Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu have been the standout performers in this season's women's major championships, but the question now is which of them can continue their winning streak at the AIG Women’s Open this week. For the first time in the history of the sport, two players have secured more than one major title in a single season. Korda captured the Chevron Championship and the U.S.
Women’s Open, while Ryu added the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and then triumphed in a dramatic playoff at the Amundi Evian Championship. Both athletes are eyeing a rare achievement: becoming the first golfer since Inbee Park in 2013 to win three majors in a calendar year.
Ryu, in particular, hopes to match Park’s feat of three consecutive major victories. The tournament has paired the two stars together for the opening two rounds at Royal Lytham & St Annes, placing them on the early‑late side of the draw. Korda enters as the pre‑tournament favourite, with a chance to capture a fourth distinct major and complete a career Grand Slam. "There’s no question that this year she [Korda] has been a different character – she certainly seems happier in herself and is in a good place," said former Open champion Trish Johnson to Sky Sports.
"She has had a stunning season and everything has been working perfectly for her. It will be an interesting week because this is a golf course that should suit her. When she is at her very best, in my opinion she is head and shoulders above everyone else." Korda’s best finish at the AIG Women’s Open came last year, when she tied for second at St Andrews, a tournament won by Lydia Ko, who also shared a marquee three‑ball with Ryu. Beyond the headline battle, the field includes several other compelling storylines.
Miyu Yamashita returns as the defending champion after a breakthrough victory at Royal Porthcawl last season. The Japanese star has added two LPGA Tour titles since her win and is aiming to become the first player to retain the Women’s Open since Yani Tseng accomplished back‑to‑back majors in 2011.
"She [Yamashita] is playing great, she had a top‑five finish at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last week and this golf course will suit her down to a tee," Johnson added, highlighting Yamashita’s recent form. On the home front, England hopes to produce its first Women’s Open champion since Georgia Hall. Lottie Woad and Charley Hull are the leading English contenders.
Woad has posted top‑10 finishes in each of her two previous AIG Women’s Open appearances, while Hull was runner‑up in two of the last three editions. "She [Hull] has had five runner‑up finishes in majors, which is brilliant and shows she can go down the stretch," noted Dame Laura Davies. "I don’t remember her ever letting them go, someone always came and beat her." Davies also praised Woad, saying, "I’d have her up there as one of my real favourites.
I love the way she plays, she’s very calm and she’s handling the limelight really well. She doesn’t get too up and doesn’t get too down and normally, around a links course, you’re going to get some bad breaks.
If you can handle them better than the rest, you might be the one standing with the trophies." The broadcast team for the event features a roster of former players and analysts offering insights throughout the week. Trish Johnson will provide commentary on Yamashita, while Richard Kaufman also covers her. Christina Kim will discuss Lydia Ko, and Catriona Matthew will weigh in on Yamashita as well.
Additional pundits such as Iona Stephen, Sarah Stirk, Sophie Walker, Jamie Weir, Ali Whitaker, and others will each be assigned to various competitors, adding depth to the coverage. Sky Sports retains exclusive rights to the AIG Women’s Open in the UK and Ireland. This year, the network introduces "Featured Groups" coverage, a new format that begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage at 1 p.m.
The weekend rounds—third and fourth—will be broadcast live from midday, providing an unprecedented six extra hours of live golf compared with previous editions. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports Golf throughout the week, or stream the tournament via the Sky Sports platform without a contract. The combination of dominant form from Korda and Ryu, the defending champion Yamashita, and the hopeful English duo makes for a compelling narrative that could see a new champion crowned or a historic third major secured. As the field tees off at the storied links of Royal Lytham & St Annes, the stakes are high, the weather unpredictable, and the margins razor‑thin.
Whether it will be Korda extending her major tally, Ryu matching Inbee Park’s three‑in‑a‑year feat, Yamashita defending her title, or an English hopeful breaking through, the AIG Women’s Open promises drama, skill, and unforgettable moments for golf enthusiasts worldwide.