majors in a row, and Solheim Cup stalwart Céline Boutier also enjoyed a clean round, positioning herself three shots back. Lottie Woad opened with a flawless two‑under 69, while fellow Englishwoman Charley Hull—a five‑time runner‑up in majors who has yet to secure a victory—mixed six birdies with four bogeys, leaving her five strokes behind the leader.
Defending champion Miyu Yamashita fell to eight strokes back after a 72, and world No.1 Nelly Korda found herself fighting to avoid a second consecutive missed cut after a two‑over 73. Hull, who has finished second in the AIG Women's Open in each of the last three editions and hopes to become the first Englishwoman to win a major since 2018, began brightly with a long‑range birdie on the par‑three 1st hole. She stumbled on the next hole, three‑putting and making a bogey on the 4th, but recovered by capitalising on both front‑nine par‑fives. A missed shot on the 8th was redeemed when she holed a 12‑foot putt on the 9th, posting a front‑nine 34.
Hull briefly closed to within three of the lead after birdieing the par‑five 11th and sinking a dramatic putt from off the 15th‑green, only to drop a bogey on the following hole and settle back at two under, level with Woad. Reflecting on her nerves, Hull told Sky Sports, "I was so nervous on that first tee – I was shaking! It was good to get off with a birdie.
I missed quite a few putts today, but I felt I played pretty decently considering how nervous I was." Woad, the 22‑year‑old, also had a clean start, but a brutal lip‑out on the par‑five 6th forced her to settle for a birdie rather than an eagle. She later made a long‑range birdie on the par‑three 12th and created several chances to close the gap to Thitikul. "I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens – I didn't make too many putts," Woad admitted. "Good shots around here are 15 to 25 feet from the flag, which aren't the easiest.
I hit some good rolls, just didn't make enough." Thitikul's 64 was the lowest opening round ever recorded at Royal Lytham in the history of the AIG Women's Open. The Thai star, still chasing her first major, delivered a flawless performance from tee to green, overtaking the early clubhouse target set by Ryu, who had previously won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship. Thitikul's round featured six birdies and a single bogey, showcasing her ability to combine power and precision.
When asked about her round, Thitikul said, "I do enjoy it when golf is good. It's really nice that I knew I hit some good shots. I got a lucky bounce over the pot bunker, so when it's your way it's really your way. I knew I had a really good putter today, too." Her composure and confidence were evident, and she now leads the field heading into day two.
The tournament also serves as the final qualifying event for Team Europe’s Solheim Cup squad. Eight automatic qualifiers will be confirmed on Sunday, followed by captain’s picks announced on Monday.
Currently, Chiara Tamburlini holds a narrow advantage over Helen Briem for the second spot via the Ladies European Tour rankings, though both struggled with opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively. As the competition progresses, the question on everyone’s mind is who will ultimately lift the AIG Women's Open trophy. Early coverage continues on Sky Sports Golf, with live action from 9 a.m. on Friday and full coverage from 1 p.m.
onward. Golf fans can also stream the event and other sports without a contract through various platforms.
Beyond the tournament, the article highlights the broader context of golf in the UK and Ireland, inviting readers to explore and book rounds at over 1,700 courses across the region. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, the chance to experience world‑class courses is just a search away, though the current search returned no results, suggesting a different query may be needed.
In summary, the opening round of the AIG Women’s Open set the stage for an exciting showdown. Thitikul’s record‑breaking 64 places her firmly in the lead, while Hull and Woad demonstrate that the competition remains wide open. With major titles, Solheim Cup spots, and personal milestones on the line, the coming days promise high drama, skillful play, and the possibility of historic firsts for several of the world’s top women golfers.