Royal Lytham & St Annes to host AIG Women’s Open with Korda and Ryu grouped
The AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes will feature a compelling grouping for the first two rounds, as Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu are set to play together. Both players have achieved multiple major victories this season, a feat not seen before from two individuals in a single year. They will be joined by 2024 champion Lydia Ko, with their first round tee time scheduled for 8:42 AM.
Nelly Korda, currently the world’s top-ranked player, secured wins at The Chevron Championship in April and the US Women’s Open in June. Haeran Ryu followed with victories at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and The Amundi Evian Championship. Either Korda or Ryu could become the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to win three majors in a calendar year, with Ryu specifically aiming for a third consecutive major title.
Coverage of the event will include Featured Groups, with live action beginning on Thursday at 9 AM. The tournament is also significant as it serves as the final qualifying event for European players seeking to participate in the Solheim Cup. The Team Europe roster will be determined by the top two players in the European Solheim Cup Team points standings, alongside the next six eligible players from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Additionally, Anna Nordqvist will announce four captain’s picks live on Monday.
Key Groupings and Tee Times
Beyond the Korda-Ryu-Ko grouping, several other notable players will be in action. Lottie Woad, who won the Smyth Salver as low amateur in her Championship debut, will tee off at 8:31 AM alongside Aki Iwai and Andrea Lee. Woad is looking to become the first Englishwoman to win a major since Georgia Hall‘s victory at this same venue in 2018. Lee has a history of strong performances at the AIG Women’s Open, with two top-ten finishes, including a T7 in 2020 and a T9 in 2023. Iwai finished T7 two years ago.
Defending champion Miyu Yamashita is scheduled for a 1:15 PM tee time, playing with Jeeno Thitikul and Lauren Coughlin. Yamashita is aiming to be the first back-to-back winner of a women’s major since Yani Tseng. Charley Hull, who has been a runner-up twice in the last three years at this event, will start her round at 1:26 PM, grouped with Hannah Green and Brooke Henderson. Hull will be looking to secure her maiden major title after finishing T2 at Royal Porthcawl 12 months ago.
Other significant groupings include major winners Hyo Joo Kim, Minjee Lee, and Mao Saigo, who will begin their rounds at 8:20 AM on Thursday. Ruoning Yin, Nasa Hataoka, and Jennifer Kupcho are set to start their opening rounds at 1:04 PM. Georgia Hall, the 2018 AIG Women’s Open Champion at Royal Lytham and St Annes, will play with fellow AIG Women’s Open Champion Hinako Shibuno and 2026 Women’s Amateur Champion Valentine Delon at 12:42 PM.
Tournament Details and Coverage
The tournament features a 144-woman field, with England’s Alice Hewson hitting the opening tee shot at 6:30 AM on Thursday. The event will have a one-tee start in operation. For fans, exclusive early window coverage will be available between 9 AM and 1 PM for the first two rounds. This expanded coverage includes six hours more live action than previously offered, with full coverage commencing at 1 PM on Thursday and Friday. Live coverage for rounds three and four will start at midday over the weekend.
The AIG Women’s Open provides a crucial opportunity for players to make their mark on the season. Nelly Korda, after a strong start to the season with multiple wins, has experienced a recent dip in form, including missing the cut at the Evian Championship and finishing T16 at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open. She has taken time to reset and prepare for the challenges of links golf at Royal Lytham & St Annes, where she aims to complete the LPGA‘s career Grand Slam by winning four of the five majors.
The mental demands of constant contention and being in the spotlight are factors that players like Nelly Korda navigate. As one of the sport’s biggest stars, she manages the pressures that come with her elite status. The tournament offers a chance for her to regain momentum and contend for another major title. The competition at Royal Lytham & St Annes promises to be a significant event in the women’s golf calendar.
The second round for Miyu Yamashita, Jeeno Thitikul, and Lauren Coughlin will begin at 8:31 AM on Friday, also available in the early window coverage.
Source: skysports.com
As News GB's Senior Football Correspondent, Lewis Hartnell reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on south-coast football for a regional title. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Solent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Lewis lives in Southampton, where he watches youth football and follows the transfer market. “The week's training ground decides the weekend's headlines.”
