Charley Hull and Lottie Woad will undoubtedly look back on Sunday’s final round at Royal Lytham & St Annes as a "missed opportunity" to secure their first major title, according to four‑time major champion Dame Laura Davies. Both English players finished tied for sixth, four strokes shy of eventual champion Shiho Kuwaki, who posted a five‑under‑par total to claim the AIG Women’s Open. Woad entered the final day sitting at three under par after a flawless opening round of 69, but her momentum stalled when she recorded her first over‑par round of the tournament.
Hull, who began the day with a birdie on the first hole, was unable to sustain that early spark; two disastrous double‑bogeys on holes three and seven effectively derailed her bid for the leaderboard. "They’ll both see this as a missed opportunity because five under has won it," Davies told Sky Sports Golf. "Charley played a little bit in and out, whereas Lottie was really solid, she just didn’t hole enough putts." Hull’s week was a study in contrasts. She amassed an impressive 17 birdies over the four days – second only to world No.
1 Nelly Korda’s 19 – and her aggressive style kept her in contention throughout. However, she also recorded 12 bogeys, and the two costly double‑bogeys in the final round added eight extra strokes to her total. Without those two mistakes, Hull would have finished at five under, tying Kuwaki and forcing a playoff for the championship. Woad, the 22‑year‑old from England, posted a bogey‑free 69 in round one, then followed with rounds of 71 and 70.
Her final‑day 73 saw her slip back, leaving her four strokes behind the winner. Despite the disappointment, the young golfer can take pride in a fifth top‑10 finish in her burgeoning career.
The result also secures her a debut appearance for Team Europe in next month’s Solheim Cup, a testament to her consistency on the biggest stages. Commentator Andrew Cotter noted, "Woad didn’t roll in enough putts, but she continues this remarkable run of three Women’s Open Championships played and a third top‑10. Again she shows her quality and a major will surely happen for her in the future – she’s only 22 years old." Davies added her own perspective on Hull’s performance: "Charley made a few too many mistakes, and that’s just the way she plays golf; she goes full‑out attack. She was pretty disciplined this week, but I think she’ll think, ‘I was only four back and I should have been in there right at the death.’" Both players demonstrated why they are considered among the rising stars of women’s golf, yet the final round highlighted the fine line between contention and victory.
Hull’s aggressive approach produced a high birdie count but also left her vulnerable to big numbers when the pressure mounted. Woad’s steadier play kept her in the mix, but a lack of putt‑making firepower on the closing day prevented her from making the decisive move. Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will remain on English soil for the PIF London Championship at the Centurion Club, starting Thursday.
Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will take a brief hiatus before resuming with the Standard Portland Classic from August 13‑16. Fans can continue to follow the action via Sky Sports or various streaming platforms, which offer contract‑free access to majors and other marquee events. In summary, Hull and Woad left Royal Lytham & St Annes with a mixture of pride and frustration.
Their performances underscored the depth of talent on the women’s circuit and hinted at future major triumphs. For Hull, refining decision‑making on the back nine and limiting double‑bogeys could transform her aggressive style into a winning formula.
For Woad, sharpening her putting under pressure and converting more birdie opportunities may be the key to turning top‑10 finishes into championships. Both are well‑positioned to challenge for major titles in the years to come, and their fans will be eager to see how they build on this near‑miss at the AIG Women’s Open.