AIG Women's Open: Charley Hull, Lottie Woad in major mix as Jeeno Thitikul grabs early lead at Royal Lytham & St Annes
English duo Charley Hull and Lottie Woad both five behind Jeeno Thitikul after the opening round of the AIG Women's Open; Nelly Korda struggled to a two-over 73 at Royal Lytham & St Annes; watch live on Friday from 9am on Sky Sports Golf
Thursday 30 July 2026 19:48, UK
Jeeno Thitikul raced into the early lead after the opening round of the AIG Women's Open, as Charley Hull made a mixed start to her bid for an elusive major victory.
Thitikul carded seven birdies in a brilliant bogey-free 64 at Royal Lytham & St Annes, giving the world No 2 a two-shot advantage over two-time major winner Haeran Ryu and Shiho Kuwaki.
Ryu carded a five-under 66 as she looks to become the first player to win three consecutive majors since Inbee Park in 2013, with Solheim Cup star Celine Boutier making a bogey-free start to get within three of the lead.
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Lottie Woad also opened blemish-free in a two-under 69, with fellow Englishwoman Hull - a five-time runner-up in majors without victory - mixed six birdies with four bogeys in an eventful opening round to also sit five off the lead.
Defending champion Miyu Yamashita is eight strokes back after an opening-round 72, with world No 1 Nelly Korda facing a battle to avoid back-to-back major missed cuts after a two-over 73.
Encouraging starts for Hull and Woad on home soil
Hull, a two-time runner-up in the last three years at the AIG Women's Open and looking to become the first Englishwoman to win a major since 2018, made the perfect start with a long-range birdie at the par-three first.
She three-putted the next and bogeyed the fourth but took advantage of both par fives on the front nine, then cancelled out a dropped shot at the eighth by holing from 12 feet at the ninth to turn in 34.
Hull briefly got within three of the lead when she birdied par-five 11th and holed a monster putt from off the 15th green, only to bogey the next and stay alongside Woad on two under.
"I was so nervous on that first tee - I was shaking!" Hull told Sky Sports. "It was good to get off with a birdie. Missed quite a few putts today, but felt like I played pretty decent considering how nervous I was."
A brutal lip-out at the par-five sixth saw Woad having to settle for birdie and she made one from long range at the par-three 12th, with the 22-year-old creating numerous chances to move closer to Thitikul's lead.
"Hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens - didn't make too many putts," Woad admitted. "Good shots around here are 15 to 25 feet (from the flag), which aren't the easiest. Hit some good rolls, just didn't make enough."
Ryu impresses again as Thitikul grabs early lead
Thitikul posted the lowest opening round in an AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham, with the Thai player - chasing a maiden major victory - delivering a superb display from tee to green to top the early leaderboard.
She overtook the initial clubhouse target set by Ryu, who followed her wins at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and Amundi Evian Championship by mixing six birdies with a lone bogey during an impressive opening round.
"I do enjoy it when golf is good," Thitikul said. "It's really nice that I knew I hit some good shots. Got a lucky bounce over the pot bunker so when it's your way it's really your way. I knew I had a really good putter today, too."
The race to qualify for Team Europe's Solheim Cup squad ends after this week's event, with eight automatic qualifiers confirmed on Sunday before Anna Nordqvist announces her four captain's picks on Monday.
Chiara Tamburlini currently holds a slender lead over Helen Briem in the race for the second spot via the Ladies European Tour rankings, with the pair struggling to opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively.
Who will win the AIG Women's Open? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports Golf. Early coverage continues Friday from 9am on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of full coverage from 1pm. Get Sky Sports or stream golf and more with no contract.
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