Jeongeun "Jeeno" Thitikul surged to the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the AIG Women's Open, while Charley Hull experienced a roller‑coaster opening day in her quest for a long‑awaited major title. Thitikul produced a flawless, bogey‑free 64 at Royal Lytham & St Annes, carding seven birdies and securing a two‑stroke cushion ahead of two‑time major champion Haeran Ryu and Japan's Shiho Kuwaki. Ryu, who posted a solid five‑under 66, remains in contention as she attempts to become the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to capture three consecutive majors. Solheim Cup stalwart Céline Boutier also enjoyed a clean start, positioning herself three shots back after a bogey‑free round.
English hopeful Lottie Woad opened her campaign without a blemish, posting a respectable two‑under 69. Hull, a five‑time runner‑up in major championships yet to claim a victory, produced a mixed bag of six birdies and four bogeys, leaving her five strokes off the lead. Defending champion Miyu Yamashita fell eight strokes behind after a 72, while world No.
1 Nelly Korda found herself fighting to avoid a second consecutive missed cut after a two‑over 73. Hull, who has finished runner‑up at the AIG Women's Open in each of the last three editions, entered the tournament with the ambition of becoming the first Englishwoman to win a major since 2018. She got off to a promising start, sinking a long‑range birdie on the par‑three first hole.
A three‑putt on the second hole resulted in a bogey, but she quickly recovered by capitalising on both front‑nine par‑fives. A missed shot on the eighth was redeemed when she holed a 12‑foot putt on the ninth, finishing the front nine in 34 strokes. Hull briefly narrowed the gap to three shots after a birdie on the par‑five 11th and an impressive putt from off the green on the 15th, but a subsequent bogey left her level with Woad at two under par.
Reflecting on her nerves, Hull told Sky Sports, "I was so nervous on that first tee – I was shaking! It felt great to start with a birdie. I missed a few putts, but overall I think I played decently given how jittery I was." Woad, the 22‑year‑old, also displayed solid ball‑striking, hitting many fairways and finding greens, though she struggled to convert those opportunities into putts.
"I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens – I just didn't make enough putts," she said. "Good shots around here are 15 to 25 feet from the flag, which aren't easy. I got some nice rolls but couldn't finish them." Thitikul's round was historic, marking the lowest opening score ever recorded at Royal Lytham in the tournament's history.
The Thai star, chasing her first major, delivered a seamless performance from tee to green, overtaking the early clubhouse target set by Ryu, who had previously won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship. Thitikul's composure was evident as she remarked, "I enjoy it when my golf is good. I knew I was hitting solid shots and even got a lucky bounce out of the pot bunker. When things go your way, they really go your way.
I also felt confident with my putting today." The race to secure places on Team Europe's Solheim Cup squad intensifies as the week progresses. Eight automatic qualifiers will be confirmed on Sunday, followed by captain's picks announced by Anna Nordqvist on Monday.
Currently, Chiara Tamburlini holds a slender advantage over Helen Briem for the final Ladies European Tour ranking spot, though both struggled with opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively. Fans can follow the tournament live on Sky Sports Golf, with early coverage beginning Friday at 9 a.m. and full broadcast from 1 p.m. The event promises further drama as players vie for the coveted Claret Jug, and the leaderboard is expected to shift dramatically over the next three days.
Beyond the competition, golf enthusiasts are invited to explore the United Kingdom and Ireland's extensive course network, featuring over 1,700 venues. Whether planning a weekend round or a full‑scale tournament experience, players can search for courses by location and secure the best rates available. The AIG Women's Open continues to showcase the depth of talent in women's golf, with seasoned champions and rising stars alike battling for supremacy on the storied links of Royal Lytham & St Annes. As the tournament unfolds, spectators can anticipate thrilling finishes, strategic shot‑making, and the ever‑present possibility of a first‑time major winner emerging from the field.