Korda Drawn into Star-Studded Group as Hull Starts Late-Early

World No. 1 Nelly Korda has been placed into a glittering early‑day grouping for the opening rounds of the AIG Women's Open at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes. Sharing the tee with back‑to‑back major champion Ha Ryun, Korda will start alongside 2024 champion Lydia Ko as the first two rounds kick off.

The pairing is a headline‑making one because it pits two of the sport's most successful players of the season against each other right from the outset. Korda entered the tournament after a remarkable spring, having captured the Chevron Championship and the U.S.

Women’s Open. Ha Ryun, meanwhile, completed a historic double by winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship. Their combined haul marks the first time in the history of women's golf that two different players have each secured more than one major in a single season.

Both athletes are now eyeing a rare third major in the calendar year – a feat not achieved since Inbee Park’s triple‑major run in 2013. If either can add another title at Lytham, they would rewrite the record books.

The early‑day action also features English hopeful Lottie Woad, who hopes to become the first home‑grown major winner since Georgia Hall’s triumph in 2018, which also took place at Royal Lytham. Ranked No. 5 in the world, Woad will tee off with Japan’s Aki Iwai and American Andrea Lee, forming another three‑ball that will be highlighted in the day’s Featured Group coverage.

The broadcast will be carried live on Sky Sports Golf from 9:00 a.m., giving fans an uninterrupted look at the top‑seeded players as they navigate the challenging links layout. Defending champion Miyu Yamashita is slated for the opposite side of the draw, starting at 1:15 p.m.

alongside world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul and American Lauren Coughlin.

Yamashita is chasing a historic back‑to‑back major win – the first such accomplishment since Yani Tseng’s consecutive victories a decade ago. Her performance will be closely watched, as she seeks to cement her place among the modern greats. Charley Hull, who has finished runner‑up three times in the last four editions of the Open, will also start in the later half of the field.

Hull will be paired with Australia’s Hannah Green and Canada’s Brooke Henderson, both of whom have been in contention in recent majors. Hull hopes to finally break the pattern of near‑misses and claim the title on the course where she has come closest on several occasions. The tournament’s schedule features a one‑tee start for the 144‑player field, with the first round beginning at 6:30 a.m.

on Thursday. This format ensures that all competitors face similar conditions and that the broadcast can showcase the most compelling storylines in a compact window. The AIG Women’s Open also serves as the final qualifying event for European players aspiring to earn a spot on the Solheim Cup team. Team Europe will be composed of the top two players in the European Solheim Cup points race, plus the next six highest‑ranked Europeans on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings who have not already qualified.

Captain Anna Nordqvist will then announce four additional captain’s picks live on Sky Sports News on Monday. The featured groups for Thursday and Friday include: - 6:30 a.m.

– England’s Alice Hewson (first tee) - 7:03 a.m. – Anna Nordqvist (Sweden), Cassie Porter (Australia), Sayaka Takahashi (Japan) - 8:09 a.m.

– Sei Young Kim (Korea), Rio Takeda (Japan), Yuna Araki (Japan) - 8:20 a.m. – Hyojoo Kim (Korea), Minjee Lee (Australia), Mao Saigo (Japan) - 8:31 a.m. – Lottie Woad (England), Aki Iwai (Japan), Andrea Lee (USA) - 8:42 a.m.

– Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Nelly Korda (USA), Ha Ryun (Korea) - 1:15 p.m. – Miyu Yamashita (Japan), Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand), Lauren Coughlin (USA) - 1:26 p.m. – Charley Hull (England), Hannah Green (Australia), Brooke Henderson (Canada) - 1:42 p.m.

– Maja Stark (Sweden), Jinhee Im (Korea), Allisen Corpuz (Philippines) Sky Sports retains exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and this year it is offering an expanded package of live coverage. In addition to the traditional full‑day broadcasts beginning at 1:00 p.m., the network will provide six extra hours of live action through its new Featured Groups segments, which spotlight the most compelling three‑ball pairings and give viewers deeper insight into strategy, player dynamics, and course management. The coverage schedule is as follows: Featured Groups will air from 9:00 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, followed by full coverage of the first two rounds from 1:00 p.m.

onward. Rounds three and four will be broadcast live from midday on Saturday and Sunday, ensuring that fans can follow the tournament’s climax without missing a beat. Beyond the on‑course drama, the AIG Women’s Open also offers fans the chance to engage with the sport off the course. Golf enthusiasts can explore special offers on tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, and they can stream the tournament and other golf events without a long‑term contract through Sky Sports’ flexible streaming options.

The tournament’s growing popularity reflects the broader surge in interest for women’s golf, with viewership numbers climbing year over year and sponsors investing heavily in the sport’s future. In summary, the early‑day groupings set the stage for a thrilling opening chapter of the AIG Women’s Open. With world No.

1 Nelly Korda and multiple‑major winner Ha Ryun leading the charge, and with a host of other top‑ranked players positioned for breakthrough performances, the tournament promises high‑stakes golf, historic narratives, and the potential for new records to be written on the storied links of Royal Lytham & St Annes.