British Hopes at Royal Lytham & St Annes
The AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes features strong British representation, with Charley Hull and Lottie Woad among the players vying for the title. The event marks the final golf major of the year, and both players are considered contenders, continuing a trend of British success when the tournament is held at this Lancashire venue. Previous British champions at Royal Lytham & St Annes include Catriona Matthew in 2009 and Georgia Hall in 2018.
Charley Hull, a professional from Kettering, has previously achieved five major runner-up finishes. She recently finished second at the US Open in June, where she was challenged by Nelly Korda. Hull’s season has been varied, though she did secure a victory at the Saudi Ladies International earlier in the year. She also finished tied for second place at Royal Porthcawl a year ago, two shots behind Miyu Yamashita.
Hull’s week began with a light-hearted moment when she pranked her caddie, Adam Woodward, with a fake lottery ticket. Despite the jest, Hull is focused on the challenge ahead, acknowledging the mental demands of the competition and the pressure that can accompany home support. She will be grouped with Hannah Green and Brooke Henderson, with their first round tee time scheduled for 1.26pm.
Woad’s Rising Profile and Lytham Challenge
Lottie Woad, currently ranked fifth in the world, is participating in the AIG Women’s Open for the third time. Her previous appearances include top 10 finishes, with her first as an amateur. Woad’s links golf abilities were demonstrated through her victory at last year’s Scottish Open, which marked her professional debut. She will tee off at 8.31am alongside Aki Iwai and Andrea Lee.
The 22-year-old has achieved two professional wins in her year in the paid ranks. Her most recent win occurred in May at the LPGA’s Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati, where she won by two shots over Haeran Ryu. Following this, Woad lost a play-off to Miyu Yamashita at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Woad has reflected on these experiences, emphasizing the importance of not being overly critical of herself in a sport where losses are more frequent than wins.
Woad’s journey shows parallels to Georgia Hall, who was also 22 when she claimed the title at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Woad has expressed admiration for Hall, stating that she looked up to her when she was younger. The course at Royal Lytham & St Annes is known for its bunker-strewn layout, presenting a significant test of seaside golf. Woad feels better prepared for this challenge after her recent experience at the Scottish Open, noting the difference in course conditions compared to the previous year.
Key Groupings and Tournament Details
The tournament features several notable groupings. World number one Nelly Korda will play with Haeran Ryu and 2024 champion Lydia Ko, teeing off at 8.42am. Korda and Ryu have collectively won the four major titles of the year so far. Korda secured the Chevron Championship and the US Women’s Open, while Ryu claimed the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship. This marks the first time two players have each won multiple majors in a single season.
Miyu Yamashita, the defending champion, will begin her campaign at 1.15pm, grouped with world number two Jeeno Thitikul and Lauren Coughlin. Yamashita is aiming to be the first back-to-back winner of a women’s major since Yani Tseng. Other notable groups include major winners Hyo Joo Kim, Minjee Lee, and Mao Saigo, who are scheduled to tee off at 8.20am. Georgia Hall, the 2018 champion, will play with Hinako Shibuno and Valentine Delon at 12.42pm.
The tournament will feature a 144-woman field, with Alice Hewson hitting the opening tee shot at 6.30am on Thursday. The AIG Women’s Open also serves as the final qualifying event for European players seeking to participate in the Solheim Cup. The top two players in the European Solheim Cup Team points standings and the next six available players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will qualify, with Anna Nordqvist then making four captain’s picks.
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Source: bbc.com
