As the 50th anniversary of the AIG Women’s Open approaches, the tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and the spotlight falls on a handful of top contenders, most notably Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, who are both eager to capture a major title at the historic links of Royal Lytham & St Annes. The current women’s major season has been defined by the dominance of two players. Nelly Korda, fresh from victories at the Chevron Championship and the U.S.
Women’s Open, and Haeren Ryu, who has already secured the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship, are each on the brink of matching the record for most major wins in a single calendar year. Their achievements mark the first instance in which two golfers have claimed multiple majors during the same season, underscoring the extraordinary level of competition this year. Only six individuals in the combined history of men’s and women’s golf have ever won three majors in one year. If either Korda or Ryu adds the AIG Women’s Open to their résumé, they will join that exclusive club.
The men who have accomplished this feat are legends: Ben Hogan in 1953 and Tiger Woods in 2000. In the women’s game, Inbee Park achieved the first three majors in 2013, echoing the achievements of Babe Zaharias (1950), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986). A victory at Royal Lytham would therefore not only be a personal milestone for Korda or Ryu, but also a historic moment in the sport. Both players are also in contention for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which honors the LPGA Tour competitor with the best major record over a season.
The award will likely be decided by whoever claims the next major, making the AIG Women’s Open a pivotal battleground. One of the season’s biggest surprises came at the Evian Championship, where Korda missed the cut despite entering the event as the pre‑tournament favorite and already a four‑time major winner for the year. That early exit broke a 34‑tournament streak of making the cut and added an extra layer of urgency to her quest for a career Grand Slam.
While she already holds three different major titles, a win at Royal Lytham would give her the fourth distinct major needed to complete the modern Grand Slam, a feat recognized because the roster of recognized majors has shifted over time. Korda finished tied for second behind Lydia Ko at the 2024 Open at St Andrews, and she will be determined to improve on that performance in Lancashire. A victory would make her the first woman since Inbee Park to join the Grand Slam club, and it would also represent her 20th LPGA Tour win, securing the two points required for automatic entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame. The tournament also offers a chance for other rising stars to make their mark.
Miyu Yamashita, a dominant force on the LPGA of Japan Tour with 13 victories, captured her first major breakthrough last year by edging Charley Hull at Royal Porthcawl. Since then she has added a Maybank Championship title on the LPGA Tour and won the Meijer LPGA Classic in a dramatic playoff over Lottie Woad. Her recent form includes four top‑five finishes in her last six worldwide starts, a shared fourth place at the Evian Championship and a shared fifth at the Scottish Open.
Yamashita will be looking to translate that consistency into a second major win. British players also have a strong history at this venue.
It has been 30 years since Dame Laura Davies claimed her fourth major, and since then several UK golfers have triumphed here. Alison Nicholas won the U.S. Women’s Open in 1997, Karen Stupples captured the AIG Women’s Open in 2004, and Catriona Matthew became Scotland’s first female major champion at Royal Lytham in 2009, just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second child.
More recently, Georgia Hall secured a two‑stroke victory in 2018. Charley Hull, a five‑time major runner‑up—including twice at this tournament in the past three years—is eager for her breakthrough, while Lottie Woad hopes to improve on her recent top‑10 finishes in previous AIG Women’s Opens. The event is expected to draw over 50,000 spectators throughout the week, many of whom are hoping to witness another British champion. At the same time, the tournament serves as a final opportunity for players to earn points toward the European Solheim Cup team.
Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist, who will serve as a non‑playing captain this year, is finalising her roster. Eight automatic qualifiers have already been confirmed, and she will announce four captain’s picks next week. The competition for those spots is fierce, with LET points leader Chiara Tamburlini, rookie Helen Briem, Agathe Laisne and Cara Gainer all in contention.
World‑ranking spots are occupied by Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit, while Leona Maguire and other top‑100 Europeans such as Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Dewi Weber and Mimi Rhodes are also hoping a strong showing will boost their Solheim Cup prospects. Sky Sports retains exclusive broadcasting rights for the AIG Women’s Open in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
This year, the network introduces a new "Featured Groups" format, beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage at 1 p.m.
The final two rounds will be shown live from midday on the weekend, providing viewers with six additional hours of live golf compared with previous editions. In summary, the 2026 AIG Women’s Open promises a compelling mix of historic ambition, personal redemption, and national pride. Whether it will be Nelly Korda who adds a fourth distinct major to her collection, Haeren Ryu who completes a triple‑major sweep, or a hungry British hopeful like Charley Hull who finally breaks through, the tournament offers a dramatic narrative for fans worldwide. Tune in to Sky Sports Golf throughout the week to watch the drama unfold, and consider a subscription or streaming option if you prefer to follow the action without a long‑term contract.