Arabic version: هال وواد تستهدفان نجاحاً على أرض الوطن في رويال ليثام
According to BBC News, Charley Hull and Lottie Woad are among the leading British hopes for the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes, the final women’s major of the year. The Lancashire venue has previously produced British winners, with Scotland’s Catriona Matthew taking the title in 2009 and England’s Georgia Hall winning nine years later.
Hull, the world number seven, is seeking her first major title after five runner-up finishes. The 30-year-old Kettering professional finished tied second at June’s US Open, where world number one Nelly Korda held off her challenge. Hull also shared second at last year’s Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, two shots behind Miyu Yamashita. Her victory at the Saudi Ladies International earlier this year remains the highlight of a season she described as mixed.
Hull began the week by playing a lottery-ticket prank on her caddie, Adam Woodward, using a ticket bought from a Blackpool joke shop. She said Woodward believed he had won £100,000 before she revealed the ticket was not genuine. Hull said she is serious about the task ahead, while acknowledging the mental demands and pressure that can come with home support.
British number one Woad arrives ranked fifth in the world after one year as a professional and with two LPGA Tour wins. The 22-year-old from Farnham won the Scottish Open in her professional debut last year and most recently claimed the Kroger Queen City Championship in May. She has recorded top-10 finishes in her two previous Women’s Open appearances, including one as an amateur.
Woad said her experience in defending the Scottish title last week had helped her prepare for a firmer links test at Royal Lytham, where avoiding the many bunkers will be important. She also pointed to lessons from losing a play-off to Yamashita at the Meijer LPGA Classic and from holding the halfway lead at the Evian Championship. Hall was 22 when she won at Royal Lytham, and Woad said matching that achievement would make her happy.
