Jeongeun (Jeeno) Thitikul surged to the top of the leaderboard in the opening round of the AIG Women's Open, while Charley Hull experienced a start that was part triumph, part disappointment in her quest for a first major title. Thitikul posted a flawless, bogey‑free 64 at Royal Lytham & St Annes, carding seven birdies and establishing a two‑stroke cushion over two‑time major champion Haeren Ryu and Japan's Shiho Kuwaki.
Ryu, who posted a five‑under‑par 66, remains in contention as she aims to become the first golfer since Inbee Park in 2013 to capture three majors in a row. French Solheim Cup stalwart Céline Boutier also enjoyed a clean round, staying within three shots of the lead.
Lottie Woad opened her tournament without a blemish, posting a respectable two‑under‑par 69. Hull, a five‑time runner‑up in major championships but still seeking that elusive victory, produced a roller‑coaster round of six birdies offset by four bogeys, leaving her five strokes behind the leader. Defending champion Miyu Yamashita fell back eight strokes after an opening‑day 72, while world No.
1 Nelly Korda found herself in danger of missing the cut for a second consecutive major after a two‑over‑par 73. Hull, who has finished second in the AIG Women's Open for three consecutive years and hopes to become the first Englishwoman to win a major since 2018, began brightly with a long‑range birdie on the par‑three 1st hole.
She stumbled on the next hole, three‑putting and taking a bogey, but quickly recovered by capitalising on both front‑nine par‑fives. A dropped shot on the 8th was redeemed when she holed a 12‑foot putt on the 9th, finishing the front nine in 34 strokes.
Later in the round Hull briefly closed to within three shots of the lead after birdieing the par‑five 11th and sinking a dramatic putt from off the 15th green. A subsequent bogey on the 16th left her tied with Woad at two under par. "I was so nervous on that first tee – I was shaking!" Hull told Sky Sports.
"It felt great to open with a birdie. I missed a few putts today, but I think I played reasonably well given how nervous I was." Woad, who also kept her scorecard clean, faced a tough moment on the par‑five 6th when a brutal lip‑out forced her to settle for a birdie rather than an eagle. She later birdied the par‑three 12th from a considerable distance, creating several opportunities to close the gap on Thitikul. "I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens – I just didn’t make enough putts," Woad said.
"Good shots around here are 15 to 25 feet from the flag, which isn’t easy. I got some nice rolls, but I couldn’t finish them." Thitikul's 64 was the lowest opening round ever recorded at Royal Lytham in the history of the AIG Women's Open. The Thai prodigy, still hunting her first major, delivered a near‑perfect performance from tee to green, overtaking the early clubhouse target set by Ryu.
Ryu had previously won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship, and she posted an impressive round of six birdies and a single bogey. "I do enjoy it when golf is good," Thitikul remarked.
"It was great to know I was hitting solid shots. I got a lucky bounce over the pot bunker, and when things go your way, they really go your way.
I also felt confident with my putting today." The tournament also serves as the final qualifying event for Team Europe’s Solheim Cup roster. Eight automatic qualifiers will be confirmed on Sunday, with captain Anna Nordqvist set to announce her four captain’s picks on Monday. Currently, Chiara Tamburlini holds a narrow advantage over Helen Briem for the second spot via the Ladies European Tour rankings, although both players posted opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively, putting their qualification hopes in jeopardy.
Fans can follow the competition live on Sky Sports Golf, with early coverage beginning Friday at 9 a.m. and full coverage from 1 p.m.
onward. Those interested in playing the sport themselves can find competitive rates and book tee times at over 1,700 courses throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Overall, the first day of the AIG Women’s Open set the stage for a thrilling contest. While Thitikul’s dominant round positions her as the early favorite, the field remains deep, and the challenging links layout of Royal Lytham promises further twists and turns. Whether it’s Hull’s relentless pursuit of a major breakthrough, Woad’s steady ascent, or the seasoned veterans fighting to stay in contention, the tournament is poised to deliver compelling golf throughout the week.