Korda and Ryu set to lead Women's Open field after sharing major victories

[p]World number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/korda-nelly/4OpkdK7D/"]Korda[/a] won the Chevron Championship and the US Open to double her major haul before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hae-ran-ryu/8fKOxFeb/"]Ryu[/a] ‌won the PGA Championship and became the first golfer to shoot 60 at a ‌major to claim the Evian title this month.[/p][p]If either wins on the Lancashire coast, they would equal ‌the record for most major wins in a calendar year.[/p][p]A fast and furious Lytham ‌links may well open the field, though, and English duo [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hull-charley/WUlI8kp1/"]Charley Hull[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/woad-lottie/z9mmqaAC/"]Lottie Woad[/a] will be expected to go close as they both seek their first majors, while Japan's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yamashita-miyu/ULhq23PC/"]Miyu Yamashita[/a] will be determined to defend ‌her title.[/p][embed guid="6a620d19-21d7-4dda-87f1-c50892d03f97" url="https://x.com/AIGWomensOpen/status/2082045132535132606" social-type="twitter" /][p]All eyes will be on Korda, though, as she ⁠seeks to land the major that has ‌often proved problematic for her.[/p][p][b]The 28-year-old had a relatively disappointing 2025 with no titles but has hit ​back in stunning fashion with one of the most dominant seasons in recent history.[/b][/p][p]She romped to victory at the Chevron to return to the top of the ​rankings and won the Riviera Maya Open to become the first player since [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sorenstam-annika/f5aeembk/"]Annika Sorenstam[/a] in 2001 to start a season with top-two finishes in her first six events.[/p][h2]Big wins[/h2][p]Korda became the ⁠first American since [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bradley-pat/Mgbw3URM/"]Pat Bradley[/a] ​in 1986 to win the year's first two majors by triumphing in thrilling fashion at the U.S. Open -- watching a three-foot winning putt circle the hole on the 18th at Riviera before dropping.[/p][p]She missed the cut at the Evian, though - her first missed cut in 35 events - before ‌tying for 16th at the Scottish Open.[/p][p]Korda's best finish at the Open was at St Andrews in 2024 when she was tied for second behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ko-lydia/QwaoPVVh/"]Lydia Ko[/a].[/p][embed guid="576de964-10e3-424b-91b1-de32a70a3116" url="https://x.com/AIGWomensOpen/status/2081732706178605167" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]Ryu, 25, will be making only her fourth appearance in the Women's Open but England's Hull will be making her 15th attempt to land her home major.[/b][/p][p]There has been a lot of pain down the years for the 30-year-old with missed cuts and disappointing finishes, but she was second in 2023 and tied for second last year and home fans will hope that her time has finally arrived.[/p][p]Woad, 22, arrived at Royal Porthcawl last year as favourite despite it being her first ‌major since turning professional and finished a disappointing 49th.[/p][p]A full year out on the Tour ​means she will arrive battle-hardened as she tries to become the first home winner ‌since Georgia Hall at Lytham in 2018.[/p][p][b]"I think for any British player this would be the dream one to win," she said on Tuesday. "I like playing links golf and I'm sure it'll be a good test with the wind.[/b][/p][p][b]"I enjoy playing this type of golf. I think because you only get to play it a couple times ⁠a year it makes it a bit ⁠more special to kind of hit those ‌different shots."[/b][/p][p]It is the sixth time Lytham has hosted the Women's Open.[/p]