Jeongeun (Jeeno) Thitikul surged to the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the AIG Women's Open, while England's Charley Hull and Lottie Woad posted contrasting opening scores in their quest for a long‑awaited major title. Thitikul, the world number two, delivered a flawless 64 at Royal Lytham & St Annes, posting seven birdies and no bogeys. Her round gave her a two‑stroke cushion over two‑time major champion Haeran Ryu and Japan's Shiho Kuwaki, both of whom finished at 66. Ryu's five‑under 66 kept her in contention for a historic third consecutive major, a feat not achieved since Inbee Park in 2013.
Fellow Solheim Cup competitor Celine Boutier also enjoyed a bogey‑free start, positioning herself three shots back. Meanwhile, Lottie Woad opened with a clean 69, two under par, and Hull, a five‑time runner‑up in majors, produced a roller‑coaster round of six birdies and four bogeys, leaving her five strokes off the lead.
Defending champion Miyu Yamashita struggled, carding a 72 that left her eight strokes behind, while world number one Nelly Korda posted a two‑over 73 and now faces the prospect of missing back‑to‑back majors. Hull, who has been runner‑up at the AIG Women's Open three times in the past four years, began her round with a dramatic long‑range birdie on the par‑three 1st hole. She then three‑putted the next and dropped a bogey on the 4th, but recovered by taking advantage of both front‑nine par‑fives.
A crucial 12‑foot putt on the 9th helped her post a 34 on the front nine. Hull briefly closed to within three of the lead after birdieing the par‑five 11th and holing a spectacular putt from off the 15th green, only to slip back with a bogey on the following hole, leaving her tied with Woad at two under. After the round Hull admitted to Sky Sports, "I was so nervous on that first tee – I was shaking! It was good to get off with a birdie.
I missed quite a few putts today, but I felt I played pretty decent considering how nervous I was." Woad's round was marked by a dramatic lip‑out on the par‑five 6th, which forced her to settle for a birdie instead of a possible eagle. She later holed a long‑range birdie on the par‑three 12th and continued to generate opportunities to close the gap to Thitikul.
"I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens – I didn't make too many putts," Woad said. "Good shots around here are 15 to 25 feet from the flag, which aren't the easiest.
I hit some good rolls, just didn't make enough." Thitikul's 64 was the lowest opening round ever recorded at Royal Lytham in the history of the AIG Women's Open. The 22‑year‑old Thai, chasing her first major, displayed a complete game from tee to green, combining precise iron play with confident putting. She overtook the early clubhouse target set by Ryu, who had mixed six birdies with a single bogey in an impressive round of 66.
Reflecting on her performance, Thitikul said, "I do enjoy it when golf is good. It's really nice that I knew I hit some good shots. I got a lucky bounce over the pot bunker, so when it's your way it's really your way.
I knew I had a really good putter today, too." The tournament also serves as the final qualifying event for Team Europe’s Solheim Cup roster. Eight automatic qualifiers will be confirmed on Sunday, after which Anna Nordqvist will announce her four captain's picks on Monday. Currently, Chiara Tamburlini holds a narrow lead over Helen Briem for the second Solheim Cup spot via the Ladies European Tour rankings, though both have posted opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively, putting their chances in jeopardy. Looking ahead, the AIG Women's Open will continue to unfold over the next several days, with live coverage on Sky Sports Golf starting at 9 a.m.
on Friday and full coverage from 1 p.m. onward. Golf fans can also stream the event without a contract through various online platforms. For those interested in playing the courses themselves, bookings are available at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland.
In summary, the early stages of the championship have produced a compelling narrative: Thitikul’s commanding lead, Hull’s relentless pursuit despite a mixed round, and Woad’s steady, blemish‑free play. As the field navigates the challenging links at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the battle for the coveted major title intensifies, promising further drama and potential breakthroughs for both seasoned champions and emerging talents.