World No. 1 Nelly Korda has been placed into a glittering grouping for the opening two rounds of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, sharing the tee with back‑to‑back major champion Ha‑Rin Ryu. The pairing pits the current world leader, fresh off victories at the Chevron Championship and the U.S.
Women’s Open, against the Korean star who recently secured the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship. Their joint appearance marks the first occasion in the history of the LPGA that two players have each captured multiple majors in a single season, underscoring the high‑stakes drama that will unfold on the historic links.
Both Korda and Ryu are on the cusp of a rare achievement: becoming the first golfer since Inbee Park in 2013 to claim three major titles within a calendar year. Ryu, who is chasing a third consecutive major win, tees off at 8:42 a.m.
alongside Korda and the 2024 champion Lydia Ko, creating a three‑ball that promises early excitement for fans and broadcasters alike. English hopeful Lottie Woad also finds herself in early action, aiming to become the first Englishwoman to win a major since Georgia Hall captured the same tournament in 2018 at Royal Lytham. Ranked fifth in the world, Woad will be paired with Japan’s Aki Iwai and American Andrea Lee, forming another marquee three‑ball that will be featured in the tournament’s new "Featured Group" coverage. The two high‑profile three‑balls will receive dedicated television treatment on Thursday, with Sky Sports Golf broadcasting live from 9:00 a.m.
The defending champion, Japan’s Miyu Yamashita, will be on the opposite side of the draw, teeing off at 1:15 p.m. alongside world No.
2 Jeongeun “Jeeno” Thitikul and American Lauren Coughlin. Yamashita is targeting a historic back‑to‑back major triumph, a feat not accomplished since Yani Tseng’s consecutive wins. Charley Hull, who has finished runner‑up at this venue twice in the last three years, will start later in the day, hoping to finally break through.
She will be grouped with Australia’s Hannah Green and Canada’s Brooke Henderson, both of whom have previously stood on the winner’s podium at major championships. The tournament’s schedule features a one‑tee start for the 144‑player field, with the first round commencing at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. This format not only accommodates the large field but also provides a clear pathway for European players seeking Solheim Cup qualification, as the AIG Women’s Open serves as the final qualifying event for Team Europe.
The European Solheim Cup team will be composed of the top two players in the European Solheim Cup points list, plus the next six highest‑ranked Europeans on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings who are not already qualified. Captain Anna Nordqvist will then announce four captain’s picks live on Sky Sports News on Monday.
The official groupings, released by the tournament, are as follows: - Group 07:03 – Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Cassie Porter (AUS), Sayaka Takahashi (JPN) - Group 08:09 – Sei Young Kim (KOR), Rio Takeda (JPN), Yuna Araki (JPN) - Group 08:20 – Hyo‑joo Kim (KOR), Minjee Lee (AUS), Mao Saigo (JPN) - Group 08:31 – Lottie Woad (ENG), Aki Iwai (JPN), Andrea Lee (USA) - Group 08:42 – Lydia Ko (NZL), Nelly Korda (USA), Ha‑Rin Ryu (KOR) - Group 13:15 – Miyu Yamashita (JPN), Jeeno Thitikul (THA), Lauren Coughlin (USA) - Group 13:26 – Charley Hull (ENG), Hannah Green (AUS), Brooke Henderson (CAN) - Group 13:42 – 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, introducing "Featured Groups" for the first time and adding six additional hours of live action compared with previous editions.
The Featured Groups segment will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, followed by full coverage of the first round at 1:00 p.m.
Rounds three and four will be aired live from midday over the weekend, ensuring fans can follow every pivotal moment. For viewers who prefer streaming, Sky Sports offers a contract‑free option that includes live golf, allowing fans to watch the tournament on a variety of devices without a long‑term commitment. Golf enthusiasts can also explore booking a round at one of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland through Sky’s partner platform, entering a city or postcode to find nearby options. In summary, the AIG Women’s Open promises a compelling start with world‑class talent distributed across several high‑profile groups.
Whether it is Korda and Ryu’s quest for a third major, Yamashita’s attempt at back‑to‑back victories, or Hull’s pursuit of her first major win at a venue where she has come close before, the early rounds are set to deliver drama, skill, and the kind of competitive tension that defines major championship golf. Fans should tune in to Sky Sports Golf from the early morning to catch the Featured Groups coverage and stay updated on the evolving leaderboard as the tournament progresses toward its climax.