Charley Hull is savoring a chance to mount a late charge for a major title after delivering a dramatic comeback during the third round of the AIG Women’s Open. The world‑number‑seven found herself just five strokes off the leader at the halfway mark at Royal Lytham & St Annes, but a shaky start on Saturday afternoon saw her slip to ten strokes behind after three bogeys in her first six holes, as overnight leader Haeran Ryu surged ahead with a brisk opening stretch.
Undeterred, Hull rallied with consecutive birdies on holes seven and eight, only to stumble again with a bogey on the tenth. The gap began to close when Ryu, playing several groups behind, faltered, recording five bogeys over an eight‑hole span. Hull then broke a string of pars with a pair of birdies on the 15th and 16th, salvaged a pars on the 17th after a tricky scramble, and finished the round with a pars on the final hole.
She posted an even‑par 71, leaving her five strokes behind Yealimi Noh as the tournament entered its final day. "I’m pretty proud – the first six holes felt like I was playing as a 10‑handicapper," Hull told Sky Sports.
"I missed three putts I should have holed from five feet, which would have kept me at even par instead of three over." She added, "I managed to bounce back and hit a great shot into the last hole. It was on a perfect line, I left it short, but I was happy with how I finished." Hull admitted that keeping track of the leaderboard was a challenge, noting the sparse crowd on the course made it difficult to gauge her exact position. "I like to sneak a glance at the board when I can," she said. Hull’s résumé includes five runner‑up finishes in major championships, two of which came at this very event over the past three years, plus a second‑place finish at the U.S.
Women’s Open in June. At 30, she hopes to translate those near‑misses into a breakthrough victory. "I just want to go out there tomorrow and enjoy it, without putting too much pressure on myself," Hull said.
"Just have fun, trust my swing, and see what happens." A win would make Hull the first British woman to capture a major since Georgia Hall’s triumph at Royal Lytham in 2018, echoing Catriona Matthew’s 2009 major victory at the same venue. Fellow competitor Lottie Woad is also inching closer to the lead, hoping to add a home‑soil major to her résumé. Woad, who has recorded top‑10 finishes in each of her previous AIG Women’s Open appearances, rebounded from a disappointing second‑round finish by carding a one‑under 70 on day three.
Her round featured three birdies and two bogeys, leaving her three strokes under par heading into the final day. "It’s a good position to be in," Woad told Sky Sports.
"I should be a few strokes back by the end of today. I’ll stick to my game plan and see what happens." She noted the course played tougher than usual, with the wind reaching its strongest levels of the tournament. "The back nine was definitely a grind, but I felt a bit better on the greens today and scrambled well to stay in contention," Woad explained.
Woad emphasized the importance of capitalizing on the front nine, which is generally downwind. "I started with level par, which wasn’t ideal, but I knew there would be opportunities on the back nine.
A lot of it is just par golf here." Both Hull and Woad are aware that the final round will be a test of composure and skill under pressure. The AIG Women’s Open will conclude on Sunday, with live coverage beginning at midday on Sky Sports Golf.
Fans can also stream the event without a contract through Sky Sports' online platform. As the tournament reaches its climax, the field remains tightly packed, and the leaderboard could shift dramatically with just a few birdies or a single mishap. Hull’s confidence, built on years of near‑wins, combined with Woad’s steady play, sets the stage for an exciting finish.
Whether a seasoned major champion or a rising star will hoist the trophy, the final day promises high drama, strategic shot‑making, and the ever‑present challenge of Royal Lytham’s iconic links layout. The stakes are high, the weather unpredictable, and the pursuit of a historic British victory adds an extra layer of motivation for Hull. As she prepares to tee off, she remains focused on enjoying the moment, trusting her preparation, and letting her swing speak for itself. The outcome will not only shape her own legacy but also influence the future of British women’s golf, potentially inspiring the next generation of players to chase major glory at this storied venue.