Charley Hull and Lottie Woad will have to live with the feeling of a "missed opportunity" after falling short of what could have been their inaugural major triumph at the AIG Women’s Open, according to four‑time major champion Dame Laura Davies. Both players finished the tournament tied for sixth place, four strokes behind the eventual champion, Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki, who closed with a total of five under par. Their inability to generate a decisive surge in the final round at Royal Lytham & St Annes left them just outside the playoff spots. Woad entered the Sunday round sitting three strokes under par, having posted a flawless, bogey‑free 69 in the opening day.
However, she stumbled on the back nine, recording her first over‑par round of the week and ultimately slipping out of contention. Hull, who began the day with an early birdie, was unable to sustain momentum; two double‑bogeys on holes three and seven proved costly, eroding the advantage she had built earlier in the round. "They’ll both view this as a missed opportunity because five under won it," Davies told Sky Sports Golf.
"Charley was a little bit in and out, while Lottie played solidly but didn’t convert enough putts." Hull’s week was a study in contrasts. She amassed 17 birdies over four rounds, a tally surpassed only by world number one Nelly Korda’s 19. Korda finished just one stroke ahead of Hull, sharing a tie for fourth place. Yet Hull also recorded 12 bogeys, and the two double‑bogeys in the final round alone added four strokes to her total.
Had she avoided those mistakes, Hull would have joined the five‑under‑par playoff, potentially sharing the championship. Davies summed up Hull’s performance: "Charley made a few too many mistakes, and that’s just how she plays golf – she goes full‑out attack.
She was disciplined this week, but she’ll think, ‘I was only four back and I should have been in there right at the death.’" Woad’s story was similarly bittersweet. After a flawless opening round, she posted scores of 71 and 70 on the second and third days, keeping her within striking distance but never quite breaking through. The final round saw her falter, and she finished four strokes shy of the winner. Despite the disappointment, the 22‑year‑old can take pride in a fifth top‑10 finish on the Ladies European Tour, a result that secures her a debut appearance for Team Europe in the upcoming Solheim Cup.
Commentator Andrew Cotter noted, "Woad 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.
It’s another top‑10 but just not quite there on this occasion." Both players have demonstrated the talent and tenacity required to compete at the highest level, and the experience gained at Royal Lytham & St Annes will serve them well moving forward. For Hull, the lesson may be to temper her aggressive style with a little more patience, especially when the tournament is within reach. For Woad, the focus will likely be on sharpening her putting and maintaining consistency throughout the final stretch. The Ladies European Tour will remain on English soil for the PIF London Championship, set to begin Thursday at the Centurion Club.
Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will pause for a week before resuming action at the Standard Portland Classic from August 13‑16. Golf fans can continue to follow the drama and excitement of the sport through Sky Sports or various streaming platforms, all without the need for a long‑term contract.