Hull Downplays Rivalry with 'Unbelievable' Korda: 'Let Me Secure My First Major First!'

Charley Hull has been candid about the perceived rivalry with world No. 1 Nelly Korda as the AIG Women’s Open approaches, acknowledging that the string of near‑wins in major championships has been painful.

Hull, currently ranked seventh globally, 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 victory at the same venue in 2018. Hull’s record in majors reads like a series of close calls: two runner‑up finishes at the AIG Women’s Open in the past three years and a total of five second‑place finishes in major tournaments overall. One of those runner‑up spots came at the U.S.

Women’s Open in June, where she was bested by Korda. Despite the headline‑grabbing match‑ups, Hull insists she does not view Korda as a personal foe at the moment. "No offence to Nelly – she already has several majors and I have none," Hull said during a pre‑tournament press conference.

"I have five second places. Let me get my major first, then we can talk about rivalry later." Hull praised Korda’s impact on the sport, calling her performances "unbelievable" and noting that watching Korda play is a joy for fans.

Yet Hull’s own ambition remains clear: she wants to cross the finish line first and claim her inaugural major trophy. The sting of five runner‑up finishes is evident when she recalls walking past a poster of last year’s champion and thinking, "I wish that was me with the trophy." The AIG Women’s Open is set to be a showcase of talent, with several British players eager to make history.

Lottie Woad, the highest‑ranked Englishwoman in the field, spoke about the tournament being a "dream" major for any British golfer, especially after the last two editions were won by home‑grown players. Woad, currently world No.

5, loves the challenge of links golf, noting the unpredictable wind and bumpy terrain as both a test and a thrill. She highlighted the growing depth of British and English talent on both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour, emphasizing that the pipeline of emerging players is strong and that British golf is in a healthy position.

Hull’s recent form has been mixed. While she posted a top‑15 finish at the U.S. Women’s Open, her last seven starts have produced only that one top‑15 result.

At the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last week, she slipped to a tied‑44th place after a disastrous quadruple‑bogey nine on the opening round. Hull explained the mishap, saying the pin placement was problematic: "It was me, but the pin shouldn’t have been there. I saw a birdie putt roll off the green, texted the commissioner right after the round, and pointed out that the pin was about a yard from a massive slope, sitting on a downslope heading toward another slope. I had a 12‑foot birdie putt and ended up with a nine.

I chipped four times 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." Hull tried to put a positive spin on the experience, noting that she eventually holed a ten‑foot putt and even gave herself a fist‑bump for the effort. The incident underscores the fine margins in professional golf, where a single pin placement or a misread slope can turn a potential birdie into a high‑score hole.

Beyond the individual storylines, the tournament will be broadcast extensively in the UK and Ireland. Sky Sports holds exclusive rights to the AIG Women’s Open, offering a new "Featured Groups" segment that begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage starting at 1 p.m. The weekend rounds will be shown live from midday, providing fans with six additional hours of live action compared with previous years.

The event also serves as a prelude to the Solheim Cup, where Team Europe will make its debut in September. Players like Hull and Woad are looking to build momentum heading into that prestigious team competition, hoping that strong performances at Royal Lytham & St Annes will boost confidence and form. In summary, Charley Hull enters the AIG Women’s Open with a clear objective: break the pattern of second‑place finishes and finally secure a major championship.

While she respects Nelly Korda’s achievements and acknowledges the excitement surrounding the American’s quest for a fifth major, Hull’s focus remains on her own game. She wants to finish the tournament with a trophy around her neck, not a runner‑up medal.

The tournament promises a blend of seasoned champions, emerging British talent, and dramatic storylines, all set against the historic backdrop of a classic links course. Fans can tune in via Sky Sports Golf to watch the drama unfold, with the hope that Hull—or perhaps another hopeful—will finally turn those near‑misses into a historic victory.