Jeongeun "Jeeno" Thitikul surged to the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the AIG Women's Open, while England's Charley Hull experienced a roller‑coaster opening day in her quest for a long‑awaited major title. Thitikul delivered a flawless, bogey‑free 64 at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes, carding seven birdies and earning a two‑stroke cushion over two‑time major champion Haonan Ryu and Japan's Shiho Kuwaki.
The Thai, currently ranked world No. 2, demonstrated why she is considered one of the sport's brightest prospects, combining pinpoint iron play with a confident putting stroke that left her well ahead of the pack.
Ryu, who posted a solid five‑under‑par 66, remains in contention as she attempts to become the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to capture three straight majors. Her round featured six birdies and only one bogey, underscoring her consistency on the demanding links layout.
Fellow Solheim Cup competitor Celine Boutier also enjoyed a clean start, staying within three strokes of the lead after a bogey‑free round. English rookie Lottie Woad opened her campaign with a tidy two‑under‑par 69, staying five strokes off the lead.
Hull, a five‑time runner‑up in major championships but still without a victory, produced a volatile round that mixed six birdies with four bogeys, also leaving her five strokes behind Thitikul. Defending champion Miyu Yamashita struggled, falling eight strokes back after a 72, while world No.
1 Nelly Korda faced the prospect of missing back‑to‑back majors after a two‑over 73. Korda's round highlighted the thin margins at this level; a few missed putts and wayward drives can quickly turn a promising start into a difficult recovery.
Hull's opening hole set the tone for her round. She launched a long‑range birdie on the par‑three 1st, a shot that momentarily sparked hopes of a breakthrough. However, nerves got the better of her on the next hole, where a three‑putt resulted in a bogey. She rebounded by taking advantage of both front‑nine par‑fives, turning them into birdie opportunities, and then salvaged a dropped shot on the 8th by holing a 12‑foot putt on the 9th, finishing the front nine at 34.
Midway through the round Hull briefly closed to within three strokes after a birdie on the par‑five 11th and a dramatic, long‑range putt from off the 15th green. A subsequent bogey on the 16th halted her momentum, leaving her tied with Woad at two under. "I was so nervous on that first tee – I was shaking!" Hull told Sky Sports after her round.
"It felt great to start with a birdie. I missed a lot of putts today, but I think I played decently considering how nervous I was." Woad, 22, reflected on her performance with a similar blend of optimism and realism. "I hit a lot of fairways and found a lot of greens, but I didn't make enough putts," she said. "The good shots were often 15 to 25 feet from the flag – not easy.
I rolled some great putts, just not enough to convert." Thitikul's 64 stands as the lowest opening round ever recorded at Royal Lytham in the history of the AIG Women's Open. The Thai, chasing her first major, displayed a complete game: accurate driving, precise approach shots, and a confident, feel‑based putting stroke. She even managed a lucky bounce over the dreaded pot bunker, turning a potentially disastrous lie into a scoring opportunity.
"I do enjoy it when golf is good," Thitikul remarked. "It was nice to know I was hitting solid shots.
I got a lucky bounce over the pot bunker, and when things are going your way, they keep going. I also felt confident with my putter today." The tournament also serves as the final qualifying event for the European Solheim Cup team. Eight automatic qualifiers will be locked in on Sunday, after which captain Anna Nordqvist will announce her four captain's picks on Monday.
Currently, Chiara Tamburlini holds a slim advantage over Helen Briem for the final LET ranking spot, though both players posted disappointing opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively. As the competition progresses, the narrative will shift from opening‑day heroics to the strategic battles that define links golf: managing wind, navigating deep bunkers, and maintaining composure under pressure.
Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports Golf, with early coverage beginning Friday at 9 a.m. and full coverage from 1 p.m.
onward. For those without a contract, streaming options are available without long‑term commitments. The AIG Women's Open remains one of the most prestigious events on the women's calendar, and this year's field promises a mix of seasoned champions and hungry newcomers. Whether Hull can finally break her major drought, if Woad can sustain her promising start, or if Thitikul will convert her early lead into a historic victory, the drama is only beginning.
Stay tuned for daily updates, leaderboards, and in‑depth analysis as the tournament unfolds over the coming days.