Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu Chase Third Major at 2026 AIG Women’s Open

Historic Major Pursuit at Royal Lytham & St. Annes

The final women’s major championship of 2026 arrives at a storied English links course carrying historical implications. The tournament begins on Thursday, July 30, at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in Lancashire, marking both the 50th staging of the championship and its sixth visit to this venue. A purse of $10 million is on the line, with a $1.5 million winner’s share awaiting the champion at the end of the week.

The competitive spotlight centers squarely on Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu. Between them, the two players have shared the year’s first four majors, establishing a first-time milestone in women’s professional golf where two competitors have secured multiple majors in a single season. Korda claimed the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, while Ryu captured the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship. Either golfer can become the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to secure three majors in a single calendar year.

Star-Studded Groupings and the Opening Rounds

Tournament organizers have placed the dual-major winners together for the opening two rounds. Ryu is chasing a third consecutive major victory and is scheduled to tee off at 8:42 a.m. alongside Korda and 2024 champion Lydia Ko. The 144-woman field features 24 of the world’s top 25 players, all 19 LPGA Tour winners from the 2026 season, and 12 past champions.

England’s Alice Hewson will hit the opening tee shot at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, playing alongside a one-tee start in operation for the 144-woman field. Other notable early groupings include world No. 5 Lottie Woad—who aims to become the first Englishwoman to win a major since Georgia Hall triumphed at this exact venue in 2018—playing alongside Aki Iwai and Andrea Lee.

Defending champion Miyu Yamashita starts on the opposite side of the draw at 1:15 p.m., grouped with world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul and Lauren Coughlin. Yamashita is attempting to become the first back-to-back winner of a women’s major since Yani Tseng.

Charley Hull’s Pursuit of a Home Major Victory

English star Charley Hull enters the tournament on the late-early side of the draw, partnering with Hannah Green and Brooke Henderson for the opening rounds. Hull arrives with a familiar history of close calls in major championships, having accumulated five runner-up finishes during her career.

Hull reflected on her major record ahead of the week, acknowledging the mental hurdles of competing at home under heavy public expectation. She came up short against Korda at June’s U.S. Open, though she demonstrated late-round grit by holing critical putts on the 17th and 18th holes.

“If you look at the putt on 17 I had to hole and then on 18,”

Charley Hull, via BBC

Walking the course earlier in the week, Hull confronted the images of past champions displayed on the grounds, fueling her ambition to join their ranks. She noted that winning this specific championship would allow her to finally sleep at night, providing a measure of peace after years of near-misses.

Solheim Cup Implications and Broadcast Details

Beyond the major trophy and the $10 million purse, this week serves as the final qualifying event for European players vying for a spot in the upcoming Solheim Cup. Team Europe will take the top two players from the European Solheim Cup Team points standings alongside the next six available competitors in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings who are not already qualified. Anna Nordqvist will name her four remaining captain’s picks following the conclusion of the tournament.

Broadcasting coverage in the United Kingdom and Ireland is led by Sky Sports Golf, which provides dedicated Featured Groups coverage starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday. In the United States, television coverage is split across the Golf Channel, USA Network, and NBC, with early round broadcasts running from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Golf Channel and continuing through the afternoon on USA Network.