Charley Hull has made it clear that she does not view her relationship with world No. 1 Nelly Korda as a genuine rivalry as the AIG Women’s Open approaches, and she openly acknowledged the sting of repeatedly falling just short in major championships. The English golfer, currently ranked seventh in the world, is among the leading contenders at Royal Lytham & St Annes, hoping to become the first Englishwoman to capture a major title since Georgia Hall’s triumph at the same venue in 2018. Hull’s record in majors reads like a series of near‑misses.
In the past three years she has finished runner‑up twice at the AIG Women’s Open and has accumulated five second‑place finishes in major tournaments overall, including a loss to Korda at the U.S. Women’s Open in June.
Those close calls have left her with a mix of admiration for her peer and a burning desire to finally break through. "I don’t really see it as a rivalry at the minute, because no offence, Nelly has got however many majors and I’ve got none," Hull said during a pre‑tournament press conference. "I’ve got five second places.
Let me get my major first and then that’s something we can think about in the future. What Nelly is doing for the game of golf is unbelievable and so good to watch – she’s a nice girl as well." Hull’s comments underscore a respectful tone toward Korda, who entered the week having already secured the first two majors of the season and was widely expected to chase a fifth title.
While Hull praised Korda’s achievements, she emphasized that her own priority is to finally stand atop the winner’s podium. "I just want to get over the line and win my first major.
Five second‑place finishes in majors kind of hurts. I remember looking at the posters walking in on the first day from last year and was like ‘oh, I wish that was me’ with the trophy," Hull reflected.
The pressure of expectation is palpable for Hull, who entered the tournament after a mixed run of form. Her runner‑up finish at the U.S.
Women’s Open remains her sole top‑15 result in her last seven starts, and she posted a tied‑44th place at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open the week before, a performance marred by a quadruple‑bogey on the ninth hole. Hull explained the mishap with candid humor: "It was me, but the pin shouldn’t have been there. I texted the commissioner straight after the round.
At the end of the day I know everyone f***s up, but the pin was about a yard from a massive slope and it was on a downslope going towards a slope. I’ve had a 12‑foot putt for birdie and walked off with a nine. I had four chips up the slope, but I shouldn’t have putted off the green.
It just shows that I’m human and even the world No. 1 can make a nine." She added, "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 highlights the fine margins that separate triumph from disappointment on the links, where unpredictable winds and tricky contours can turn a routine shot into a costly error.
Other English players are also eyeing the historic venue. Lottie Woad, the highest‑ranked Englishwoman in the field, has spoken of her dream of winning the AIG Women’s Open after seeing the previous two editions claimed by British competitors. "I think for any British player, this would be the dream one to win," the world No.
5 said. "I like playing links golf and I’m sure it’ll be a good test with the wind probably, so definitely one that has always been my favourite watching. Yeah, would love to win it." Woad’s optimism reflects a broader resurgence of British talent on both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour.
She noted, "We have a lot more British and English players on the tours, and I have a lot of friends that are nearly turning pro or at the end stage of their amateur careers. I know there is a lot of good talent coming through – I think British golf is in a great spot." Having posted top‑10 finishes in her previous two AIG Women’s Open outings, Woad hopes to add another strong performance to her résumé ahead of a Solheim Cup debut for Team Europe in September. She summed up the allure of links golf: "It can be tricky, too.
Definitely need a little bit of luck out there with some of the bounces and the wind. I enjoy playing this type of golf.
Because you only get to play a couple times a year, it makes it a bit more special to hit those different shots that you really wouldn’t get to hit in the United States." The tournament itself enjoys extensive coverage in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with Sky Sports serving as the exclusive broadcaster. For the first time, the network offers a "Featured Groups" segment that begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full live coverage from 1 p.m.
The final two rounds will be shown live from midday over the weekend, providing fans with more than six additional hours of golf than ever before. As the AIG Women’s Open unfolds, the central narrative will revolve around whether Hull can finally convert her string of runner‑up finishes into a victory, and how she will navigate the mental challenge of competing against a dominant player like Korda while staying true to her own goals.
The tournament promises high drama, shifting weather, and the ever‑present possibility that a single putt or a mis‑placed pin could decide the champion. Viewers can follow every swing live on Sky Sports Golf or stream the action without a contract, ensuring that the excitement of this historic major reaches a global audience.