Charley Hull has been quick to minimise any notion of a rivalry with world No. 1 Nelly Korda as the AIG Women’s Open approaches, while also opening up about the sting she feels after repeatedly falling just short in major championships. The English golfer, currently ranked seventh in the world, is one of the leading contenders at Royal Lytham & St Annes and hopes to become the first Englishwoman to capture a major title since Georgia Hall’s breakthrough victory at the same venue in 2018. Hull’s résumé includes two runner‑up finishes at the AIG Women’s Open in the past three years and a total of five second‑place finishes in majors overall.
One of those runner‑up spots came at the U.S. Women’s Open in June, where she was bested by Korda. Despite the close proximity of their performances, Hull insists the relationship is not a rivalry at this stage.
"No offence to Nelly – she already has several majors and I have none," Hull explained during her pre‑tournament press conference. "I’ve collected five second places. Let me win my first major first, and then we can talk about rivalry later. What Nelly is doing for the game is unbelievable and a joy to watch – she’s a great person as well." The Englishwoman’s comments reflect both admiration for Korda’s rapid ascent and a personal frustration with her own near‑misses.
"Five second‑place finishes in majors kind of hurts," Hull admitted. She recalled walking past the trophy displays on the first day of last year’s Open and thinking, "I wish that was me." That sentiment underscores the emotional weight of standing on the cusp of greatness without yet crossing the finish line. Hull’s recent form has been a mixed bag.
While she posted a top‑15 finish at the U.S. Women’s Open – her only top‑15 in the last seven starts – she slipped to a tied‑44th place at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open after a disastrous quadruple‑bogey nine on the opening round. Hull described the incident in vivid detail, noting that the pin placement was problematic.
"It was me, but the pin shouldn’t have been there," she said, recalling how a birdie putt rolled off the green. She immediately texted the tournament commissioner, pointing out that the pin was situated a yard from a steep slope and was itself on a downslope, making the putt virtually impossible.
"I had a 12‑foot birdie putt and ended up with a nine. I had four chips up the slope, but I shouldn’t have putted off the green. It just shows that even the world No.
1 can make a nine," Hull remarked, adding that she eventually holed a ten‑foot putt and even fist‑bumped herself in disbelief. Beyond Hull’s personal storyline, the tournament features other notable English players. Lottie Woad, the highest‑ranked Englishwoman in the field, has set her sights on what she describes as a "dream" major title, especially after the last two AIG Women’s Opens at Royal Lytham were won by British players.
Woad, currently world No. 5, expressed her love for links golf during her press conference, noting that the wind and unpredictable bounces make the course a true test of skill.
"I think for any British player, this would be the dream to win," she said. "I enjoy playing this type of golf – it’s only offered a few times a year, so it feels special when you get to hit those unique shots that you wouldn’t see in the United States." Woad’s recent record includes top‑10 finishes in her previous two appearances at the AIG Women’s Open, and she hopes to add another strong performance as the final women’s major of the season approaches.
Her optimism reflects a broader resurgence of British talent on both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. "We have a lot more British and English players on the tours now, and many of my friends are on the brink of turning pro or finishing their amateur careers. The depth of talent is impressive, and British golf is in a great place," Woad added. The tournament will be broadcast exclusively by Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, featuring a new "Featured Groups" format that provides additional live coverage.
The first two days will start at 9 a.m. on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage kicking off at 1 p.m., and the weekend rounds will be shown from midday onward.
Fans can also stream the event without a contract through Sky’s online platform. As the AIG Women’s Open unfolds, the central narrative will revolve around whether Hull can finally break through her string of runner‑up finishes and claim the major she has chased for years. While Korda remains the favorite after winning the first two majors of the year, Hull’s determination, experience, and recent lessons learned on the course could make her a formidable challenger.
The tournament promises high drama, with the added backdrop of a revitalised British contingent eager to make history on home soil. The question on everyone’s mind: will Charley Hull finally convert her talent into a major victory, or will the elusive title continue to slip just out of reach?