World No. 1 Nelly Korda will tee off early Thursday at the AIG Women’s Open, aiming to secure her first title of the season. She is scheduled to start her round at Royal Porthcawl alongside former champions Lydia Ko and Lilia Vu, forming a competitive trio at this year’s final major of the women’s golf calendar.
The grouping places Korda in a key position as she seeks to build on her strong showing from last year’s tournament at St Andrews, where she finished as joint runner-up to Ko. The AIG Women’s Open continues to be a highlight event, attracting top international players and fans, making Korda’s early pairing with Ko, the defending champion, and Vu, the 2023 winner, especially notable.
Promising Young Talent Joins Past Champions in Early Rounds
Lottie Woad, who has recently risen as a pre-tournament favourite following her victory at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and a promising performance at the Amundi Evian Championship, will play alongside the defending champion and last year’s winner in this star-studded group for the first two rounds. Woad, 21, enters this major as a professional for the first time after tying for 10th place as an amateur at last year’s Open.
Lilia Vu, who secured a commanding six-shot win over Charley Hull in last year’s event, will start her challenge with Hull, world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, and KPMG Women’s PGA champion Minjee Lee. Hull is searching for her first major victory and faces stiff competition in her group.
Nelly Korda is partnered with 2016 champion Ariya Jutanugarn and world No. 6 Angel Yin in a three-ball teeing off at 1:16 p.m. BST, marking another highly anticipated group within the field.
Additional Early Pairings Feature Former Champions and Rising Stars
Germany’s Sophia Popov, who captured the 2020 Open title, will have the honour of hitting the very first tee shot of the contest. Popov’s group also includes Chevron Championship winner Mao Saigo, along with former major champions Hinako Shibuno and Allisen Corpuz.
Grace Kim, fresh from her Evian Championship victory earlier this month, will look to claim successive major titles when she tees off in a group with world No. 4 Ruoning Yin and two-time major winner Brooke Henderson. These matchups demonstrate the depth and breadth of talent competing at Royal Porthcawl this week.
Detailed Schedule for Thursday’s Opening Round Tee Times
All times listed are BST.
07:14 – Hinako Shibuno (Japan), Mao Saigo (Japan), Allisen Corpuz
07:36 – Sei Young Kim (South Korea), Ashleigh Buhai (South Africa), Yuka Saso (Japan)
08:09 – Ruoning Yin (China), Grace Kim (Australia), Brooke Henderson (Canada)
08:20 – Maja Stark (Sweden), Lauren Coughlin, Hye Jin Choi (South Korea)
08:31 – Jeeno Thitikul, Minjee Lee, Charley Hull
08:47 – Hannah Green (Australia), Rose Zhang, Jeneath Wong (amateur, Malaysia)
12:21 – Georgia Hall (England), Jennifer Kupcho, Darcey Harry (Wales)
12:43 – Ayaka Furue (Japan), Jin Hee Im (South Korea), Linn Grant (Sweden)
12:54 – Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Lilia Vu, Lottie Woad (England)
13:16 – Nelly Korda, Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand), Angel Yin
Broadcast Information for the AIG Women’s Open on Sky Sports
Sky Sports is providing extensive live coverage of the AIG Women’s Open, with broadcasts beginning at midday each day of the tournament. Viewers can watch seven hours of live footage daily throughout all four rounds. Prior to the event, a special preview show will examine key players and storylines.
For fans who miss live moments, a one-hour highlights program will air each evening on Sky Sports Golf, now available on channel 406 for Sky customers. Those without a Sky subscription can also stream the event and other majors via various no-contract services, broadening access to the sport.
Golf enthusiasts are encouraged to follow the major closely, as the tournament promises intense competition featuring world leaders such as Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, Lilia Vu, and a selection of rising stars like Lottie Woad and Jeeno Thitikul.
Implications and Outlook for the Tournament
This year’s AIG Women’s Open field underscores a strong mix of experience and emerging talent, with multiple past champions and rising stars positioned to vie for the prestigious title. Nelly Korda’s pairing with former winners symbolizes the high stakes and competitive balance expected throughout the event.
As the tournament unfolds, early tee times such as Korda’s and Woad’s could set the tone for the championship, providing insight into who may ultimately contend for the crown. With global viewers tuned in via Sky Sports and online streaming options, the AIG Women’s Open stands as a premier showcase for women’s professional golf heading into the final major of the season.