Charley Hull opened with a 69 at Royal Lytham, putting herself in position to end years of major heartbreak and finally capture the title she craves.
Charley Hull doesn’t need anyone to remind her what’s missing from an otherwise brilliant career. The English star has collected 12 major top-10 finishes, landed inside the top two five times and built a reputation as one of women’s golf’s most fearless players.
She still hasn’t won a major.
Hull gets one final chance to erase that empty space in 2026 at the AIG Women’s Open, and her opening 2-under 69 at Royal Lytham and St Annes put her firmly in contention despite a nervous start.
The 30-year-old admitted the pressure was real. Hull felt uncomfortable standing over an iron on the opening tee, knowing a home crowd expected her to challenge for the championship.
She responded by making birdie, then steadied herself after a three-putt on the second hole.
It wasn’t a flawless round. Hull left several makeable putts on the greens, but she refused to let the missed opportunities derail her day.
That resilience could be crucial over the final 54 holes on a demanding links course where one bad stretch can bury a championship bid.
Hull’s history in the majors has included plenty of spectacular golf and brutal near-misses.
She finished second to Lilia Vu at the 2023 AIG Women’s Open and suffered another painful runner-up result behind Miyu Yamashita in 2025 after late bogeys ended her charge.
Earlier this season, Hull tied for 10th at the Chevron Championship before producing weekend rounds of 65 and 67 to share second at the U.S. Women’s Open with Gaby Lopez.
Nelly Korda won that championship, but Hull isn’t interested in forcing a rivalry with the world’s top-ranked player. Korda owns the major trophies and Hull doesn’t - a reality the Englishwoman openly acknowledges.
That honesty is part of Hull’s appeal. She’s direct, unpredictable and unwilling to manufacture drama.
She simply wants to cross the finish line once before anyone starts placing her inside a larger rivalry narrative.
Hull also arrived at Royal Lytham with momentum away from competition. She recently launched the Sweet Spot Golf YouTube channel alongside longtime friend Ryan Evans.
The project quickly attracted nearly 7,000 subscribers, while its first video surpassed 60,000 views.
The channel may showcase Hull’s personality, humor and love of golf, but it won’t satisfy her biggest competitive obsession.
She doesn’t need another viral clip or another runner-up finish.
Charley Hull needs a major championship ... and after an opening 69 in England, she has given herself another legitimate shot to take it.
