World No. 1 Nelly Korda has been placed in a glittering early‑day grouping that includes back‑to‑back major champion Haeran Ryu for the opening two rounds of the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Korda entered the tournament fresh off victories at the Chevron Championship and the U.S.
Women's Open, while Ryu arrived after winning both the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship. Their joint appearance marks the first occasion in golf history that two players have captured multiple majors within a single season. Both athletes now have a realistic shot at matching Inbee Park’s 2013 feat of winning three majors in a calendar year, with Ryu eyeing a third consecutive major title. Ryu tees off at 8:42 a.m.
alongside Korda and 2024 champion Lydia Ko, forming a trio that will be highlighted in the tournament’s Featured Group coverage on Thursday. The broadcast will be carried live on Sky Sports Golf starting at 9 a.m., offering viewers an early look at the competition’s top contenders.
Defending champion Miyu Yamashita, who is aiming to become the first player since Yani Tseng to retain a women’s major, will start later in the day at 1:15 p.m. with world No. 2 Jeongeun Lee (Thitikul) and American Lauren Coughlin.
English hopeful Lottie Woad is also slated for early action, hoping to become the first Englishwoman to capture a major since Georgia Hall’s 2018 triumph at the same venue. Woad, currently ranked world No. 5, will share her group with Japan’s Aki Iwai and American Andrea Lee. Meanwhile, Charley Hull, who has finished runner‑up three times in the past four editions, will start in the late‑early half of the draw, paired with Australia’s Hannah Green and Canada’s Brooke Henderson.
Hull is looking to convert those near‑misses into a victory this year. The tournament will feature a one‑tee start for the 144‑player field, with the first tee shot scheduled for England’s Alice Hewson at 6:30 a.m.
on Thursday. This format ensures a smooth flow of play across the course and gives spectators a chance to see the entire lineup in action.
The AIG Women’s Open also serves as the final qualifying event for European golfers hoping to earn a spot on the Solheim Cup team. Team Europe’s roster will be composed of the top two players in the European Solheim Cup points list, plus the next six highest‑ranked Europeans in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings who have not already qualified. Captain Anna Nordqvist will then announce four captain’s picks live on Sky Sports News on Monday.
The announced groups are as follows: - Group 1: Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Cassie Porter (AUS), Sayaka Takahashi (JPN) - Group 2: Sei Young Kim (KOR), Rio Takeda (JPN), Yuna Araki (JPN) - Group 3: Hyojoo Kim (KOR), Minjee Lee (AUS), Mao Saigo (JPN) - Group 4: Lottie Woad (ENG), Aki Iwai (JPN), Andrea Lee (USA) - Group 5: Lydia Ko (NZL), Nelly Korda (USA), Haeran Ryu (KOR) - Group 6: Miyu Yamashita (JPN), Jeongeun Lee (THA), Lauren Coughlin (USA) - Group 7: Charley Hull (ENG), Hannah Green (AUS), Brooke Henderson (CAN) - Group 8: Maja Stark (SWE), Jinhee Im (KOR), Allisen Corpuz (PHI) Sky Sports remains the exclusive broadcaster of the AIG Women’s Open in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This year, the network has expanded its coverage to include Featured Groups, providing six additional hours of live golf compared with previous editions. Featured Group coverage kicks off at 9 a.m. on Thursday and continues through Friday, before full tournament coverage begins at 1 p.m.
The third and fourth rounds will be shown live from midday over the weekend, ensuring fans can follow every pivotal moment. Beyond the on‑course action, the tournament offers a range of ancillary content. Viewers can stream the event and other golf programming without a long‑term contract, and Sky Sports promotes a partnership with local courses, offering discounted rates for booking rounds at any of the 1,700 participating venues across the UK and Ireland.
Golf enthusiasts are encouraged to search for nearby courses by entering a city, postcode, or venue name on the Sky Sports website. In summary, the AIG Women’s Open promises a compelling mix of established stars and emerging talent, all competing on the historic links of Royal Lytham & St Annes. With Korda and Ryu leading the charge, Hull seeking redemption, and Yamashita attempting a historic back‑to‑back major win, the tournament is set to deliver drama, skill, and unforgettable moments for fans worldwide. Watch the entire week live on Sky Sports Golf or stream via the provided platforms to stay updated on leaderboard changes, player interviews, and expert analysis throughout the championship.