Charley Hull has been quick to diminish any notion of a personal rivalry with world No. 1 Nelly Korda as the AIG Women’s Open approaches, while also opening up about the frustration of repeatedly finishing just short of a major championship. The English golfer, currently ranked seventh in the world, is among the favorites at Royal Lytham & St Annes and hopes to become the first Englishwoman to claim a major title since Georgia Hall lifted the trophy at the same venue in 2018.

Hull’s record at the AIG Women’s Open is a study in near‑misses: she has been runner‑up twice in the last three editions and has accumulated five second‑place finishes in majors overall. One of those runner‑up spots came at the U.S. Women’s Open in June, where she was edged out by Korda. Despite the repeated heartbreak, Hull insists that the situation is not a rivalry in the traditional sense.

"I don’t really see it as a rivalry at the minute," Hull said at a recent press conference, smiling. "No offence, Nelly has already collected several majors and I have none.

I’ve got five second places. Let me get my major first and then we can talk about rivalry later. What Nelly is doing for the game is unbelievable and a joy to watch – she’s a great competitor and a nice person." Hull emphasized that her primary goal is to break through and win her first major.

She described the sting of finishing second on five occasions as "hurtful" and recalled walking past the championship trophies on the first day of the tournament last year, thinking, "I wish that was me." The desire to finally get over the line is now the driving force behind her preparation. The upcoming AIG Women’s Open arrives after a mixed stretch for Hull. Her runner‑up finish at the U.S.

Women’s Open remains her sole top‑15 result in her last seven starts. The 30‑year‑old also recorded a tied‑44th place at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, a tournament that was marred by a dramatic quadruple‑bogey on the ninth hole. Hull explained the mishap in vivid detail: "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 realized the pin was perched on a steep downslope just a yard from a massive 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 taken the putt off the green.

It just shows that even the world No. 1 can make a nine." She added, with a grin, "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 side of elite golf: even the best players can be felled by a misplaced pin or an unlucky bounce.

Another English contender, Lottie Woad, is also targeting a breakthrough at Royal Lytham. The world No.

5, who has already posted top‑10 finishes in her two previous AIG Women’s Open appearances, described the tournament as a "dream" event for any British player. "I love links golf, even though it can be tricky with the wind and the bounces.

It’s a special test that we only get to play a handful of times a year, which makes every shot feel more important," Woad explained. She highlighted the growing depth of British talent on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours, noting that many of her friends are on the cusp of turning professional.

The broadcast landscape for the championship is also evolving. Sky Sports continues as the exclusive UK and Ireland home of the AIG Women’s Open, but this year introduces a new "Featured Groups" segment that offers additional live coverage. The feature begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage from 1 p.m.

and extended live action on the weekend for rounds three and four. Viewers can also stream the tournament without a contract through Sky Sports' streaming platform. As the tournament unfolds, the question on everyone’s mind is who will finally break the pattern of near‑wins.

Hull hopes to rewrite her own narrative, turning the runner‑up label into a champion’s badge. Korda, meanwhile, is chasing a fifth major title and looks poised to add another trophy to her impressive collection. For the rest of the field, especially the home hopefuls, the links at Royal Lytham & St Annes present a classic test of skill, strategy, and resilience.

The stage is set, the pins are in place, and the world will be watching to see who can finally claim the coveted major crown.