World No. 1 Nelly Korda finds herself placed in a glittering opening group at the AIG Women's Open, sharing the tee with back-to-back major champion Haeran Ryu for the first two rounds at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Korda entered the tournament fresh from victories at the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women's Open, while Ryu arrived on the heels of triumphs at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship.
Their pairing marks the first occasion in the history of women's golf that two players have each secured multiple major titles within a single season. Both athletes are now in contention to become the first golfer since Inbee Park in 2013 to capture three majors in a calendar year.
Ryu, who is chasing a third consecutive major, tees off at 8:42 a.m. alongside Korda and 2024 champion Lydia Ko, creating a high‑profile three‑ball that promises early drama for spectators.
English hopeful Lottie Woad also enjoys an early start as she seeks to become the first Englishwoman to win a major since Georgia Hall’s 2018 triumph at the same venue. Ranked world No.
5, Woad is paired with Japan’s Aki Iwai and American Andrea Lee, forming another marquee trio that will be featured in the broadcast’s "Featured Group" coverage on Thursday. The live feed will be carried by Sky Sports Golf from 9:00 a.m., while defending champion Miyu Yamashita occupies the opposite side of the draw. Yamashita, aiming to become the first back‑to‑back women’s major winner since Yani Tseng, tees off at 1:15 p.m.
with world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul and American Lauren Coughlin.
Charley Hull, who has finished runner‑up twice in the last three editions of this event, will also start in the later‑early half of the field, joining compatriot Hannah Green and Canadian Brooke Henderson. The tournament’s schedule features a one‑tee start for the 144‑player field, with England’s Alice Hewson opening at 6:30 a.m. The AIG Women’s Open also serves as the final qualifying opportunity for European players hoping to earn a spot on the Solheim Cup team. Team Europe will be composed of the top two players from the European Solheim Cup points list, plus the next six eligible players from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Former champion Anna Nordqvist will announce four captain’s picks live on Sky Sports News on Monday. The announced groups are as follows: - 07:03 Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Cassie Porter (AUS), Sayaka Takahashi (JPN) - 08:09 Sei Young Kim (KOR), Rio Takeda (JPN), Yuna Araki (JPN) - 08:20 Hyojoo Kim (KOR), Minjee Lee (AUS), Mao Saigo (JPN) - 08:31 Lottie Woad (ENG), Aki Iwai (JPN), Andrea Lee (USA) - 08:42 Lydia Ko (NZL), Nelly Korda (USA), Haeran Ryu (KOR) - 13:15 Miyu Yamashita (JPN), Jeeno Thitikul (THA), Lauren Coughlin (USA) - 13:26 Charley Hull (ENG), Hannah Green (AUS), Brooke Henderson (CAN) - 13:42 Maja Stark (SWE), Jinhee Im (KOR), Allisen Corpuz (PHI) Sky Sports retains exclusive rights to the AIG Women’s Open in the United Kingdom and Ireland, offering a new "Featured Groups" segment that adds six extra hours of live coverage compared with previous years.
The featured groups will be broadcast from 9:00 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, with full tournament coverage commencing at 1:00 p.m. Rounds three and four will be shown live from midday over the weekend.
Fans can follow the action throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the coverage without a contract via the provider’s online platform. In addition to the tournament, viewers can explore special offers on golf courses across the UK and Ireland, with access to more than 1,700 venues.
The event not only showcases elite competition but also serves as a crucial stepping stone for players aspiring to represent Europe in the upcoming Solheim Cup, adding another layer of significance to every shot taken on the historic links of Royal Lytham & St Annes.