Royal Lytham & St Annes: Jeeno Thitikul leads AIG Women’s Open, English duo in contention

By Sam Whitlock — 30 July 2026 — 3 min read

Thitikul sets early pace

Jeeno Thitikul has taken an early lead at the AIG Women’s Open, carding a record-setting seven-under 64 in the opening round at Royal Lytham & St Annes. The Thai golfer, who previously won the Smyth Salver as a low amateur at this same course in 2018, delivered a bogey-free performance, securing seven birdies. This strong start gives her a two-shot advantage as she pursues her first major victory.

Thitikul‘s round included four birdies on the front nine, reaching the turn in 31. She added further shots on the par-5 11th and the 13th, ultimately needing only one putt on seven holes and two-putting the remaining 11. Her score of 64 marks the lowest opening round ever recorded at Royal Lytham for the AIG Women’s Open, surpassing previous bests of 65 set by Lorena Ochoa, Grace Park, and Minjee Lee.

Following Thitikul, Haeran Ryu and Shiho Kuwaki are tied for second place at five-under 66. Ryu, a two-time major winner, recorded six birdies against a single bogey. She is aiming to become the first player to win three consecutive majors since Inbee Park achieved the feat in 2013. Kuwaki, in her second appearance at the Championship, also matched Ryu‘s score with six birdies and one bogey.

English hopes on home soil

English golfers Charley Hull and Lottie Woad are both five shots behind the leader after their opening rounds. Hull, a five-time major runner-up, had an eventful start to her campaign. She began with a long-range birdie on the par-three first hole but followed it with a three-putt on the next and a bogey on the fourth. Despite these setbacks, she capitalised on both par-fives on the front nine and holed a 12-foot putt on the ninth to turn in 34.

Hull briefly moved within three shots of the lead after a birdie on the par-five 11th and a long putt from off the 15th green, but a subsequent bogey kept her at two-under. She finished her round with six birdies and four bogeys. Woad, another English player, also had a blemish-free round, carding a two-under 69. She created numerous birdie opportunities, including one from long range on the par-three 12th, but noted that many of her good shots left her 15 to 25 feet from the flag.

Other English players also featured in the opening round. Alice Hewson, who had the honour of hitting the opening tee shot, birdied the first hole and was one of seven golfers to eagle the par-5 sixth, finishing with a one-under-par 70. Georgia Hall, the 2018 champion at Royal Lytham, signed for a five-over 76.

Notable performances and Solheim Cup implications

Celine Boutier, a Solheim Cup star, made a bogey-free start, placing her three shots off the lead. Other players in the top 10 include Yealimi Noh at four-under, and Chizzy Iwai and Chanettee Wannasaen at three-under. The leaderboard also features a strong Japanese contingent, with four players in the top 10 after 18 holes, including Kuwaki, Iwai, Mao Saigo, and Rio Takeda.

Defending champion Miyu Yamashita is eight strokes back after an opening-round 72. World No. 1 Nelly Korda faced challenges, struggling to a two-over 73, which puts her in a position where she will need to battle to avoid missing consecutive major cuts. The race for qualification for Team Europe‘s Solheim Cup squad concludes after this week’s event, with eight automatic qualifiers to be confirmed on Sunday, followed by Anna Nordqvist‘s four captain’s picks on Monday.

Chiara Tamburlini currently holds a narrow lead over Helen Briem in the competition for the second spot via the Ladies European Tour rankings. However, both players had difficult opening rounds, with Tamburlini scoring 75 and Briem 76. Paula Martin Sampedro, the 2025 Women’s Amateur Champion and winner of the Smyth Salver last year, is once again leading the chase for the top amateur prize, finishing her round at two-under 69.

The tournament continues on Friday, with early coverage scheduled to begin at 9am.

Source: skysports.com