Charley Hull and Lottie Woad will likely look back on Sunday’s finale at the AIG Women’s Open as a missed chance to capture their first major title, according to former champion Dame Laura Davies. Both players finished the tournament tied for sixth place, four strokes shy of eventual winner Shiho Kuwaki, who posted a total of five‑under‑par. Their inability to generate a late surge on the final day at Royal Lytham & St Annes left them just outside the playoff positions. Woad entered the final round sitting three strokes under par, but her momentum stalled when she recorded her first over‑par round of the week, effectively dropping her out of contention.
Hull, who had opened with a birdie, could not sustain her early promise; two double‑bogeys on holes three and seven in the closing round derailed what had been a credible bid for the championship. "They’ll both see this as a missed opportunity because five under has won it," Davies, a four‑time major winner and Sky Sports Golf analyst, remarked. "Charley played a little bit in and out, whereas Lottie was really solid; she just didn’t sink enough putts." Hull’s week was a study in contrast.
She amassed 17 birdies over the four days, second only to world No. 1 Nelly Korda, who logged 19 and finished one stroke higher, tied for fourth place. However, Hull also recorded 12 bogeys, and the two costly double‑bogeys on the final day cost her dearly.
If those two holes had been pars instead, Hull would have finished at five‑under and forced a playoff for the title. Davies added, "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.’" Woad’s performance, while not enough to win, still offered plenty of positives. She posted a flawless 69 in the opening round, then followed with 71 and 70 in the next two days.
Although she faded on Sunday, she secured her fifth top‑10 finish in a major at just 22 years old. This consistency earned her a debut on Team Europe for the upcoming Solheim Cup, underscoring her rising stature in the game.
Commentator Andrew Cotter observed, "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.
It’s another top‑10 but just not quite there on this occasion." Both Hull and Woad demonstrated the skill and composure required to compete at the highest level, yet the fine margins of major‑championship golf proved unforgiving. Hull’s aggressive style, while capable of producing low scores, also left her vulnerable to big numbers when a shot went awry. Woad’s steadier, more methodical approach kept her in the mix but lacked the decisive putts needed to climb higher on the leaderboard. Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will remain on English soil for the PIF London Championship, set to begin Thursday at the Centurion Club.
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, ensuring that the drama of women’s golf stays front and center throughout the season. In summary, while Hull and Woad fell short of a maiden major victory, their performances at Royal Lytham & St Annes highlighted both the promise and the pitfalls of elite competition.
With youth on their side and experience already accumulating, both players are well‑positioned to turn future opportunities into triumphs, and the golf world will be watching closely as they chase that elusive first major title.