Charley Hull and Lottie Woad will undoubtedly look back on Sunday as a "missed opportunity" after they fell short of securing their first major championship at the AIG Women's Open, according to four‑time major champion Dame Laura Davies. Both players finished tied for sixth, four strokes behind the eventual winner, Japan's Shiho Kuwaki, who posted a total of five under par. The final round at Royal Lytham & St Annes proved decisive. Lottie Woad began the day in a strong position, having opened with a three‑under 68, but she was unable to maintain that momentum.
Her second round was her first over‑par round of the tournament, and she never fully recovered, slipping down the leaderboard as the competition tightened. Hull, meanwhile, entered the round with a birdie on the first hole but quickly unraveled. Two double‑bogeys on holes three and seven erased much of her early advantage and left her scrambling for a place in the playoff. "They'll both see this as a missed opportunity because five under has won it," Davies said on Sky Sports Golf, noting that both women were within striking distance of the winning score.
"Charley played a little bit in and out, whereas Lottie was really solid; she just didn't hole enough putts." Hull's tournament statistics underscore the dual nature of her performance. She recorded 17 birdies over the four days, second only to world number one Nelly Korda, who posted 19 and finished a stroke higher in a tie for fourth place. However, Hull also accumulated 12 bogeys, and the two costly double‑bogeys in the final round alone cost her a spot in the five‑under playoff.
Removing those two holes from her scorecard would have placed her level with the leaders, illustrating how thin the margin between triumph and disappointment can be in major championship golf. Woad's round‑by‑round scores tell a similar story of promise and frustration.
After a flawless, bogey‑free 69 in the opening round, she posted 71 and 70 in the second and third rounds respectively. Those solid, if unspectacular, numbers kept her in contention, but she was unable to make a decisive move on the final day.
The 22‑year‑old finished the tournament with a total that left her four strokes back, yet she still secured a fifth top‑10 finish in her brief professional career. That consistency earned her a debut appearance for Team Europe in the upcoming Solheim Cup, a testament to her growing reputation on the international stage. Commentator Andrew Cotter highlighted Woad's strengths, saying, "She 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 broader context of the tournament also adds depth to the narrative. The AIG Women's Open, one of the five majors on the LPGA Tour, attracted a field of the world's best players, all vying for a historic title at one of the most challenging links courses in the United Kingdom.
Royal Lytham & St Annes is renowned for its deep bunkers, undulating fairways, and unpredictable coastal winds, conditions that demand both strategic acumen and precise execution. In such an environment, even seasoned veterans can falter, and newcomers can seize opportunities.
For Hull, the tournament was a mixed bag of achievement and regret. Her 17 birdies demonstrate an aggressive, attacking style that can win tournaments when executed flawlessly. Yet the 12 bogeys reveal a vulnerability that opponents can exploit.
Davies summed up Hull's performance succinctly: "Charley made a few too many mistakes, and that's just the way she plays golf; she goes full‑out attack. She was pretty disciplined this week, but I think she'll think, 'I was only four back and I should have been in there right at the death.'" Looking ahead, both players have clear pathways to redemption. The Ladies European Tour will remain in England for the PIF London Championship at the Centurion Club, offering Hull and Woad another chance to fine‑tune their games on familiar terrain.
Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will pause for a week before resuming with the Standard Portland Classic in August, providing a fresh start for those seeking to climb the leaderboard. In summary, while Hull and Woad missed the chance to claim their maiden major titles, their performances were far from disappointing. Hull's birdie count and aggressive play suggest she possesses the firepower to win, provided she can trim the mistakes that currently hold her back.
Woad's consistent top‑10 finishes at a young age point to a bright future, with the Solheim Cup looming as a major milestone. Both golfers have demonstrated the talent and determination required to succeed at the highest level, and fans can expect to see them contend for major honors in the seasons to come.