As the 50th anniversary of the AIG Women’s Open approaches, anticipation builds for a tournament that promises drama, history, and a chance for some of the game’s brightest stars to cement their legacies. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and among the headline names are Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, both eager to claim the coveted major title at the storied links of Royal Lytham & St Annes. The current season of women’s majors has been dominated by two extraordinary competitors: Nelly Korda of the United States and South Korea’s Haeran Ryu.
Each has already secured two major championships this year, putting them within striking distance of matching the record for most major victories in a single calendar year. Korda captured the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, while Ryu triumphed at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship. This dual‑major success marks the first time in LPGA history that two players have each won multiple majors in the same season, underscoring the high‑level rivalry that will play out at Lytham.
Only a handful of golfers—six in total across both the men’s and women’s tours—have ever won three majors in a single year. Those elite company includes legends such as Ben Hogan (1953) and Tiger Woods (2000) on the men’s side, and Inbee Park, who swept the first three majors in 2013, joining the ranks of Babe Zaharias (1955), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986) on the women’s side. Korda and Ryu now stand on the cusp of joining that exclusive club, with the AIG Women’s Open acting as the potential third jewel in their respective crowns.
Beyond the pursuit of a third major, both players are also vying for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which honors the LPGA Tour member who posts the best major‑tournament record over the course of a season. A victory at Royal Lytham could tip the scales decisively in either competitor’s favor, making the stakes even higher. Korda’s journey to this point has not been without setbacks.
At the Evian Championship earlier this year, the pre‑tournament favorite suffered an unexpected missed cut, ending a remarkable streak of 34 consecutive tournaments where she made the cut. That early exit in France added a layer of urgency to her campaign for a career Grand Slam. While she already boasts three different major titles—including the Chevron and the U.S. Women’s Open—she still needs a fourth distinct major to complete the Grand Slam, a feat made possible by the evolving definition of majors in women’s golf.
The last player to achieve a career Grand Slam by winning four of the five current majors was Inbee Park, who secured her fourth distinct major at the 2013 AIG Women’s Open. Korda now has a fresh opportunity to emulate that accomplishment, with the 2026 edition offering the perfect stage.
Korda’s recent form has been strong despite the Evian disappointment. She finished tied‑sixteenth at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, and earlier in the year she posted a tied‑second finish behind Lydia Ko at St Andrews in 2024. A victory at Lytham would not only give her a fifth major win—bringing her total LPGA Tour victories to twenty—but also secure the two points she needs to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame, an honor reserved for the sport’s most consistent and successful players.
The tournament also presents a chance for other compelling storylines. Miyu Yamashita, a dominant force on the LPGA of Japan Tour with thirteen wins, has been steadily building a reputation on the global stage. After a breakthrough win at the 2023 AIG Women’s Open—where she edged out Charley Hull by two strokes at Royal Porthcawl—Yamashita added a Maybank Championship title and a dramatic playoff victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic.
She has continued to post top‑five finishes, including a shared fourth at the Evian and a shared fifth in Scotland, positioning her as a serious contender for another major. British hopes are also alive and well. The last three editions of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham have produced home‑grown champions: Catriona Matthew in 2009, who won just eleven weeks after giving birth to her second daughter, and Georgia Hall in 2018, who claimed a two‑stroke victory.
This year, Charley Hull is determined to break her own pattern of near‑misses—she has been runner‑up in majors five times, including twice in the last three years at this venue. Lottie Woad, another rising British talent, hopes to improve on her recent top‑ten finishes and make a deep run. The tournament is expected to draw more than 50,000 spectators throughout the week, many of whom will be hoping to see a British player lift the trophy on home soil. The excitement extends beyond the individual competition; the event also serves as a final qualifying opportunity for Team Europe’s Solheim Cup roster.
Players such as Anna Nordqvist, who will serve as non‑playing captain, are finalising their squads, with eight automatic qualifiers already confirmed and four captain’s picks to be announced soon. The pressure is on for those on the cusp of selection, as strong performances at Lytham could secure a coveted spot on the European team. Among the European hopefuls are Chiara Tamburlini, who sits second on the LET points list, and rookie talents like Helen Briem, Agathe Laisne, and Cara Gainer.
Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit are currently occupying the six world‑ranking slots allocated for the tournament, while Leona Maguire’s impressive play in Scotland last week keeps her in contention for a Solheim Cup return. Other notable names include Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Dutch player Dewi Weber and England’s Mimi Rhodes, all of whom are positioned within the top 100 globally. A standout performance at the AIG Women’s Open could catapult any of them into Solheim Cup consideration, adding another layer of intrigue to the field.
Sky Sports will be the exclusive broadcaster of the tournament in the United Kingdom and Ireland, offering a new "Featured Groups" segment that begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf. Full coverage kicks off at 1 p.m., with live broadcasts of the third and fourth rounds starting at midday over the weekend. Golf fans can also stream the action without a contract through Sky Sports' digital platforms.
In summary, the 2026 AIG Women’s Open promises a blend of historic ambition, personal redemption, and national pride. Whether Nelly Korda will add a third major to her résumé, Haeran Ryu will secure a place in the annals of golf history, or a British player will finally break the drought at Royal Lytham, the tournament is set to deliver compelling narratives and unforgettable moments for fans around the world.