Hull downplays rivalry with "incredible" Korda, focuses on securing her first major

Charley Hull has been quick to diminish any notion of a personal rivalry with world No. 1 Nelly Korda as the AIG Women’s Open approaches, while also opening up about the emotional toll of repeatedly finishing just short of a major championship. Hull, currently ranked seventh in the world, is among the home favorites at Royal Lytham & St Annes, hoping to become the first Englishwoman to claim a major title since Georgia Hall’s breakthrough win at the same venue in 2018.

Hull’s record in majors is a study in near‑misses. Over the past three years she has stood on the runner‑up podium twice at the AIG Women’s Open and has accumulated five second‑place finishes in major tournaments overall, including a recent loss to Korda at the U.S. Women’s Open in June.

Those close calls have left her feeling a mixture of admiration for Korda’s achievements and a lingering frustration over her own lack of a victory. Speaking at a pre‑tournament press conference, Hull made it clear that she does not view Korda as a rival at this moment. “No offence, Nelly has already collected several majors and I have none,” she said.

“I have five runner‑up finishes. Let me get my major first, and then we can talk about rivalry.” Hull praised Korda’s game, describing it as "unbelievable" and adding that the American’s style is a joy to watch. She also emphasized her own goal: to finally cross the finish line as a major champion. “Five second‑place finishes in majors kind of hurts,” Hull admitted.

“I remember walking past the trophy on the first day last year and thinking, ‘I wish that was me.’" Hull’s recent form has been mixed. Her runner‑up finish at the U.S. Women’s Open remains her only top‑15 result in the last seven starts. The 30‑year‑old then posted a tied‑44th finish at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open after a disastrous quadruple‑bogey nine on the opening round.

Hull explained the mishap, noting a misplaced pin that forced her birdie putt off the green. “The pin was about a yard from a massive slope and it was on a downslope heading toward another slope,” she said. “I had a 12‑foot birdie putt and ended up with a nine. It shows that even the world No.

1 can make a nine. I eventually holed a ten‑foot putt and even fist‑bumped myself.” The tournament also features Lottie Woad, the highest‑ranked Englishwoman in the field, who is targeting what she calls a "dream" major title.

Woad, currently world No. 5, highlighted the significance of a British player winning at Royal Lytham & St Annes, noting that the last two editions of the AIG Women’s Open were claimed by British golfers. "I love links golf and I know the wind will be a big factor, so it will be a true test," she said. Woad also spoke about the growing depth of British talent on both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour, expressing optimism about the future of the sport in the UK.

Woad has already posted top‑10 finishes in her previous two appearances at the AIG Women’s Open and hopes to improve on those results in what will be the final women’s major of the season. She looks ahead to a Solheim Cup debut for Team Europe in September, adding that the unique challenges of links golf—its bounces, wind, and limited playing opportunities—make any success there especially rewarding. For fans in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Sky Sports remains the exclusive broadcaster of the AIG Women’s Open.

This year the network introduced "Featured Groups" coverage, beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage at 1 p.m. The weekend rounds will be shown live from midday, offering six additional hours of live action compared with previous years. Viewers can watch the tournament throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the coverage without a contract via the provider’s streaming service.

Hull’s candid reflections on her career highlight a common theme among elite athletes: the fine line between perseverance and frustration. While she respects Korda’s dominance—Korda has already secured the first two majors of the year and is a strong contender for a fifth title—Hull remains focused on her own journey. "I just want to get over the line and win my first major," she said.

"Those five second places sting, but they also fuel my determination to finally break through." The narrative surrounding the AIG Women’s Open this week is therefore two‑fold: a seasoned English contender seeking to end a decade‑long drought for her nation, and a rising cohort of British players eager to make their mark on the storied links venue. Whether Hull can convert her runner‑up experiences into a historic victory, or whether Korda will add another major to her collection, remains to be seen. What is certain is that the competition will be fierce, the conditions challenging, and the stakes incredibly high for everyone involved.