Charley Hull and Lottie Woad will undoubtedly look back on Sunday’s final round at the AIG Women’s Open as a lost chance to capture their first major title, according to former champion Dame Laura Davies. Both players ended the tournament tied for sixth place, four strokes shy of the eventual champion Shiho Kuwaki, who finished at five under par. The two English hopefuls entered the final day with realistic hopes of a breakthrough. Lottie Woad began the round at three under, a promising position that quickly evaporated when she recorded her first over‑par round of the week.
Hull, who had opened with a birdie, could not sustain her momentum; two disastrous double‑bogeys on holes three and seven derailed any chance of a late surge. "They’ll both see this as a missed opportunity because five under has won it," Davies told Sky Sports Golf. The four‑time major winner emphasized that the winning score was within reach, and that both Hull and Woad could have been in contention if they had avoided the mistakes that cost them dearly. In Davies’ view, Hull’s round was marked by a mixture of aggressive play and costly errors.
"Charley played a little bit in and out, whereas Lottie was really solid; she just didn’t hole enough putts," she observed. Hull’s week was impressive in many respects – she recorded 17 birdies, second only to world No. 1 Nelly Korda’s 19, and Korda finished just one stroke ahead of her in a tie for fourth place.
However, Hull also tallied 12 bogeys throughout the tournament, and the two double‑bogeys on the final day alone added four strokes to her total. Without those mistakes, Hull would have finished at five under and forced a playoff for the title. Woad’s performance was more consistent but ultimately fell short of the mark.
After a flawless, bogey‑free 69 in the opening round, she posted rounds of 71 and 70 on the second and third days. The final round proved the toughest, as she was unable to make the necessary moves up the leaderboard.
Despite the disappointment, there are several positives for the 22‑year‑old. This top‑10 finish marks her fifth in a major championship and secures her a debut appearance for Team Europe in the upcoming Solheim Cup. Commentator Andrew Cotter highlighted Woad’s steady play, noting, "Woad didn’t roll in enough putts, but she continues this remarkable run of three Women’s Open Championships played and a third top‑10.
Again she shows her quality and a major will surely happen for her in the future – she’s only 22 years old. It’s another top‑10 but just not quite there on this occasion." The tournament’s outcome underscores how thin the margin can be between victory and a respectable finish on the biggest stages. Both Hull and Woad demonstrated the skill set required to compete at the highest level, yet the pressure of a major final round exposed areas for improvement. For Hull, the lesson lies in balancing her aggressive instincts with smarter shot selection to avoid double‑bogeys.
For Woad, the focus will be on sharpening her putting under pressure, turning more of those short‑range opportunities into birdies. Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will remain on English soil for the PIF London Championship, which kicks off Thursday at the Centurion Club.
Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will take a brief pause before resuming with the Standard Portland Classic from August 13‑16. Both events will provide further opportunities for Hull and Woad to build on their experiences at Royal Lytham & St Annes and to chase that elusive major title.
In summary, while the AIG Women’s Open did not deliver a maiden major for either Charley Hull or Lottie Woad, it offered valuable insights into their games. The missed opportunity, as Davies put it, will likely serve as motivation for both players as they continue to refine their craft and aim for future success on the world stage.