As the 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open approaches, the excitement is building for what promises to be a historic week of golf on the storied links of Royal Lytham & St Annes. The tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and two of the sport’s biggest names, Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, are among the contenders hoping to claim the coveted title. The current season of women’s majors has been dominated by a duopoly of talent. Nelly Korda, fresh off victories at the Chevron Championship and the U.S.

Women’s Open, has already secured two of the five majors on offer this year. South Korean sensation Haeran Ryu has matched her feat by winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship. This marks the first time in LPGA history that two players have each captured multiple majors in the same calendar year, underscoring the high‑level competition that will be on display at Lytham.

Both Korda and Ryu are now eyeing the AIG Women’s Open as the final piece needed to join an elite group of golfers who have won three majors in a single season. Only six players, across both the men’s and women’s games, have ever accomplished that rare feat.

On the men’s side, the legendary Ben Hogan (1953) and Tiger Woods (2000) are the only two to have done it. In the women’s game, Inbee Park achieved a three‑major sweep in 2013, joining the ranks of Babe Zaharias (1955), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986) who each won three majors in a single year.

The stakes are further heightened by the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which honors the LPGA player with the most impressive major record over a season. Korda and Ryu are the sole contenders for that accolade, and a win at Lytham could tip the balance in favor of one or the other.

Korda’s journey to this point has been anything but smooth. After a surprising miss of the cut at the Evian Championship—a tournament where she entered as a four‑time winner for the season—she rebounded by capturing the U.S. Women’s Open, her third distinct major title. That victory extended her streak of making the cut to 34 consecutive tournaments, a run that was snapped in France earlier in the year.

The win also kept her on track for a career Grand Slam, a feat that requires a player to win four of the five current majors. Because the roster of major championships has evolved over time, winning four of the five today is considered equivalent to completing a career Grand Slam. Korda finished tied for second at the 2024 Open at St Andrews, just behind Lydia Ko.

A triumph at Royal Lytham would not only give her a second major win at the historic venue but also make her the first woman since Inbee Park to claim a Grand Slam by winning four different majors. In addition, a victory would represent her 20th LPGA Tour title, the fifth major of her career, and would earn her the two points required to secure a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame.

The tournament also offers a chance for a new name to break a 15‑year drought of back‑to‑back major winners. The last player to achieve consecutive women’s majors was Yani Tseng, who won the 2010 Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale and followed it with a four‑stroke victory at Carnoustie in 2011. Japanese rising star Miyu Yamashita, a 13‑time champion on the LPGA of Japan Tour, could become that player. Yamashita first announced herself to a British audience with a dramatic two‑shot win over Charley Hull at the 2023 Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.

Since then she has added a Maybank Championship title on the LPGA Tour and captured the Meijer LPGA Classic in a playoff against Lottie Woad. Her recent form includes a shared fourth place at the Evian Championship and a shared fifth at the Scottish Open, indicating she is in prime shape to defend her title. British golf history also looms large over the event. It has been three decades since Dame Laura Davies claimed her final major at Royal Lytham, and since then only a handful of British women have triumphed on the links.

Alison Nicholas won the U.S. Women’s Open in 1997, while Karen Stupples captured the AIG Women’s Open in 2004. More recently, Catriona Matthew became Scotland’s first female major champion by winning the 2009 Open just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second child. Georgia Hall followed in 2018 with a two‑shot victory.

Charley Hull, a five‑time major runner‑up—including two second‑place finishes at Lytham—will be seeking her first major win, while Lottie Woad hopes to improve on her top‑10 finishes from the previous two editions. The tournament is expected to draw more than 50,000 spectators throughout the week, many of whom will be hoping for a home‑grown champion.

The event also serves as a final opportunity for players to cement their places on Team Europe for the upcoming Solheim Cup. Captain Anna Nordqvist, who will not be playing herself, is finalising her roster.

Eight players have already secured automatic qualification, and she will announce four additional picks shortly. The competition for those spots is fierce, with LET points leader Chiara Tamburlini sitting just behind Helen Briem, Agathe Laisne and Cara Gainer, while a rookie quartet could also break through. World‑ranking qualifiers include Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit.

Other European hopefuls such as Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Dewi Weber and Mimi Rhodes are also in the top 100 and could make a late surge. Sky Sports will be the exclusive broadcaster of the AIG Women’s Open in the UK and Ireland, offering an expanded coverage package that includes a new "Featured Groups" segment beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, followed by full live coverage from 1 p.m. The final two rounds will be shown live from midday on the weekend, giving fans ample opportunity to follow the drama as it unfolds.

In summary, the 2026 AIG Women’s Open promises a blend of historic significance, personal milestones, and fierce competition. Whether Nelly Korda will add another major to her résumé, Charley Hull will finally break through for a victory, or a newcomer like Miyu Yamashita will rewrite the record books, the tournament is set to deliver unforgettable golf.

Fans can watch every moment live on Sky Sports Golf or stream the action without a contract, ensuring that the excitement reaches a global audience.